Power Women of the Trades: Weekly Podcast Empowering Women In the Trades Industry

Hosted by Power Women of the Trades

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191

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Hosted by Cassie Pound and Leslie Harpole "Power Women of the Trades" is a powerful force, leading dynamic businesses and disrupting traditional norms. This podcast is all about breaking barriers and changing the game. Our podcast guests will feature some of today's most successful female entrepreneurs and owners in the trades- and feature other advocates of this initiative as well! Because if there’s one thing we know for sure: female-led entrepreneurship drives change on multiple levels!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 28, 202624 min

The Power of Betting on Yourself with Meghan Ohlmann Pt. 2

In Part 2 of their conversation, Cassie and Kailee continue chatting with Megan Ohlmann of Action Air Plumbing and Septic in Lubbock, Texas, about building a company that treats its employees like its first customers. Megan shares how she and her husband, Jordan, are creating structured training, a clear career ladder, and a positive culture, and why accountability is the ongoing challenge every growing business faces, no matter its size. The conversation also covers giving yourself grace as a leader, the weight of being responsible for your team’s livelihoods, and the realities of running a business while raising young kids. Megan closes by sharing how this podcast inspired her to join the trades in the first place. Subscribe to Power Women of the Trades so you never miss an episode!

October 28, 202617 min

Resilience in the Trades with Paige Shue Part 2

In Part 2 of the Power Women of the Trades conversation with Paige Shue, the hosts dive deeper into what it truly means to build a people first workplace and grow a trades business with intention. Paige shares how watching her employees buy homes, take vacations, and grow personally has become one of the most rewarding parts of ownership.This episode also explores what it is like working alongside a spouse, the importance of setting boundaries, and why celebrating wins matters just as much as chasing growth. Paige reflects on key lessons learned as a business owner, including the value of strong financial partners, and discusses her vision for the future through team expansion and potential business acquisitions.Part 2 continues the conversation around leadership, community, and the real impact of creating opportunities that change lives both inside and outside the business.

October 28, 202622 min

Resilience in the Trades with Paige Shue Pt 1

In this episode of the Power Women of the Trades podcast, hosts Cassie and Kaylee sit down with Paige Shue, owner of Sustainable Plumbing. Paige shares her incredible journey from logistics into the plumbing world, sparked by a Craigslist ad and a leap of faith. She opens up about the resilience required to rebuild her business after losing everything to HurricaneFlorence and explains her transition from working in the field to focusing on strategic growth. The episode highlights the importance of "gut-hiring" and letting go of the ego to build a smarter, stronger team. Tune in to Part 1 now on your favorite platform to hear the full story!

October 28, 202618 min

Building Beyond Expectations with Elena Chrimat Part 2

In part 2 of our conversation with Elena Chrimat of Ideal Air, we dig into what it really takes to lead an HVAC company through explosive seasonal demand and constant industry change. Elena talks candidly about the flood of fly by night competitors who vanish by fall, why honest pricing isn't the same as cheap pricing, and how customers armed with ChatGPT estimates are changing service calls. She also shares her plans to expand into new licensed trades, the lessons learned from adding plumbing and electric, and her advice for young women considering a career in the trades. It's an honest look at what separates a lasting business from a one truck operation. Tune in and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts so you don't miss part 2 of this inspiring conversation.

October 28, 202633 min

Power Women Replay With Dayna Hottle

In this episode, Cassie and Heather sit down with Dayna Hottle, General Manager at CNC Heating and Air Conditioning in Detroit, Michigan, to talk about running a fourth generation family business through nearly 80 years of growth and change.Dayna shares the story of how her grandfather and great uncle started the company in 1948, how her family navigated a sudden loss and generational transitions, and how she went from labeling postcards as a kid to leading a company now pacing toward 18 million dollars a year with about 75 employees. She talks candidly about the challenges of scaling a family business, the value of joining best practice groups early on, and why she and her husband have chosen to stay independent rather than sell to private equity, despite constant pressure to do so.The conversation also touches on the unpredictable, weather driven nature of HVAC work, the more consistent rhythm of adding plumbing, and the importance of building a marketing strategy that keeps a brand in front of customers every single day.

October 28, 202615 min

Behind The Summer Scenes With Rebecca Chatkehoodle

In Episode 4 of the Behind the Summer Scenes Series, Kailee sits down with Becca, Dispatch Supervisor at Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, & Electric, to talk about her journey from CSR to leading the dispatch team. Becca shares what really goes on behind the scenes between a customer's call and the technician showing up, and why communication between dispatch and technicians is so critical during peak summer season. They also dig into the biggest misconceptions about dispatch work and what keeps the whole team motivated when the schedule is packed. The episode wraps with a fun round of rapid fire questions about surviving the summer heat. Tune in and subscribe to hear more from the women keeping the trades running behind the scenes.

October 28, 202613 min

Behind The Summer Scenes With Kat Nightingale

In this episode of Power Women of the Trades, part two of the Behind the Summer Scenes series, Kailee sits down with Kat Nightingale, Call Center Representative at Quality, to take listeners behind the scenes of life in the trades during the busy summer season. Kat shares what it takes to manage nonstop calls, support customers during stressful HVAC emergencies, work closely with dispatch and technicians, and provide the empathy and patience needed to create a positive customer experience. She also discusses the skills that make a great customer service representative, the most rewarding parts of her role, and why anyone interested in a fast-paced career in the trades should go for it.

October 28, 202613 min

Behind the Summer Scenes with Dixie Steward

In this episode, Kailee kicks off a new mini-series, Behind the Summer Scenes, with Dixie, one of Quality's HVAC dispatchers, for a candid look at what it really takes to keep the board running during a scorching Oklahoma summer.

October 28, 202618 min

Behind The Summer Scenes with Laurie Hutchings

In Episode 5 of the Behind the Summer Scenes Series, Kailee sits down with Laurie, Quality's payroll coordinator, whose journey with the company began in a surprising way: a Quality technician installing her family's gas stove mentioned they were hiring. From there, Laurie moved from the call center to dispatching and eventually into payroll, where she discovered a love for numbers she never knew she had. Laurie pulls back the curtain on everything that goes into getting the team paid, from technician hours and weekend calls to commission sheets, spiffs, bonuses, benefits, and the new 401k rollout. She shares how the summer rush tested her, how the role made her more organized, and why the family-owned culture at Quality makes all the difference. The episode wraps up with a fun round of rapid-fire summer questions.

October 28, 202615 min

Taking the Family Business to the Next Level with Lily Marte-Perez Part 2

In Part 2 of their conversation, Cassie and Kailee continue chatting with Lily Marte-Perez of Tech Frez about the tools and mindset helping her grow her family’s Central Florida HVAC business. Lilly shares how Housecall Pro and AI-powered call handling are supporting her small team, and how she’s shifting her dad into a quality assurance and relationship-building role so he can finally retire. She also opens up about the imposter syndrome she felt as one of the few women in her HVAC classes, the tough days that still come with leading a business, and how finding a community of women in the trades reminds her that success is possible. To close, Lilly shares her vision of growing from four trucks to seven and building a company that can run without her. Subscribe to Power Women of the Trades so you never miss an episode!