Mission Control

Podcast

In this episode of the Mission Control podcast, Mike sits down with David Carroll, founder of DOPE Marketing, to discuss the mental evolution of an entrepreneur. David reflects on his recent trip to Chicago and shares insights on the importance of self-awareness, giving oneself credit for personal growth, and shifting away from a “grinder” mentality toward a more balanced life. The conversation touches on maintaining “equanimity” during business challenges and why leaders should focus on mental fortitude and the original “why” behind their ventures. Ultimately, David highlights that true success is the freedom to prioritize personal values, such as spending time with family, over constant productivity

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In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Kyle Weber, co-owner of Hometown Roofing Services, to discuss the business’s rapid rise since its launch in October 2022. Kyle details his transition from a repair technician to a business owner, highlighting how a reputation for being customer-facing and maintaining personal relationships fueled his initial lead flow. The duo explores the significant competitive edge gained by performing attic inspections, a practice that builds homeowner trust and uncovers hidden issues like code violations or misrouted water lines before a project starts.

Mike interviews Bradley Dillon of Virginia-based Dillon Roofing, a company celebrating 30 years since its founding by Bradley’s father. Bradley shares his journey from decade-long laborer to partner, emphasizing his efforts to modernize the business through CRM systems, digital roof measurements, and social media branding. The conversation explores the power of organic word-of-mouth growth and Bradley’s commitment to maintaining high-quality craftsmanship over rapid scaling.

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Aaron Christy to discuss the growth of Indy Roof & Restoration and the specific marketing strategies used to dominate the Indianapolis market. A major focus is placed on leveraging real estate agents as power partners to generate high-quality leads with a $0 cost per acquisition. Aaron also breaks down his Google review hacks and modern sales approaches, emphasizing character-driven hiring to avoid sleazy tactics and ensuring long-term brand trust.

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Chris Zimmerman, co-founder of Master Your Craft, where they teach contractors how to fish to proactively protect homeowners and advance the roofing industry. Chris shares his long-sighted philosophy on building a sustainable business, detailing how he pivoted his company from 90% storm restoration to 70% retail by prioritizing systems, core values, and strategic partnerships over short-term gratification. The conversation offers a masterclass in protecting your reputation and achieving long-term success in the roofing space through mastering sales psychology and strategic partnerships.

Mike sits down with Matt Grassmyer, Director of Outside Sales at HailTrace, to discuss mastering customer acquisition in roofing before, during, and after storms. Matt explains why roofing companies shouldn’t wait for weather to hit before seeking opportunities and emphasizes building brand awareness year-round. He shares strategies for using technology to monitor past customers’ neighborhoods, post-storm follow-up tactics, and creating purposeful content calendars.

Mike interviews Danny Shannon from Australia, who shares his journey from heroin addiction starting at age 15 to achieving 16 years of sobriety. Danny discusses early recovery challenges, daily accountability practices, and his therapeutic app Encapsulator, which allows users to record video messages to their future selves for personal growth tracking.

At the 2026 IRE, AJ Briley, CEO of ProLine, and Mike discuss the ‘high floor’ strategy for business growth focusing on unscalable, local work that builds strong foundations. They explore ProLine’s evolution into a conversational platform, warn against AI red flags in the current gold rush, and reveal the key filter needed before implementing new technology with customers.

Mike Stearns welcomes George Schiano, owner of Epic Exteriors in New Jersey, who shares his compelling story of launching his business six years ago after his employer cut his sales commissions. George explains how he expanded from roofing to siding, windows, and doors by fulfilling trusted clients’ requests. The conversation explores his unique sales strategies, including 48 months interest-free financing, and the importance of accountability in business.

Jeffrey Teitelbaum, owner of RST Roofing and Renovation, shares his career journey from Atlanta police detective to insurance adjuster to roofing company owner. He discusses launching his business in 2019 just before COVID-19, his organic growth strategy focusing on SEO and brand presence, and his transition to AccuLynx for better operations. Jeffrey outlines his ambitious plans to dominate his market through consistent video content and building trust with homeowners.

