The Connection with Jay Miralles
On 'The Connection' Jay Miralles connects his guests with the world! Listen as we connect the dots. Our goal is to get to the why!Jay Miralles was born first generation in San Francisco, California, after his parents arrived in America. He watched his immigrant parents work hard to support their family. Their actions and life lessons shaped who he is today. He learned first-hand how his parents’ work ethic allowed them to move from a basement in the Avenues to a middle-class suburb. As a teenager, he struggled in school with average grades and was easily bored with the norm or status quo. Jay questioned everything. He realized his independence was so important, he enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 17. His love for country grew rapidly, and he realized many things people take for granted. His deployment to places such as Alaska, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, and more, shaped his perspective on how the world is connected. After ten years in the Air Force, he decided to move to Omaha, Nebraska. Some of the early jobs that gave him valuable experience included ten years in radio, a background in information technology, and teaching at a local college. He also co-founded three professional networking organizations. Eventually, he found a niche in insurance/financial services and real estate. He quickly excelled in sales, which led to coaching and leadership positions. His background has prepared him well to speak on stage, conduct podcasts, author articles, and serve as a go-to for interviews. His passion is more than just inspiring people; it’s working closely with individuals and organizations to help identify the opportunities for them to make the best impact.Jay and his wife Becky are blessed with four children: Aubrey, Jade, Jordan, and Mason. They have a German Shepard named King and a Pekingese Shih Tzu Poodle mix, Chewy, who thinks he is the same size as King. They all call Nebraska, home.
The Connection with Jay Miralles
Jesus at the Helm: How One Veteran Steers His Business
From the battlefields of Afghanistan to the forefront of community service, Scott Wood's story is one of transformation, purpose, and unwavering faith. After enlisting in the Navy at just 17 and deploying to Afghanistan as a military canine handler at 19, Scott experienced traumas that continue to shape him today – including the loss of his military dog, Axe, and fellow service members.
"I don't think I've coped yet," Scott candidly admits when discussing his military experience, offering a powerful glimpse into the ongoing mental health challenges many veterans face long after their service ends. His turning point came when a fellow sailor invited him to church during recovery, where he found the spiritual foundation that would eventually guide both his personal life and business philosophy.
Today, as owner of McCarthy's One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, and Mr. Sparky Electric, Scott has transformed these businesses into platforms for community service. His "Heroes Plan" offers veterans deeply discounted maintenance services at just $11.11 monthly – a rate symbolizing Veterans Day (11/11) – though he refuses to widely advertise it, preferring it spread through genuine word-of-mouth.
"I'm not doing it for any kind of publicity... it's just genuinely a give back," Scott explains, embodying his adopted philosophy that "if you have the ability, then you have the responsibility." This ethos extends throughout his organization, which recently donated $10,000 to the 50 Mile March Foundation for veteran suicide prevention and collected over 350 toys for another organization through employee initiatives.
Perhaps most striking is Scott's unapologetic integration of faith into his business model, from the cross at his entrance displaying "Be still and know" to his straightforward approach in interviews: "I'm a Jesus-loving guy, and if you don't like it, don't work for me." Rather than limiting his hiring pool, this transparency has attracted like-minded employees committed to service and integrity.
Join us in discovering how one veteran's journey through trauma, faith, and purpose has created ripples of positive change throughout his community, and consider how we might all better serve those who have served us.
https://www.facebook.com/scott.wood.5680
https://www.onehourheatandair.com/omaha/
https://www.benjaminfranklinplumbing.com/
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connecting the dots, connecting his guests to the world, creating more connections. Welcome to the connection. Meet your host. Author, coach. Air coach, air Force veteran Jay Morales.
Speaker 3:Thank you for joining the Connection. I'm sitting here with Scott Wood again today For the second or third time. I mean, we've been hanging out lately at a couple of different events, significant places, but I wanted you to connect with Scott just a little bit deeper. Not only is he the owner, proprietor of McCarthy's One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning and Benjamin Franklin. I just want to peel back the layers and introduce you to Scott Scott. Is there anything you want anyone to know about you outside of what I've read before we start?
