What does it really take to help independent contractors win in a rapidly changing trades landscape?

In this episode, Rhydon sits down with Julian Scadden, President & CEO of Nexstar Network, to talk about leadership, workforce development, contractor stewardship, and what it means to protect independence in a private-equity-driven era.

With a journey that began in the field and grew through technician, management, ownership, and executive leadership, Julian brings a rare full-spectrum perspective on the trades.

Together, Rhydon and Julian unpack how training, culture, leadership development, and long-term stewardship create stronger businesses — and why the future belongs to contractors who invest in people before profits.

For the entire #TradeCrew, this conversation is a blueprint for scaling the right way while keeping your values intact.

Whether you’re an owner, service manager, technician, distributor leader, or someone building the next generation of your business, this episode will challenge how you think about growth, succession, and contractor freedom.

• Julian’s journey from the field to leading Nexstar Network
• Why contractor independence matters more than ever
• Building leadership pipelines inside service businesses
• Workforce development and the future talent shortage
• Long-term stewardship vs short-term profit decisions
• How great contractors scale culture across multiple teams
• The biggest operational blind spots holding companies back
• Why ownership mindset starts long before ownership

DiversiTech • LiveSwitch • RLS • Resideo • Mann+Hummel • True Nature Meats Co.

🎵 Music credit: Alex Grohl 🌐 www.hvacrnd.com

#HVAC #Plumbing #Electrical #NexStar #Business #Trades #PersonalGrowth #Community #Collaboration #Network

Cory Byron once believed the trades were a dead-end path… until he realized the kind of life, freedom, and business you can build with your hands, your systems, and your work ethic.

Today, Cory is the co-owner of Van City Electric, one of the most trusted electrical companies in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the founder of Next Step Systems, where he helps trades businesses modernize operations, simplify their tech stack, and scale without burning out.

As the first electrical contractor ever featured on HVAC R&D, Cory opens up a whole new side of the trades for the TradeCrew — from building a multi-million dollar company to creating systems technicians actually follow.

Rhydon and Cory also dive into their shared journey as LiveSwitch ambassadors, how technology is changing the race to the face, and where AI is creating real leverage inside modern service businesses.

• Why the trades can be the ultimate long-term career path
• Building an electrical company from the ground up
• Creating systems your team will actually use
• Using AI and video tools to speed up quoting and improve customer experience
• The fastest ROI systems for growing trades businesses
• How to scale without sacrificing quality control
• Winning credibility before you ever step through the door
• Building a tech stack that scales beyond the owner

Whether you’re HVAC, electrical, plumbing, or anywhere else in the skilled trades, this episode will challenge the way you think about growth, systems, and the future of service businesses.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe so you never miss a drop.

🙏 Thank you to our partners: DiversiTech • LiveSwitch • RLS • Resideo • Mann+Hummel • True Nature Meats Co.

🎵 Music credit: Alex Grohl 🌐 www.hvacrnd.com

AHR Reflections: More Than a Tradeshow with Ramblin' Rhyno

This one’s a little different…

No guest. No script. Just me—reflecting on what was one of the biggest weeks of the year at the AHR Expo and taking a step back to talk about what it really meant to me.

From the HVAC Tactical Awards to four live podcast recordings with RLS, Resideo, HARDI, and Mann+Hummel, to moderating an AHR panel and leading workforce development tours… this year hit different.

But this isn’t just a recap.

This is about:

• The conversations that actually matter
• What the next generation of the trades really needs
• And how HVAC R&D is evolving beyond just a podcast

We’re talking about the launch of the Resource Hub, the return of the Ramblin’ Rhyno column, and why I’ve been showing up more on social—because the mission is bigger than just hitting record.

If you were at AHR, this will take you back. If you weren’t, this will bring you into it.

And either way… this is one of those episodes that defines where we’re going next.

• Why AHR is about people, not products
• Behind the scenes of the live shows (RLS, Resideo, HARDI, Mann+Hummel)
• HVAC Tactical Awards – “Blue Collar Goes Black Tie”
• Moderating an AHR panel (by the seat of my pants)
• Workforce Development Tours (Carrier, DiversiTech, Shurtape, Resideo)
• Crawlspace Confessions & real conversations from the floor
• The evolution of HVAC R&D

#HVAC #TradeCrew #AHRExpo #RamblinRhyno #Reflections

🎧 Listen now and subscribe so you never miss a drop.

DiversiTech • LiveSwitch • RLS – Rapid Locking System • Resideo • Mann + Hummel • True Nature Meats Co.

🎵 Music credit: Alex Grohl

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