Snowfighters Institute Podcast

Hosted by Phil Harwood

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Jun 2026

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About the show

This is the Snowfighters Institute podcast, where you will hear directly from some of the most interesting people in the professional snow and ice management industry – to learn about their successes, to hear about the challenges they faced along the way, and to have their perspective on critical issues facing our industry today. Hosted by Phil Harwood (Phil@GrowTheBench.com). Follow our social media feeds and check out upcoming events at SnowfightersInstitute.com.

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56 recent

June 9, 202646 min

Joe & Carla Policastro - Know Your Numbers: Financial Clarity, Cash Flow, and Building a Business You Can Trust

Upcoming Events Snowfighters Institute Webinars: Join us live for monthly webinars built to help snow pros run stronger, more profitable operations. All sessions run 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Contract Review | Tuesday, June 2, 2026 Internal review and update of sales contracts and subcontractor agreements. Pricing & Estimating Review | Tuesday, July 7, 2026 Are you pricing for profit or just hoping to break even? Finding & Managing Subcontractors | Tuesday, August 11, 2026 How do you find subcontractors who actually show up when it snows? Capacity Planning | Tuesday, September 8, 2026 How do you determine your true operational capacity? Recruiting | Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Why can't you find good people to hire, and what can you do about it? Incentive Compensation & Rewards | Tuesday, November 10, 2026 Are your bonuses and rewards actually driving the results you want? Client & Employee Appreciation | Tuesday, December 8, 2026 Are you truly appreciating your clients and employees, or just going through the motions? See the full webinar list → In-Person Event GROW! Snow | September 22 to 23, 2026 An in-person event built for snow leaders and their teams. Two days of snow-specific breakout sessions, a facility tour, and content designed to drive real change at your business. Details coming soon. Joe and Carla Policastro, co-founders of Cycle CPA, join Phil to discuss why financial clarity is the foundation of a healthy snow and landscape business. From managing the cash flow challenges of seasonal work, to benchmarking your numbers against industry peers, to why your bank balance only tells part of the story, this husband and wife team shares how proactive accounting and advisory work help contractors make confident decisions instead of operating on gut feel. They also open up about the personal journeys that drive their mission to serve hardworking business owners in the green and snow industries. Key Learnings Your Bank Balance Is Only Part of the Picture - Checking your account daily tells you what you have right now, but future cash flow forecasting shows you what is coming and what to watch out for. Seasonal Businesses Must Build Cash Reserves - Snow and landscape operations need enough cash saved during busy months to carry them through slow seasons and economic downturns. Get Your Numbers Fast to Decide Fast - The earlier you receive accurate monthly financials, the quicker you can make confident business decisions. Benchmark Against Industry Peers, Not Just Last Year - Comparing your numbers to industry averages reveals problems like labor costs running higher than competitors, pointing you toward what needs fixing. Make Decisions on Data, Not Gut Feel - Business owners without timely, accurate information are operating in the dark, while knowing your numbers lets you plan the future with confidence. Track Labor Hours Against Each Job - In a labor-intensive industry, knowing how many hours are budgeted toward a specific job and tracking time against it is critical to protecting your margins. Outsource What... Chapters (00:00:00) - Start(00:00:20) - Welcome and Intro(00:01:59) - Why Most Owners Avoid the Books(00:03:55) - The Seasonal Cash Flow Trap(00:08:27) - How Cycle CPA Got Started(00:12:46) - Packages and the Numbers That Matter(00:16:23) - Building a Remote Team of 30(00:19:17) - Splitting the Work as a Couple(00:22:35) - Why Carla Chose Landscapers(00:24:59) - An Immigrant’s Resilience(00:27:07) - Joe’s Story: Angela’s House(00:32:07) - Who They Serve Best(00:35:56) - What Actually Sets Them Apart(00:38:12) - Making Your Software Talk(00:41:20) - Learn More About Cycle CPA(00:43:17) - Final Advice for Contractors

May 26, 202630 min

Phil Harwood on The Grow Show: Leadership Lessons, Industry Trends, and Why Snow Is the Most Profitable Part of Your Business

