Automation isn’t the future—it’s happening right now. The question is: will you dominate with it, or be dominated by those who do?

In this high-energy Can’t Stop the Growth showdown, Chad Peterman goes head-to-head with Tommy Mello to tackle one of the hottest topics in home services: automation. From call centers to lead follow-up, recruiting, and customer experience, you’ll hear exactly how the industry’s top leaders are leveraging AI and automation to scale faster, serve better, and protect their culture.

Here’s what you’ll take away from this conversation:

• Speed to Lead = Speed to Cash – Why contacting customers within 60 seconds changes everything

• Automation Protects Culture – Tools that reduce chaos while empowering your people

• Measure What Matters – Focusing on booked calls, conversions, and retention over vanity metrics

• Small Wins Stack Fast – How market leaders test, tweak, and iterate daily

👉 Want the full Automation Playbook from this event? It’s available exclusively inside The Arena. Join today and grab your copy: https://cantstopthegrowth.com

Connect with Chad:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-m-peterman/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chadmpeterman

Learn more about: Chad Peterman - https://chadmpeterman.com/

Peterman Brothers - https://www.petermancareers.com/

The People Forward Network - https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/

Key Takeaways:

• Automation Is About Efficiency, Not Replacement
  AI isn’t here to take jobs—it’s here to make your people more efficient, freeing them up to focus on problem-solving and customer care.

• Speed to Lead = Speed to Cash
  Contacting a lead within 60 seconds can 4x your chances of booking. After five minutes, conversion drops sharply.

• Customer Experience Can Be Automated Without Losing the Human Touch
  Chad’s “owner handshake” videos show how automation can scale personal connection and protect company culture.

• Recruiting Needs Automation Too
  Automated follow-ups with tech applicants increase engagement and keep the pipeline full, even when candidates respond after hours.

• AB Testing Is the Secret Weapon
  Tommy stressed that no automation is “set it and forget it.” Constant testing and tweaking can double results.

• Don’t Chase Every Shiny Tool
  Start small, focus on one business problem, and find the right partners to implement practical solutions.

• AI in Call Centers Is a Game-Changer
  At Peterman Brothers, 40% of calls are now handled by AI, freeing CSRs to focus on high-value conversations and boosting booking rates.

Want a fresh perspective on how trades transform lives and communities? Start here.

In this special edition of Around the Campfire, Katie Donovan sits down with Ann Hill, President of African Children Today, and Richard Mutaawe, ACT’s on-site Program Director in Uganda. Together, they share how education, entrepreneurship, and trades training are creating lasting impact in one of the world’s hardest-hit regions.

From schools where every child finishes primary education to carpentry shops, welding programs, and local businesses that sustain jobs, this conversation highlights the universal power of the trades to change futures.

For HVAC, plumbing, and electrical leaders, it’s a reminder that the same values that grow your business—commitment, skill-building, and perseverance—are the very things that can transform communities worldwide.

Additional Resources:

Learn more about African Children Today

Connect with Katie Donovan on LinkedIn

Follow Camp Digital on LinkedIn

Learn more about Camp Digital

Join The ARENA - a CSTG Community (powered by our media partner, PeopleForward Network)

Chad on LinkedIn

Chad Peterman | CEO | Author

Peterman Brothers Website

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• Trades = Transformation – Carpentry, welding, and vocational skills lift entire families out of poverty.
• Education That Delivers – Every ACT student completes primary school, compared to 1 in 10 nationally.
• Small Business, Big Impact – Local bakeries and shops create jobs and fund schools.
• 100% to the Mission – A zero-overhead model ensures that every U.S. donation goes directly to Uganda.
• Shared Values = Shared Growth – The same principles that fuel trade business success in the U.S. are transforming communities abroad.

Every HVAC, plumbing, and electrical business hits the same wall: material costs balloon, trucks run short, and cash flow becomes unpredictable. In this episode of Can’t Stop the Growth, Chad Peterman sits down with Dave Wigder, co-founder of Ply, to explore how contractors can take control of their inventory and purchasing to unlock massive growth.

Dave shares how Ply was built to give contractors visibility into their warehouses, trucks, and purchasing, while eliminating dead stock, wasted billable hours, and costly supply runs. He also explains how AI and supplier integrations are changing the future of materials management.

If you’re leading a service business and want to stop losing money due to inefficiency, this conversation will provide you with the playbook to scale smarter.

Additional Resources:

Dave on LinkedIn

Learn more about Ply

Join The ARENA - a CSTG Community (powered by our media partner, PeopleForward Network) Chad on LinkedIn
Chad Peterman | CEO | Author
Peterman Brothers Website
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• Materials Eat Profits – For many contractors, 20–35% of revenue goes to materials, yet most lack visibility or control over that spend.
• Data Beats Gut Decisions – Centralizing purchasing and inventory data allows contractors to be proactive, avoid last-minute supply runs, and unlock supplier discounts.
• Dead Stock Is a Hidden Tax – Unused parts in trucks and warehouses quietly erode cash flow. Ply’s system helps uncover and eliminate it.
• Billable Hours Are Gold – Every supply house run can cost six figures annually across multiple techs. Smarter inventory keeps techs in the field.
• AI Is the Future of the Trades – From voice-driven field requests to automated replenishment, AI is reshaping how contractors manage their operations.