Speaker 2:No, I just absolutely love what I do and love taking care of people. Giving back to those that have taken care of me for all those years and you know your organization's a great way to be able to reach local grassroots people here in Omaha.
Speaker 3:Absolutely, I want to talk about your service to our country. Let's go back that far when we were probably younger kids. Right, I know I'm a lot older than you, but take us back to your service time. What made you join the military?
Speaker 2:Every male in my family was in the service. Every male in my family was in during some sort of time of conflict or war, and it was certainly impressed upon me that joining the military was in my interest growing up, and yeah, I wanted to be like my dad or grandfather, cousins that are all serving.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so what age were you when you enlisted in the Navy?
Speaker 2:17. I just graduated high school and went in as a CB, actually originally, and I wanted to do heavy equipment. I really wanted to do mastered arms but it was locked down because of the it had to be a five or higher. But um nine, 11 happened during my delayed entry program Right, and a recruiter called me and says, hey, you want to switch? And I was like, yeah, absolutely yeah. And I switched over and went through basic that December Lackland air force base. Yeah, and I switched over and went through basic that December Lackland Air Force Base. Yeah, I did my master at arms training and from there just started going all over the place.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you were a canine handler.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I did my canine training in Lackland and fell in love with the dogs. And Axe was my dog, yeah, and he was a Belgian Shepherdian shepherd and uh, awesome, awesome guy so let's, let's talk about that right just after 9-11.
Speaker 3:This, the nation is highly patriotic. And then a couple conflicts, you know overseas. Uh, where were you deployed to?
Speaker 2:Started off in Corpus Christi, texas, yeah, and went to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. I was there for nine months.
Speaker 3:How old were you? Young, 19. Man, yeah Right. First time out of the country, kind of, or not really no.
Speaker 2:I went to Ireland for a school trip. I was younger but, yeah, first time on my own, for sure, yeah, yeah, man, scary time Felt like you were just in some weird I don't even hard to explain, like you don't even know how to comprehend everything that's going on. Surreal Surreal is a good word Very surreal. A lot of moving pieces and you're like standing still in twilight like what's going on? Yeah, yeah, and obviously very hot and dry. But when stationed over there I was doing search and rescue, um, and I was assigned with different teams to go through and just try to find people and, you know, take them out dead or alive. The team that I was associated with they handled a lot of the hands-on portions.
Speaker 2:I dealt more with the dog himself and, you know, had to, you know he'll lead the way. You know, if we went through some of the manholes and through the mountains after they're, you know, hit, yeah. Yeah, just try to find people. That's village to village, you know, looking to see who there was and what information we could find.
Speaker 3:I mean some 19-year-olds today, and I'm not making fun, I'm just comparison contrast. You know they're in that. What do I do now I'm done with high school? I'm going to take a year off and take it easy option for you. No, you went straight from high school right into the battlefield, if you would right. I'm not trying to over glorify combat experience. Yeah, it was. You went to a foreign country where it was hostile yeah, it was.
Speaker 2:It was a about a year and a half after I graduated and, like I said, my my father wanted me in the service. He was a army guy, he wanted me, he wanted me in the air force, yeah and uh. So I pissed him off and joined the Navy. Yeah, okay and yeah, that's one way to do it. Yeah, it was, yeah, but he showed up at graduation. It was fun.
Speaker 3:Well, that's that's all that matters. You know, you go through all the pressures and all the things that you, you see overseas and all the, all the action that you see, and I don't care if people serve sandwiches or if they, you know, shot a machine gun. It doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is the trauma and the pressure. Can you describe just not the things, but how you felt when you did see some of the trauma and the pressure? You know, how did you cope at 19 years old? Or were you coping, or was it just what the heck's going on here? Were you repressing? Were you?
Speaker 2:I don't think I've coped yet. Yeah, just to be honest, I mean speaking at your operation, briefing, briefing, you know one. One thing that I I struggled with is talking about my military career it's something that I don't I'm not, I'm proud of, but I'm not joyful of, I guess would be a way to put it. But you know, and, and, and mental illness, ptsd comes in all shapes and forms and you know, we we become numb and compartmentalize things that have happened to us.
