Skilled & Scaled: The New Blueprint for Scaling with Systems, Tech, and Grit

About Skilled & Scaled: The New Blueprint for Scaling with Systems, Tech, and Grit

Skilled & Scaled is the show for business owners, especially home-service pros, operators, and founders ready to grow smarter — not harder. Presented by EMC Consulting, each episode explores how modern service and trades businesses are transforming the way they work with automation, AI, and lean systems that drive real results. From roofing and solar to cleaning, logistics, and manufacturing, today’s best operators are proving that smart systems beat brute force. They’re breaking bottlenecks, ditching manual chaos, and building companies that scale smoothly — without losing quality or burning out their teams. Through unfiltered conversations with business owners and innovators in the field, Skilled & Scaled reveals what actually works: How automation and AI free up time for growth and customer care. How data-driven systems improve lead flow, scheduling, and profitability. How lean processes and clear accountability turn chaos into consistency. These aren’t tech startups or gurus. They’re real builders who’ve learned to scale through smarter systems and gritty execution. Each story offers tactical insights, lessons learned the hard way, and proven frameworks to help you streamline operations, strengthen margins, and scale confidently. If you’re ready to modernize your business, reclaim your time, and design growth that lasts — this show is for you. No fluff. No gurus. Just real operators, real systems, and real results. Welcome to Skilled & Scaled — the new blueprint for growth powered by systems, tech, and grit.

Publisher

emc consulting

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Oct 2025

Latest episode

30 Oct 2025

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Oct 2025

   Scaling Clean Energy: Solar, Storage & EV Solutions with Russ Bates

   Show Notes Summary: Russ Bates shares his journey from IBW electrician in coal/natural gas power to leading innovation across solar, storage, EV charging, and smart poles. Explains the ”single touchpoint” project model and competitive EPC brokering for business and municipality clients. Discusses the business case for integrating solar, battery storage, EV charging-as-a-service, and smart lighting. Insights on EV market momentum, public charging, and commercial incentives, plus leveraging automation and AI for operations. Next Gen’s project process: consultation, virtual evaluation, bid scoring, contract negotiation, and project management as owner’s rep. Forecasts challenges for clean energy as incentives shift, but expects continued growth amid rising electricity demand. Advice for entrepreneurs: expect slow ramp-up, lean on your support system, and maintain your passion. Find Russ at LinkedIn (Russ Bates), email (Russ@nxtgencleanenergy.com), and nextgencleanenergy.com.

2. 

   30 Oct 2025

   Design That Sells: How Green Couch Turned Luxury Staging into a Scalable Art Form

   In this episode of Skilled & Scaled, host Erica Canzler talks with Tabatha Petersen, Managing Director at Green Couch, one of San Francisco’s most respected luxury staging firms.

3. 

   30 Oct 2025

   From Chaos to Calm: How Organize Me Built a Luxury Brand Around Life’s Transitions

   In this episode of Skilled & Scaled, host Erica Canzler talks with Janine Sarna-Jones, founder of Organize Me, and her business partner Kelly Stitch, about building a thriving luxury organizing and move-management company serving the New York Tri-State area.

4. 

   30 Oct 2025

   From Gutters to Growth Systems – How Jenna Harris Helps Home Service Owners Scale Smarter

   In this episode of Skilled & Scaled, host Erica Canzler talks with Jenna Harris, co-owner of The Brothers Gutters – Sioux Falls and founder of SmartOps Club. Jenna shares her remarkable journey from San Diego to South Dakota, where she and her husband built a thriving home-service business rooted in community, integrity, and systems.

Jenna dives into her dual role as both business owner and coach, explaining how she helps other contractors escape the “owning a job” trap and build companies that can scale without burning out.

5. 

   30 Oct 2025

   Healing at Home: How Felix & Fido Is Revolutionizing Pet Care with In-Home Veterinary Nursing

   In this episode of Skilled & Scaled, host Erica Canzler interviews Ellyse Bacelic-Grgic, Registered Veterinary Technician and founder of Felix & Fido—a fast-growing platform connecting credentialed vet techs with pet owners for prescribed in-home medical care.

6. 

   30 Oct 2025

   Raise the Roof: How Mr. Roofing Is Blending Tradition and Tech to Scale Smarter

   In this episode of Skilled & Scaled, host Erica Canzler talks with Mark Schmidt, President of Mr. Roofing, a second-generation, 36-year-old Bay Area roofing company known for its craftsmanship, integrity, and innovation.

7. 

   30 Oct 2025

   The Changing Face of Energy: How Solar YYC Is Powering Alberta’s Next Boom

   In this episode of Skilled & Scaled, host Erica Canzler talks with Brett Bauman, VP of Sales & Marketing at Solar YYC, about how his team is scaling renewable energy across Alberta—one of the fastest-growing and most complex markets in North America.

8. 

   30 Oct 2025

   Closets, Chaos & Courage: How Dana Nuesca Built Two Franchises (and a Stronger Marriage)

   In this episode of Skilled & Scaled, host Erica Canzler talks with Dana Nuesca, co-owner of The Tailored Closet and Premier Garage of San Diego, about what it takes to run two complementary home-improvement franchises—and a marriage—without losing your sanity.

9. 

   30 Oct 2025

   Building Trust, One Repair at a Time – Brett Shaw on Growing House Doctors in Oklahoma

   In this episode of Skilled & Scaled, host Erica Canzler sits down with Brett Shaw, owner of House Doctors Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Brett opens up about his decade-long search for the right franchise, why he chose home services over food, and how he’s navigating the challenges of building trust in Oklahoma’s competitive market.

They discuss the realities of starting a business from scratch, the balance between corporate franchise support and local independence, and how tools like ServiceTitan and automation have become essential to his daily operations. Brett also shares candid lessons on patience, persistence, and why “time will either work for you—or manage you.”

10. 

    30 Oct 2025

    Turning Trash into Power: How EcoRich Is Reinventing Food Waste Recycling

    In this episode of Skilled & Scaled, host Erica Canzler talks with Manish Desai, founder and president of EcoRich Food Waste Solutions, about how his company is changing the way the world thinks about food waste.

Contact Skilled & Scaled: The New Blueprint for Scaling with Systems, Tech, and Grit

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.