Ever find yourself gearing up to prove you're right... instead of being curious? Andrew Hasty throws some metaphorical (and literal) darts at the ego 🎯

He unpacks Commitment #2 from “The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership”: Learning Through Curiosity. With help from Ted Lasso, personal stories, and a few dartboard metaphors, Andrew explores what happens when we stop trying to “know it all” and start wondering, “What am I missing?” 🤔 You’ll hear why “drifting” into defensiveness is totally normal, and how the real power lies in shifting back to curiosity.

Whether it’s navigating silos, leading teams, or just having better conversations, this episode is packed with insight, self-awareness, and a whole lot of real talk. If you're ready to lead with less judgment and more wonder, this one’s for you.

Additional Resources:

Join The ARENA - a CSTG Community (powered by our media partner, PeopleForward Network)

Chad on LinkedIn

Chad Peterman | CEO | Author

Peterman Brothers Website

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• Shift from being a "knower" to a learner by asking, “What am I missing?”
• Drifting is normal. What matters is how quickly you shift back.
• Curiosity breaks down silos and builds trust.
• Ego seeks validation; learning seeks understanding.
• Ask questions like “Tell me more” to lead with curiosity.

What if the darkest chapters of your life were the very thing that prepared you to build something extraordinary? In this episode, Ryan and Justin sit down with Chad Terrinoni, the powerhouse behind Hummingbird Heating & Cooling.

Chad’s journey takes us from the chaos of addiction and jail time to building a multi-million-dollar HVAC brand that’s changing lives. His story is raw, real, and filled with lessons on resilience, rebranding, and the relentless mindset it takes to win in business and in life.

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn pain into purpose, this conversation is one you won’t forget.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Chad on LinkedIn

Learn more about Hummingbird Heating & Cooling

Listen to Win Your Mind, Win Your Market

Join The ARENA - a CSTG Community (powered by our media partner, PeopleForward Network)

Connect with Justin on LinkedIn

Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn

Learn more about Chiirp!

Connect with Chad on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• Rebranding is an identity shift, not just a name change.
• Discipline and mindset drive success.
• Releasing shame creates freedom to grow.
• Pain can be transformed into purpose.
• Fulfillment comes from helping others, not just profit.

Strong systems and great talent only go so far. Lasting success in home service businesses comes down to one thing: leadership. In this episode, Sean Glaze, speaker, author, and team-building expert, joins Chad Peterman to share powerful lessons from his book “What Effective Leaders Do”.

Discover how culture is shaped one conversation at a time, why staying coachable is the key to growth, and the practical steps leaders can take to build trust, confidence, and high-performing teams.

Whether you’re leading a growing HVAC, plumbing, or electrical company—or any service-based business—you’ll walk away with actionable strategies to improve your culture and create more effective leaders at every level.

Additional Resources:

Sean on LinkedIn

http://toolboxstuff.com

Learn more about https://stickycultures.com/

Join The ARENA - a CSTG Community (powered by our media partner, PeopleForward Network)
Chad on LinkedIn
Chad Peterman | CEO | Author
Peterman Brothers Website

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• Why culture is always a symptom of leadership
• The three ways leaders grow: reflection, feedback, and coaching
• How to shift from focusing on stuff, to staff, to yourself
• The 3 pillars of trust every leader must build
• Why praise and progress drive performance more than pressure

From $1M to a 500+ person home service powerhouse—Chad Peterman, President & CEO of Peterman Brothers and host of Can’t Stop the Growth, takes the guest seat in this special “tables turned” episode of AI Trade Talk.

Chad shares exactly how his team scaled across 11 locations in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, the strategies behind rapid growth, and why call center performance is the #1 growth lever in the trades. He also breaks down real-world AI applications that improve booking rates, boost efficiency, and drive revenue, without increasing marketing spend.

If you’re ready to work smarter, serve better, and grow faster in the home service industry, this conversation is packed with actionable insights you can implement today.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Brad on LinkedIn

Ready to Chat Smarter? Grab Your Free ZyraTalk Demo!

Learn more about Zyratalk

Join The ARENA - a CSTG Community (powered by our media partner, PeopleForward Network)

Chad on LinkedIn
Peterman Brothers Website
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• How to balance acquisitions vs. greenfield expansions
• The marketing “secret sauce” for driving quality leads
• Why call center performance is the #1 growth lever
• Practical AI use cases that deliver real ROI in the trade

What if the moment that broke you became the moment that built you? In this episode of “To the Point”, Chris and Chad welcome Sean Crane, founder of Unstoppable 365, whose journey from addiction and prison to elite leadership coach is nothing short of transformational.

Sean shares how a defining moment in isolation led him to take radical ownership of his life, and how that decision became the foundation for a purpose-driven mission to help business leaders become unstoppable in every area of their lives.

This conversation is a masterclass in the power of discipline, daily habits, and the courage to become who you were meant to be.

Additional Resources:

Listen to the original episode!

Learn more about To the Point

Join The ARENA - a CSTG Community (powered by our media partner, PeopleForward Network)

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

Chad on LinkedIn

Chad Peterman | CEO | Author

Peterman Brothers Website

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• Transformation begins with taking full ownership of your life.
• Mental and physical fitness go hand in hand.
• Health is a business advantage, not an afterthought.
• Vulnerability and self-reflection drive growth.
• Daily habits create unstoppable momentum.