Contractors Toolbox

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto is joined by Roofing and More Marketing Manager Sawyer Guinn to discuss the impact a CCN Membership has had on him and to learn how Roofing and More is using AI in its business.   Sawyer reveals a troubling decrease in set rate at the beginning of 2025 and what actions he took to address the issue. You'll learn who Roofing and More partnered with to improve its set rate to over 90%, the role of Artificial Intelligence in their marketing department, and some key benefits of AI that might not have crossed your mind.   This episode is ideal for contractors that are considering implementing AI into their businesses but haven't yet taken the leap, or for those exploring alternatives to their current AI-powered solutions.

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto is joined by Cilio Technologies CEO & President Rick Olejnik. Rick defines workflow management and identifies inefficiencies he sees among most contractors in this area. You'll learn how poor workflow management directly impacts your bottom line, customer satisfaction, and your company's reputation, and the steps you can take to avoid these issues. This episode is ideal for contractors that are looking to scale their businesses but need to improve workflow processes in order to achieve their growth goals profitably. 

Marcus Sheridan, author of "They Ask, You Answer" and "Endless Customers" joins CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto for this information-rich episode of the Contractors Toolbox Podcast. Marcus will be the keynote speaker at CCN's Spring Conference in Miami from April 24-27, 2025 in Miami.    As a world-renowned communication expert, author, and keynote speaker, Marcus helps brands, sales teams, and leaders build deeper human connections and establish more trust with their audiences. With over 13 years of experience in the speaking industry and 23 years as an entrepreneur, Marcus has honed his craft as a master communicator, helping individuals and organizations transform the way they connect, engage, and influence. His expertise has been tactfully applied across a diverse range of subjects including Sales, Leadership, Marketing, AI, personal development, and trust.   In this episode, you'll learn why companies are struggling with acquiring new customers and what they can do about it, why contractors should talk openly—and be transparent—about pricing, take a deep dive into Marcus' four pillars of trust, and much, much more. This is an episode you can't miss!

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto is joined by Structurely Co-Founder & Chief Innovation Officer Nate Joens. This is Nate's second time on the program. Nate shares whether AI can be used to build a call center for a company of your size, when the time is right to begin building a call center, the best balance between human call center reps and AI reps, how your call center should be handling aggregator or new form leads and old or rehashed leads, and much more. This episode is ideal for contractors that are ready to grow their call centers, but don't know the best approach for where they are right now. Get answers by listening to this episode of the Contractors Toolbox Podcast!

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto talks with Celebration Marketing Founder & Owner David Michaelson. David has been in the direct mail advertising industry for more than 30 years and has extensive experience helping home improvement companies generate leads and close more sales. You'll learn about the benefits of several personalized targeted direct mail programs, including neighborhood proximity mailings and new mover mailers. Plus, you'll find out ways in which contractors are using website visitor retargeting to create killer marketing campaigns that generate low-cost, high-quality leads. This episode is ideal for contractors that are looking for new lead sources or seeking step-by-step directions on implementing direct mail campaigns that help you dominate your local market.

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto talks with Revin AI Head of Revenue Daniel DeMatteo. Daniel shares his insights on how home improvement and home services companies can best deploy AI in their businesses and what it could look like over the next 24 months. You'll learn about the increasing role of AI in call centers and which elements of a call center should be left to humans, the top ways to communicate with today's customers, and receive an update on the TCPA one-to-one consents laws. This episode is ideal for contractors who are on the fence about trusting AI-based technologies and for those who want to learn more about how AI can help you efficiently scale your business.

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto talks with the creator of Ultimate Rainmaker Lead Generation Services & Rehash Program, Alan Michael. Alan has been in the home improvement industry for 40-plus years and has helped contractors accumulate more than $150 million in additional sales. You'll learn how contractors can add 10-20% in revenue without paying more for leads, best practices and keys to making rehash programs successful, and mistakes to avoid when implementing rehash into your home improvement business. This episode is ideal for contractors who want to close more sales with leads they've already paid for in a market filled with uncertainty.  

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto talks with SMA Support Services Director of Ideas & Revenue Chris Diroll. Chris reveals some of the biggest challenges contractors face when it comes to communicating effectively and efficiently with clients. You'll learn how to improve workflows and discover the key metrics contractors should track to ensure their customer experience is delivering 5-star results. This episode is ideal for small to medium sized home improvement contractors that have considered outsourcing client communication tasks but don't know where to get started and how beneficial it can be to your bottom line and productivity.

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto is joined by CCN VP Gary Cohen for a discussion on the importance of building a community or network of peers in the home improvement industry. Being a business owner can feel like a lonely existence. Gary and Drew talk about ways in which Certified Contractors Network fosters community and collaboration among business owners who are experiencing many of the same issues and obstacles. Gary highlights CCN's three annual conferences as steppingstones to business success and growing one's network. Drew concludes the episode with a special offer for guest contractors to attend the CCN INNOVATE 2025 Winter Conference from January 9-12, 2025. 

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto is joined by Ken Kelly. Ken took over his family business—Kelly Roofing—in 1993 and grew it to $50 million in annual revenue and 300+ employees. He sold the business in 2020 and retired at the age of 47. Ken shares his expert insight on how to properly grow a contracting business, including tips on what businesses at different revenue levels need to focus on most, five rules for growth he learned from Elon Musk, the importance of discipline, five keys to growing your people, and much more.  This episode features takeaways for home improvement contractors with revenue at $1 million, $5 million, $10 million, or $20+ million.