Mission Control

Podcast

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.

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 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.

Mike interviews Tim Brown of Hook Agency about strategies to reduce lead costs for roofing companies. They discuss Google Ads optimization, website improvements, keyword strategies, structured sales funnels, and customer psychology techniques to maximize marketing ROI.

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Tim Brown, Founder and CEO of Hook Agency, to discuss their top five predictions for contractor marketing in 2025. They explore the growing influence of artificial intelligence, the evolving role of SEO in the digital landscape, and forward-thinking strategies to help contractors stay ahead of the curve.

Mike sits down with Mike Blumenthal, a leading expert in Local SEO and Google Business Profiles, to explore the evolving digital landscape. They discuss Google’s changing local search algorithms, ranking factors for Google Business Profiles, and how new players like Apple and ChatGPT are disrupting the industry. The conversation covers why local SEO is changing, the impact of fake reviews, and the growing importance of brand signals and user behavior in search visibility.

Mike interviews Travis Harvego from Roofle about the future of roofing estimates. Travis shares his 10+ years of contracting industry experience and discusses how Roofle’s software generates roofing estimates directly on contractor websites. The conversation covers finding the right customers, business budgeting, training processes, and roofing industry events.

Mike sits down with Nick Peret, CEO of Better Boss, a company revolutionizing the construction industry with Fractional CTO services. They dive deep into the evolution of the roofing industry, tackling why some resist change and how to overcome common challenges. From optimizing CRMs and managing time effectively as a business owner to spotting red flags when hiring agencies, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

Mike interviews Dmitry Lipinskiy, CEO of Directorii, about innovating the contracting industry. Dmitry discusses how he connects manufacturers, contractors, and homeowners while helping major construction brands reach their target audiences. They explore topics including accountability in the industry, staying humble, balancing business and family values, and effective marketing approaches.

Mike interviews Nick Capobianco from Roofr about how their platform transforms roofing businesses through automation and instant estimation tools. They discuss the benefits of Roofr’s technology for roofing companies and explore marketing strategies to increase traffic. The conversation covers automation importance, content creation, and practical steps companies can take to improve their business operations.

Mike chats with Ashley Seebald, Content Editor and Proofreader at Ascend, about crafting engaging, SEO-driven content that gets results. They explore content creation best practices, common pitfalls to avoid, and the evolving role of AI in content creation. The conversation covers AI’s benefits and challenges, plus what the future of content might look like for creators.