Episode 226 — From Gang Life to Growth Mindset: How Michael Keith Built Cal Coast Pest Management

Landscaping has long carried a rough-and-ready reputation — trucks with branches sticking out, stained shirts, and crews that “get the job done” but don’t always look the part. Brian Hatfield set out to rewrite that story. The Blue Collar Twins, Jason and Jeremy Julio, sit down with the President of ByDesign Landscapes to unpack how he built a brand where clean fleets, crisp uniforms, and elevated service weren’t nice-to-haves — they were the strategy.  Brian started cutting lawns with his father, worked for top New Jersey competitors, and saw firsthand how the image of the industry held companies back. In 2005, he launched ByDesign with one goal: prove landscaping could look, feel, and operate like a top-tier contracting business. Today, with 235 employees across multiple divisions, ByDesign’s presentation has become its calling card.  From spotless trucks to professional sales teams to premium installations backed by warranties, Brian explains why presentation isn’t cosmetic — it’s a competitive advantage. And with long-tenured leaders like Jesús steering operations, the culture behind the brand is every bit as strong as the visual identity.  🎧 A masterclass in brand discipline and operational pride — showing how elevating the image of an entire industry starts with elevating your own.

Most people in pest control don’t start their story in county jail — but Michael Keith did. The Blue Collar Twins, Jason and Jeremy Julio, sit down with the founder of Cal Coast Pest Management to hear how he went from a violent upbringing in South San Diego to building one of the most respected pest companies in the region. After doing time at 18 and cutting ties with his past, Michael bounced through jobs until a community college class introduced him to pest control — and the structure he’d been missing. From Joshua’s to Clark to hands-on mentorship, he built the skills that ultimately launched Cal Coast. Today, Cal Coast serves 900+ customers, employs eight team members, and holds a seven-year government contract. Michael shares how Muay Thai, emotional-intelligence training, and Stoic philosophy shape his leadership — and how strong culture and word-of-mouth drive 73% of his growth. 🎧 Hear how he went from gang life to KPIs and built a culture his team never wants to lose.

From history teacher to CEO, Dan Peltz never planned on becoming an entrepreneur — but when he saw a gap in how young adults with special needs were supported after graduation, he built something extraordinary. This week, the Blue Collar Twins, Jason and Jeremy Julio, sit down with the founder of Shift New Jersey to uncover how a simple idea turned into a statewide service helping thousands — and ultimately, a multi-million-dollar acquisition. Dan shares how he launched Shift with no business experience, survived losing his investors just six months in, and scaled the company to 40+ employees and over a thousand clients served each month. He opens up about leadership lessons from the front lines — building systems, hiring for personality over experience, and surrounding himself with mentors who kept him grounded through growth. Now serving as Director of Organizational Effectiveness for the company that acquired Shift, Dan reflects on what it takes to balance impact with income — and why sometimes the right move isn’t to double down, but to step back.

What starts with a $400 window job in college turns into a 21-year power washing powerhouse. This week, the Blue Collar Twins, Jason and Jeremy Julio, sit down with Freddie Hodge, founder of Clearview, to unpack how a family business built on hustle, humility, and heart became one of New Jersey’s most respected exterior cleaning brands. From cleaning windows with his dad on weekends to running an eight-truck operation with 26 employees, Freddie’s story is a blueprint for persistence. He shares how a single newspaper ad launched his career, why his wife’s obsession with systems changed everything, and how a focus on team retention and culture helped him achieve a 95% return rate in a seasonal business. Freddie breaks down his approach to hiring slow, firing fast, and building careers—not just jobs. He dives into training, tech, and the role of VAs and AI in keeping operations running smoothly. And he reveals how he turned challenges—like COVID shutdowns and seasonal slowdowns—into growth opportunities through consistency, creativity, and community. 🎧 Tune in to hear how a college side hustle grew into a multimillion-dollar company—and why Freddie believes real success isn’t about the next contract, but the team you bring with you.

