Mission Control

Podcast

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, 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 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 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 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.

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.

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 Daniel Cherniske, Co-Founder of Roof Leopard, to discuss his journey from teaching prison aquaponics to building a high-growth roofing company in Western New York. Daniel shares how he pivoted from a niche consulting background to the roofing industry, where he and his partner Willie have focused on professionalizing the trade and moving past the “Uncle’s roofing” stigma. The conversation dives into Mike’s “solutions, not excuses” philosophy, the importance of delegating production to maintain quality, and tactical sales advice—including a role-play on how to secure reviews from every prospect. From scaling standing seam metal roofing to leveraging micro-websites for lead flow, Daniel breaks down the strategies Roof Leopard is using to stay ahead in 2026.

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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 is joined by Corey Combes, owner of SouthShore Roofing & Exteriors, and employment lawyer James O’Connor from Phillips Lytle LLP. They discuss the important business decision of when to transition contractors from 1099 to W-2 employee status. James provides valuable legal insights into employment regulations that every business owner should understand.

Mike interviews Ryan Fontaine of RoofHawk about his innovative AI technology that’s revolutionizing roof inspections. RoofHawk uses AI-powered drones to fly over roofs, instantly identify damage, and communicate findings back to roofers for seamless, risk-free inspections. The technology makes roof inspections more accessible, safer, and efficient for the roofing industry.