In this episode, Cassie and Heather continue their conversation with Mia Erichson of Wizard of Ads Marketing, delving deeper into the effectiveness of brand-focused marketing. They discuss how mass media, particularly radio, remains a powerful tool for reaching homeowners and building brand recognition, even if the hosts themselves don't listen to it regularly. They share anecdotes of customers who, despite disliking their commercials, had memorized them and were influenced by them, proving the effectiveness of creating a memorable and emotionally connected brand.

Mia explains that "advertising is the tax you pay for not being remarkable," and that a strong, unique brand story, even if it's disliked by some, generates invaluable emotional engagement. She details how she uses her background in psychology and screenwriting to help owners uncover their authentic brand story, which is based on their genuine beliefs and personal characteristics, and cannot be replicated by competitors. The conversation concludes with a heartfelt discussion on the importance of being open to continuous learning, and how the hosts, as women in a male-dominated industry, have pushed themselves outside their comfort zones to share their experiences and empower others.

In part 1 of this insightful episode, Cassie and Heather welcome Mia Erichson, a partner with Wizard of Ads Marketing, to discuss her unique approach to brand-building for businesses in the trades. Mia, who has worked with major brands like Google and Dell, explains that her passion lies in working with committed, owner-operated businesses that have "skin in the game". She describes the unique structure of Wizard of Ads, where she assembles a customized team of experts to create a holistic marketing strategy that goes beyond simple advertising. The hosts share how this partnership transformed their business by aligning all their marketing efforts and giving a clear vision to their brand. They highlight the success of their brand character, Biggins the bulldog, and how mass media like radio continues to be a powerful tool for building brand recognition and driving customer loyalty in their market.

In this episode of Power Women of the Trades, Cassie and Heather interview Adi Klevit of Business Success Consulting Group, a company that specializes in creating, documenting, and implementing processes for businesses, particularly within the trades. Adi, an industrial engineer, explains that her business was founded on a "done-it-for-you" model after she saw a need for entrepreneurs who were too busy to document their own procedures.She introduces her "Freedom Formula" as the method to help business owners move from feeling overwhelmed and trapped in the day-to-day chaos to achieving true freedom. Adi highlights the importance of first identifying a clear "why" for wanting processes, such as improving employee retention or reducing callbacks, and then setting objective measurements of success. The conversation also addresses the challenges of entrepreneurs being "control freaks" and the resistance some employees have to new structures. Adi asserts that documented processes actually give owners more control through measurable outputs and help to attract a higher caliber of employee who embraces structure. Join this insightful conversation and learn how to bring order to your business, reclaim your time, and transform chaos into a clear system for growth.To get in touch with Adi visit https://bizsuccesscg.com or Adi@bizsuccesscg.com.

Join Cassie and Heather as they sit down with Jenny Benbrook, founder of Powerhouse Consulting Group, for an eye-opening discussion on optimizing your technology in the trades. With over two decades in the industry, Jenny reveals how she helps contractors go from simply having software like ServiceTitan to truly mastering it.This episode tackles common frustrations, from navigating the digital marketing shift to avoiding costly, unmanaged tech integrations. Learn how to identify redundancies, create a strategic tech budget aligned with your growth goals, and implement a plan that ensures your team is actually using your tools effectively. Jenny's core advice? Start small, understand your FSM, and avoid getting caught up in the "noise" of shiny new solutions. Tune in for practical strategies to transform your tech stack into a powerful asset.

In this episode of Power Women of the Trades, hosts Cassie and Heather chat with Ashley Tanner, Co-owner and COO of Iron Mountain Plumbing, Heating and Air in Cedar City, Utah. Ashley shares her journey from supporting her husband through his plumbing apprenticeship to co-founding their business while raising four children. Now seven years in, she opens up about the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship—especially the personal sacrifices and constant mental load business owners carry.
The discussion also explores the challenges of adding HVAC services, seasonal demand, customer misconceptions, and the pressure of always being “on” as a business owner. Ashley and the hosts also dive into the growing use of AI in marketing and operations—praising its value as a tool while warning against overuse and the risk of losing authenticity and emotional connection with customers. Ashley uses AI, especially ChatGPT, for business planning, communication, and even personal growth, like generating biblical affirmations.
Throughout the episode, the tone is honest, supportive, and raw—highlighting the real-life challenges women face in the trades, while also celebrating resilience, leadership, and community.