Upcoming Events Snowfighters Institute Webinars: Join us live for monthly webinars built to help snow pros run stronger, more profitable operations. All sessions run 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Contract Review | Tuesday, June 2, 2026 Internal review and update of sales contracts and subcontractor agreements. Pricing & Estimating Review | Tuesday, July 7, 2026 Are you pricing for profit or just hoping to break even? Finding & Managing Subcontractors | Tuesday, August 11, 2026 How do you find subcontractors who actually show up when it snows? Capacity Planning | Tuesday, September 8, 2026 How do you determine your true operational capacity? Recruiting | Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Why can't you find good people to hire, and what can you do about it? Incentive Compensation & Rewards | Tuesday, November 10, 2026 Are your bonuses and rewards actually driving the results you want? Client & Employee Appreciation | Tuesday, December 8, 2026 Are you truly appreciating your clients and employees, or just going through the motions? See the full webinar list → In-Person Event GROW! Snow | September 22 to 23, 2026 An in-person event built for snow leaders and their teams. Two days of snow-specific breakout sessions, a facility tour, and content designed to drive real change at your business. Details coming soon. This week's episode is a little different. Phil Harwood joins Marty Grunder on The Grow Show to discuss the strategic partnership between Snow Fighters Institute and The Grow Group, share his 40 years of industry experience, and explain why snow removal can be the most profitable part of a service business. From his early days running printing equipment in the family business to his current role as a consultant and attorney, Phil reveals the leadership principles that have served him throughout his career, the trends shaping the future of snow operations, and why building a sellable business benefits every owner regardless of exit plans. Key Learnings Snow Fighting Is Emergency Service Work - Snow removal is comparable to firefighting because crews are on call all winter and must drop everything when activity starts, requiring a mindset that embraces the calling rather than resenting it. Find Companies That Love Snow - The best operators love snow not because they enjoy leaving their families for three days, but because they understand they're providing valuable emergency services that make a real difference. Degrees Don't Equal Smartness or Success - Education provides knowledge, but you have to apply what you learned and surround yourself with smart people to actually succeed in business. Outsiders Get Heard More Than Insiders - The same advice from an internal team member often gets ignored but is celebrated when delivered by an objective outside consultant with no skin in the game. Do What You Say You're Going to Do - The basics like answering your phone, being respectful, and following through on commitments sound like cliches but remain the foundation of successful business relationships. Be Great at What You Want Your Team to Be Good At - Leaders are always being... Chapters (00:00:00) - Start(00:02:00) - Strategic Partnership - Snowfighters + Grow Group(00:02:30) - Snowfighters Origins(00:04:54) - Why Your “Why” Matters(00:07:01) - From Family Business to Consulting(00:09:24) - Why Law School at This Point(00:10:20) - The Atrium Disaster(00:12:26) - When Core Values Backfire(00:13:57) - The Leap to Consulting(00:15:37) - Why Outsiders Get Heard(00:17:01) - The Basics Nobody Do(00:18:08) - Be the Example(00:23:06) - Tech That’s Changing Snow(00:26:05) - You’re the Hero at Night(00:27:05) - Build a Business You Can Sell(00:28:41) - Why Snow Wins on Profit