What do a CrossFit gym, a frozen yogurt shop, and an ice cream parlor have in common? Jay Vigilante. This week, the Blue Collar Twins, Jason and Jeremy Julio, sit down with the serial entrepreneur who proves that saying “yes” and figuring it out later can build a life most people only dream about. From overcoming addiction in his early twenties to owning three thriving businesses on the Jersey Shore, Jay’s story is raw, real, and relentlessly motivating. He shares how community, creativity, and curiosity became his secret weapons — turning a struggling gym, a $30,000 yogurt shop, and a for-rent ice cream store into profitable, family-run operations. Jay opens up about the power of second chances, the stress of employees, and why his definition of success has nothing to do with Ferraris — and everything to do with family, freedom, and fun. 🎧 Tune in to hear how a few bold bets, a lot of heart, and one simple rule — say yes more than you say no — shaped a life built on grit, growth, and good ice cream.

When most people hear “ROX Rocks Heating and Air,” they don’t just remember the tune — they remember the brand. This week, the Blue Collar Twins, Jason and Jeremy Julio, sit down with Jason Stenseth, President of Prime Home Services Group, to unpack how $400, a beat-up truck, and a $60 jingle grew into a thriving portfolio of home-service brands. From working in his father’s HVAC shop at age 12 to acquiring and scaling multiple companies, Stenseth’s story is pure blue-collar brilliance. He reveals how bold marketing moves, community-first outreach, and a focus on profit over size powered his growth — and how systems, service plans, and strong teams keep it all running.  Tune in to hear how one catchy jingle, a few gutsy risks, and relentless drive transformed a small shop into a lasting brand built on grit, creativity, and customer loyalty. Show links: From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com

Dominic “DJ” Mazza walks through how a third-generation New Jersey scrap and demo outfit became one of the region’s most diversified recycling platforms—spanning transfer stations, a single-stream MRF, mulch & bagging, roll-off and commercial collection, scrap, concrete, and more. The Blue-Collar Twins dig into capital intensity, acquisitions (Liberty/Bull), building a professional management layer, and why process, cost accounting, and tech are DJ’s real superpowers. You’ll hear: How a Big Four CPA ditched fluorescent auditor rooms to scale the family business with cousin Jimmy.The “feed your own transfer station” move: launching roll-off & commercial collection to control inbound.Building a state-of-the-art single-stream MRF and a Scotts mulch bagging line—plus what they’d do differently.Buying right: Liberty & Bull, when to keep local brands, and bringing in an A-player COO from Waste Management.Valuation reality in waste/recycling, why the industry is capital- and compliance-heavy, and where DJ’s building next. Show links: From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps 00:00 – Cold open: capital-intensive ops, team size, and early acquisitions (Liberty/Bull) 00:49 – Intros; first waste/recycling guest on the Buzz 01:32 – BU → Deloitte CPA years; why auditing felt like “double-checking” not building 02:36 – Back to the family business; the 1964 roots and grandfather’s original operation 05:12 – The cousins’ plan: DJ + Jimmy begin shaping the next chapter 07:24 – From local scrap to regional platform; footprint across New Jersey and greater Philly 07:46 – Exiting demolition to focus: redeploying time/capital into scalable lines 09:15 – “Feed the transfer station”: launching roll-off with a truck and ten cans 10:32 – New bagging plant: producing Scotts mulch for Home Depot/Lowe’s in the Northeast 11:17 – Inside the single-stream MRF: optical sorters, PET capture, and why the facility’s different 12:59 – Why processing costs are high; plant capex and how the permit strategy started (cardboard → full stream) 15:08 – Touring plants, picking vendors, and what they’d change in hindsight 15:41 – Size, scope, and staying privately owned; leading a 250-person team 18:45 – Property bets from the ’80s and how real estate underpins growth 25:22 – Business lines roll-call: transfer stations, MRF, mulch/topsoil, scrap, concrete, tires, roll-off & commercial routes 27:17 – Open to the public; marketing mix and in-house director driving search & demand 31:20 – M&A integration: DJ runs diligence/legal, Jimmy runs deal sourcing; adding a seasoned COO 32:47 – Valuation talk, regulatory moat, and why scaling takes management depth 35:24 – Planning horizon, pivots, and what it takes to double again 38:03 – Hours & throughput: accepting to 5pm, processing to 10pm; hiring/keeping A-players

