Charlie, co-founder of Free2Grow, brings a wealth of experience from both military service and entrepreneurship. A West Point graduate, Charlie served in the US Army from 2006-2011, including roles in the 82nd Airborne Division and 3rd Ranger Battalion. Following his military career, he successfully owned and operated a multi-state home service business, which he sold in 2019. That same year, Charlie co-founded Free2Grow, applying his unique blend of military discipline, academic knowledge, and business acumen to drive the company's growth and success.
Samantha Minnar is a Secure Advantage Specialist on the Client Relationship Management team at BDR – Business Development Resources, where she contributes to helping clients in the HVAC industry get the most value from their partnership with BDR. In her role, Samantha supports client success by focusing on long-term relationship strength, proactive problem-solving, and ensuring customers feel confident in the tools and services they use. Located in Auburn, United States, she collaborates with her team to uphold BDR’s commitment to tailored support and exceptional client experiences—helping drive satisfaction and business growth through strong communication and industry expertise.
Matt Green is a business owner and industry operator focused on the residential lawn care, pest control, and Christmas lighting space. Known for his strong business instincts and relationship-driven approach, Matt believes meaningful growth comes from delivering exceptional customer service, maintaining high standards of quality, and using technology to operate smarter and more efficiently.
As the owner of Blue Duck, Matt is committed to building a business that consistently exceeds annual goals by investing in continuous learning and expanding his professional network. With a forward-looking mindset and a passion for raising the bar across the industry, he remains focused on creating long-term impact through disciplined execution and thoughtful growth.
Darion Miller is the co-founder of Ply, an inventory and procurement platform helping trades contractors stop losing money on materials. He leads product and engineering at Ply and brings prior experience from HubSpot and Stash, where he worked on scaling software used by millions. Darion focuses on turning messy, manual inventory processes into simple systems that actually work in the field.
Although his background may not be traditional, it has provided Jason with a diverse skill set that he applies in his work as a Sales Professional, Trainer, and Business Consultant. As a former Band Director, Jason had the opportunity to work with people of all ages and he finds particular joy in collaborating with passionate professionals who desire to make a positive impact.
Over the past twelve years, he has led the development of curriculums, consulted with small business owners, managed international travel for hundreds of people, and has been interviewed on BBC-1 and PBS.
What he is most proud of, however, is his ability to foster a culture of inclusivity, work-ethic, and teamwork within his teams and the people he has managed. Jason believes that by creating an environment that values diversity, encourages collaboration, and promotes personal growth, we can achieve our goals and have a positive impact on the individuals and communities we serve.
A 10-year veteran of FieldEdge, Alex has worked with implementation, support, and is now the road warrior and technical trainer for FieldEdge. Alex is determined to help our members utilize FieldEdge to the best of their ability. Alex holds a special interest in resolving complex workflows related to unit segmentation, inventory, and accounting reserves.
Tom Beidle is an accomplished SaaS and e‑commerce executive with over 25 years of experience scaling high‑growth technology businesses. Known for driving multi‑million‑dollar revenue growth, building high‑performing teams, and transforming customer experiences across global markets, Tom leads multiple divisions at Xplor, including Education, Field and Personal Services. Before joining Xplor, Tom held senior leadership roles at Comecero and Digital River, overseeing revenue operations, sales, key account management, and global teams across China, India, and North America. Passionate about shaping entrepreneurial culture and operational excellence, Tom builds high‑performing teams that achieve consistent, scalable results.
Paul brings over 10 years of combined experience at FieldEdge, with a background in Onboarding, Support, and Training. His deep product knowledge and well-rounded perspective make him valuable resource for customers looking to get the most out of the platform.
When Shane “T.Shane” Johnson was left for dead after a violent attack, he faced a defining choice—become a victim or rise as a victor. A devoted Marine, he chose resilience, surviving life-threatening injuries and an arduous recovery that would shape the rest of his life. After retiring from active service, T.Shane went on to build a successful mortgage business, only to face another major setback during the 2008 market crash that left him homeless for more than two years. Once again, he rebuilt—proving that adversity can be a catalyst, not a conclusion.