April 28, 202636 min

Josh Ferguson: Legal Protection, Risk Mitigation, and Defending Snow Contractors

Josh Ferguson, Partner at Freeman Mathis and Gary LLP and 22-year insurance defense attorney, joins Phil to share legal insights from defending snow and ice management contractors nationwide. From handling salt shortages with proper contract language, to navigating multi-tier liability claims, to why lost text messages can sink a defense, Josh reveals why documentation is the foundation of legal protection, why the red pen approach works on client contracts, and why proactive general counsel work delivers the best ROI for contractors who want to avoid expensive litigation down the road. Snow Fighters Institute Snowfighters Youtube Channel ⭐️ Leave us a review! Key Learnings Document, Document, Document - Documentation is the single most important defense in any lawsuit, from preseason site maps to in-event records to follow-up ice watch notes. Force Majeure Clauses Need Salt Specificity - Generic act of God clauses aren't enough; specifically identify salt shortages in your contract to limit liability when supply issues arise. Red Pen Every Client Contract - Mark up every client contract you receive because even rejected markups help you understand your risk exposure points. Detach Your Contract as an Addendum - When clients have rigid contracts, propose attaching your scope of work and protective language as an addendum, which works more often than expected. Lost Text Messages Sink Defenses - Communications stored on personal phones disappear when employees leave, creating spoliation charges that work against you in court. Use Platforms with Built-In Texting - Systems like Team Engine store communications by company rather than personal phones, protecting you when seasonal employees leave. Document Subcontractor Capabilities - Negligent hiring claims require proof that subcontractors had the manpower, equipment, and history to service sites properly. Mirror Client and Subcontractor Agreements - Gaps between your client contract and subcontractor agreements create exposure points that plaintiff's attorneys exploit. Stay Involved in Insurance Claims - The squeaky wheel gets the grease; staying involved with carriers and defense attorneys leads to better outcomes over your career. Personal Injury Lawyers Are Targeting Snow - Big law firms now handle slip and fall cases with more experts, ramped-up injuries, and multi-defendant strategies for bigger payouts. Multi-Tier Liability Creates Multiple Pots - Plaintiff's counsel add negligent hiring claims to reach property owners, managers, contractors, and subcontractors for more money sources. Emergency Response Within Hours Matters - Getting attorneys and experts on-site quickly protects privileged conversations and preserves evidence before witnesses change their stories. Proactive General Counsel Beats Reactive Defense - Working with attorneys before claims happen provides better ROI than dealing with lawsuits after they're filed. Salt Shortage Documentation Required - When experiencing supply shortages, document the actual shortage with proof from suppliers in addition to having protective contract language. Reflection Questions How are you managing electronic communications between your team and clients, and would your text message records survive a lawsuit two to four years down the road? Do you have documentation proving your subcontractors are capable of servicing the sites they're assigned to, or could a negligent hiring claim catch you unprepared? Are you treating contract review and legal counsel as a proa... Chapters (00:00:00) - Start(00:00:20) - Meet Josh Ferguson(00:01:12) - Josh’s Legal Practice Overview(00:03:17) - Why Josh Became a Lawyer(00:05:23) - Life Outside the Office(00:07:36) - Salt Shortage Contract Tips(00:12:03) - Handling Client Contracts(00:15:28) - Regulation and Environmental Trends(00:16:50) - Winning Claims With Documentation(00:18:58) - Defense Ready Documentation(00:21:11) - Subcontractor Risk Transfer(00:23:08) - Emergency Response Playbook(00:25:14) - Outside General Counsel Value(00:27:01) - Why Industry Events Matter(00:29:10) - Plaintiff Trends and New Claims(00:33:44) - The Risk with Text Communication(00:35:19) - Tech Solutions(00:35:45) - Please Like, Share & Subscribe!

April 7, 202638 min

Steven Walus: From Shoveler to Owner: Building a Snow Empire Through Seller Financing and Municipal Contracts

Steven Walus, President of Great Lakes Snow Systems in Elgin, Illinois, joins Phil to share his journey from shoveler to skid steer operator to business owner through a five-year seller-financed buyout. From starting with two trucks and all subcontractors to building relationships with municipal contracts, Steven reveals why asking about succession planning opened the door to ownership, why seller financing keeps both parties invested in success, and how networking with successful operators eliminates the need to reinvent the wheel in business growth. Snow Fighters Institute Snowfighters Youtube Channel ⭐️ Leave us a review! Great Lakes Snow Key Learnings Ask About Succession Planning Early - When the owner's kids showed no interest in taking over the business, expressing genuine interest in ownership opened the door to acquisition conversations. Seller Financing Aligns Interests - A five-year buyout structure where payments depend on business success keeps the seller invested in helping the new owner succeed. Municipal Work Provides Stability - City contracts for parking lots, cul-de-sacs, and dead ends create a reliable foundation around which to build commercial accounts. Opportunity Comes from Preparation - Being ready when the skid steer operator quit with the door open led to advancement from shoveling to equipment operation. Don't Reinvent the Wheel - Successful people in any trade are willing to share knowledge, so model their success rather than trying to figure everything out alone. Snow Is Recession-Proof - Unlike landscaping services that customers can delay, snow removal is a necessity and emergency service that remains stable during economic downturns. Start Where You Are With What You Have - Beginning as a shoveler without money or a business plan still led to eventual ownership through consistent effort and expressing interest. Network at Every Event - Industry conferences, symposiums, and networking events provide access to knowledge and solutions from people who've already solved your challenges. Trade Shortage Creates Opportunity - Fewer people willing to do the work means more opportunities for those committed to buckling down and growing in the industry. Equipment Expertise Matters - Understanding what works (like John Deere 244s for specific applications) helps others avoid research time and expensive mistakes. Small Challenges Have Been Solved - Problems that seem big to growing businesses are often small potatoes to established operators willing to share solutions. Stay Ahead of Industry Trends - Investing in liquids, metal-plus plows, active edges, and new technology keeps companies on the forefront of industry growth. Reflection Have you had conversations with business owners in your area about their succession plans, and are you positioning yourself as a potential successor when they're ready to exit? Are you networking enough with successful operators to learn from their experiences, or are you trying to solve problems that others have already figured out? What challenges in your business seem overwhelming that might actually be simple solutions for someone with more experience who would be willing to share their knowledge? Chapters 00:21 - Welcome Steven Walus 01:40 - Great Lakes Snow Origins 05:12 - Structuring A Buyout 07:53 - Valuation Help From Snow...

