5 • 1.4K Ratings
🗓️ 23 May 2025
⏱️ 57 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! Today’s episode is a powerhouse roundtable featuring Ismael Valdez and Dustin Van Orman, two giants in the trades game who have each scaled service businesses to over $100 million in revenue. They join Chris and the team to talk about the real impact of private equity in the trades, the myths, the opportunities, and how the right mindset and sales driven culture can launch your business from $2M to $100M+. If you’ve been skeptical, or scared about private equity, this episode might just change your mind.
Highlights:
“AI won’t replace the trades. People still want humans in their homes.”
“The loudest voices attract the most labor.”
“We don’t have an information problem. We have an accountability problem.”
“You’re not selling out. You’re building up.”
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome & Introductions
03:12 From Zero to $108M: Ismael’s Growth Story
08:30 The Private Equity Boom in Trades
13:10 Tackling the Labor Shortage
19:45 California vs. Washington: Tough Markets, Big Upsides
26:30 Sales-Driven Culture: The Real Growth Lever
32:58 How to Attract Top Sales Talent
39:15 Picking the Right Coach (and Avoiding Scams)
45:00 The Power of Accountability & Coaching
51:25 What Drives These Founders Today
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0:00.0 | Are you afraid that private equity will ruin your trades business? |
0:03.0 | Think again, we'll reveal how top pros like Dustin Van Orman and Ishmael Valdez turn private equity into a powerhouse, scaling to 500 million and beyond. |
0:12.0 | Learn how to spot real opportunities and avoid the scammers in the best practice and coaching groups. |
0:18.0 | Don't miss this insider's guide to winning with private equity in the trade. |
0:23.6 | All right, welcome to another episode of Next Level Pros, super excited. We have incredible guests in the studio today. |
0:34.6 | It's a unique experience. All four of us have been involved in private equity |
0:38.7 | or one way or the other in the trades. And so super excited. I got Mr. Ishmael Valdez and we got |
0:45.0 | Dustin Van Norman here on the show. Welcome to show, boys. Thank you. Excited to have you. |
0:49.6 | Thanks, guys. Yeah, dude. Thanks for traveling up. It's been a good time. So let's get a quick brief synopsis. |
0:55.8 | If you can give me like just the 60-second version of your story. I know you came from different |
1:01.5 | backgrounds in the trades. If you can go into that. My name is Ishma Valdez. I've been in the |
1:06.6 | trades for about 15 years. Just had a successful exit on a plumbing and air conditioning company |
1:11.5 | about four years ago. grew probably the fastest air conditioning and plumbing business in the |
1:16.4 | nation. It took us six years and four months to exit that business. So what are we talking from zero |
1:21.2 | to what were you doing in revenue? We did zero to $108 million in revenue in six years and four |
1:26.9 | and four months. All plumbing, we started with |
1:30.2 | A-track and then bolted on the plumbing side on it. We're about to get electric over. You know, that's |
1:34.6 | probably the closest to competing with us, Darrell. Is that right? Yeah, I mean, zero to 233 and four |
1:40.5 | and a half years. So let's go, baby. Just got to give you some crap. |
1:45.2 | No, that's sweet, man. |
1:46.2 | In the HVAC and you said you were in plumbing as well? |
1:49.3 | Yes, sir. |
... |
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