Founder Arturo Lewin unpacks the drayage grind behind U.S. imports—how Alliance Worldwide Logistics Corp grew from a two-truck hustle into a reliable intermodal carrier by obsessing over turn times, chassis and free-time clocks. The Blue-Collar Twins dig into pricing discipline (detention/demurrage/accessorials), owner-operator recruiting, port/rail expansion, and the culture/tech stack that keeps containers moving when everyone else is stuck at the gate. You’ll hear: Port Playbook: dispatch, pre-pulls, and the free-time math that saves customers from five-figure D&D bills.Pricing That Holds: accessorials, fuel, per-diem, and how to educate shippers without losing the relationship.Fleet Strategy: balancing company rigs with owner-ops, safety incentives, and dedicated lanes.Ops Backbone: TMS + ELD + GPS + EDI, photo proof at every milestone, and real-time customer updates.Expansion Moves: port to rail ramp, inland hubs, and when to say no to the wrong freight.People & Culture: training dispatchers to think in “minutes and miles,” not just loads and rates. Show links: From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps 00:00 – Cold open: “In drayage, the meter starts the second the box hits the ground.” 00:48 – Intros: who Arturo serves and what Alliance Worldwide Logistics does 02:10 – Origin story: first port run, first customer, and the early two-truck lessons 05:20 – What shippers miss: demurrage vs. detention vs. per-diem explained in plain English 07:15 – The free-time clock: pre-pulls, storage, and when paying yard fees beats D&D 10:05 – Rate integrity: accessorials that keep you alive (and how to present them) 12:40 – Fleet mix: owner-operators, company trucks, and safety incentives that actually work 15:30 – Turn-time obsession: appointment windows, gate queues, and chassis availability 18:25 – Tech stack: TMS, ELD, GPS photos, and EDI status codes customers care about 21:10 – Port → rail: adding inland ramps and choosing the right 3PL/BCO partners 24:30 – Recruiting & retention: why dispatcher quality keeps drivers loyal 27:45 – 2020–2021 lessons: congestion playbook and the “never again” SOPs 30:20 – Saying no: freight that looks good on paper but kills your day 33:00 – Building culture: minutes and miles mentality; daily huddles that prevent fire drills 36:10 – What great shippers do: clean paperwork, quick unloads, and shared calendars 39:00 – Advice to founders: know your numbers, guard the clock, and protect your lanes 41:30 – Close: what’s next for Alliance Worldwide Logistics and where Arturo is placing bets