March 24, 2026Episode 5234 min

Joel Wollum: Building a Business on Referrals, Gratitude, and Daily Learning

Joel Wollum, President of The Emerald Companies in St. Cloud, Minnesota, joins Phil to share his journey from dairy farm kid to newspaper press operator to lawn care entrepreneur. From starting with a $100 garage sale mower and manually lifting snowblowers into trucks 15 times per storm, to building a business that still serves customers from 28 years ago, Joel reveals why referrals are better than being the biggest, why daily podcast listening beats jamming music, and how waving at competitors keeps you positive even when they don't wave back. Snow Fighters Institute Snowfighters Youtube Channel ⭐️ Leave us a review! Episode Chapters 00:22 - Welcome & Guest Intro 01:41 - Joel’s Early Roots 04:23 - The First Snow Removal Hustle 07:25 - Overview of Emerald Companies 09:02 - Why Exit HOA’s? 11:00 - Going All In on Brine 13:01 - Scaling Brine Production 15:01 - Mentors & Brine Support 17:06 - Can You DIY Brine? 18:09 - Technology & Forecasting 20:16 - Joel’s Equipment Setup 24:23 - Cycle Times and Routing 25:59 - Industry Events & Education 28:56 - Peer Group Insights 30:06 - Advice for Newcomers 32:00 - Pride & Customer Referrals 33:15 - Please Like, Share & Subscribe! Key Learnings Referrals Beat Being the Biggest - Customer referrals create more excitement and satisfaction than being the largest company in town because they prove you're doing good work people want to recommend. Daily Learning Compounds Over Time - Listen to podcasts, YouTube, and educational content every day instead of just music because there are valuable lessons available everywhere. Problems Are Perspective Issues - When your truck transmission fails, remember you have a truck to repair while many people don't have that problem to worry about. Wave at Competitors Regardless - Keep a positive outlook by waving at competitors driving down the road, even if they don't wave back, because attitude matters more than their response. Nobody Is Smarter Than Anybody Else - Everyone has something to teach you, so keep your ears open and pick up lessons from whoever is willing to share. Fancy and Shiny Doesn't Matter - Focus on doing good work and getting positive customer feedback rather than having the biggest, fanciest, or shiniest equipment and operations. Figure It Out as You Go - You don't need to know everything before starting; Joel didn't know how to spell "retaining wall" when a customer asked him to build one, but he figured it out. Original Customers Prove Longevity - Still having customers from 28 years ago demonstrates the value of consistent service and relationship building over time. Peer Groups Provide Monthly Value - Regular peer group calls with contractors from different regions offer insights about equipment, routing, brine, and techniques you wouldn't hear otherwise. Industry Education Never Stops - Attend conferences like SIMA, engage with Snow Fighters Institute, and participate in educational opportunities to continue growing your knowledge. Simple Marketing Can Work - Hanging flyers at senior centers and creating colored handouts with your life story can generate business when you're starting out. Plan Equipment Logistics Better - Think through how equipment will load and transport before buying it; Joel learned this lesson loading snowblower tractors 15 times per storm. Reflection Questions Are you focusing more on being the biggest company in your market or...

