Blue Collar StartUp

Hosted by Michael Nelson

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Episodes

128

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Our Mission is Simple: To facilitate the growth and development of Blue Collar businesses. We will showcase REAL Blue Collar businesses in interviews, and use these stories to help educate and empower the next generation of trades workers to become Blue Collar business owners.

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60 recent

June 3, 2026Episode 1311 hr 0 min

The Electrical Contractor Reinventing Company Culture | Blue Collar StartUp #131

Tom Jameson, founder of AstroWatt Electric, joins Blue Collar StartUp to share how he went from apprentice electrician to building one of North Carolina's most people-focused electrical companies. Learn how AstroWatt uses culture, leadership, unlimited PTO, employee benefits, and customer service to attract top talent and scale a successful trades business.Tom also shares lessons on starting a company, finding your competitive advantage, and why saying "no" helped his business grow faster. Whether you're considering a career in the trades or building your own service business, this episode is packed with practical advice and real-world experience.Learn more about Astrowatt Electric at callastrowatt.com or connect with Tom on Linkedin!Blue Collar StartUpWebsite: bluecollarstartup.io Facebook: facebook.com/bluecollarstartup Instagram: instagram.com/thebluecollarstartup #BlueCollarStartUp #Electrician #TradesBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Leadership00:00 Introduction & Welcome03:18 Meet Tom Jameson & AstroWatt Electric05:32 How Tom Got Started in Electrical Work07:01 Leaving Employment to Start a Business09:03 Building a Company Around People First11:30 The Transition from Employee to Owner13:13 Winging It in the Early Startup Days15:02 Work Ethic, Hustle Culture & Leadership16:11 Creating a Strong Team Culture19:09 Building a Family-Like Company Environment20:18 Recruiting & Retaining Great Team Members24:03 Why AstroWatt Offers Unlimited PTO28:19 Trust, Accountability & Performance Standards31:57 Mental Health Benefits in the Trades34:08 Career Advice for Young Tradespeople39:12 Finding Your Niche as a Business Owner41:17 Visionaries vs. Integrators in Business43:15 Learning to Say No and Scale Profitably45:52 The AstroWatt Rebrand Story47:58 Advice for Starting a Trades Business52:03 Why the Trades Are a Massive Opportunity55:04 Balancing Success, Money & Personal Goals59:09 Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

May 27, 2026Episode 13046 min

How to Build Trust in the Construction Industry | Blue Collar Startup #130

In this episode of Blue Collar Startup, hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with Denver Whetten of Degan Construction LLC to discuss building a successful construction company through leadership, Extreme Ownership, and strong client relationships. Denver shares how he scaled from a small concrete startup into a major contractor while developing leaders, creating a winning company culture, and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship in the trades.Learn more about Denver Whetten and Degan Construction LLC, based in Phoenix, Arizona, at deganconstruction.com.0:00 Intro & opening banter1:22 AI, marketing shifts, and adapting in business3:01 Introducing Denver Whetten & Degan Construction4:37 EOS and Extreme Ownership discussion begins7:00 Leaving corporate construction to start the company11:25 Landing the first jobs with no real plan13:22 Learning to solve problems without all the answers15:17 Advice for tradespeople starting a business17:01 “Make a lot of money, so everybody wins” philosophy21:38 Discovering Extreme Ownership leadership principles26:33 Realizing “I was the problem” as a leader29:35 Weekly leadership training inside Degan Construction34:05 Building trust with customers through performance39:21 Why reputation matters more than short-term profit40:38 Family business leadership & avoiding nepotism46:46 YouTube Exclusive begins (youtube.com/@bluecollarstartup849)

May 20, 2026Episode 12956 min

HVAC Business Growth Strategies That Work | Blue Collar Startup #129

In this episode of Blue Collar Startup, hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with Lawrence Castillo to talk about scaling an HVAC business through customer service, recruiting, training, and operational structure. Lawrence shares how Brody-Pennell HVAC grew from a legacy company with 250 Google reviews into a dominant Southern California brand with over 5,000 five-star reviews while building a people-first culture focused on long-term growth.Find Lawrence Castillo and Brody-Pennell HVAC online at brodypennell.com and connect with him on LinkedIn.0:00 Introduction and guest welcome3:00 Brody-Pennell HVAC growth story6:25 Challenges of the LA HVAC market10:00 Customer service philosophy11:57 Growing to 5,000 Google reviews16:24 KPIs and technician accountability21:10 Building an in-house training program24:11 Hiring communicators over mechanics29:01 Recruiting systems for scaling33:20 Solving the labor shortage36:01 Service agreements and recurring revenue40:36 Creating a customer service culture44:53 Managing multiple businesses49:28 Advice for tradespeople and owners54:00 Where to find Lawrence Castillo55:29 Outro and sponsors

