In this podcast episode of Titan Talks, host Jonathan Stern interviews Rick Doria, owner of Centex Pressure Washing in San Marcos, Texas. Rick shares his professional journey, starting as a pressure washer vent hood tech while in college in 2003 then working his way up under the guidance of the previous owner. After 18 years working in another role, Rick returned to Centex when offered to buy the business which he significantly improved, expecting a 50% profit increase within the first year. He shares that the secret to his success is building a culture of respect and mutual accountability in his team, considering them co-workers not subordinates. Now, he aims to expand his business to become a one-stop-shop for kitchen needs, but is challenging himself not to grow the business too quickly. His advice to other entrepreneurs is to move step by step, taking on and improving one thing at a time.

In this episode of Titan Talks, Joe Hennessey, the owner of Hennessey Landscaping, shares his journey of starting his business. Hennessey’s passion for landscaping began in his early teens, providing lawn care and snow removal services in his neighborhood. After initially losing interest and attempting a different career path post-college, Joe reignited his passion for landscaping and eventually established Hennessey Landscaping in 2019. The company faced growth challenges, including a trial and error phase and adapting marketing strategies. Joe emphasizes the significance of digital marketing and having a robust online presence for growth. He experienced a substantial learning curve regarding business management beyond the classroom, highlighting the importance of investing in marketing and customer acquisition.

In this episode of Titan Talks, Tanner Mullen shares his journey from working with his dad as a painter to growing his painting business and becoming the founder of DripJobs, a software platform for home service professionals. He discusses his interest in technology and automation, which led him to develop DripJobs. He also shares his experience building and improving the software, including the journey to find a CTO and the responsibility he feels toward supporting the 600 companies that use his platform. At the end of the show, he discusses his vision for the future of trades and the role of technology companies in enabling that future.