Mike Stearns interviews Pete McKendrick, Product Strategy Lead at Roofr, about the roofing industry’s challenges heading into 2026. They discuss strategies for surviving slow periods without storm-driven sales, the importance of business diversification into siding and gutters, and how AI-powered search engines are changing customer acquisition costs and homeowner behavior.

In this episode of Mission Control, Mike Stearns sits down with Reggie Brock, Co-Founder of Propel, to discuss how his cultural operating system predicts performance by measuring how employees think and feel. Brock argues that traditional KPIs are merely history lessons, whereas his approach focuses on early detection of emotional lags that drive 90% of workplace performance. Using his Seed and Soil analogy, he explains that businesses must cultivate a healthy environment for talent to thrive, outlining six essential conditions for a sticky culture: clarity, communication, chemistry, collision, collaboration, and contribution.

Mike Stearns sits down with Andy Keys, Owner and CEO of FoxHaven Roofing Group, for a raw conversation about what it truly takes to build an empire. Andy shares his incredible journey from battling addiction and living in his car to running massive roofing and metal supply companies. They dive into the exact strategies fueling his growth, from why hiding your prices online is costing you leads, to the absolute necessity of shooting video content even when it’s uncomfortable.

Mike Stearns interviews Pancho Serrano, founder of Roofers Going Digital, about his journey from corporate BMW in Mexico to the U.S. roofing industry. Pancho shares his transition into commercial roofing sales and the launch of his agency focused on a three-pillar LinkedIn strategy. The conversation highlights building authentic brands and maintaining networking fundamentals as AI changes the digital landscape.

Mike interviews Sheldon Murphy from TSM Roofing and Raymond Wendell Little from Perimeter Roofing about recruiting top sales talent and scaling roofing businesses. They discuss different approaches to hiring salespeople, transitioning from boss to leader in the 1099 model, and building high-performance cultures. The conversation covers why salespeople fail, motivating reps, and navigating industry challenges like insurance compliance.

In this episode of the Mission Control podcast, host Mike sits down with Michael Gogan, Vice President of Sales at Alivo, to explore how AI agents are transforming the roofing and home services industry. Gogan explains how Alivo’s AI agents, Lily and Evan, solve the critical problem of unanswered calls by handling voice calls, appointment booking, and automated text follow-ups. The discussion includes strategic advice for 2026, emphasizing efficient lead intake and building trust through localized video testimonials.

Mike sits down with Sheldon Murphy, founder of TSM Roofing in Arizona, to explore the operational realities of scaling a business and navigating the chaotic growth phase by establishing organizational clarity. They dive into a recent crisis where TSM Roofing was targeted by fake Google reviews and the exact steps they took to remove them in less than 24 hours. The episode also covers the critical importance of modernizing communication and using speed to lead strategies to capture leads 24/7.

Mike interviews David Carroll, founder of DOPE Marketing, about his remarkable transformation from spending four years in prison to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the contractor space. David shares insights on reinventing yourself, overcoming destructive habits, practicing gratitude, and the internal work required to build a meaningful business while navigating sobriety and fatherhood.

Austin Fricker, Owner and CEO of A. Fricker Roofing & Waterproofing, shares how he’s built one of the most respected roofing companies in his market through culture, leadership, and understanding key business numbers. He discusses managing chaos after storms, refining systems for growth and profit, building teams that thrive under pressure, and balancing revenue goals with healthy margins while focusing on long-term legacy over short-term wins.

Mike interviews Larry Landwher, owner of Grand View Roofing & Exteriors in New Jersey, about his journey from subcontractor to business owner. Larry shares how he overcame burnout, implemented systems that saved his business, and scaled from 11 to 34 employees in just one year. They discuss the mental challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of vulnerability and networking, and practical strategies for contractors dealing with growth and burnout.