Mission Control
Podcast

New Episodes Weekly

Hosted By Michael Stearns

Presented by Ascend Digital Agency

Also Available To Listen On

Mission Control: The Blueprint for Scaling Home Service Giants

Hosted by Mike Stearns, Mission Control delivers high-velocity strategies for elite contractors ready to dominate their market. We bypass the fluff, focusing on technical systems, sales psychology, and AI-driven growth to help you navigate the flight path to eight figures with precision.

Recent Episodes

6 months ago
From Burnout to Breakthrough in Roofing!

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.

7 months ago
Family Business. Roofing Legacy.

Mike sits down with Adam Fedale, CEO of G. Fedale Roofing & Siding, a family-run company with multiple locations across the East Coast. Adam shares insights on building and scaling a business with his brothers, the challenges of mixing family with entrepreneurship, and why clear expectations and accountability are essential for success. They discuss core values, company culture, handling difficult customers, implementing effective SOPs, and leadership principles that keep 85+ employees aligned and thriving.

7 months ago
What Sets Great Contractors Apart?

Mike sits down with Brock McClelland, owner of McClelland’s Contracting & Roofing in Pittsburgh, to discuss what it takes to build a lasting company. Brock shares insights on competing in an oversaturated roofing market, maintaining standards while competitors cut corners, and keeping 30+ employees aligned under one vision. He covers the importance of educating homeowners, building company culture, and the non-negotiables that have shaped his success.

7 months ago
An Unbelievable Journey of Redemption

Mike sits down with Brock McClelland, Owner of McClelland Contracting & Roofing in Pittsburgh, for a raw conversation about his journey overcoming addiction and rebuilding his life. Brock shares how discipline helped him transform into the man, father, and business owner he is today. This personal discussion covers faith, family, fitness, and finding purpose through life’s hardest challenges.

8 months ago
The Blueprint for Building a Roofing Sales Team

Mike sits down with Jay Bradley, founder of Roof Nuts, to discuss building high-performing roofing sales teams. Jay shares strategies for hiring the right sales reps, training them to close deals quickly, and avoiding common costly mistakes that most roofing contractors make. The conversation covers cold calling, door-to-door lead generation, and proven sales training methods.

8 months ago
This Could Change Everything for Roofers!

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Nick Peret, founder of Better Boss, to discuss how AI and automation are reshaping the roofing industry. Nick shares his journey from running a lead generation company to building Better Boss and developing tools like Roof GPT that help contractors save time, increase close rates, and eliminate the stress of endless follow-ups. They explore the biggest pain points roofers face and why contractors who embrace AI tools will have a serious advantage in the years ahead.

11 months ago
The 6 Stages of Growing a Contracting Business.

Nathan Tebedo returns to break down the 6 stages of growth that every contractor business goes through — from scrappy startup to major exit. He and Mike get brutally honest about leadership, hiring mistakes, CRM implementation, and why throwing a salesperson into the mix too early can blow up in your face.

11 months ago
Why Complete Roofing Systems Is Winning!

David Hoisington and Scott Schuler from Complete Roofing Systems in Pennsylvania discuss building a roofing company that lives its values. They share hard-learned lessons from bad hires to insurance audits, and how staying close to sales teams while keeping content personal drives real impact.

11 months ago
How He Built a Following on Every Major Platform!

Brian Bartoe has built a massive following across TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and more, racking up hundreds of thousands of fans and helping countless other creators through his Beehive Network. He joins Mike to discuss how he got started during COVID, built his brand from scratch, and what it really takes to grow online in 2025. They explore the addiction of going viral, why most people quit too early, and the underrated power of consistency.

11 months ago
Lessons From 4 Decades in Sales!

With over 40 years in sales, Ken Bianchi, Executive Vice President at Safetec, shares real sales leadership insights with Mike. They discuss what makes a great sales rep, how to build high-performing teams, managing personalities alongside pipelines, compensation strategies, accountability, and how technology is reshaping sales. Packed with wisdom for anyone scaling a sales team or looking to sharpen their sales edge.

