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The Kitchen Table

The Kitchen Table

Hosted by Ken Baden

BusinessEntrepreneurshipEducation
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Episodes

146

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN

About the show

A show about business, sales, goals, and the pursuit of personal greatness, all where business gets done. The Kitchen Table.

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60 recent
June 5, 202627 min

From Homeless to $3–5 Million: Cory Smeallie's Roofing Redemption Story

Guest: Cory Smeallie, Owner & CEO of TrueShield Exteriors LLC (Northeast Ohio) Host: Ken Baden, CEO/Owner of Baden Consulting & Potomac Custom Remodeling Cory shares his personal story of addiction and recovery — last use date: April 10, 2014 His entry into sales came through a Facebook video from Josh Diamond Burger of Next Gen TrueShield Exteriors launched just over a year ago; did $300K in year one, pacing $3–5M currently Cory brought his father on as production manager when starting the company Discussion of the major Northeast Ohio hailstorm and what it means for the market Cory's philosophy: fix small things for free to build trust and earn long-term customers Book recommendation: Beyond the Hammer — highly recommended for contractors and business owners The insurance restoration game has changed: documentation and professionalism matter more than ever Cory's hiring philosophy: value people's goals and full lives, not just their output He's currently recruiting sales reps in Ohio — reach out via his socials or website 🌐 TrueShield Exteriors: https://www.trueshieldexteriors.net/  📸 @neighborhoodroofer: https://www.instagram.com/neighborhoodroofer/    🌐 Baden Consulting: https://www.badenconsulting.net/  🌐 The Kitchen Table Podcast: https://www.thekitchentablepodcast.net/ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — Introduction & Welcome 0:18 — Ken introduces Cory Smeallie from Northeast Ohio 1:13 — The record-breaking Ohio hailstorm & what it means for roofers 3:21 — How Cory got into the industry — 10 years in roofing 4:26 — Finding roofing sales through a Facebook video from Josh Diamond Burger 6:00 — Cory's rocky past: the factory accident, opioid addiction & homelessness 7:11 — Getting clean April 10, 2014 — how recovery led to opportunity 9:00 — What roofing attracts people in recovery & the instant gratification culture 10:38 — The "chuck in a truck" era vs. being a true professional in the space 12:01 — Stop looking for magic scripts — documentation and consistency win 13:17 — TrueShield Exteriors: just over a year old, $300K year one, pacing $3–5M 14:07 — Bringing his dad up from South Carolina as production manager 15:15 — Doing small jobs for free to build trust and earn word-of-mouth referrals 16:19 — Book recommendation: Beyond the Hammer 17:03 — Growth plans, longevity, and building something his son can inherit 18:00 — Why he started his own company: controlling the customer experience 20:02 — Baden Consulting's vision and what the right investing partner could unlock 21:06 — Running the business daily: playing sales manager while building the team 21:33 — His top retail rep: a former X Games racer turned roofer 23:12 — Finding talent in unexpected places (the gym, a gas station) 23:50 — Hiring a current EMT/firefighter and paying for half his schooling 25:00 — Building a culture where people want to show up 26:07 — How to find Cory and TrueShield Exteriors online 27:27 — Wrap-up & closing