March 10, 202640 min

Cam Roberts: Leadership, Team Building, and Growing Without Bleeding Money

Cam Roberts, President of Laser Pavement Solutions and host of "Stripe It Like It's Hot" podcast, joins Phil to share his journey from facility maintenance to running a pavement and snow removal business in British Columbia. From lessons learned hiring contractors in small towns, to bleeding money for the first three years, to building a podcast that's now 151 episodes strong, Cam reveals why leadership cannot be outsourced to AI, why exceptional people are essential for growth, and how business owners should focus on protecting culture and finding future talent rather than staying in the weeds. Snow Fighters Institute Snowfighters Youtube Channel ⭐️ Leave us a review! Episode Chapters 00:19 - Welcome and Cam Roberts Intro 01:26 - Laser Pavement Solutions Overview 02:47 - Moving North & BC Life 03:59 - Early Background and Roots 05:14 - Facility Maintenance Lessons 08:21 - Glass Trade and Accident Pivot 11:21 - Starting Line Striping Business 12:38 - Why Snow Wasn’t the Plan 14:40 - Snow Business Today and Fleet 17:23 - Tech and Customer Communication 19:31 - CRM That Scales Sales 21:28 - Fast Growth vs Profit 22:46 - Hiring an Accountability Leader 24:38 - EOS Self Implementation 26:31 - The Power of Snowfighters Institute 29:46 - Cam on Starting His Podcast 32:50 - Leadership in the AI Era 35:12 - The CEO’s Role According to Cam 38:25 - Visionary vs Integrator Key Learnings Unprofessional Contractors Create Market Opportunities - Seeing unprofessional contractors making good money in small markets can reveal business opportunities for those willing to operate with higher standards. You Cannot Outsource Leadership to AI - While AI can handle administrative tasks, leadership ability and solving human issues cannot be abdicated to technology regardless of company size. Exceptional People Are Essential for Growth - Natural talent and owner mentality will get you to a point, but you need exceptional people to help grow your business beyond what you can do alone. Protect Culture and Find Future Talent - Business owners should focus on two main things: protecting and reinforcing company culture, and actively seeking talent needed 2-5 years from now. Prime Future Talent with Regular Contact - Meeting with potential future hires quarterly keeps them engaged and ready when you need them, allowing you to grow with confidence knowing people are lined up. Working in Today Prevents Tomorrow Focus - When owners get pulled into daily operations, it creates internal frustration because their time needs to be spent worrying about tomorrow, not today. Small Town Experience Teaches Business Lessons - Working in facility maintenance in small communities exposes you to both good and poor contractors, teaching valuable lessons about professionalism and service standards. Podcasting Builds Authority and Focus - Starting with general content and evolving to focused education for specific audiences (pavement business owners under $1M) creates better results. Team Unity Requires Constant Focus - Building a team moving forward in a unified direction should consume 50-80% of a leader's thinking, energy, and focus. Know When You're in the Wrong Seat - Recognizing when you're doing work that isn't your proper role helps maintain clarity about where your time should be spent for maximum impact. Help Others Avoid Your Mistakes - Creating content and education to help others reach milestones without making the same expensive m...

February 24, 202640 min

Mike Bott on Proactive Snow Fighting: Weather Stations, AI Alerts, and Making Life Easier

