From the Ground Up
Join OutdoorCoffeeShop™ podcast series, From The Ground Up, as we open up conversations about what is top of mind for outdoor professionals and the overall industry right now! Listen to this podcast to hear a conversation with special guests from the industry in a Q&A format. Pour a cup of coffee and listen to best practices and advice from a variety of business and industry experts.
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Michael Krause - AquaStar's Golden Ticket: A Backstage Pass to Innovation
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman is joined by Michael Krause of AquaStar Pool Products to talk about the Golden Ticket. Join them as they discuss a unique opportunity for pool industry professionals to visit AquaStar’s World Headquarters in Ventura, California. The promotion names seven grand ...
Megan Magana - Outdoor Living Takes Center Stage
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman sits down with Megan Magana, show manager for the International Pool Spa Patio and Deck Expo, to talk about this year’s expo and what attendees can expect from one of the industry’s leading events. They discuss why the expo is ...
Robert Bowers - Hardscape North America: Connecting the Industry
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman sits down with Robert Bowers P. Eng., VP of Engineering – Hardscapes for the Concrete Masonry and Hardscapes Association (CMHA), to talk about Hardscape North America and why it is such an important event for the hardscape industry. They discuss ...
Todd Pieri - Pricing Stability: A Competitive Advantage for Pool Contractors
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman is joined by Todd Pieri of AquaStar for a conversation on why pricing stability has become a critical advantage for pool contractors. Together, they explore the challenges builders and service professionals face in today's market, how predictable pricing helps contractors ...
Michelle Cooke - Dive Into Better Service
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman chats with Michelle Cooke, director of channel management for Heritage Pool Supply Group and shares how Heritage Pro Service is helping pool service professionals build stronger, more profitable businesses. From rewards and branch support to training opportunities and industry connections, ...
John Kenney - Contractor Compliance Updates
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman sits down with John Kenney, from Cotney Consulting Group, to break down the legal, safety and compliance changes affecting contractors and outdoor construction projects. From labor laws and licensing requirements to insurance, liability, environmental rules and local zoning restrictions, they ...
Jeff Snyder - Waterproofing Beyond the Surface
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman talks with Tremco CPG waterproofing experts about the challenges of protecting planters, fountains, rooftop amenity decks and other high-risk spaces. From ponding water and drainage issues to added structural weight and long-term maintenance, the conversation offers practical insight for contractors, ...
Stephen Barnes - Pump Pad Efficiency and Your Bottom Line
In this episode of From the Ground Up™, host Karol Weyman is joined by Steven Barnes of AquaStar to break down the pool pump equipment pad and show contractors how smart decisions can save energy, cut costs and impress clients. From hydraulic efficiency and plumbing choices to variable speed pumps ...
Hurley Fox - Smarter Finances for Customers
In this episode of From the Ground Up™, host Karol Weyman talks with Hurley Fox of Fox & Partners about the financial challenges and opportunities contractors face while growing their businesses. Hurley shares common financial mistakes outdoor contractors make, strategies for managing cash flow during busy and slow seasons and ...
Garrett Bastardi - Turf Intelligence in Action
In this episode of From the Ground Up™, host Karol Weyman is joined by Garrett Bastardi to explore how Flash Weather AI is bringing turf-focused intelligence to agronomy and grounds management. The conversation looks at what makes the company’s turf agronomy system unique, why traditional forecasting tools do not always ...
Chris A. Loaiza - Strong Starts With ConcreteReady
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman sits down with Chris A. Loaiza of Sherwin Williams H&C, to talk about the critical role surface preparation plays in outdoor concrete projects. From improving coating performance to saving time on the jobsite, ConcreteReady products are helping contractors work smarter ...
John Kenney - Winning Construction Disputes Without the Courtroom
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman sits down with John Kenney of Cotney Consulting Group to break down one of the most expensive and stressful realities contractors face: construction claims and disputes. From payment conflicts and scope creep to documentation breakdowns and stalled projects, disputes can ...
Jobsite-ready Hardware
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman is joined by Barry Campbell, of Campbell Contracting LLC and K9 Fasteners, to dig into the origin of K9 Fasteners and how a contractor-driven idea became a brand focused on strength, reliability and real-world performance. Learn what sets these fasteners ...
Peter Daich - Cost-efficient Solutions for Concrete Surfaces
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman sits down with Peter Daich, president of Daich Coatings, to explore how to transform and protect outdoor concrete surfaces. Peter shares an overview of Daich Coatings’ 40-year history of creating innovative stone coatings, high-performance paints and architectural maintenance products. Listeners ...
