In this inspiring episode of The Trades Podcast, hosts Jeff Mudd and Danny Torres talk with Levi Torres, President and Owner of High Five Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, and Electric. Levi shares how he took his roots as a second-generation plumber and built one of Denver’s most dynamic service companies.

The conversation highlights High Five Plumbing’s unique culture, which emphasizes positivity and customer connection through the power of a high five. Levi also explains the company’s strategic expansion into HVAC and electrical services, their innovative training programs (including virtual reality for apprentices), and the importance of grassroots marketing in achieving growth.

Beyond business, Levi talks about the company’s deep commitment to community—donating over $145,000 to local nonprofits—and his long-term vision of becoming a national brand.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why a simple high five creates a lasting customer experience
• How High Five Plumbing transitioned into HVAC and electrical with strategy and purpose
• Why training programs and VR tools are critical for developing skilled technicians
• How grassroots marketing and culture drive long-term business growth
• The importance of giving back and building a community-focused brand
• Levi’s vision for scaling High Five Plumbing nationally

Jeff and Danny dive into conversation with David Bitan of Bumble Roofing. They cover how David built Bumble not just to be another roofing company, but one that stands out through customer experience, innovation, and community philanthropy. Listeners will hear about the early days, scaling through fancy tech tools, quality control, recruitment, and the importance of making promises you can keep.

What You’ll Learn:

How Bumble Roofing uses technology for fast, accurate roofing quotes (AI + satellite imagery) Business RadioX ®+2Entrepreneur+2

Why “white glove” service matters in roofing, and what that means in practice Business RadioX ®+1

Lessons from scaling via franchising and partnering with Empower Brands without losing identity PR Newswire+1

How giving back (e.g. donating to nonprofits per new roof) builds purpose and trust LinkedIn+1

The mindset required to lead in a fragmented industry where most roofing businesses are small and local Business RadioX ®+1

Bumble Roofing website: Learn about their services, customer promise, and company values

David Bitan LinkedIn: David Bitan, CEO of Bumble Roofing — insights on his journey and business philosophy LinkedIn

PR Newswire Article “Bumble Roofing Joins Forces with Empower Brands”: about their acquisition and expansion strategy PR Newswire

Business RadioX Interview “Disrupting the Roofing Industry: David Bitan’s Vision for a Better Customer Experience”: for deeper insight into how he’s shaping his brand’s service and growth.

In this episode of the Trades Podcast, hosts Danny Torres and Jeff Mudd interview Brian Huff, CEO of Midwest Technical Institute and Delta Technical College. They discuss the importance of skilled trades, particularly welding, and the growing demand for workers in these fields. Brian shares his journey from a welder to an educator, emphasizing the need for job placement and employer-focused education. The conversation also touches on the skills gap, the importance of soft skills, and the changing perceptions of trades in the education system. Brian provides insights into the future of the trades, the value of trade education, and advice for parents and students considering a career in the trades.

Takeaways

• Job placement is crucial for trade education success.
• The demand for skilled tradespeople is increasing.
• Welding is a vital skill with numerous job opportunities.
• The skills gap in the trades is urgent and growing.
• Soft skills are becoming increasingly important in trades education.
• Trade education is often more affordable than traditional college.
• A good work ethic can lead to career advancement in trades.
• The perception of trades as a second-tier option needs to change.
• Automation in trucking is still a long way off.
• The trades are foundational to the economy and society.

Midwest Technical Institute (MTI)
Website: www.midwesttech.edu
Phone: (888) 709-8324
Locations: Illinois and Missouri
Contact Page: https://www.midwesttech.edu/

Delta Technical College (DTC)
Website: www.deltatechnicalcollege.com
Phone: (866) 733-6652
Locations: Mississippi and Arkansas
Contact Page: https://www.deltatechnicalcollege.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Trades Podcast

03:01 Brian Huff's Journey in Welding and Education

05:52 The Growing Demand for Welders

08:50 The Skills Gap and Job Opportunities in Trades

11:43 Connecting Education with Employment

14:47 The Importance of Job Placement in Trade Education

17:48 The Future of Trucking and Automation

20:43 Changing Perceptions of Trades as a Career Path

24:06 The Eisenhower Moment and Vocational Education

25:53 The Shift in Education: Gen Z and Trade Skills

30:07 The Role of Educators in Trade Schools

32:23 The Importance of Soft Skills in Trades

34:18 The Essential Nature of Trades in Society

36:39 Becoming a Good Worker: The Key to Success

40:55 Opportunities in the Trades for Veterans and Young Adults

46:00 The Bright Future of Trade Careers

Description:
Jeff and Danny talk with Jeremy Logsdon, who co-founded Preventive Pest Control in 2002. He discusses how he turned early hustle, door-to-door sales, and a boots-on-the-ground mindset into a business that now spans nine locally operated branches. Jeremy also shares how leading people, not just solving pest problems, became the critical skill that made his business thrive.