In this episode of Power Women of the Trades, Cassie Pound and Heather Bargender are joined by Amanda Zink, President of Air Control Home Services.

Cassie Pound is the co-owner of Quality Heating, Cooling & Plumbing in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Connect with her on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassiepound/Heather Bargender-Wavra has a broad expertise in the construction sector, focusing on specialized accounting and strategic business areas like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. Reach out to her to see how she can support your business's growth and efficiency. Connect with Heather on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-bargender-16787a13/Special thanks to our sponsors for making the show possible:Kee Hart Marketing - https://keehartmarketing.com Forrest Perry Marketing - https://perrymarketing.com Rilla - www.Rilla.com Nuve -https://www.nuvehome.comTune in to hear from more Power Women in the trades industry on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Radio Public and more! Make sure to follow us on all of our Power Women of the Trades social media accounts here:Instagram: @powerwomenofthetradespodcast https://www.instagram.com/powerwomenofthetradespodcast/ LinkedIn: Power Women of the Trades Podcast https://www.linkedin.com/company/power-women-of-the-trades-podcast/ TikTok: powerwomenofthetrades YouTube: @powerwomenofthetrades https://youtube.com/@powerwomenofthetrades?si=nYEu4oO33R-Pjf11 Facebook: Power Women of the Trades PodcastListening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Power Women of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

In this episode of Power Women of the Trades, Cassie Pound and Heather Bargender are joined by Amanda Mahaffey, co-owner of Tuck and Howell in Greenville, South Carolina. Amanda shares her unique journey from an extensive background in accounting to leading a 50+ year-old HVAC business through a complete modernization and rebrand. She opens up about the demanding transition from traditional pen-and-paper operations to implementing cutting-edge platforms like ServiceTitan, and how her financial expertise became critical in rescuing and growing a legacy company.Amanda and the hosts dig into the real story of operational turnarounds—what happens when you walk into a company assuming financial health, only to discover negative profits and massive inefficiencies. Amanda details her approach to plugging cash leaks, restructuring labor, building processes, and standing strong in the face of resistance to change. The conversation doesn’t shy away from the emotional side of leadership, discussing the tough personnel decisions leaders must make and the reality that sometimes long-standing team members will not adapt to the company’s growth trajectory.Throughout the episode, listeners will find actionable insights and relatable stories for owners, managers, and aspiring leaders in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and construction. They also cover rapid growth, imposter syndrome, building a team dynamic that works, and the importance of finding your own leadership voice—without feeling like you need to fit a stereotype. The practical advice Amanda, Cassie, and Heather share is grounded in real-world experience and will resonate with anyone charged with both the excitement and burden of growing a skilled trades business.Timestamps:04:36 Business Rebranding with Service Titan06:55 Collaborative Growth Management11:24 Identifying Changes for Profitability14:54 Scaling Business Challenges & Processes17:01 Raccoons, Repairs, and Resistance18:57 Building a Stronger Team23:30 Young Entrepreneurs in Experienced Company25:15 "Adapting to Digital Work Challenges"28:25 Leaps of Faith in Business32:16 Excited for New Business Pivot34:38 "Prioritizing Family Over Commitments"Meet Your Hosts: Cassie Pound is the co-owner of Quality Heating, Cooling & Plumbing in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Connect with her on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassiepound/Heather Bargender-Wavra has a broad expertise in the construction sector, focusing on specialized accounting and strategic business areas like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. Reach out to her to see how she can support your business's growth and efficiency. Connect with Heather on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-bargender-16787a13/Special thanks to our sponsors for making the show possible:Relentless Digital https://www.relentless-digital.comKee Hart Marketing https://keehartmarketing.comForrest Perry Marketing https://perrymarketing.comRilla www.Rilla.comTune in to hear from more Power Women in the trades industry on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Radio Public and more! Make sure to follow us on all of our Power Women of the Trades social media accounts here:Instagram: @powerwomenofthetradespodcast https://www.instagram.com/powerwomenofthetradespodcast/ LinkedIn: Power Women of the Trades Podcast https://www.linkedin.com/company/power-women-of-the-trades-podcast/ TikTok: powerwomenofthetrades YouTube: @powerwomenofthetrades https://youtube.com/@powerwomenofthetrades?si=nYEu4oO33R-Pjf11 Facebook: Power Women of the Trades PodcastListening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Power Women of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.This episode was produced and brought to you by the Skilled Trades Syndicate @ServiceBusinessMasteryPodcast https://www.servicebusinessmastery.com/