From Military Service to Electrical Contractor and Trades Educator: Shawn Quinn of TechTrain Solutions

Lee Killingsworth, president of Lee's Unlimited in Huntsville, Texas, was fired two days before his first son was born and decided no one would ever control his livelihood again. Almost 30 years later, his air conditioning and septic company serves about 800 clients. Lee talks about refusing the word "can't", running 227 maintenance agreements without keeping it all in his head, the ink pen test for hiring, and why you have to find your balance.

Matt Navin, owner of AAA Rooter in Berlin, Connecticut, took over the drain cleaning company his grandfather started in 1998. AAA Rooter has never paid for advertising. Matt explains how fair prices, full transparency and showing up on time keep the phone ringing, why paperwork was the hardest part of taking over, and what he tells anyone starting a trades business.

Vinny Arnese, Sr. National Sales & Product Trainer at LIXIL, shares his winding path from vocational school to the trades, and lays out his "TradeUp" philosophy for getting the next generation into skilled careers: take the first step, turn fear into energy, and don't be afraid to change direction.

Nick Friedman, co-founder of College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk & Moving, shares the story of how a beat-up cargo van and a catchy name evolved into a nationally recognized franchise with more than 200 locations and roughly $300 million in annual systemwide sales. Nick discusses entrepreneurship, franchising, building systems, leadership, technology, resilience, and his philosophy of “potential maximization.”

Joseph Lambert went from a Sandy Springs teen doing lawns and construction to building a premium junk-removal company by learning fast from failures, studying proven models, and executing better—scaling from rented trucks to ~$2.8–2.9M revenue with 8 trucks and 30–35 staff. He sold the business in early 2024 with a team-first deal that gave employees life-changing bonuses, later left his VP role in Oct 2024, and now invests in manufactured housing while exploring waste-industry opportunities—his mantra: take imperfect action and keep moving.

The “American Dream” can sometimes be an over-used and tired cliche. But Adriano Redante, co-owner of Limpia Cleaning Services in Philadelphia, PA, has dusted off and rewritten his own incredible “American Success Story.” After coming to the U.S. from Brazil with just $200 in his pocket and no English, he worked his way up from first the restaurant industry to owning a thriving million-dollar cleaning company. The “key ingredient” to the recipe of that growth was his wife, Carolina, who started Limpia Cleaning as a side-hustle to help support their family. Together, that side hustle has grown into a 14-employee operation built on hard work, resilience, and above all else, family values. The takeaway from this amazing episode of Swivl Sessions is that, sometimes, it isn’t always about where you start in life….but how far are you willing to go?

Fear can be crippling, especially for someone wanting to start a business. But for Peters Pierre-Louis, owner of AP Haulers in Philadelphia, PA — fear was the fuel to help him start a moving and junk removal company built on hustle, adaptability, and a priority on customer service. From being a private chef in New York to managing real estate and eventually hauling full-time, Peters embodies the entrepreneurial spirit. He shares how he turned a side hustle into a growing business, why fear kills more dreams than failure, and how staying consistent, managing expectations, and finding creative ways to pivot have been key to his success. In this episode of Swivl Sessions, his message is simple but powerful: just start, and keep getting better every day.

They always say “the second time around” is never better than the first. But Pablo Chavez, of Deer Park Garage Door, Houston, Texas, is proving that age-old adage wonderfully wrong. Pablo shares how his father started the business in 1999 and how he’s now leading it into a new era—embracing technology, digital marketing, and modern service practices. From late-night calls to fix stuck doors to managing a growing team, Pablo talks about the real-life challenges and rewards of running a family business. In this episode of Swivl Sessions, he discusses how staying compassionate, modernizing operations, and keeping community and care at the heart of the business, will keep the Deer Park legacy alive for future generations.

One of the hardest truths business owners deal with in entrepreneurship today is this: you can’t do it alone. Mark Hummel, of Inspector Empire Builders in Friendswood, Texas, understands that all too well. As a seasoned business coach who specializes in helping inspection companies and service based businesses grow, Mark highlights the critical importance of why having a “life vision” is paramount in personal and business growth. From setting a “#1 priority right now”, to the importance of daily huddles keeping everyone focused, he reminds us all that business growth isn’t about “grinding harder”, it’s about finding mentors and coaches and proven systems that can pave the way to success. This episode of SWIVL SESSIONS is a must-listen for any owner who’s ready to stop running in circles, and start building a business that truly serves their life.

There are two distinct types of contractors in the field service world of today. There are the client focused contractors, who align closely with what a clients vision is, prioritize his requests and specifications, no matter how trendy or predictable they may be. And they are very, very compliant. And then, there is Simon Beames, of the BRITISH REMODELER and GLASS ACT MOSAICS in Colorado Springs, CO, who doesn’t do trendy AT ALL. Or predictable. What he does instead is prioritize that which is different, exciting, and above all else, unique. In this episode of SWIVL SESSIONS, Simon explains why he refuses to chase “Instagram moments,” instead focusing on creating work that is elegant, durable, and deeply personal for each client. From the fulfillment of doing things his way, to hearing about his latest venture, Glass Act Mosaics, where he’s reviving ancient artistry with a modern twist, his advice to future entrepreneurs is simple but powerful: “Don’t be afraid to make the jump.