May 29, 202617 min

Solo Episode: What's Really Happening in Roofing & Home Services Right Now

Episode Notes Ken is recording solo after a scheduling change — and with a sinus infection The podcast is doubling down on roofing and home services as its primary niche Major roofing companies in the DC metro area are scaling back, cutting staff by up to 50%, or folding entirely — some owing distributors millions Ken shares his philosophy: when the market is down, lean in and grow market share Potomac invested heavily in brand building, SEO, and social media in Q1 — evaluating results and adjusting The 90-day rule: if a new hire, division, or initiative isn't paying for itself in 90 days, it gets cut — no exceptions Ken reflects on becoming a dad and how it's changed his perspective on success, stress, and what "winning" really looks like He opens up about his 20-year history with wife Becca, his past addiction, and how gratitude now drives him more than fear Potomac is actively hiring in PA, DE, MD, and VA A young fan approached Ken at the gym mid-workout — a moment that reminded him the podcast is making a real impact Discussion on private equity: Ken clarifies he doesn't want to sell the company — he wants to be invested in Sales tip: don't let a good year make you complacent — comfort at any number keeps you at that number Business owner's stance on rude customers: Ken will never expect his team to be disrespected for a sale — and coaches his reps to calmly call bad behavior out Ken plans to circle back at year-end to see if the seeds planted in H1 yield the harvest he's expecting Timestamps 0:00 — Intro & sinus infection disclaimer 1:30 — Why Ken is going solo today; podcast niche shift to roofing & home services 2:30 — State of the union: DC metro roofing market reality check 4:00 — Why big companies are cutting staff and going under 5:30 — The opportunity in a down market (the stock market analogy) 7:30 — Profitability discipline: never sacrifice net profit for volume 10:00 — The 90-day rule for new hires and new initiatives 14:00 — Potomac's brand-building investments in Q1 and what they learned 20:00 — A shift in mindset: why Ken says he's been "acting weird" lately 21:00 — Fatherhood, fear, and the two types of fear 22:00 — Getting a colonoscopy at 40 — taking health seriously for the family 24:00 — Ken's story with Becca: 20 years, second chances, and true gratitude 28:00 — Inviting God in vs. trying to will success — how his approach has changed 32:00 — "I've already won" — redefining success beyond business goals 35:00 — Making Becca happy isn't soft, it's intentional 37:00 — Private equity conversation: we don't want to sell, we want to be invested in 38:30 — Recruiting is the #1 challenge right now; Potomac is hiring 39:00 — Fan encounter at the gym — podcast is making a real difference 40:00 — Oversaturated market, but easier than ever to stand out 42:00 — Sales complacency: don't let a good year keep you from having another one 43:30 — Handling rude customers: the owner's stance and how to call bad behavior out 47:00 — Shooting a family commercial this week; Potomac is a legacy business 48:00 — Closing thoughts: gratitude, circling back at year-end, and a call for listener engagement

May 22, 202643 min

The Lead Problem Is Solved — If You're Willing to Use AI with Chris Mechanic

Guest: Chris Mechanic — serial entrepreneur, founder of WebMechanix (sold after 15 years, 9x Inc. 5000), and creator of Mecha AI, a voice AI platform built for high-volume lead gen businesses. Chris came up through SEO and affiliate marketing, built a nationally recognized digital agency, achieved a successful exit near his 40th birthday, and then dove headfirst into the world of voice AI after seeing the technology's potential to solve real call center problems. Host: Ken Baden, CEO/Owner of Baden Consulting and Potomac Custom Remodeling — a hands-on entrepreneur in the DMV home improvement space who isn't afraid to share what's working and what isn't inside his own business. What you'll learn in this episode: Why 20–25% of contractor calls go unanswered (Service Titan data on 1M calls) How voice AI handles inbound calls, canvasser confirmations, and after-hours leads The rehash strategy that can recover 20–30% of lost revenue Why disguising a rehash call as a customer survey is pure gold The hidden value inside your existing customer list Why social media group engagement (Facebook, Reddit) beats posting on your own page How Geo-targeted YouTube ads let you become "famous" in your town for very little money Why contractors undervalue their customer lists — and how to finally monetize them What "hardened" means in AI — and why it matters for your voice agent Resources mentioned: Mecha AI: mechai.com / stupidupside.com SEO by WebMechanix: seobywebmechanix.com Outbound Ops: outboundops.com The Kitchen Table Podcast: thekitchentablepodcast.net Baden Consulting: badenconsulting.net Service Titan 2023 call study (1M contractor calls) Chris's contact: LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismechanic/ ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — Welcome & Intro: Who is Chris Mechanic?  1:00 — Chris's background: Self-taught SEO, affiliate marketing, starting WebMechanix  1:45 — 15 years of growth: 9x Inc. 5000, 23–24% growth annually  2:00 — The exit: Selling the agency around his 40th birthday  2:30 — Life after the exit: The identity crisis and going stir crazy in retirement  4:00 — The pivot: How voice AI got on Chris's radar (enterprise financial services project)  5:30 — Ken's story: Investing heavily in marketing and chasing the lead problem  6:00 — How Baden Consulting started using Mecha AI — and why Ken was a skeptic  7:00 — The AI answers every call: "Flow" and the 24/7 call routing system  9:00 — The stats: Service Titan data shows contractors miss 20–25% of calls  11:00 — Canvasser confirmation calls and what AI does better than humans  13:00 — The power of a consistent, "hardened" B+ agent vs. your best human rep  14:30 — AI and jobs: Why none of Chris's clients are using AI to cut headcount  16:00 — Rehash strategy: The one-call-close model and why margins drop after you leave  19:00 — The survey + rehash combo: Ken's gold nugget for recovering lost leads  22:00 — Multiple rehash cohorts: Pitched but said no, ghosted, or never reached  24:00 — Direct response marketing principles applied to home improvement  26:00 — Your customer list is your goldmine — and contractors aren't using it  31:00 — Social media strategy: Get off your own page, infiltrate the conversations  32:00 — Reddit and AIO (AI Optimization) as the new SEO  33:00 — Geo-targeted YouTube ads: Become famous in your town for less than TV  36:00 — Monetizing your customer list with referral partnerships and upsells  38:00 — Ken's honest review: From pessimist to all-in on Mecha AI  40:00 — Where to find Chris and demo Mecha AI  41:30 — Closing thoughts and see you next time

