Ken Baden and Jason Nemes first connected at the Blue Collar Ballers event in February of last year, and this episode is the payoff of several scheduling attempts that almost didn't happen. It's worth the wait.

Jason's background is anything but conventional for a roofing CEO. He spent years building a 4,500-person downline in the health and wellness network marketing space, and still draws a six-figure annual residual from that work today. When a friend called him to start a roofing company, Jason flew to Oklahoma to learn the basics — door knocking, inspections, filing claims — and dove in headfirst.

His first official company, Summit Solutions Roofing and Construction, launched at the end of June 2024 after a business partnership dissolved over equity disagreements. He's candid about the split, the half-million-dollar back-door he experienced from a rep he trusted, and how those hard lessons reshaped the way he moves in business today.

Jason talks about the DFW market — one of the most saturated roofing markets in the country with roughly 8,000 companies — and how he managed to cut through by staying true to who he is on social media, paying people on time, and building a culture where team members feel seen, valued, and enrolled in the vision.

Ken and Jason also get into the business side of growth: insurance vs. retail revenue, multi-state licensing in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and soon Florida and Arizona, goals of $20-30 million this year, the EBITDA benchmarks that make a PE exit viable, and what a real private equity deal looks like for a roofing company in today's market.

The conversation closes on a personal and powerful note — Jason's recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, and how the same intensity and discipline that nearly cost him everything is now the fuel behind one of the fastest-growing roofing startups in Texas.

Follow Jason: Instagram & TikTok: @TattedPrez Facebook: Jason Nemes Company Page: Summit Solutions Roofing and Construction

Follow Ken & the show: 🌐 thekitchentablepodcast.net 🌐 badenconsulting.net

Guest: Jesse Spiegel is the founder of NexLev Logic (nexlevlogic.com), an AI automation platform built exclusively for the roofing industry. With years of experience as a top-producing roofing sales rep — including $3.8M in a single storm season — Jesse turned his firsthand frustrations into a full suite of tools that help roofing companies communicate better, close more, and scale without the chaos. He currently manages roofing projects in both Colorado and Florida while growing NexLev Logic.

Host: Ken Baden is the CEO and owner of Baden Consulting and Potomac Custom Remodeling. His podcast, The Kitchen Table Podcast, is where real business conversations happen in the trades and beyond.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Jesse's origin story in roofing and his $3.8M Hurricane Irma experience
• Why great sales without great systems leads to broken promises
• How AI unlocked the ability to scale what Jesse was doing manually
• The 6 core modules of NexLev Logic's platform
• Speed-to-lead: why every second counts after a new inquiry comes in
• No Lead Left Behind: automated follow-up that runs forever until you get a yes or a no
• Subcontractor communication with built-in photo collection and Venmo incentives
• Real-time homeowner updates to reduce friction and build loyalty
• AI note-takers on sales pitches that analyze objections and send reps coaching tips
• Automated review capture that follows up persistently until the customer responds
• Ken's strategy: tighten operations before scaling to new markets
• The insurance restoration to retail roofing shift happening nationwide
• Why door knocking is still the greatest sales skill in the business

Guest: Maryori Jones | Founder, Ave Sportwear

Host: Ken Baden | CEO/Owner, Baden Consulting & Potomac Custom Remodeling

Podcast: The Kitchen Table Podcast | thekitchentablepodcast.net

Key Takeaways:

• Ave stands for Agua Viva Empire — a faith-first brand for women of all body types
• The brand was born from Maryori's postpartum experience and the loss of identity many mothers face after childbirth
• She grew up between Honduras and Mexico and was selling fruit to help her family at age 6 — entrepreneurship has always been in her DNA
• Ave is strictly women's athletic apparel, designed to serve all body types and life stages
• She is also building a hair product line alongside Ave Sportwear
• Maryori and her husband (active military) are relocating to the Chicago area soon — Ave will continue to grow online
• Social media comparison is a real issue for women — Ave is a counter-cultural brand encouraging women to love themselves from the inside out
• First-generation immigrants often carry a stronger hunger and appreciation for opportunity in America
• Both Ken and Maryori connect over rebuilding their lives and how hitting rock bottom removes the fear of failure

Resources Mentioned:

• Ave Sportwear: avesportwear.us
• State & Liberty (men's athletic-fit clothing, mentioned by Ken)
• Good Vibes Only (another clothing brand in the TKT circle)