May 13, 2026Episode 1281 hr 8 min

How a Father-Son Team Built a $25M Trade Business | Blue Collar Startup #128

In this episode of Blue Collar Startup, Scott Sypniewski and Scott Sypniewski Jr. share how they built SSLLC Plumbing into a $25M+ plumbing business by combining extreme ownership, leadership development, and strong company culture. From overcoming personal struggles to scaling fast in the trades, this father-son team breaks down real strategies for growing a service business, implementing EOS, and creating a team that drives long-term success.Find Scott Sypniewski, Scott Sypniewski Jr., and SSLLC Plumbing at ssllc.pro and connect with them to learn more about their work in the trades.Watch the full YouTube exclusive segment here: youtube.com/@bluecollarstartup84900:00 Introduction1:45 Meet the Guests: Scott Sypniewski Sr. & Scott Sypniewski Jr.3:30 How Junior Successfully Works Remotely5:16 Transitioning from Father/Son to Business Partners8:56 The Power of Using First Names in a Family Business10:43 The Origin Story of SSLLC Plumbing14:08 Scott Sr.'s Defining Moment & Extreme Ownership16:15 Landing a $7.2 Million Contract on Day One18:46 A Brutal Self-Assessment with Echelon Front's JP Dinnell23:45 SSLLC Plumbing's Vision: Building on the Success of Others27:58 Junior Takes the Baton: Building Business Structure32:08 Implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)36:15 The Unique Visionary & Integrator Dynamic40:00 Level 10 Meetings & Decentralized Command in Action43:18 The 80/80 Principle Explained48:25 Appointing a Chief Culture Officer55:58 SSLLC Plumbing's Core Values & Hiring Criteria1:07:10 Head over to our YouTube channel to watch the YouTube exclusive segment!

May 6, 2026Episode 12745 min

Define the Problem, Fix the Fire | Blue Collar StartUp #127

In episode 127 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Michael Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with Bill Tansey to discuss bringing structure to a chaotic business and defining the real root of your operational fires. They dive into the critical differences between just being busy and actually being productive, and how to know when wearing every hat becomes a liability instead of a hustle.You can connect with Bill Tansey Jr. on LinkedIn, visit his website at theopexshop.com, or email him directly at bill@theopexshop.com.0:00 Introduction & Welcome 2:49 Introducing Bill Tansey & The OpEx Shop 5:02 What to do when "everything feels like it's on fire" 7:35 Defining the performance gap in your business 10:22 The importance of proper problem definition 12:56 Common examples of small business chaos 14:00 When does wearing every hat become a liability? 16:13 Quantifying the risk of doing everything yourself 18:34 Are you running a business or being self-employed? 20:57 The 3 types of motion: Rotation, Vibration, Translation 23:43 Moving things from point A to point B 26:18 Falling out of your personal operating system 28:40 The "Automate or Delegate" mindset 31:20 Bringing structure to a company with none 33:41 Setting success metrics for standard roles 36:42 The biggest mistake owners make when getting organized 39:49 Leading your team vs. doing the work yourself 43:41 Where to find Bill Tansey 45:20 Wrapping up the main episode

April 29, 2026Episode 12645 min

Simple Marketing for Blue Collar Businesses | Blue Collar StartUp #126

In episode 126 of Blue Collar StartUp, Derek and Mike break down what marketing actually looks like when you’re starting a blue-collar business, from building a simple website to leveraging personal social media for real leads. Listen in as they discuss what’s worth your time, what’s a waste of money, and how to grow your visibility without overcomplicating the process.For exclusive content, bonus segments, and deeper dives, check out the Blue Collar StartUp Patreon. https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink0:00 Intro and welcome2:37 New episode formats and updates5:14 Kicking off the marketing conversation7:32 Why a simple website matters first9:58 Avoiding common beginner marketing mistakes12:26 Google Business Profile importance14:52 Setting up email and basic infrastructure17:18 Why personal social media beats business pages19:44 The reality of Facebook reach22:10 Choosing the right platforms24:36 Understanding your target audience27:02 Social media strategy pitfalls29:28 Transition into AI and marketing changes31:54 How AI is impacting search and discovery34:20 Adapting to new marketing trends36:46 Simplifying your overall strategy40:12 Key takeaways for business owners47:11 Episode wrap-up

April 22, 2026Episode 12541 min

Building the Future of Concrete with Sarah Patrie | Blue Collar StartUp #125

In episode 125 of Blue Collar StartUp, guest host Stacy Spector sits down with Sarah Patrie to explore her journey from growing up in a construction family to becoming Executive Director of PCI Northeast, highlighting the power of mentorship, industry involvement, and embracing nontraditional career paths. They dive into workforce development, innovation in concrete, and the critical role of relationships and associations in long-term success in the trades.You can find Sarah Patrie and learn more about PCI Northeast at pci.org and by following her on LinkedIn.Discover more in-depth trades business insights and exclusive Patreon-only segments by subscribing to our Patreon for just $5/month.https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink0:00 Intro to Women in Trades format2:40 Meet Sarah Patrie5:20 Growing up in construction8:00 Discovering engineering and BOCES impact10:40 Clarkson decision and education path13:20 First role at D.A. Collins16:00 Early career challenges and mindset18:40 Transition into AGC21:20 Policy, advocacy, and DC experience24:00 Power of networking in trades26:40 Moving into PCI Northeast29:20 Workforce development challenges32:00 Educating the next generation34:40 Telling the story of construction37:20 Passion for the industry40:00 Lightning round and personality42:30 Wrap-up and key takeaways44:55 End of episode