May 15, 202632 min

How Smart Business Owners Use AI & Virtual Assistants to Buy Back Their Time | Andrew Hathaway

EPISODE NOTES Andrew Hathaway is Co-Founder of Freedom.AI and operates out of Cherry Creek, Denver — right in the heart of the private equity and M&A world. His three-part framework for business owners: Executive Assistants for time freedom → AI automation for operational efficiency → Life insurance strategies for financial freedom. The "Become Your Own Bank" concept: using a permanent life insurance policy's cash value to finance major business purchases (trucks, equipment, bonuses) while your money keeps compounding — effectively making one dollar work in two places. Why virtual assistants (VAs) from the Philippines remain a competitive advantage — Andrew says he'd never go back to hiring Americans for admin roles, given the cost difference and quality of talent. AI phone answering and overflow call handling is already working for home service companies — Andrew admits he was skeptical but is now a believer. Private equity is aggressively acquiring home service companies right now, including roofing, fire safety, HVAC, and plumbing. Andrew recommends always using an M&A advisory firm before engaging PE — going in alone can drop your multiple from 7-8x down to 4-5x. Ken shares Potomac Custom Remodeling's 2025 revenue goals ($20M minimum, shooting for $30M) and expansion into Delaware and Pennsylvania. Baden Consulting is pivoting to serve the roofing/retail roofing consulting niche with a community-based model after strong demand on social media. Andrew's closing legacy thought: beyond business, he wants to be remembered as someone who helped blue-collar entrepreneurs become spiritual leaders and positively impacted lives in the marketplace. TIMESTAMPS 0:18 – Welcome & Introduction 1:00 – Andrew's world: Private equity, M&A, and home services in Denver 3:00 – The fire safety industry and PE acquisition frenzy 5:00 – Andrew's business model: EAs, AI, and life insurance strategies 6:00 – The "Become Your Own Bank" concept with life insurance 10:00 – Virtual assistants vs. AI automation — what's still worth hiring a human for 13:00 – The private equity opportunity for home service owners 15:00 – Why you need an M&A advisor before talking to PE firms 18:00 – Ken's growth goals: Potomac Custom Remodeling's 2025 plan 20:00 – Staffing challenges in scaling a roofing company 23:00 – Baden Consulting and the roofing community pivot 26:00 – Andrew's 2025 business goals: targeting $10M per company 29:00 – How to contact Andrew Hathaway 31:00 – Andrew's legacy: faith, family, and marketplace leadership   🔗 Connect with Andrew Hathaway:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anhathaway/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theandrewhathaway/  Website: www.hathawaydashcompanies.com 🌐 The Kitchen Table Podcast: thekitchentablepodcast.net  🏢 Baden Consulting www.badenconsulting.net 🏢 Potomac Custom Remodeling: www.potomaccustomremodeling.com #BlueCollarBusiness #AIAutomation #HomeServicesBusiness #PrivateEquity #BusinessFreedom #TheKitchenTablePodcast

