In this episode of Power Women of the Trades, join co-hosts Cassie Pound and Heather Bargender-Wavra as they dive into an engaging conversation with Vicky Heydon, the General Manager of Southwest Plumbing, Heating, Air, and Electric. Broadcasting from the heart of the Greater Seattle Market, Vicky shares her journey from corporate operations in non-sexy industries to becoming a powerhouse in the trades. Her unique perspective on finding the right company fit over industry-specific experience hits home as she highlights the flexibility of skills like sales and marketing across fields, and how they positioned her for success in the trades.
Cassie, Heather, and Vicky explore the grit it takes to build high-performing teams, focusing on how Vicky's leadership style embraces change and encourages pivoting as the market evolves. The episode also covers her strategic expansion into HVAC and electrical services, touching upon the importance of investing in apprentices and the benefits of cultivating a workforce that fits the company culture. Vicky’s passion for professional development shines through, as she discusses the value of engaging directly with staff and continuously refining processes to remove barriers.
Listeners will be inspired by discussions on leadership agility in the trades, the power of investing in your team, and the necessity of adapting quickly to stay ahead. Vicky’s dedication to creating a thriving company culture while maintaining operational efficiency offers valuable insights for anyone in the industry. Tune in to hear her vision for Southwest’s future and how her proactive approach is driving success.
Time Stamps: 0:00 - Introduction to Vicky Heydon’s episode. 0:20 - Vicky shares her background and journey into the trades. 2:06 - Sales and marketing experience across industries. 3:04 - Transition from VP of Operations to General Manager. 5:00 - Expanding to include HVAC and electrical divisions. 5:56 - How hiring the right people fuels growth. 7:20 - Residential vs. commercial focus. 9:40 - Daily operations as a GM. 10:56 - Morning huddles and winning as a team. 13:05 - Addressing common issues post-huddle. 15:11 - The flexibility to pivot business strategies. 17:40 - How market changes demand quick adaptations. 19:28 - Leading with stability and focus during market shifts. 21:00 - Professional development and staff engagement. 26:32 - Challenges and opportunities for growth at Southwest.
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/