What You’ll Learn:

The unconventional start that led Jeremy into pest control

How early lessons on leadership and persistence shaped his business ethos

Strategies for building a company through adversity rather than avoiding it

Why the “people side” of the business must be prioritized alongside operations

How a steadfast mission—preventing problems before they occur—guides service quality

About Jeremy Logsdon and Preventive Pest Control: A look at their growth from Texas to California and beyond Medium Preventive Pest Control

Preventive’s Service Guarantee and Locations: Locally owned branches, service offerings, and the “Preventive Guarantee” that builds trust Preventive Pest Control+1

Join Jeff and Danny as they sit down with April Edwards, the skilled marketer behind Deck Builder Marketers. With a keen focus on deck building contractors, April walks through how she helps them grow with targeted strategies—from ranking higher in Google to generating consistent leads and crafting marketing systems that work.

Why specializing in deck builder marketing unlocked growth and clarity for April’s business

How being easy to find online—especially by ranking #1 for the right keywords—drives real results

How April’s team uses AI, Google Business Profiles, SEO, PPC, and more to boost exposure

Case examples of quick wins, such as clients ranking dominant in their local markets

The value of systems that support long-term growth—without sacrificing authenticity or quality

April Edwards is the CEO of Deck Builder Marketers. With experience in art, commercial design, and marketing since 2004, she found her stride by focusing on deck builders—making her agency one of the first full-service firms built solely for this trade. She’s passionate about helping contractors grow, scale, and thrive through marketing that works.

Deck Builder MarketersNADRA

Deck Builder Marketers Overview & Free Strategy Session: deckbuildermarketers.com/april-edwards
Deck Builder Marketers

AI’s Role in Deck Builder Marketing: April’s insights on adapting to AI marketing trends for trades businesses
Deck Builder Marketers

How April Scaled a 7-Figure Agency: Niching for clarity, systems, and recurring growth
Seven Figure Agency

In this episode, Jeff and Danny talk with Ryan Gladwin, Lead Instructor at Love’s Truck Care Academy—a specialized, paid, accelerated training program for diesel technicians. They discuss how Love’s designed the program to blend classroom instruction and hands-on experience, equipping new technicians to handle 11 heavy-duty systems and graduate as capable, confident Level 5 technicians.

LinkedIn Ryan Gladwin https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-gladwin-a77556282/

Key Takeaways:

Insight into Love’s Truck Care Academy curriculum and training philosophy

The value of paid, accelerated training for future diesel technicians

The positive impact of structured, skill-based learning on safety, confidence, and retention

Career transformation through intentional instruction

Why a technician’s mindset and training quality matter just as much as tools

Love’s Truck Care Academy Overview, including curriculum and training model Love's

Industry-Recognized Training Value: Graduates start as Level 5 technicians and receive a $3,500 tool kit after one year

Jeff and Danny explore financial planning strategies for service business owners with Chad Hufford, founder of Veritas Wealth Management. Chad discusses his background, his coaching-first approach, and how he creates custom financial blueprints that help trades professionals reach long-term goals with less stress.

What You’ll Learn:

How Chad combines coaching, planning, and financial education to serve clients

The role of holistic financial strategies—not just investment—in business success

Why clear long-term goals ease financial anxiety and drive better decisions

How market tools like SmartVestor Pro guide client growth and trust

Why financial clarity is just as vital as operational excellence

Guest Bio:
Chad Hufford is a financial planner and founder of Veritas Wealth Management, based in Anchorage, AK. He launched his firm in 2007 and founded Veritas in 2014. As Alaska’s longest-tenured Dave Ramsey SmartVestor Pro, Chad blends teaching, athletics, and finance into a powerful coaching practice that supports families and business owners nationwide veritasalaska.com

Financial Planner

chad@veritasalaska.com

(907) 561-2462

Veritas Wealth Management: Learn more and start a conversation veritasalaska.com

Chad Hufford’s Bio & Background: Dive deeper into his journey and values veritasalaska.com Veteran on the Move

Episode Summary
Jeff and Danny talk with Nate Seeley of BlueSoft about the steps needed to build a website that actually drives business. Nate highlights how they support small service businesses through digital marketing systems, Google Business Profiles, CRM guidance, and web strategies built to get results.

What You’ll Learn

Why tracking real metrics (calls, form sends, keyword ranks) matters more than vanity stats

The importance of foundational digital assets like Google Business Profiles

Thoughtful CRM and website design practices that you can implement now

How BlueSoft helps business owners remain accountable to their marketing performance

Guest Bio
Nathaniel “Nate” Seeley is Founder and Owner of BlueSoft, a web design and digital marketing agency serving the construction and service-based industries. With nearly two decades of expertise, Nate excels at turning websites into powerful marketing engines for contractors. BlueSoft

BlueSoft Websites: https://bluesoftwebsites.com

• Phone:(623) 204-0767
• Monday-Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM MST

About Nate Seeley: Meet the Founder

Better Business Bureau Profile: BlueSoft BBB

Google Business Profile Tips: Google’s Official Guide