Speaker 2:Yep, and I've been what I think very successful in locking things up in a box. Yeah, and you know it's it. This is as much for me as it is for other people, because it's something with my life that I need to just face, you know, but it was, it's hard to explain, I mean, it's just so, just so unreal.
Speaker 3:And I don't want you to explain or justify yourself Like I. Just I appreciate you, even sharing the haze about it, right? Just, you know just the honesty of, hey, I still need to cope and you're right, we all need to cope. So you know, along with that, when someone you know you see in distress right, because we're better to help other people when you see someone else in distress, what is your advice to them? Now, not that you'll take it yourself, but what's your advice to them?
Speaker 2:Man, you got to put your pride aside. It's not about I'm better than this or I'm better than that, about you know I'm better than this or I'm better than that. Situations of life just come into play and you know it is 100% okay to ask for help and it doesn't matter if you're struggling with air conditioning, heating repairs or if you're struggling with trying to cope with trauma that you dealt with 30 years ago, 20 years ago. You know the majority of us that have had, you know, a younger upbringing in the military and joined a service at younger age. I mean, our brains weren't even fully developed.
Speaker 3:No, that's just it. We didn't have a childhood, right? No, we didn't have a childhood and we weren't the norm. Yeah.
Speaker 2:No, and we're that gray matter between Vietnam and today. You know, today we, you know Vietnam days. You know nobody cared when they came home, no, and today everything is like oh, mental health, mental health, it's great. Yeah, it's a real deal. And you know, I never even through the trauma that I dealt with my entire life. I never believed in anxiety and depression. And yeah, it's a real deal. Yeah, and you know it's a dark place. And the sooner you come to reality that it's real and that you're not, you know Hulkamania to be able to do. You can't do it on your own. There's no way. And you know, asking for that hand to reach out. You know there is no shame in that whatsoever. That's something in my opinion. It's more prideful to reach out and ask for help for whatever scenario it is, and try to conquer it on your own and end up alone and dark and cold.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think too often, and even the male role, right, the father figure, if you would, or just it's too overcorrected when they say, oh, be macho about it, or hey, be a man about it, or hey, man up, or you're going to be fine, right. I think there's a place and a time for us to be able to look for that help, seek for the help, be accountable to the help, and there's nothing wrong with that, you know. But I think, on top of it is even more important is and this is me and I speak for me and I know I probably share it with you you got to have strong faith.
Speaker 2:Man, I tell you what. I would not be who I am or where I am, or even sitting here talking to you, if it wasn't, if it wasn't for Jesus Christ. You know when, when I started to go through recovery after my injury, and you know, I had no family around me, I had no friends around me. My dog was gone, he was, was killed. You lost your friends and your dog, yeah, yeah, lots of friends. And axe was killed and it was, man, I tell you what. There's nothing more lonely than that. And you know, I had a lot of decision making to do on my own that that dealt with waking up the next day and opening my eyes, and that was a decision that I really struggled with. You, what is my purpose in life? Everything I touch just disappears. And it was extremely, extremely lost, cold feeling that you, just you, never forget.
Speaker 2:And you know, through that time I, I had some met some different people and invited me to church. And during one of my recoveries, a fellow sailor says hey, come to church with me. And I'm like for what? And, man, that was the best message. It was like the pastor spoke to me and nobody else was in that congregation and I found myself walking down to the altar area and asking for him to to to. You know, save me. And I tell you what I. I I am not at all who I am. This company is not mine. This, this belongs to Jesus and I use it to give back and to promote and help him and glorify him, because that's, that's all we're called to do.
Speaker 2:Uh and I mean that's why my kids were there on that Saturday. I want them to see exactly what it is that we do and why it's important to give back and follow what we're called to do.
Speaker 3:Sarah said the same thing. You know, when I came up and I thanked you guys, and she goes. I just want to let you know, we're just stewards. She said we're just stewards. You know, and I keep going back to this daughter, abby, she was incredible.