Mike Bott, co-founder of Frost Solutions, joins Phil to discuss how mini weather stations are revolutionizing snow removal operations. From property-specific forecasting that outperforms local news and NOAA, to AI-powered alerts that eliminate middle-of-the-night property checks, to real-time pavement temperature readings taken every minute, Mike explains how technology can save money, improve sleep, and help contractors deploy crews only when actually needed. He also shares insights on product development driven by customer feedback and why evolving with your competition is essential for industry success. Snow Fighters Institute Snowfighters Youtube Channel ⭐️ Leave us a review! Episode Chapters 00:44 - What Frost Solutions Does 03:06 - Hardware: Size, Mounting & Setup 05:05 - Dashboard: Live Data & Alerts 06:27 - Hyperlocal Pavement Forecasting 09:14 - AI Frost Vision and Computer Vision 11:42 - Why Property-Specific Data Matters 13:23 - Company Origin Story 16:18 - FS at Pitch Events 18:20 - Why Enter Snow Tech 21:11 - Frost Vision Camera & New Sensors 22:26 - Customer Bases for Frost Solutions 26:16 - Commercial Customer Scaling 28:33 - Slip & Fall Defense Strategy 32:47 - Slip and Fall Defense Strategy 35:38 - Founder Life & Side Investments 37:19 - Where to Find Frost Solutions 39:01 - Keep Evolving! Key Learnings Stop Night Property Checks - Stop driving around at night checking properties when weather stations can do it for you. Property-Specific Beats General Forecasts - Property-specific forecasts beat general weather reports because different pavement types behave differently even on the same property. Pavement Temperature Trumps Air Temperature - Deploy crews based on pavement temperature, not just air temperature, since snow won't stick if pavement stays above freezing. AI Eliminates Constant Camera Watching - AI alerts can notify you when something important happens so you don't have to watch cameras constantly. Customer Feedback Drives Better Products - Customer feedback drives the best product improvements, so manufacturers who listen create better solutions. Minute-by-Minute Readings Prevent Misses - Taking temperature readings every minute prevents you from missing critical changes when conditions shift rapidly. Burst Mode Shows Real Accumulation - Burst mode photo sequences show whether precipitation is actually accumulating or just passing through. Five-Minute Forecast Updates Win - Forecasts that regenerate every five minutes using real site conditions are more accurate than static predictions. Move Stations When Surfaces Change - Moving weather stations when properties change surfaces helps maintain accurate temperature readings and forecasts. Evolve or Get Left Behind - Your competition is evolving, so you need to evolve too or risk being left behind. Reflection Questions Are you still making middle-of-the-night drives to check conditions when technology could eliminate those trips and let you sleep better? Do you understand how different pavement surfaces on your properties behave in winter conditions, and are you making deployment decisions based on actual pavement temperature rather than just air temperature? What feedback are you giving to your technology providers about what would make your job easier, and are you working with companies that actually listen and implement changes? Contact Information

February 10, 2026Episode 4935 min

Jason Kane: Salt Logistics, Customer Service, and Learning from Contract Mistakes

Jason Kane, National Sales Manager for Midwest Salt with over 14 years in the industry, joins Phil to share his journey from responding to a Craigslist ad to becoming a logistics expert in the salt supply chain. From explaining why salt is more of a commodity than people want to admit, to breaking down the complex journey from mine to contractor's truck, to learning hard lessons from contract mistakes, Jason reveals why curiosity drives knowledge, why customer service runs everything, and why being smart and truthful with suppliers is the foundation of success in this industry. Snow Fighters Institute Snowfighters Youtube Channel ⭐️ Leave us a review! Episode Chapters 00:22 - Intro and Welcome Jason Kane 00:46 - The History of Midwest Salt 01:38 - Jason’s Journey with Midwest Salt 05:31 - Customer Service in the Salt Industry 07:36 - Understanding Salt Logistics 08:54 - Regional Salt Sources and Types 12:33 - Challenges and Solutions in Salt Supply 14:34 - Bagged Products & Custom Solutions 16:29 - Liquid Deicing Solutions 18:33 - Government Contracts and Challenges 19:27 - Getting to Know Jason 20:56 - Availability and Client Engagement 23:16 - Industry Insights & Trends 27:08 - Things to be Mindful of in 2026 34:54 - Final Thoughts Key Learnings Midwest Salt Started as Bags in Basements - When owner Tony Johnson acquired Midwest Salt in 2008-2009, it was a smaller mom and pop shop delivering bags of salt into people's houses and basements, salt to water softeners, things like that. Tony came from a logistics background connecting dots with hub and spoke models, so when he saw the opportunity to acquire a company that fit his expertise, he took it. Midwest Salt is fundamentally a logistics company like many service providers. From Craigslist to National Sales Manager - Jason joined Midwest Salt in late 2010 after responding to a Craigslist ad, having just moved from Colorado. What he thought would be a part-time job to get his feet in the industry turned into a 14-year career. He started managing warehouse stock, getting on trucks for routes, then evolved into an office sales position after two years of literally doing the heavy lifting. Skydiving Taught Customer Service at Life-or-Death Level - Between 2012-2016, Jason spent summers as operations and customer service manager for a skydiving company while returning to Midwest Salt each winter to drive semis and deliver salt. In skydiving, customer service was literally about taking care of people's lives - ensuring planes were in tip-top mechanical condition, gear was the best available, and instructors were exceptional. This foundation taught him that no matter what you're selling, you're really taking care of people. Customer Service Is Having a Revival - There's been a breakdown of customer service across industries, but it's starting to come back. People are seeing the value again. Companies thriving in customer service make the investment and create feedback loops - they're always asking for feedback through surveys and making it easy to provide input. Companies with terrible service make you dig to find a way to give feedback, then you never get a response - it's a black hole. Salt Is More of a Commodity Than People Want to Admit - When it comes down to how salt moves and the cost it accrues getting from point A to point B to the end user, it's very much a commodity business. But the service layer on top of the commodity is what differentiates suppliers. It's not just about the product - it's about reliability, logist...

