The Power of Community and Networking in Business Expansion
Release Date: 04/15/2025
From Startup to Acquisition: Mehdi Khachani’s Playbook for Sustainable Business Growth
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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How Chuck Worley Grew His Business from $300k to $17 Million
The Kee To Growth
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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Why Mindset Matters Most for Growth: Marketing Wisdom with Jennifer Bagley
The Kee To Growth
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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The Power of Relationships: Lawrence DeHart’s Secrets to Scaling a Service Company
The Kee To Growth
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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Preparing for Exit: Marketing, Operations, and Mistakes to Avoid in Home Services
The Kee To Growth
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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The Power of Mindset: Fueling Your Brand and Business Growth with Sandy Papavero
The Kee To Growth
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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From Leads to Jobs: The Ryan Fenn Way with Automation
The Kee To Growth
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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Building a Standout Brand in HVAC: Social Strategy Lessons from Ashley Lynds
The Kee To Growth
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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Key Strategies for Building Audience and Brand Visibility with Tim Brown
The Kee To Growth
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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How Family Values Drive Success at Abbott Family Insurance
The Kee To Growth
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 episode of the Kee to Growth Podcast, Jen McKee sits down with Derek Cormier, founder of Climate Experts, to explore the innovative strategies that have propelled his business to success. Derek shares his journey from being a police officer in South Florida to diving back into the trades, ultimately leading to the establishment of his own HVAC company. He highlights the importance of grassroots marketing strategies, community involvement, and building strong referral networks in the early stages of Climate Experts. Derek's focus on customer care and incentivizing referrals played a significant role in consistently doubling the business's revenue annually.
Derek also dives into his approach to marketing, including the decision to diversify his marketing efforts by partnering with specialized experts instead of relying on a single marketing company. He shares how this strategy allows him to hold each individual accountable and maintain a comprehensive view of marketing results. The discussion also covers Climate Experts' distinctive branding journey, featuring their unique mascot, Chili the penguin, which has become a recognized symbol in their community.
A major highlight of the episode is Derek's shift to leveraging Home Depot partnerships and expanding Climate Experts' services with additional trades such as plumbing and electrical. These decisions have helped maintain a steady flow of leads even in tightening market conditions. Recognizing the importance of employee investment, Derek shares insights into the Climate Experts Academy apprenticeship program, which focuses on training culture-fit individuals rather than experienced personnel, yielding strong team growth and satisfaction.
Finally, Derek discusses the impact of video marketing and social media on recruiting talent and engaging the community. By creating innovative and engaging content, Derek has been able to not only attract potential customers but also secure top-tier recruits for his expanding team. Jen and Derek also touch on the power of having clear goals and understanding one's customer base to drive successful marketing initiatives.