Today, T.Shane is a successful entrepreneur, bestselling author, and sought-after speaker whose story has been featured on ESPN, Forbes, USA Today, and Fox & Friends. Beyond business success, he is deeply committed to serving others—raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for homeless veterans, shining a light on veteran suicide, and inspiring audiences worldwide to rise above adversity, lead with purpose, and live as victors.
Dawn brings her decades of industry expertise to the forefront in office operations, software implementation, optimization, workflows, and training. Having engaged in office capacities within home service providers, she possesses an intimate comprehension of business necessities. Dawn stands as an expert in various Field Service Management (FSM) software, orchestrating seamless solutions for the unique hurdles encountered by home service companies. Her familiarity with the industry's largest coaching groups equips her with a mastery of best practices, enabling her to align FSM software with their established benchmarks.
Bear is a Senior Account Executive at Applause with nearly three decades of sales experience. Following in his father’s footsteps, he’s spent his career working closely with business owners—helping them grow stronger companies and support their teams.
Beyond sales, Bear is deeply embedded in the premium cigar community. He is the co-host of Cigar Coop Prime Time Special Edition and hosts his own podcast, #ElOsoFumarTakes. He is also a contributor to the Smoking Syndicate Roundtable. A certified tobacconist, Bear previously worked at Michael’s Tobacco in Euless and Keller, Texas, where colleagues and patrons alike knew him as “The Palate” for his detailed, accurate, and often zany cigar reviews. Alongside General Manager Tracy Spence and fellow tobacconist Joe Lipscomb, he helped produce a weekly video series covering industry news, events, and interviews with notable figures in the premium cigar world.
Outside of work, Bear is an avid reader—ranging from Shakespeare to John Grisham to Doris Kearns Goodwin—and an amateur historian. He’s also a self-proclaimed foodie and amateur chef who loves cooking for family and friends, brewing beer with a close friend, and exploring great food, wine, spirits, beer, and coffee from around the world. Bear insists there’s only one thing more perfect than the right cigar at the right moment: a baseball game on a warm, sunny afternoon. He shares his life with his partner, Frankie, a third-grade teacher, and their sons—Jeremiah, Raleigh, Justice, and Jacob. The highlight of Bear’s day is coming home to their smiles.
The story behind SimpleGrowth began 25 years ago when Owner and President Mike Callahan began pushing a lawn mower around his parent's neighborhood. Working to grow his business by putting in 100+ hours a week soon began to take a toll on his personal life and led to a divorce. He found a better way - by automating his business.
Mike got his life back. Now he helps other service business owners use powerful automations to create a better work/life balance.
John DeCausmaker is an expert when it comes to hard work and hustling. He’s been working and grinding on his business for years, and the effort has paid off! Now as a seasoned entrepreneur, he’s taken the lessons he’s learned and using them to help others.
John and his wife, Nikki (owner of CallBoss), started Little John’s Lawns in 2012 with the goal of establishing a versatile outdoor services company distinguished by its reliability, expert, and outstanding customer service. They specialize in providing professional lawn maintenance, lawn care, pest control, and irrigation services in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, and Queen Creek, AZ. They are experienced in residential, commercial, and HOA properties, and have twice been named the Best Landscaping Company in the Valley.
John teaches that the best results are achieved intentionally, not accidentally, emphasizing consistency, prioritizing communication, and committing to continual training. As a former firefighter, John has spent his life taking care of others to ensure their safety and protection. That same spirit of service permeates all aspects of John’s life.
Nikki DeCausmaker is an entrepreneur known for building systems-driven, people-first businesses rooted in communication, consistency, and service. A multi-company owner, Nikki brings discipline, structure, and intentional training into every team she leads, shaped by years of hands-on experience scaling service-based companies.
