Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast

• #247 LEGENDS | The $1.2B Contractor: How Kelso Built a Billion-Dollar Empire

  Over the last five years, Steve Carroll scaled Kelso Industries from zero to $1.1–$1.2B top line with 3,500+ employees across mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) — powered by 29 acquisitions and an “empowered, decentralized” operating model. In this wide-ranging conversation, Steve and John unpack the Kelso flywheel (construction ➜ retrofit ➜ maintenance ➜ service), how to choose what to centralize vs. decentralize, why leadership pipelines matter more than playbooks, and the realities of integrating owner-led companies at scale. We also dig into data center demand, non-union strategy, and the “survival mode” moments that nearly derailed the journey.If you’re thinking about multi-location expansion, commercial/industrial MEP, or acquiring while operating, this one’s a blueprint.What You’ll Learn-The Kelso flywheel: use construction as an entry point, expand into retrofit, sell maintenance, earn lifetime service-29 acquisitions without breaking culture: partnering with operators, light-touch integrations, and when to standardize-Centralize vs. decentralize: cash & risk centralization; empower branches on P&L, customers, and ops-Building leadership pipelines (trades & military) to keep growth from stalling-Data centers & industrial demand: where the growth is and what capabilities matter- How a billion-dollar platform still treats growth like survival🎙️ HostJohn Wilson 🎙️ GuestSteve Carroll (Kelso Industries) 💼 Partners💼 Extra Special Thanks to Service Scalers!We’ve been partnering with Service Scalers to maximize our Local Service Ads (LSAs) and optimize our Google My Business profiles, and the results have been incredible. With hundreds of thousands in sales and 900+ calls in a single week, GMBs are now our top-performing organic lead channel. Want to learn how Service Scalers can do the same for you? 🔗Check Them Out Here 💼 Shoutout to Quick Staffers LLC Need trained HVAC & plumbing CSRs at a fraction of the cost? Quick Staffers LLC specializes in placing top-tier global talent with the best SOPs and scripts. 🔥 Get $1,000 off your first placement HERE🔨Sponsored by WeSupplyTrades — Thousands of Plumbing, HVAC, and Hydronics parts shipped fast. Sign up free, save big, and get 20% off your first order with code OWNED20 HERESend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&O John's YouTube Channel Weekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a Review John Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

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• #246 From $700K to $30 Million With Multiple Locations!

  In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with his good friend and fellow operator, Rich Jordan, to unpack how he scaled from $700K to over $30M in just five years — across three branches and two states.Rich shares the unfiltered lessons from going multi-location, from the chaos of centralizing call centers too early, to re-decentralizing and finally recentralizing with the right infrastructure. He and John dive into the cultural challenges of acquisitions, how to win buy-in with frontline techs, why leadership development is the true bottleneck, and how “force of will” integrations differ from slow-play rollouts.Rich also reveals how his team pushed margins up 10 points in just 60 days, why he cut a top producer to save culture, and what it takes to prepare for a Greenfield launch while still buying and integrating new branches.Together, they unpack:The jump from $700K → $30M in five years through multi-location growthCentralize vs. decentralize — when to share services and when to splitDriving culture post-acquisition with rapid feedback loops and frontline winsLeadership pipelines from the trades and the militaryIntegration style: high-touch, high-speed, “bear hug” takeoversPreparing for Greenfielding — recruiting, training, and marketing from scratch🎙️ Host John Wilson🎙️ Guest Rich Jordan 💼 Modernize is how smart contractors scale.With inbound calls, live transfers, and branded programs, Modernize connects you to ready-to-buy homeowners. Over 9M leads delivered and $4B+ in revenue generated.👉 Start growing NOW 💼 Extra Special Thanks to Service Scalers!We’ve been partnering with Service Scalers to maximize our Local Service Ads (LSAs) and optimize our Google My Business profiles, and the results have been incredible. With hundreds of thousands in sales and 900+ calls in a single week, GMBs are now our top-performing organic lead channel. Want to learn how Service Scalers can do the same for you? 🔗 Check Them Out Here  Send Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&O John's YouTube Channel Weekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a Review John Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

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• #245 4 Sales Team Training Secrets Top Businesses Use Daily