May 8, 202629 min

Brothers Beyond the Finish Line: Brent & Kyle Pease on Faith, Disability, and Iron Man

EPISODE NOTES Brent and Kyle Pease are co-founders of the Kyle Pease Foundation, based in Atlanta, GA Kyle has cerebral palsy and competes in full Ironman triathlons alongside his brother Brent In an Ironman, Brent pulls Kyle through a 2.4-mile swim in a boat tied to his waist, pedals a three-wheeled bike with Kyle seated in front for 112 miles, and pushes Kyle in a chair for a 26.2-mile run They have completed 6 full Ironman events together The Kyle Pease Foundation helped 170 families find finish lines last year The brothers published a book in 2019 titled "Beyond the Finish" They are active public speakers with engagements in Richmond, Phoenix, Cincinnati (Council on Aging), and have spoken in Maui Host Ken Baden shares his own story of personal struggle, including addiction and recovery, connecting it to the episode's broader themes of resilience Brent's turning point included spending his last dollars on a bicycle Kyle's vision for the next 5 years: continuing to open doors for people with disabilities to reach their full potential Brent's 5-year vision: scale the Foundation to support 300+ families and help people see what's possible beyond the finish line Closing quote from Brent: "Inspire your own change through movement. Motivation follows action." TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Welcome & Introductions  01:50 — Who Are Brent & Kyle Pease? The Story of the Kyle Pease Foundation  03:00 — Building a Nonprofit from the Kitchen Table  03:55 — What It's Really Like to Do an Ironman with Cerebral Palsy  05:30 — The First Ironman: Losing the Wheelchair & a Moment That Said It All  06:20 — Will There Be Another Ironman? The Door Is Cracked Open  07:00 — Ken Opens Up: Recovery, Addiction, and Finding Redemption Through Movement  10:50 — The Mental Battle Inside an Ironman — How Kyle Keeps Brent Going  13:30 — The Business of Endurance: Parallels Between Racing and Entrepreneurship  14:40 — Kyle Explains Why He Chose Ironman — No Wheelchair Division, Just the Race  15:50 — Breaking Down the Ironman: What Brent Actually Does for 15 Hours  17:10 — The Brother Bond and Shared Sacrifice  17:45 — The Book: "Beyond the Finish" and How It Came to Be  21:30 — Their Public Speaking Work and What Audiences Can Expect  23:00 — Upcoming Events: Richmond, Phoenix, Cincinnati, and Beyond  24:35 — Where Will They Be in 5 Years?  25:30 — The Foundation's Impact: 170 Families and What Comes Next  26:50 — Where to Find the Kyle Pease Foundation  27:00 — Final Wisdom: "Motivation Follows Action"

April 17, 202651 min

Buying, Building & Scaling Blue Collar Businesses | Ian McCarthy of Blue Claw Group

