The Role of Mentorship in Marketing Success: Insights from Quality's Leaders
Release Date: 02/11/2025
The Kee To Growth
In this episode of The Kee to Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Mehdi Khachani, CEO and founder of Sunny Bliss, to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to scale in the home services industry. The episode kicks off with Mehdi’s story of spinning a plumbing division out of his residential remodeling company and boldly rebranding and expanding the business in under a year. Jen and Mehdi dig into the messy middle between vision and execution, challenging the notion that growth requires waiting for the "perfect" moment. Instead, Mehdi shares how embracing rapid, calculated...
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In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Chuck Worley for an inspiring, no-nonsense conversation about building a business rooted in personal branding, community, and character. Chuck shares his remarkable journey from growing up in a military town and struggling with school challenges, to breaking through industry stereotypes and scaling Whirley’s from a small, struggling company into a $17 million local leader in home services. Chuck and Jen dive deep into the “messy middle”—the real-life detours of entrepreneurship that don’t get talked...
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In this episode of the Kee to Growth podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Jennifer Bagley, CEO of CI Web Group, for a fascinating deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of digital marketing, AI-enabled websites, and the ongoing digital transformation in the home services trades industry. Jennifer shares her journey from a background in global supply chain and enterprise systems to becoming a pioneering voice in digital marketing for home services. Her approach reflects a unique blend of data-driven strategy, relentless education, and an entrepreneurial spirit focused on learning and...
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In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Lawrence DeHart, founder and owner of De Hart Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling in Manhattan, Kansas. Lawrence shares his journey of building a thriving home services business from the ground up against all odds, starting with nothing but determination, a $20 box of business cards, and a focus on relationship building. The conversation unfolds with raw honesty, covering the realities of entrepreneurship and how the messiest beginnings often lay the strongest foundations. Lawrence reveals that authentic growth is less...
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In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Gregg Schonhorn of SF&P Advisors for a refreshingly candid conversation about marketing, branding, and what truly drives the value of a home services business. Gregg, who brings decades of Wall Street experience and a current role matching sellers and buyers in the trades, shares firsthand insights into what makes some companies stand out during a sale—and how marketing plays a much larger role than most owners realize. Forget the “overnight success” talk. Gregg and Jen break down what actually moves the...
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In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Sandy Papavero, Director of Sales and Marketing at CEO Warrior, to unpack the often-overlooked connection between mindset and marketing success for business owners in the trades. The conversation starts with Sandy’s unique journey flipping houses alongside her dad, navigating both blue-collar grit and white-collar strategy—a story that ultimately led her to roles in finance, entrepreneurship, and even coaching at Tony Robbins. Sandy shares how her immersion in mindset work, from timeline therapy to neuro-linguistic...
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In this episode of the Kee to Growth podcast, host Jen McKee, founder of Kee Hart Marketing, sits down with Ryan Fenn, CEO and founder of Chiirp, an automation tool built to help home service businesses convert more leads into booked jobs. Ryan shares the origin story behind Chiirp, which began with his own windshield repair business and a realization about the power of immediate text follow-ups to convert online leads. This episode explores how automation tools like Chiirp transform the home service industry by closing the critical gap between lead generation and actual job bookings. Jen and...
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In this episode of the Kee to Growth podcast, host Jen McKee, founder of Kee Hart Marketing, sits down with Ashley Lynds, the creative mind behind HVAC Ash and current Director of Education and Brand Management at Viper (Refrigeration Technologies). Together, they dive deep into the intersection of B2B marketing, personal branding, and influencer strategies within the trades, specifically looking at what's driving growth for brands in the HVAC industry. Ashley shares her journey from navigating sales during COVID-19 to building an authentic and impactful social media presence, revealing how...
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Welcome to the latest episode of Kee to Growth Podcast with your host, Jen McKee. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of home services marketing with our special guest, Tim Brown, CEO and founder of Hook Agency. With a wealth of experience in marketing for the trades, Tim shares his journey from roofing marketing to expanding into HVAC and plumbing, and the strategic insights he gained along the way. This conversation is packed with valuable tips on leveraging video content, optimizing SEO, and harnessing the power of branding to drive business growth. Tim discusses how video content...
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In this episode of the Kee to Growth podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Matthew Abbott, cofounder of Abbott Family Insurance, to dive into the world of internal marketing in the trades and how offering employee benefits can transform recruitment, retention, and company culture. Matthew shares his unique journey from growing up in a blue-collar, trades family, serving in the military, and rising through the ranks in the home services industry before launching his family-run insurance agency focused on tradespeople. With firsthand experience in both trades operations and benefits brokering,...
info_outlineIn this engaging episode of the Kee to Growth podcast, host Jen McKee is joined by guests Cassie Pound and Kailee McCrary from Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electric in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The conversation kicks off with introductions and sets the stage for an insightful discussion about how to grow a trades business beyond the conventional approaches. Cassie expands on her journey from managing marketing herself to recognizing the need for Kailee's expertise in driving their marketing efforts. They top it off with the importance of finding the right talent to address marketing bottlenecks for business growth.
Delving deeper into their dynamics, Cassie and Kailee share the innovative strategies that have catapulted their company into success. From starting a billboard campaign that celebrated local milestones by putting people's faces on billboards to embracing a disruptive radio campaign that featured their beloved shop dogs, the duo walks us through their ideas for creating a cohesive brand across various marketing platforms. These marketing initiatives serve as excellent examples of out-of-the-box thinking that resonate with their community and elevate their company’s visibility.
As the conversation unfolds, Kailee discusses the key aspects of her role as a Director of Marketing and reflects on her favorite project: fostering vibrant social media engagement with their team and community. Her dedication is clearly visible in the polished execution of the brand’s vision. Cassie emphasizes the significance of mentorship and timing in scaling their marketing operations, crediting her collaboration with Kailee as a cornerstone of their company's brand success. They both highlight the crucial elements of trust and culture in promoting an environment that encourages creativity and forward-thinking.
The episode wraps up with a glimpse into their podcast initiative aimed at connecting and supporting local business owners in Tulsa. Cassie and Kailee's enthusiasm and commitment to community engagement extend to their podcast, offering valuable insights and collaboration opportunities for other small business owners. Jen acknowledges the impactful journey of both guests and invites listeners to explore more resources through various social media connections and podcasts.
Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Introduction by Jen McKee
[00:00:49] Guest introductions and marketing roles
[00:02:08] Recognizing bottlenecks and hiring Kailee
[00:03:11] Community engagement and marketing consistency
[00:05:57] Balancing work with community events
[00:08:54] Innovative billboard campaign success
[00:12:46] Unique radio campaign featuring shop dogs
[00:18:28] Favorite projects and achievements in marketing
[00:23:03] Creating the Tulsa Talks Business podcast
[00:24:47] Implementing out-of-the-box marketing strategies
[00:27:07] Exploring additional marketing insights
Meet Your Host: Jen McKee Jen McKee is the founder of Kee Hart Marketing & Events, specializing in award-winning social media strategies for trade services. With expertise in content creation and personal branding, she helps businesses forge authentic connections with their audiences. As the host of the "Kee to Growth" podcast, Jen simplifies marketing strategies and empowers businesses to thrive. Tune in for actionable insights and inspiring stories to elevate your brand! Connect with Jen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.hartman.73/ or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-mckee-72114824/
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The Kee to Growth Podcast is Powered by: Kee Hart Marketing, the social media company for the trades. Learn more at www.keehartmarketing.com
This episode was produced and brought to you by the Skilled Trades Syndicate @ServiceBusinessMasteryPodcast https://www.servicebusinessmastery.com/