Lifted: The Garage Door Podcast
Claim This Podcastby Blair Witkowski
Podcast Overview
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Lifted: The Garage Door Podcast</strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;">The garage door industry has stories worth telling — and this is where they’re told. <a href="https://blairwitkowski.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hosted by Blair Witkowski</a>, <a href="https://thegaragedoorpodcast.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lifted: The Garage Door Podcast</a> dives into the people, businesses, and real-world lessons behind one of America’s hardest-working trades.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Each episode features conversations with installers, owners, and industry pros who are building strong companies, serving their communities, and keeping doors moving literally. From family-run operations to large regional teams, we talk about what it takes to grow, lead, and stay competitive in today’s changing market.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">You’ll hear real talk about leadership, marketing, hiring, burnout, and what makes a great team tick. Whether you’re a technician, business owner, or just someone who loves seeing a job done right, this podcast is for you.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">No fluff, no corporate jargon, just honest stories, practical advice, and a whole lot of pride for the trades.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
11/6/2025
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Recent Episodes
April 13, 2026
Ep #13 | Sean Gelvin | How a One-Man Garage Door Company Gets Customers (Real Marketing That Works)
This episode is a real look at what it actually takes to build a garage door business from the ground up. In Episode #13 of Lifted – The Garage Door Podcast, Blair Witkowski sits down with Sean Gelvin of Gelvin Garage Doors in Omaha, Nebraska. Sean started his company with just $10,000, a truck, and a willingness to figure it out—and today, he’s running a one-man operation that consistently generates calls without relying on big ad budgets or complicated systems. Instead of chasing every new marketing trend, Sean focused on what works: yard signs, local visibility, Facebook groups, and building a reputation that drives word-of-mouth referrals. This conversation dives into the practical side of running a small garage door business, including the challenges, the trade-offs, and the strategies that actually move the needle. You’ll also hear an honest discussion about pricing in the industry, what separates professionals from “chuck in a truck” operators, and what new business owners should expect when starting out. If you’re a garage door contractor—or any home service business owner—this episode is packed with real-world insight you can apply immediately. 🔧 In This Episode: Starting a garage door business with limited resources Simple marketing strategies that generate real calls How yard signs and local platforms still outperform digital ads The role of word-of-mouth in long-term growth Pricing differences across the industry The realities of running a one-man service business 🎧 About the Podcast: Lifted – The Garage Door Podcast features real conversations with garage door professionals, business owners, and industry experts. No fluff—just honest insights, proven strategies, and lessons from the field. 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on Lifted? If you run a garage door company and have real experience to share, I’d love to have you on the show. Reach out here:https://thegaragedoorpodcast.com/be-a-guest/
March 16, 2026
Ep# 12 | Housecall Pro Cofounder Roland Ligtenberg on AI and the Future of the Trades
In this episode of Lifted: The Garage Door Podcast, Blair Witkowski sits down with Roland Ligtenberg, cofounder of Housecall Pro, for a fascinating conversation about AI, automation, and what’s coming next for home service companies. Housecall Pro has grown into one of the most widely used platforms in the trades, helping power more than 50,000 service businesses and supporting hundreds of thousands of technicians across the United States and Canada. With more than 100 million jobs processed through the platform, Roland and his team have a unique view into how contractors actually run their businesses—and where many of them are unknowingly leaving money on the table. During the conversation, Roland explains why some of the biggest problems contractors face today are surprisingly simple: missed phone calls, unoptimized schedules, slow follow-ups, and systems that still rely on paper, spreadsheets, and disconnected tools. We also dive deep into how AI is beginning to change the day-to-day operations of service companies, from answering calls and booking jobs to marketing, customer follow-ups, and even collections. Roland shares how Housecall Pro is building AI tools designed specifically for the trades, helping contractors automate the work they don’t enjoy so they can spend more time doing what they’re best at. Blair and Roland also discuss: • Why missed calls remain one of the biggest lost revenue opportunities in home service• How inefficient scheduling leaves empty space on technicians’ calendars• The rise of AI receptionists and automated job booking• Why financing options can dramatically improve closing rates• The importance of remarketing to past customers• How AI will reshape office work in the trades over the next few years One of Roland’s most memorable takeaways from the conversation is a simple but powerful reminder: “Everything you see today is as bad as it’s ever going to be.” In other words, the technology is only going to keep improving—and the companies that embrace it early will have a significant advantage. If you run a garage door company or any kind of home service business, this episode offers a rare inside look at where the industry is headed and how new tools can help contractors run smarter, more profitable operations. Watch this episode on YouTube Learn More About Housecall Pro https://www.housecallpro.com Connect with Roland Ligtenberg Roland can be found online or reached directly through Housecall Pro. About Lifted: The Garage Door Podcast Hosted by Blair Witkowski, Lifted explores the garage door industry through conversations with installers, entrepreneurs, and leaders shaping the future of the trades. Each episode dives into real stories, business strategies, and the challenges contractors face every day while building successful companies.