January 27, 202649 min

Turn Into the Storm: Stephanie Leveling on Professionalism, Software Implementation, and Breaking Barriers in Snow & Ice

Stephanie Leveling, Brand Ambassador for Boss by Integra with over 30 years in the landscape and snow industries, joins Phil to share her journey. From discussing why snow contractors are professionals making massive investments before the first snowflake flies, to the importance of job costing data and supporting women in the trades, Stephanie reveals why proper software implementation is a marriage not a fling, and why turning into the storm instead of running from it has defined her career. Snow Fighters Institute Snowfighters Youtube Channel ⭐️ Leave us a review! Episode Chapters 00:34 - Stephanie’s Background and Career Journey 03:02 - Personal Interests & Industry Involvement 03:58 - Challenges and Defining Moments 06:06 - Transition to the Integra Group 11:53 - Boss Software and Industry Solutions 13:09 - Importance of Professionalism in the Industry 22:10 - Unique Features of Boss Software 25:42 - The Realities of Software Implementation 26:56 - Ensure Successful Onboarding 28:39 - Commitment to Software Adoption 30:24 - Industry Involvement and New Developments 33:48 - Empowering Women in the Industry 37:49 - Promoting Trades and Workforce Development 42:55 - The Impact of AI on the Industry 45:25 - Personal Reflections and Career Advice Key Learnings Women Don't Work in the Industry - Prove Them Wrong – In 1993, when Stephanie told her female horticulture professor she had a job offer in the industry, the professor responded: "Women don't work in the industry. They do research." Stephanie held onto that for her entire career to be as successful as possible, always trying to be at top of her game. Now at 50, it's time to give back and help others so they don't go through the same things. Snow Contractors Are Professionals, Not Helpers – Property managers have no idea what goes into snow removal. There could be an outlay of $250,000 to half a million dollars just in salt in July before anything happens. Mechanics start going through equipment in August, purchasing trucks and equipment - massive investment before serving clients. Stephanie: "We as the industry need to educate them. We need to remind the industry that you are professionals. You can walk away at any time." Job Costing Is Everything – After a snow event you have a mountain of data - you need to know if you performed, if adjustments are needed, if someone put down too much salt. Boss's job costing is heads and tails above other products because you can get so granular without needing third party help. You can slice and dice it however you want to look at it - critical when the next event comes right on the heels of the first one. Tech Stack Is a Trap – People tout how big their tech stack is, but the problem is none of them talk to each other. You still have a giant room of admin entering all that data which creates human error and delays getting actual data. Having everything in one place means if you go on a two-week cruise during winter (which nobody does), everybody has the information - not on somebody's desktop or piece of paper in a notebook. Software Implementation Is a Marriage Not a Fling – It takes three years to fully implement any software platform. People bounce from one software to the next and undermine implementations because the team thinks "in six months this won't even be here, so why bother?" No buy-in from the team means it won't work. It has to start from the top - owner or whoever's running point has to be the champion and stay committed so everybody else buys in. Discovery...

March 13, 202527 min

Snow Alliance with Jeen Stork from Stork's Plows

Listen in as Phil Harwood interviews Jeen Stork from Stork's Plows about Snow Alliance, April 25-26, hosted by Stork's Plows at their Leesport, PA facility. If you're in the snow business, you will not want to miss 2025 Snow Alliance.