This week on Trades Talk, Justin White sits down with Mark Pyrah, cofounder of Peak Landscaping, to explore how focus, humility, and disciplined execution fueled one of Portland’s most respected commercial landscape companies.

Mark shares how he went from estimating jobs at night to building a company that now pulls in over $16 million a year with a reputation built on relationships, reliability, and real results. From the early days of door-knocking to navigating recessions and scaling leadership, his story is a roadmap for sustainable growth.

In this episode:

• The strategic move from install to maintenance and what that unlocked

• Why Peak only hires account managers with people skills, not plant knowledge

• How strong partnerships and clear vision guide every major decision

• What Mark’s planning now to hit the next level in 2026 and beyond

Whether you're starting from scratch or scaling past $10 million, this one is packed with insight from a leader who’s done both; and is still climbing.

In this week’s update Justin takes listeners into three important topics shaping the future of the trades as we head toward the end of the year. He opens with a reminder to pause, reflect, and appreciate the impact we make on our teams, our communities, and the people who count on us.

Justin shares what he is learning from skip level one to ones and why these conversations help leaders stay grounded in the day to day reality of their companies. He explains the questions he uses, the traps to avoid, and why listening without jumping in to fix things creates stronger cultures.

He also gives a behind the scenes look at his recent meetings with several private equity firms. With billions of dollars looking for a home in the landscape and service industries, he talks candidly about how owners should think about valuation, timing, and the sameness he sees in many PE strategies.

Finally he revisits one of the hottest topics in the industry, electric equipment. Justin breaks down why electrification is accelerating, how robotics and AI are reshaping what is possible, and why teams who make the shift early will have an advantage when autonomous equipment becomes mainstream.

Justin closes with an invitation to share the episode with someone who would benefit, and encourages listeners to reach out with guest ideas or to join the show.

This week on Trades Talk, host Justin White sits down with Diego Lopez, brand strategist and founder of 153 Studio, for a deep dive into the power of branding that puts people and purpose first.

In this episode, Diego breaks down:

• Why branding is not your logo, it’s how your clients feel • How to align story, operations, and values across every touchpoint • The critical mistake companies make trying to serve everyone • How internal silos erode external trust • Why marketing should force operational introspection • The branding opportunity on social media that most contractors are missing

Diego shares examples from the trades, explains how companies can stop faking "luxury" and actually deliver it, and shows why your team, not your font, is your brand.

If you want to build a business that attracts the right clients, earns deep trust, and reflects your true values, this one’s for you.