Speaker 2:Hi, my name's Abby Looked me in the eye and everything you know and's it's important for them to see and to be able to give back. You know, and they only see a small fraction of it, and you know, I want them to be able to fully understand why our military is important, why our veterans are important, why giving back to community is important, and you know why, why serving a God that we're called to serve is the most important.
Speaker 3:My serving to God, that we're called to serve is the most important, yeah, you know, and that leads into your making an impact in the community. You're led by God, you're led by your faith to be a good steward. Right, and I want to talk about you know some of the things that you've been involved with, not just the 50 Mile March, but what Heart Heroes was one of them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. We gave back to the Heart Heroes organization for a few years and bags of fun.
Speaker 3:That's a fun, yeah Great.
Speaker 2:And they, they, they partner up very well together. Yes, and we may possibly still be doing it again this year, but we collected over 350 toys last year by our own employees.
Speaker 3:So your own employees, because of the culture you have here at McCarthy's One Hour Heating and Benjamin Franklin, the culture you have you, didn't you just said hey, here's what we're doing. What were you surprised by the response of 350 toys?
Speaker 2:Very very, that's a lot of toys.
Speaker 2:Yeah, last year was the second year we had done it. The first year we did just over 200 and they had this own internal contest that they were doing. We weren't doing any kind of promotion of, hey, most donations you know gets to at that time. We didn't do any of that, right, and we have a staff just full of open hearts and arms and wanting to be able to take care of it. I love it when they call me and say, hey, you know I'm at this customer's house and you know they're just in a tough, you know a tough spot. You know we need to be able to help them out. I'm like, okay, what is it going to take? Typically, we do it, one of the reasons you know why I think we've been nominated and selected as the net servitive franchise of the year or Sarpy County Business of the Year.
Speaker 3:Well, yeah, congratulations again on that. I was at your table. Yes, man, that was so cool. I was like I'm among the cool. But again you glorify Jesus Christ on stage, man.
Speaker 2:You've got to and you know I am able to do what I can because of him and I want to make sure that he gets full credit for that. And you know we we're not perfect, we're going to struggle, but you know, if we all strive to do the best we can, then that's all that matters. And you know that's why one of our core values here is own it.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know you have your honor, your respect, integrity.
Speaker 1:But own it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, own the scenario. It doesn't matter what you've done or what's happened. What the customer wants, own that customer.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I've experienced that you guys have stepped up and said, hey, you know what, we were there, I'll own it. Tell us what we need to do. But you know, talk about outside of, you know the, the culture and the giving that you have. Talk about the service that you provide for veterans period, veteran families in there. Yeah, tell me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so obviously we have the McCarthy's one hour heating and air and the Benjamin Franklin plumbing. Yeah, mr Sparky electric is also here.
Speaker 3:Okay, yes, yes.
Speaker 2:And we have our our heart hero excuse me, not our heart hero, but our our hero's plan. Hero's plan, yes, yes and yeah. So free maintenance services for the furnace, air conditioning, plumbing, water heater, flushes, they do the electrical panel and all the electronics or the electrical outlets and light fixtures, and it's, it's free, it's our way to give back to our veterans the same thing. And, yeah, we, we do the the free promotion. We've been doing it for a while.
Speaker 2:We started doing it where we do 11, 11 as a monthly payment yep, yep, that's right and so we we do continue to do that, we we offer it free to those veterans that reach out to us through the 50 mile march.
Speaker 2:So we can help keep us connected together Absolutely, and it's just a great way to give all, whatever we can to people that have provided all they have to us. And you know, no company, no state, no municipality is going to be able to do the services that we wish and hope for. Politics, and you know they talk about what they want to do, and it's the one thing that really attracted me to you is you know, it's not red, we're not blue, we're red, white and blue, and we're going to walk right down the middle and I don't care what side of the aisle you're on, you serve our country, we're going to serve you, and that's all that matters.
Speaker 3:Absolutely, and we reiterate that, over and over being on a solid foundation you know the 50 mile march we want to make sure that we build solid and slow, right, I know we have a solid foundation In your eyes. Outside of that, what else attracted you? You heard about it about a year ago, right, and it took us a while to get here, because sometimes we just learn a little bit, a little bit more. Why the 50 Mile March Foundation for you? What resonates?