April 15, 2026Episode 12451 min

Real Leadership Lessons for the Trades with Codey Gandy | Blue Collar StartUp #124

In episode 124 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Mike and Derek chat with Codey Gandy of Echelon Front as he breaks down what real leadership looks like in the trades, and why most people get it wrong. From extreme ownership to building strong relationships, this conversation is packed with practical insights for anyone looking to grow a team or business.You can find Codey Gandy and learn more about his work at Echelon Front on their website at echelonfront.com or connect with him on Instagram @codey.gandy.For exclusive content and deeper blue-collar insights, subscribe to our Patreon. https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink0:00 Intro and welcome2:00 Mission behind the show and scholarships4:10 Introducing Codey Gandy4:40 Codey’s background and Echelon Front overview6:00 Experiential leadership training explained7:30 Why stress reveals true leadership traits9:00 The problem with traditional training10:30 Sustainability and long-term leadership growth11:30 What “extreme ownership” actually means13:00 Leadership vs authority14:30 Applying ownership as an employee16:00 Real impact of extreme ownership in business17:30 Fixing underperforming team members19:00 Why relationships matter in leadership21:00 Transitioning from worker to leader23:00 Why most leaders are set up to fail25:00 Learning leadership before promotion30:00 Leadership applications40:00 Advanced leadership mindset shifts48:00 Final thoughts and shift to Patreon segment

April 8, 2026Episode 12343 min

Perfection, Processes & Growth at Lazzaro’s Autobody | Blue Collar StartUp #123

In episode 123 of Blue Collar Startup, host Derek Foster welcomes back guest Josh Jewett for an in-depth conversation on his path from a Hudson Valley Community College auto-body student to owning Lazzaro’s Autobody and acquiring a second shop in Saratoga—all within six months. Josh shares hard-won lessons on perfectionism, implementing shop processes, mentoring his team, continuing education, and the mindset required to scale a blue-collar business. Connect with Josh by emailing him at jj@lazzarosautobody.com and check out Lazzaro’s Autobody in Green Island and Saratoga Springs, New York, or on their website at lazzarosautobody.com.Subscribe to our Patreon for a full bonus Q&A with Josh and exclusive Blue Collar insights after every episode. https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink00:00 Welcome to Blue Collar Startup 00:29 New episode formats, sponsors & Patreon reminder 03:28 Introducing returning guest Josh Jewett04:21 Josh’s early spark for cars and Hudson Valley Community College 08:09 From technician to business owner: when the goal shifted 09:58 The perfectionist mindset that drives Josh 12:32 Advice for young tradespeople: self-education & YouTube 18:31 Owning Lazzaro’s Autobody – one year in 20:27 Taking over a 50-year shop: first-year challenges & observation 24:43 Creating & rolling out new processes with the team 29:33 How processes built culture & staff retention 32:29 What Josh looks for when hiring today 35:06 iCar training, continuing education & staying sharp 38:54 Future vision: becoming the go-to shop for anything on wheels 41:42 How Josh bought a second shop in Saratoga in just six months 42:08 Introducing Patreon exclusive segment, and episode closure

April 1, 2026Episode 12245 min

The Pivot That Revolutionized Shepherd Communication & Security | Blue Collar StartUp #122

In episode 122 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Michael Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with Richard Ruzzo, who shares how he built Shepherd Communication & Security from a small telecom contracting operation into a growing commercial security company by refocusing the business, embracing enterprise thinking, and betting on the right people. He talks about losing a major revenue stream, rebuilding from the ground up, and the lessons every trade business owner should learn.You can learn more about Richard Ruzzo and Shepherd Communication & Security at shepherdcny.com.Check out our Blue Collar StartUp Patreon for exclusive bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/c/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink0:00 Intro0:15 Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp1:04 Business owner group therapy2:15 Help us grow the show4:28 Patreon and business growth insights5:36 Introducing Richard Ruzzo6:14 What Shepherd Communication & Security does8:03 Why security and low-voltage work is still a trade11:58 Growing the company to 34 employees13:11 Why trades can outperform traditional college paths16:13 The garage business that sparked the idea17:28 Landing their first telecom contract18:36 Building the Shepherd brand19:30 Why relying on one client is dangerous20:45 Lifestyle business vs enterprise business23:03 Rethinking the entire company strategy24:38 Losing a major revenue stream27:06 The people who helped transform the company32:00 Landing a project 10x bigger than anything before35:06 How Shepherd decides which services to offer41:57 Why security matters more than ever today43:00 Final thoughts and where to find Shepherd