On this episode of Power Women of the Trades, co-hosts Cassie Pound and Heather Bargender-Wavra sit down with Dayna Hottle, general manager of CNC Heating and Air Conditioning out of Detroit, Michigan. Dayna shares her incredible story as a third-generation leader in her family’s residential HVAC business, which has been serving customers since 1948. Listen as Dayna talks about growing up in the trades, her journey from answering phones in high school to managing a multi-million-dollar company, and raising the fourth generation with her husband by her side.
The discussion dives deep into the unique challenges of leading and growing a family business, including navigating succession planning and buy/sell agreements, and the responsibility that comes with employing 70+ team members. Dayna opens up about maintaining family legacy, the realities of scaling a business, handling pressures from private equity, and how she’s committed to remaining family owned and operated. Also, the hosts and Dayna candidly explore the ever-changing landscape of HVAC, the unpredictability of the market, and why mastering marketing—and picking the right marketing partners—has been pivotal to their success.
03:37 Family Business Evolution Since 1948
06:48 Regrets on Business Buy-Sell Timing
12:10 Optimism Amid Economic Uncertainty
14:08 "Proactive Marketing Strategy Needed"
16:29 Effective Marketing Requires Owner Feedback
20:04 Inbound Calls Strategy Success
24:44 Learning Business Fundamentals for Success
26:56 "Staying Rooted Since 1948"
32:11 Friendship Growth and Future Events
32:49 Inspiring Connections Online
Meet Your Hosts: Cassie Pound is the co-owner of Quality Heating, Cooling & Plumbing in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Connect with her on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassiepound/
Heather Bargender-Wavra has a broad expertise in the construction sector, focusing on specialized accounting and strategic business areas like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. Reach out to her to see how she can support your business's growth and efficiency. Connect with Heather on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-bargender-16787a13/
Special thanks to our sponsors for making the show possible:
Relentless Digital https://www.relentless-digital.com
Kee Hart Marketing https://keehartmarketing.com
Forrest Perry Marketing https://perrymarketing.com
Rilla www.Rilla.com
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This episode was produced and brought to you by the Skilled Trades Syndicate @ServiceBusinessMasteryPodcast https://www.servicebusinessmastery.com/