Speaker 2:Just the camaraderie of your contractors, your sponsors, the in-depth roots that you dig into the community, hearing your testimony and the testimony of others, yeah, truly need help. And it's like the story I told you. You know about that soldier over there and you know if, if he had the opportunity to have somebody to reach out, you know, like your organization, maybe he'd be here today.
Speaker 3:You know without going in depth, you basically this today wasn't even going to happen between you and I know Cause we cause. I said hey it. I said hey, is tomorrow better. Yeah, you're like, well, you know today's better. I'll go till 3.30. I said, okay, I'll try to be there by 2. And then you shared the story.
Speaker 2:Yeah, one of our plumbers went to a customer's house and she was in a real tough spot emotionally and really kind of just laid her emotions on his shoulders and he was really touched.
Speaker 2:And come to find out yesterday was the anniversary of her son's suicide, who struggled severely with PTSD from his time in Desert Storm, and she had a significant amount of his stuff that she just couldn't stand to see anymore and was going to throw it away and I said there's no way. So we wanted to try to help her and connect her with people that she can maybe do. Some donations of this uniforms, medals, pictures.
Speaker 3:She was going to throw it away. She was going to throw it away. I don't want to bring it on camera, but it's sitting right over here off camera, and this happened just yesterday.
Speaker 2:Just yesterday. Like I said, you know, there is no coincidence in my mind. I mean, everything happened for a reason and, yeah, you know, I believe strongly in my faith that that it's a realistic example today that we still deal with. You know that our parents, our grandparents, our aunts, our uncles, you know, taking your life because you feel like it's too much to handle, it is not worth it, oh, it is not worth it. The air that we breathe, breathe is is more than enough. The, the, the life that that God provides us is yes, you just you can't put words to that. And hearing these stories, man, it breaks my heart and it just is a good reminder of where I was and what keeps me motivated and that's probably a good thing to say why you guys is is you never forget who you are and where you come from. You know you can do real estate, you can do contractor services, you can do whatever, but we're all in the people serving business, and our own people need the most help.
Speaker 3:I think we sometimes lose sight of that when it comes to profit and growth and scaling and betterment and improvement and cycle and all those things, and stock prices and margin, all those things you know feed into the beast. But if we pull back and we sit down and we say, okay, you know, we're giving because we can, not because we're giving because we can, and I think one of my friends, van Diep, said, if you have the ability, then you have the responsibility. I mean, think about that for a second right, because sometimes the highest skill is ability or availability. I should say the highest ability is availability and if you have the ability, you have the responsibility and, and you know, we're all in this together.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, it doesn't matter what color you are or what nationality or your belief, it doesn't matter, right, and you know we, we all come here with nothing. We're going. It doesn't matter, right, and you know we, we all come here with nothing. We're going to leave with nothing. Yep, you know, it would just be nice to have some sort of fellowship along the way, and and and that's, and, that's what you know, that's what we're all about, and same with you.
Speaker 3:That's, that's what I love. I love the fellowship part. So, Scott, you know, let's talk about what you want most for the people you come in contact with. Right, because you've got your employees, you've got your family yeah, your lovely family, by the way, and Sarah's so kind, she's my rock head or when she said we're just stewards, jay, like it was, like just matter of fact, you know what I mean? It wasn't, it wasn't rehearsed anyway. I mean, what do you want most for the people around you? That? What do you want them to know? What do you want them to feel?
Speaker 2:I want them to know Jesus. You know how people live today and not have him. I don't understand it. I want them to know that they're not alone, that there, there is someone there and people there that are available to help, and I want them to know that it is not. It is not the end of the line, and that's extremely important. You know it's. There are so many resources available. He's the highest and strongest. Yeah yeah, and that's the most important.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think that is that's well said, because it's too easy that we think of motivational books, leadership courses, right, motivational quotes. But at the end of the day, I can tell, by you being centered in Christ, your faith is what sets you straight, that's what, that's your guide, that's your plum. You know what I mean. If you would, what about this? What's on the horizon? Anything exciting with any of your companies that you're working on, or anything that you know that you're excited about, that you might.