1 year ago
How He Built a Roofing Team That Runs Without Him!

Ethan Andes shares his journey building Andes Roofing from scratch, covering the mindsets, systems, and challenges that shaped his success. He discusses implementing EOS, developing core values, and creating processes that allow his roofing business to operate without constant oversight.

1 year ago
How Experts Build Sales Teams!

Mike interviews legendary sales trainer Chuck Thokey, co-founder of TOP REP, for a masterclass in sales leadership. Chuck shares strategies for building high-performing sales teams, structuring effective meetings, and coaching reps through mindset blocks. He reveals how to build winning culture and drive higher close rates without micromanaging.

1 year ago
This Is Why Texting Closes More Roofing Jobs!

Mike interviews Aaron Weiche, CEO of Leadferno, about how SMS and omni-channel messaging help service businesses and contractors convert more website traffic into closed deals. They discuss why modern consumers prefer texting over email and phone calls, the importance of fast response times, and how slow communication is killing leads. The episode also includes a website walkthrough showing design strategies to build trust and create multiple conversion paths for roofing leads.

1 year ago
She Keeps Pro Athletes in the Headlines

Mike interviews Kelly Swanson, founder of Swanson Communications, who started her PR agency with just $8,000 and went on to represent major sports figures including Floyd Mayweather for 15 years. They discuss building a business from scratch, landing first clients, scaling when your name is the brand, crisis management, and the difference between publicity and advertising.

1 year ago
Two Roofing CEOs Talk Real Growth, Real Results

Brock McClelland (Pittsburgh) and Corey Combes (Tampa) share the actual numbers and strategies behind building successful roofing companies. They discuss market shifts, the impact of consistent branding and marketing investment, and what separates growing contractors from the competition. From $800K commercial jobs to 700+ lead months, they break down what’s working in 2025.

1 year ago
From $2M to $20M: What It Really Takes!

Mike sits down with Nathan Tebedo from Contractor Coach Pro to explore the realities of scaling a roofing company from $2M to $20M. They discuss the hidden pitfalls of growth, leadership challenges, and what separates contractors who burn out from those who build sustainable businesses. The conversation covers team building, systems, and why chasing growth without intention can damage culture and profits.

1 year ago
Lessons in Leadership from Business Owners!

This special episode of The Mission Control Podcast compiles the best leadership insights from successful business owners who have built thriving companies. Learn how to manage and motivate sales teams, understand the key differences between managers and leaders, develop essential self-reflection skills, and measure effective leadership beyond just numbers.

1 year ago
The Truth About Leadership & Culture

Mike Stearns sits down with Jon Broce to discuss leadership, culture, and building teams that are truly motivated. Jon breaks down the biggest blind spots contractors face when it comes to leadership and introduces the AEP Scale (Attitude, Effort, Performance) as a measurement system. They explore delegation challenges, scaling mistakes, and the key factors that make or break company culture.

1 year ago
Fantasy Roofing Draft, Building The Perfect Company!

Mike sits down with Eric Reno, owner of Paramount Roofing in Detroit, to map out the ultimate blueprint for launching and scaling a roofing company in 2025. They dive deep into what actually works, from low-cost marketing strategies to avoiding the biggest financial mistakes that put new roofing businesses in the grave. This episode is packed with high-impact advice covering everything from GMB secrets to turning denied insurance claims into paid jobs.

1 year ago
Breaking Down 2024 Roofing Stats!

Mike sits down with Otis Floyd, owner of Paramount Roofing & Consulting in Atlanta, GA, to break down roofing statistics from 2024. They dive into the surge of new roofing companies, what separates successful roofers from lowballers, insurance challenges, hiring mistakes, and why content and branding are the future of lead generation. This episode is packed with raw, unfiltered insights that every roofing business owner needs to hear.

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