Building Beyond Expectations with Elena Chrimat Part 1

Building Beyond Expectations with Elena Chrimat Part 1

In this episode of Power Women of the Trades, Cassie and Kailee sit down with Elena Chrimat, co-founder of Ideal Air Conditioning and Insulation in Phoenix, who started her company at just 23 years old. Elena shares how a background in energy audits led her and her husband into full-blown HVAC and home performance work, and why properly sized ductwork and insulation matter just as much as the equipment itself. She also opens up about the everyday challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated trade, from customers who look past her to reach a man in the room to callers who can't believe a woman is running the show. It's an honest conversation about proving yourself again and again, building a 27 person company from scratch, and refusing to let outdated assumptions slow you down. Tune in now wherever you get your podcasts, you won't want to miss this one.

Building More Than a Business with Alicia Green Part 2

In this episode of Power Women of the Trades, the host sits down with a fellow female trade business owner to discuss the challenges and rewards of staying locally owned in an era of growing private equity competition. The guest shares her frustrations with PE pricing tactics and explains why community investment and employee ownership through an ESOP model matter more to her than a big buyout. A large portion of the conversation covers her in-house training academy, which uses a unique discovery week process to identify and develop apprentices across HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, achieving a 98% retention rate. The episode wraps up with a look at the company's plans to expand and formalize its electrical department in 2026.

Building More Than a Business with Alicia Green Part 1

This week on the Power Women of the Trades Podcast, Cassie and Kailee are joined by Alicia Green, owner, CFO, and COO of Go Green Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical. Alicia shares the story of how she and her husband built their company from the basement of their home into one of North Carolina's leading home service businesses, all while remaining locally owned and committed to investing in their people.

The Quotes We Keep Coming Back to This Year So Far

Some of this year's most impactful episodes of Power Women of the Trades brought together bold voices redefining what success looks like in the home services industry. From starting over and learning to wear every hat in the business, to building a ServiceTitan consulting company rooted in real trades experience, our guests didn't hold back. They challenged the "silver bullet" culture, championed empathy-driven leadership, and shared what it truly means to build a company worth keeping.  Whether you're a technician, an office leader, or just trade-curious, these conversations prove that heart and hustle belong in the same tool belt. Don't miss the moments that moved, challenged, and inspired our community most this year.

From Startup to Standout with Kelli Evans Part 2

In part two of this conversation, Kelli Evans joins Cassie and Kailee to dive deeper into leadership, team culture, and what it really means to serve people from the inside out. Kelli opens up about speaking life into your team, meeting people where they are, and why creating a culture where employees feel safe to be themselves changes everything. The conversation gets personal as Kelli reflects on overcoming self-doubt, breaking cycles, and learning not to let anyone take your confidence. From handling a high-pressure day with 90 calls on the board to requiring her leadership team to actually take time off, Kelli brings the kind of real, unfiltered insight you can only get from someone who has truly been in the trenches. If you have ever questioned whether you belong in a leadership seat, this episode is for you.