Guest: Ian McCarthy — President of Blue Claw Group LLC LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-mccarthy-a08ab725/ Website: blueclawgroup.com | BidClout AI Estimating Tool (on homepage) YouTube: Ian Blue Claw McCarthy | Instagram: @blueclawgroup Host: Ken Baden — CEO/Owner of Baden Consulting and Potomac Custom Remodeling Website: badenconsulting.net | thekitchentablepodcast.net Companies Mentioned: Blue Claw Associates (landscaping & construction, Cape Cod/Nantucket/South Shore) Blue Water Pools (custom gunite pool company) Boston Tennis Court (pickleball, basketball & tennis court builder — 50-year-old acquisition) BidClout — Ian's AI-powered estimating software for landscapers Quick Calc — Ian's financial proposal/pricing app Goat Gang — landscape owner mastermind group Key Topics Discussed: Buying your first business vs. starting from scratch How Ian went $0 to $12M in 6.5 years across 3 companies Co-founding the National Basketball League of Canada AI in the blue collar trades: estimating, accounts payable, content creation "Know Your Numbers" workshop and why most contractors fly blind financially How to build referral pipelines through architects, builders, and designers Why brand trust and removing fear of risk wins higher-ticket clients Diversification vs. focus: the real debate for multi-business owners The robot/AI future of the trades and how to stay ahead     Timestamps 0:00 — Intro & Welcome: Ian McCarthy of Blue Claw Group  1:50 — Blue Claw's business overview: landscaping, pools & tennis/pickleball courts  4:10 — Ian's background: from CPA to buying a landscaping company for $25K  6:00 — The accidental acquisition: how Ian's first business deal happened  7:15 — Growing the landscaping company to nearly $4M in sales  7:45 — The unexpected pivot: buying a minor league basketball team (Kobe Bryant's father was coaching)  8:20 — Co-founding the National Basketball League of Canada  9:50 — Returning to the trades and launching Blue Claw Associates in 2018  11:25 — Zero to $12 million in 6.5 years across three companies  11:50 — How COVID became rocket fuel for Blue Claw's growth  15:00 — Watching the current market and how Ian is preparing for uncertainty  18:45 — Blue Claw's team: 75-80 employees, 35 trucks  19:30 — The consulting company: how "Know Your Numbers" was born  21:00 — Building referral pipelines through architects and designers (not lead services)  22:30 — The "Know Your Numbers" workshop and why the industry is underserved financially  25:00 — How AI is changing the blue collar space (operations, marketing, efficiency)  28:30 — AI search and why contractors need to start thinking about GEO (not just SEO)  30:45 — Ian's AI-powered future: rebuilding the office with AI tools  32:00 — The origin story of BidClout: from Spain trip inspiration to AI estimating software  34:00 — Pricing strategy: how to position as premium and remove client risk/fear  36:15 — Would Ian buy another business? What he'd look at next  39:30 — Focus vs. diversification: the real answer for multi-business owners  42:30 — The future of Blue Claw Group consulting and events  43:30 — Why many trade business owners fly blind on their numbers  47:00 — Where to find Ian, BidClout, and Blue Claw Group  50:00 — Closing thoughts & wrap-up

April 3, 202642 min

Zero Construction Experience to Eight Figures: How Jason Nemes Built Summit Solutions

Ken Baden and Jason Nemes first connected at the Blue Collar Ballers event in February of last year, and this episode is the payoff of several scheduling attempts that almost didn't happen. It's worth the wait. Jason's background is anything but conventional for a roofing CEO. He spent years building a 4,500-person downline in the health and wellness network marketing space, and still draws a six-figure annual residual from that work today. When a friend called him to start a roofing company, Jason flew to Oklahoma to learn the basics — door knocking, inspections, filing claims — and dove in headfirst. His first official company, Summit Solutions Roofing and Construction, launched at the end of June 2024 after a business partnership dissolved over equity disagreements. He's candid about the split, the half-million-dollar back-door he experienced from a rep he trusted, and how those hard lessons reshaped the way he moves in business today. Jason talks about the DFW market — one of the most saturated roofing markets in the country with roughly 8,000 companies — and how he managed to cut through by staying true to who he is on social media, paying people on time, and building a culture where team members feel seen, valued, and enrolled in the vision. Ken and Jason also get into the business side of growth: insurance vs. retail revenue, multi-state licensing in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and soon Florida and Arizona, goals of $20-30 million this year, the EBITDA benchmarks that make a PE exit viable, and what a real private equity deal looks like for a roofing company in today's market. The conversation closes on a personal and powerful note — Jason's recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, and how the same intensity and discipline that nearly cost him everything is now the fuel behind one of the fastest-growing roofing startups in Texas. Follow Jason: Instagram & TikTok: @TattedPrez Facebook: Jason Nemes Company Page: Summit Solutions Roofing and Construction Follow Ken & the show: 🌐 thekitchentablepodcast.net 🌐 badenconsulting.net