  In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson is joined by Jack Carr (Jackquisitions) to break down the 4 steps to train your sales team and raise revenue fast.From building a repeatable process to setting metrics, John and Jack share how to treat sales like an order of operations—diagnosing problems step by step so your team can fix weaknesses and improve call over call. They discuss why consistency beats ad-hoc training, how to gamify scoreboards so techs know exactly where they stand, and why “inspect what you expect” is the ultimate accountability layer.John shares how his $30M HVAC, plumbing & electric company used sales training to drive 50% year-over-year growth, while Jack explains how bringing on a salesperson as his third hire fueled 100% growth three years in a row.Together, they unpack:Step 1 – Have a process: Scripts, SOPs, and the scientific method of diagnosing sales gapsStep 2 – Be consistent: Regular training, skills practice, peer feedback, and role playStep 3 – Install metrics: Scoreboards, targets, gamification, and making numbers visible dailyStep 4 – Inspect what you expect: Ride-alongs, monitoring calls, coaching, and accountability loops🎙️ HostJohn Wilson → https://x.com/wilsoncompanies🎙️ GuestJack Carr → https://x.com/TheHVACjack💼 Special Thanks to AppleTree Business Services!One of the most common and expensive mistakes in acquisitions is not getting serious about accounting. Whether you’re buying a business or running one, you need the right financial partner. That’s why we’ve partnered with AppleTree Business Services — a one-stop shop fluent in tools like ServiceTitan and Housecall Pro.👉 Listeners get a free tax & financial review, plus 10% off quality of earnings when buying a business. Visit https://appletreebusiness.com and tell Patrick Owned and Operated sent you!💼 Shoutout to Quick Staffers LLC Need trained HVAC & plumbing CSRs at a fraction of the cost? Quick Staffers LLC specializes in placing top-tier global talent with the best SOPs and scripts. 🔥 Get $1,000 off your first placement here💼 Big ReputationStop chasing reviews and watching competitors outrank you. Big Reputation is the AI-powered review + SEO platform built for home service pros. Automate review generation, respond with AI, track local SEO, and integrate with your CRM. Setup is free, and your first month’s on the house.👉 Book your demo → https://bigreputation.aiSend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&O John's YouTube Channel Weekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a Review John Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

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• #244 How to Hire the PERFECT Employee Every Time

  In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson is joined by Jack Carr from Jackquisitions to break down how to hire the perfect employee—the true A-player who moves your business forward. From defining success to matching personality to role, John and Jack share a 4-step playbook to build an offer A-players want, market the job like a product, scope roles tightly with clear KPIs, and screen for the right behavioral fit.They dive into why you should treat hiring like marketing & sales, how to position your Indeed post (lead with “No On-Call,” Guaranteed 40 Hours, etc.), why unrealistic comp bands repel talent, and how scenario-based interviews reveal coaching temperament. John shares real examples from running a $30M HVAC, plumbing & electric company and the QA Tech role that slashed callbacks.Together, they unpack: • Offer first: Would you choose you? Comp, benefits, trucks, safety, facility • Market the job: Indeed ≈ GMB—headline your differentiators to get seen • Tight scope + KPIs: Roles people actually want, with success metrics in the post • Personality-to-seat fit: Coach vs. closer; stress tests & scenario questions (QA Tech example)🎙️ Host John Wilson 🎙️ Guest Jack Carr 💼 Special Thanks to First Internet Bank! Looking to buy or expand a business? First Internet Bank is a National Preferred SBA lender specializing in acquisitions for the skilled trades. Their SBA loan program offers up to 90% financing for business acquisitions, partner buyouts, and commercial real estate—plus optional lines of credit to fuel future growth. Unlike traditional lenders, they take a “how can we” approach, making deals happen for both first-time buyers and experienced operators.👉 Special Offer: Mention Owned and Operated for a reduced good faith deposit and a complimentary deal review + buyside prequalification. Connect with Alan Peterson from First Internet Bank here to get started 📞Sponsored by OpenPhone — the AI-powered business phone built for growing teams. Never miss a call, never miss a customer. Get 20% off your first 6 months when you start your free trial today HERE💼 Big Reputation — Stop chasing reviews and watching competitors outrank you. Big Reputation is the AI-powered review + SEO platform built for home service pros. Automate review generation, respond with AI, track local SEO, and integrate with your CRM. Setup is free, and your first month’s on the house.👉 Book your demoSend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&O John's YouTube Channel Weekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a Review John Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

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• #243 Home Service Contractors: Stop Overpaying for Parts!

  In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson is joined by Jen Laughlin from WeSupplyTrades to break down how contractors can cut material costs without sacrificing quality. From OEM parts to exclusive brands, John and Jen dig into real-world ways to protect margin, get parts fast (even if you’re rural), and build supplier partnerships that actually help you scale.They dive into shipping realities (UPS vs. LTL), why exclusives like Stream33/Breeze33/Bright33 can be margin game-changers, how to handle fraudulent tool orders, and what trust + open communication with your wholesaler should look like. John shares how swapping SKUs and auditing his top 500 items unlocked big savings inside a $30M home service company. Together, they unpack:Being the “lifeline” for hard-to-find OEM parts (and why that wins lifetime customers)The SKU audit playbook: start with your top 500 and swap line by linePartnering with wholesalers in 2025: trust, feedback loops, and clear expectationsFacility maintenance & rural logistics: stocking strategy without bloating inventory🎙️ Host John Wilson 🎙️ GuestJen Lauglin📞Sponsored by OpenPhone — the AI-powered business phone built for growing teams. Never miss a call, never miss a customer. Get 20% off your first 6 months when you start your free trial today HERE 💼 Modernize is how smart contractors scale.With inbound calls, live transfers, and branded programs, Modernize connects you to ready-to-buy homeowners. Over 9M leads delivered and $4B+ in revenue generated.👉 Start growing here 💼 Shoutout to Avoca AI!Looking to train your call center and improve technician performance? Avoca AI helps teams identify issues, improve call quality, and drive results from start to finish. 🔗 Schedule a demo  Send Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&O John's YouTube Channel Weekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a Review John Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

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