Skye LaJaunie joins the Blue-Collar Twins to unpack how she moved from salon owner to visionary at LaJaunie’s Pest Control, why EOS transformed her leadership, and how the Eagles Nest peer groups are forging courageous, accountable operators. From door-knocking with her family to doubling goals and navigating the next wave of regulation and tech, Skye lays out a clear, people-first path to scale. You’ll hear: How Skye shifted from integrator to visionary—and why disciplined meetings changed everything.The origin of Eagles Nest peer groups and the “feedback is a gift” covenant that drives real results.Women in leadership: turning “different” into a superpower and finding mentors across the industry.Daily cadence: 4–5 a.m. starts, meditation, yoga, and staying out of the office to empower leaders.Future lens: drones, smart traps, and why regulation may force evidence-based applications.Growth plan: doubling the business while keeping purpose, clarity, and culture at the core. Show links: From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps 00:00 – Cold open: “Entrepreneurs and leaders make the world better—by showing up.” 00:50 – Intros and early story: salon owner → service entrepreneur → pest business partner 02:30 – Counting doors at age 8: the money/operations curiosity that never left 04:10 – “Be better to do better”: mentors, books, and servant leadership 06:45 – EOS enters the chat: L10s, IDS, and hiring a pro implementer 10:55 – Roles evolve: from Jared’s integrator to Skye as visionary with an integrator under her 13:40 – Women in pest: why being “different” opened doors and accelerated mentoring 18:50 – Eagles Nest: structure, radical accountability, and measurable growth 26:00 – Purpose over shiny objects: clarity, focus, and saying no to distractions 31:30 – Daily habits: 4–5 a.m. routine, yoga, meditation, task mastery 34:45 – Why grow now: doubling as a way to expand people, capacity, and impact 39:30 – Tech & regulation: smart traps, IPM, and the shift away from calendar apps 42:30 – Acquisitions: two small buys and lessons learned 45:30 – Wrap: staying positive, empowering leaders, and writing “The Writer” book next

From a wrong-number job interview to running two Bay Area branches and finally launching his own shop, Josh Fleenor lays out how Pest Pros grew from two trucks to a regional force—anchored in multifamily, a “whatever it takes (the right way)” culture, and promoting leaders early so the company can scale without breaking. You’ll hear the origin story, the first-year sprint to $747k, the blue-ocean play in property management, and how hugs, hard conversations, and clear guardrails keep the team winning year after year. You’ll hear: The misdial that led to pest control, five years at Clark, and the leap after a dissolved partnership.Why multifamily became the beachhead—and how value + pricing flipped “dirt-cheap” accounts into real margin.The year-one LinkedIn blitz, $700k booked in property management, and testing channels by turning Google off.Culture in practice: “no excuses, find a way,” hugs and vulnerability, and guardrails so “whatever it takes” doesn’t burn families out.Hiring slow for core values, promoting early to build leadership layers, and a structure that rotates HQ leaders into satellite offices.Tech & tools: cautious AI (great for SOPs, not for phones—yet), contests, and experiences that bond the team. Show links: From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps 00:00 – Cold open: “Whatever it takes”—and why the team hasn’t missed an annual goal in 7½ years 01:00 – Origin story: the wrong-number interview that led to pest control; Clark → Bay Area branch leadership 04:45 – “Meant for more”: deciding to go all-in on the industry 08:00 – Partner plan dissolves; Josh launches Pest Pros with two trucks and a people-first vision 11:55 – Year one: LinkedIn property-management push and $747k produced by December 13:50 – Headwinds: SPB complaints, Yelp shutoff, and finding the blue-ocean in multifamily 16:30 – Pricing for value (not “dirt-cheap”); personal connection as the wedge 18:45 – Financial lumps and learning—what he’d do differently 19:45 – Leadership layers: promote early so managers can practice accountability 22:00 – Morning routine, boundaries, and defining what “whatever it takes” does—and does not—mean 24:50 – Channels & testing: billboards, TV, referrals; turning Google off to see what’s real 28:10 – Expansion map: Concord HQ, Yuba City, Roseville; “own NorCal” before jumping farther 30:40 – Rebuilding a misfiring satellite office around core values; HQ leaders rotate in monthly 33:00 – Production targets: $1,400–$1,500/day per truck—without 12-hour burnout days 36:30 – Culture mechanics: hugs, vulnerability, Kings-arena party, Tahoe yacht, contests 42:45 – Hiring for values; when a “maybe” hire isn’t a culture fit 44:00 – AI today: SOPs/emails yes; phones not yet—protect the experience 47:00 – Imperfect reps > perfection; posting, writing, and getting better on camera 49:30 – Parenting and adversity: giving his daughter the space to earn her own stripes 51:10 – Closing: mentorship, masterminds, and a people-first vision for the next chapter