Mark Petri - Built to Hold: Fasteners That Matter
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman sits down with Mark Petri, owner of Petri Building and Design, to talk about jobsite insights on why fastener choice matters more than most contractors realize — from corrosion resistance and structural strength to installation speed. Drawing on firsthand experience ...
John Kenney - Legal Landmines: Protecting Profits in 2026
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman sits down with Cotney Consulting Group legal expert John Kenney to unpack the contract mistakes that are still costing contractors serious money in 2026. From vague scopes of work and poorly written change orders to payment disputes and subcontractor agreements ...
Jameson Allen - Safety Beyond the Standard: Rethinking Weather Risk
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman sits down with Jameson Allen of Flash Weather AI to discuss weather-related risks on the jobsite. The conversation unpacks the biggest threats outdoor laborers face and how those risks are currently defined. They examine OSHA’s standards for weather-related safety, questioning ...
Jameson Allen - Precision Weather and the Future of Outdoor Work
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman talks with Jameson Allen of Flash Weather AI to learn about how they are redefining what weather forecasting can do for professionals working outdoors. Jameson explains what sets Flash Weather AI apart from traditional forecasting, including a deep look at ...
Dan Hedberg - Tough Beauty Outdoors
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman welcomes Sherwin-Williams Assistant Product Manager Dan Hedberg for an insightful conversation that examines the growing demands contractors face as outdoor spaces evolve into high-traffic, high-exposure environments. They will explore how coatings built for durability, chemical resistance and clean aesthetics can ...
Todd Pieri, Steve Barnes and Michael Krause - Leading Water Safety Through Smart Innovations
In this episode of From the Ground Up™, host Karol Weyman sits down with Todd Pieri, Steve Barnes and Michael Krause from AquaStar Pool Products to explore who they are as a company and the story behind their commitment to innovation and water safety. The conversation dives into why compliance ...
John Kenney - Outdoor Operations and Strategies for Success
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman welcomes John Kenney of Cotney Consulting Group for an insightful conversation on the future of outdoor living construction. Together, they unpack the trends shaping contractor success—from operational excellence and workforce challenges to rising customer expectations. John shares practical, experience-driven strategies ...
Marketing Insights for Exterior Pros
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, Karol Weyman sits down with Rob Murray of Intrigue Media to discuss insights from 2025’s shifting digital marketing landscape, from the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT to trends in sustainability and the evolving role of Google Ads. Home improvement pros will love ...
Amy Lintern - Heritage Takes the Irrigation Stage
In this episode of From the Ground Up™ episode, host Karol Weyman welcomes Amy Lintern from Heritage as they preview next week’s Irrigation Show in New Orleans and discuss why it’s a key event for the industry. Amy shares what’s trending in irrigation, what attendees should look for this year ...
Growing Greener Communities
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, Karol Weyman sits down with Cindy Code, a leading voice in the green industry, to explore their journey, from early beginnings to becoming a trusted advocate for healthier outdoor spaces. The conversation dives into the evolution of the green industry, the founding of ...
Contracts, Safety and Compliance: What Contractors Face Today
In this From the Ground Up™ episode, Karol Weyman sits down with Trent Cotney of Adams and Reese to dive into some of the biggest issues shaping today’s contracting businesses. From navigating vegetation and plant management contracts to staying compliant with OSHA heat illness regulations, the conversation covers real challenges ...
Rachel Mohorn and Brittainy Klein - Heritage’s Commitment to the Outdoor Trades
In this episode of From the Ground Up™, host Karol Weyman sits down with Rachel Mohorn and Brittainy Klein from the Heritage Family of Companies—Premier Sponsor of outdoorcoffeeshop.com—to talk about what it means to lead, support and innovate in the outdoor construction space. Rachel and Brittainy share their perspectives on ...
Megan Magana - Dive into PSP/Deck Expo 2025
In this episode of From the Ground Up™, host Karol Weyman chats with Megan Magana about the excitement surrounding the 2025 International PSP/Deck Expo, the must-attend event for the pool, spa and outdoor living industries. As the show manager for PSP/Deck Expo, Magan dives into what attendees can expect from ...
Welcome to From the Ground Up - The Next Big Thing in Outdoor Living
Welcome to the premiere episode of From the Ground Up™, the official podcast of OutdoorCoffeeShop™, where we dig into the trends, tools and transformations shaping the outdoor living construction industry. In this kickoff episode, co-hosts Heidi J. Ellsworth and Karol Weyman share the story behind OutdoorCoffeeShop.com and how this digital ...
UP TO THE MINUTE