March 12, 2026
Ep# 11 | Thomas Holly | From Craigslist Side Hustle to a Real Garage Door Company
In this episode of Lifted: The Garage Door Podcast, Blair Witkowski talks with Thomas Holly of Hollywood Garage Doors, serving the Chattanooga area and North Georgia. Thomas has spent more than three decades in the garage door industry. He started out in commercial doors as a welder and fabricator, eventually moving into residential work on the side while still working a full-time job. What began as a simple Craigslist side hustle slowly grew into something much bigger. Over time, the demand kept increasing. More service calls, more installs, more referrals. Eventually the math became obvious — the garage door work was paying better than the day job. In 2016 Thomas made the leap and turned Hollywood Garage Doors into a full-time business. In this conversation, Thomas shares what it was really like building a company from the ground up with minimal overhead, starting with a beat-up service truck, a ladder, and a handful of loyal customers who kept calling him back. We also talk about the importance of local networking, including how BNI chapters, community involvement, and word-of-mouth referrals continue to drive a large portion of the company’s work today. While many contractors chase digital marketing and paid ads, Thomas explains why personal relationships and community presence have been far more valuable in his market. Other topics in this episode include: • How a side hustle can turn into a full-time garage door business• Why keeping overhead low early on can make or break a new company• The role networking groups like BNI play in generating steady referrals• How CRM software like Jobber is helping modernize operations• Why some digital marketing efforts don’t always translate into real jobs• How garage door technology has changed over the past 35 years• The reality of running a service business where the phone can ring anytime Thomas also shares honest advice for anyone thinking about starting their own garage door company, including the realities of long hours, customer service expectations, and the hustle required to build a reputation in a competitive market. If you enjoy hearing the real stories behind how garage door companies get built, this episode delivers plenty of insight from someone who has lived it. Connect with Thomas Holly Hollywood Garage DoorsChattanooga, TN & North GeorgiaWebsite: https://hollywoodgaragedoors.com • Think you’d make a great guest? Apply to be on the show: Guest Application Link• Need SEO for your garage door company? Learn more: GarageDoorSEOExperts.com• Learn more about Blair Witkowski: https://blairwitkowski.com/• Follow Lifted on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegaragedoorpodcast• Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube
13 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Lifted: The Garage Door Podcast?
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Lifted: The Garage Door Podcast</strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;">The garage door industry has stories worth telling — and this is where they’re told. <a href="https://blairwitkowski.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hosted by Blair Witkowski</a>, <a href="https://thegaragedoorpodcast.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lifted: The Garage Door Podcast</a> dives into the people, businesses, and real-world lessons behind one of America’s hardest-working trades.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Each episode features conversations with installers, owners, and industry pros who are building strong companies, serving their communities, and keeping doors moving literally. From family-run operations to large regional teams, we talk about what it takes to grow, lead, and stay competitive in today’s changing market.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">You’ll hear real talk about leadership, marketing, hiring, burnout, and what makes a great team tick. Whether you’re a technician, business owner, or just someone who loves seeing a job done right, this podcast is for you.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">No fluff, no corporate jargon, just honest stories, practical advice, and a whole lot of pride for the trades.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Information about guest appearances is not available.
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