In 2012, Nikki co-founded Little John’s Lawns with her husband, John, where she helped drive rapid growth and identified a common challenge for service businesses: missed calls and inconsistent customer communication. That insight led to the creation of CallBoss, a professional answering service built specifically for growing service companies. Since shifting her full focus to CallBoss in 2019, Nikki has led the company with a simple belief—every call matters—and a commitment to delivering warm, professional, and reliable customer
Jason Cupp is a former CEO of a service industry company turned Kolbe Certified growth consultant, team builder and motivational speaker. A Past President of the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP, formerly PLANET), Jason now spends his time consulting and speaking about team building, financial metrics, crisis management, sales/marketing as well as many other business topics. With his unique blend of experience as an entrepreneur for over 24 years, and now as a growth consultant, Jason has worked with countless business owners to develop their companies, and improve their leadership and financial foundations. You’ll also see Jason teaching in our Service Autopilot Academy and at many of our events sharing best practices with members.
Jessie has been helping contractors succeed and grow their businesses for nearly 30 years. He’s worked with developing and implementing pricing, promotions, and strategies for success. He has also worked within the consumer finance side of the industry, where he developed revolutionary solutions that allowed contractors to offer financing and payment options.
Recently, Jessie has turned his desire to serve the industry into working with contractors to provide software solutions to help streamline, manage, optimize, and scale their businesses. His only definition of success is when the solutions he provides help contractors realize the achievement of their goals.
Justin Waite is now the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Linxup, a St. Louis-based telematics technology company. Before coming to Linxup to manage partnerships, Justin had worked in the telematics industry for over 15 years building and leading successful teams. Justin engages with partners to ensure that their teams are getting the most out Linxup's technology.
Jordan Cordero is a Senior Loan Officer at Live Oak Bank, specializing in tailored lending solutions for home service companies nationwide. With nearly a decade of banking experience, Jordan has supported home service companies, as well as a broad range of sectors including healthcare, agriculture, and veterinary services. Since 2019, he has helped deliver more than $300 million in financing to fuel acquisitions, expansions, and successions. Jordan partners with business owners to unlock growth opportunities and ensure seamless lending experiences that drive long-term success.
Michael Garlow is the Product Director of Emerging Products at Linxup, a St. Louis-based telematics technology company. With nearly a decade of experience in the telematics industry and over five years focused specifically on dashcams and driver safety solutions, Michael works closely with fleets to turn technology into practical, real-world safety and efficiency gains. He’s passionate about helping organizations protect their drivers, reduce risk, and use data in ways that actually make day-to-day operations better.
Steve Baker is a top-rated, sought-after author, speaker and coach on business strategy, execution, leadership, and employee engagement. Known for his engaging and irreverent style, his audiences range from Harvard University to the Department of Defense, and he is a regular at Inc. magazine’s Inc. 5000 Conference. Steve co-authored Get in the Game - How to Create Rapid Financial Results and Lasting Cultural Change, and the update of the number one bestseller, The Great Game of Business®. His latest work, QTR: Quality Time Remaining™ is resonating with audiences in every sector with its universal message of living your best life in the time you have left.
Christian Rennie is a seasoned B2B sales leader with deep expertise in expense management and corporate credit card solutions. He began his fintech career as the very first Account Executive at Divvy, playing a key role in scaling the company from an early-stage startup to an industry leader, ultimately rising to Director of Sales through successive leadership roles. Following Divvy’s acquisition by BILL, he continued building and leading high-performing sales teams, and most recently joined Coast as Vice President of Sales, bringing years of category-defining experience in spend management and B2B go-to-market strategy.
Scott brings a wealth of experience to his role as Project Manager and Solutions Engineer at Service Autopilot. With a background that spans the military, service industry, and hands-on roles like rancher and landscaper, Scott has been a key figure at Service Autopilot since its early days.
As one of the company’s first employees, he now excels in training members, offering a deep understanding of both the software and service industries to help clients optimize their operations. Outside of work, Scott pursues his passion for the outdoors and DIY projects through a handyman business, embodying his practical, entrepreneurial spirit.