March 6, 202636 min

No Lead Left Behind: How Jesse Spiegel Is Systematizing Roofing with AI

Guest: Jesse Spiegel is the founder of NexLev Logic (nexlevlogic.com), an AI automation platform built exclusively for the roofing industry. With years of experience as a top-producing roofing sales rep — including $3.8M in a single storm season — Jesse turned his firsthand frustrations into a full suite of tools that help roofing companies communicate better, close more, and scale without the chaos. He currently manages roofing projects in both Colorado and Florida while growing NexLev Logic. Host: Ken Baden is the CEO and owner of Baden Consulting and Potomac Custom Remodeling. His podcast, The Kitchen Table Podcast, is where real business conversations happen in the trades and beyond. Topics covered in this episode: Jesse's origin story in roofing and his $3.8M Hurricane Irma experience Why great sales without great systems leads to broken promises How AI unlocked the ability to scale what Jesse was doing manually The 6 core modules of NexLev Logic's platform Speed-to-lead: why every second counts after a new inquiry comes in No Lead Left Behind: automated follow-up that runs forever until you get a yes or a no Subcontractor communication with built-in photo collection and Venmo incentives Real-time homeowner updates to reduce friction and build loyalty AI note-takers on sales pitches that analyze objections and send reps coaching tips Automated review capture that follows up persistently until the customer responds Ken's strategy: tighten operations before scaling to new markets The insurance restoration to retail roofing shift happening nationwide Why door knocking is still the greatest sales skill in the business

February 20, 202625 min

More Than a Body: The Faith-Based Fitness Brand Redefining Women's Apparel with Maryori Jones

Guest: Maryori Jones | Founder, Ave Sportwear  Host: Ken Baden | CEO/Owner, Baden Consulting & Potomac Custom Remodeling  Podcast: The Kitchen Table Podcast | thekitchentablepodcast.net Key Takeaways: Ave stands for Agua Viva Empire — a faith-first brand for women of all body types The brand was born from Maryori's postpartum experience and the loss of identity many mothers face after childbirth She grew up between Honduras and Mexico and was selling fruit to help her family at age 6 — entrepreneurship has always been in her DNA Ave is strictly women's athletic apparel, designed to serve all body types and life stages She is also building a hair product line alongside Ave Sportwear Maryori and her husband (active military) are relocating to the Chicago area soon — Ave will continue to grow online Social media comparison is a real issue for women — Ave is a counter-cultural brand encouraging women to love themselves from the inside out First-generation immigrants often carry a stronger hunger and appreciation for opportunity in America Both Ken and Maryori connect over rebuilding their lives and how hitting rock bottom removes the fear of failure Resources Mentioned: Ave Sportwear: avesportwear.us State & Liberty (men's athletic-fit clothing, mentioned by Ken) Good Vibes Only (another clothing brand in the TKT circle)

February 13, 202622 min

ICE Raids, Insurance Wars, and the Retail Revolution: A Roofing State of the Union with your host Ken Baden

EPISODE NOTESHost: Ken Baden — CEO & President, Potomac Custom Remodeling and Baden Consulting Format: Solo episode, no guest Runtime: Approx. 21 minutesPeople & Companies Mentioned:Dmitry Lipinskiy — Roofing Insights (hosted Ken on his podcast and radio show in Minnesota)Chris Simberman — industry contact discussing business pivotsNetwork shoutouts: John Cena, Chris Jericho, Adam Vidzeme, Brandon J., Todd Price, John McCainbridge, Adam Champagne, Tony Flahom, Kurt LindemannKey Topics:ICE enforcement & the Hispanic labor workforce — staffing, costs, and project timelinesCredit score landscape — 64% of Americans have a FICO above 700 (live ChatGPT lookup done on air)National roofing market dropped ~19% in 2025UPPA law — what it means for contractors working insurance claimsInsurance drop letters — companies requiring roof replacement within 30 days or canceling policiesRetail vs. insurance restoration — pros, cons, and why diversification is criticalWhat a working retail sales system looks like (lead gen, setter-closer model, 30–35% close rate)Super Bowl local ad spot secured a week before the game2026 mindset — down markets create market share opportunitiesBaden Consulting is currently accepting a limited number of clients per quarter. Reach out to Ken directly for availability or referrals to vetted industry consultants.

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