Debbie Sardone turned a job cleaning houses into a multi-million dollar cleaning empire. After building one of the largest maid services in the country, she began speaking professionally and training other residential cleaning businesses how to grow and live their dreams. Through her consulting company, Debbie Sardone Consulting, LLC, and her signature program, Cleaning Business Fundamentals, Debbie provides a comprehensive formula for cleaning business owners to achieve that unique, desired balance of freedom, scale, and profitability. Her community attracts members from around the world. Debbie is also the co-owner of Speed Cleaning which manufactures and distributes its own line of non-toxic cleaning products and high quality cleaning tools and the founder of the nonprofit, Cleaning for a Reason, which has risen to national prominence. Since 2006, Debbie’s Dallas-based cleaning company, Buckets & Bows Maid Service, and a network of 1200 cleaning company partners have provided free house cleanings to over 41,000 men, women, and children battling cancer and donated more than $14M in services. Debbie has been featured on Fox & Friends, Oprah, Reader’s Digest, Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping, Today.com, I Heart Radio and Yahoo! News, as well as in dozens of other national and local media.
Brian has been with Service Autopilot for over 5 years. He has almost 20 years’ experience as a trainer with various software and network administration companies. Drawing on his experience as a Project Manager working with gas, water and electric utilities and municipalities, and as a Pastor, Brian works regularly to train Service Autopilot Members, new and old, on a variety of features and best practices.
Libby is a wife and mother of 3 beautiful children: 22, 12 and 2 years old. Libby comes from a family business, so being an entrepreneur has always come naturally. Libby is the owner of Organize It, soon to be a million dollar cleaning and professional organizing company. She started her professional organizing company in 2014 and saw the need for a dependable residential cleaning service. In 2017 she started Sweeps by Organize It, the cleaning division of her company. After giving birth to her daughter in 2018 Libby quickly realized that she needed help and found Debbie Sardone. Although she has only been in CBF for a short time, Libby has moved her way up to quickly becoming a CBF Pro and is now a CBF coach.
Dustin Guyton is a dynamic professional with a robust educational background and extensive industry experience. After attending Lee University, entrepreneurial spirit led Dustin to own and operate Guyton Roofing for 12 years, achieving an impressive revenue milestone of $10.2 million. His impact extended to coaching and corporate training with Michael Hyatt and Co. (rebranded to Full Focus), where he worked with diverse businesses, including a successful Fortune 500 company along with the executive team of a bank that held $3 billion in assets under management.
Dustin identifies a number of qualities crucial for success in the industry, including humility, selflessness, perseverance, and focus, which all have been integral to his personal and professional development. Dustin emphasizes the transformational power of humility in leadership, shifting from a mindset of knowing everything to becoming a servant leader.
Looking forward, Dustin expresses excitement about being a BDR head coach, seeing it as an opportunity to leave a positive legacy by impacting the lives of many. His approach to building solid relationships with partners involves a deep sense of ownership and pride in the success or challenges faced by those he coaches. For Dustin, coaching with BDR represents hope for business owners who may feel isolated or stuck. The collaborative environment ensures they are not alone in overcoming obstacles, with an entire team dedicated to helping them succeed.
Beyond the professional realm, Dustin is passionately engaged in his walk with God, studying theology, Biblical archaeology, and Biblical Philosophy. Being an engaged dad, philanthropy, golf, shooting, tinkering (building computers and mechanical watches, along with modding guns), and the thrill of procuring hard-to-get items like baseball cards and bourbons round out his diverse passions and hobbies.
Tim Fisher is the Director of Market Intelligence at HARDI, where he oversees the research and analysis of HVAC/R market trends – particularly those affecting wholesale distribution. Tim’s research and writing is regularly cited in industry journals, and he was named one of ACHR News’ Top 40 Under 40 HVACR Professionals in 2021. Prior to joining HARDI, Tim was the Director of Government and External Affairs at the Council of Development Finance Agencies where he worked on federal policy and legislative issues related to public finance. He earned his B.A. and M.A. at Ohio University, and M.B.A. at The Ohio State University.