Speaker 2:Well, we're certainly excited about our upcoming March. Oh gosh, okay, yes, okay, yes, okay.
Speaker 3:Yes, fair, fair. Let's leave all the corporate stuff behind, let's highlight this and let's talk about the March. So, yes, saturday, sunday. First of all, I want to highlight your $10,000. So I know people have for our veterans.
Speaker 2:And you know again, it's you have the ability, it's your responsibility.
Speaker 3:I might have to borrow that.
Speaker 2:I mean, hey, I just borrowed it too. Yeah, and you know, we, we certainly have the ability and was the. That's the largest donation we've been able to make thus far since. I've been here to be able to know that that has been, you know, just increased tenfold of you know, to almost 40,000 in total.
Speaker 3:The force multiplier for us, for sure, and so that you know, I mean our staff and our programming and I took this from our latest report and I don't want to be held to this but it's about 27-ish percent right where that goes to programming and overhead and the rest goes towards the community of hope. Our score from our audit is so good. I want to share that with people. We have seven acres that we are in the current mode of developing so that your gift is not just some pass-through where we're going to put it in someone's pocket, to put in someone's pocket, to put in someone's pocket right, and I'm telling you I can't wait for the world to see what we build. It's going to take a while, but let's talk about this. You were at our mission briefing, like you said. What was the atmosphere like there? What was it like? Well, it was good it was at Werner, right?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, it was at Werner and a nice facility, by the way, and awesome people. But man, they were pumped. They were those men and women are riled up and yeah, I mean even my, my seven-year-old he's just like trying not to trying to contain them in the seat. Hey, they were so good. Yeah, they were sitting right in front, right. And yeah, he was just like, okay, let's go.
Speaker 2:We literally leave, we went around the back and I think there's like a training break room, and so we came out of the restroom to get ready to leave and he's like all right, we're marching. I was like, where are we going? He goes, we're going to Lincoln. I'm like no, we're not. They start in Lincoln and come to Omaha. And he goes okay, where are we going? I'm like buddy.
Speaker 3:That's funny. Well, you and your family are invited to come out to Walton if you'd like to see the launch. It's a pretty big deal. We will check in, we will process our equipment, we'll make sure final safety checks. We'll lay down for 22 minutes, we'll pray, final mission briefing. Platoon leaders break down to their platoons and then we launch. Man, that's a it's a sight to see.
Speaker 3:Yeah, uh, the media vehicle 17, 17 crew media vehicle, two drones, four still cameras, two operator cameras, two point to zoom cameras. Live stream. It's, it's all. It's. It's like a military operation.
Speaker 2:Man, that's going to be awesome to see. I can't wait to see the, the, the progress of it and the, and the production of it I can, it's going to be nice.
Speaker 3:And then you're going to be at the end as well and you're going to see two large horse troughs.
Speaker 2:That's a horse trough, I mean it's a water ton, they're stock tanks. I mean, they're huge, yeah, and they'll be filled with some cold ice water and frozen electrolyte popsicles. Not for feet, no, not for feet or hands Feet, no, not for feet or hands, and we'll have all the kids there with the water cannons squirting everybody as they come along and some misting fans and cooling fans. Yeah, just a good time, man, just to show back and show the support for you guys.
Speaker 3:Oh, you'll have fans there, the cooling stations as well.
Speaker 2:Is that right? Yeah, we'll have the cooling station there. Yeah, it's going to be a real good time and we'll be, you know, hopefully talking to people about our heroes plan. And you know just the biggest, the biggest challenge, and it's a. It's a great, you know, service that we offer, but the biggest challenge is just putting that out there. I'm not doing it for any kind of publicity or anything of that nature, it's just genuinely a give back. So we don't do a huge promotion of it and people say all the time, oh, you should, but I get what?
Speaker 3:you're saying but, but I will tell you. Let let me emphasize this for Scott because, like he said he won't, but I will and I don't work here. Veterans in general are hardworking people or they know hard work. An organization like this works hard. I can tell you he's seen the clock that we've worked on right. He's seen the uniforms that we worn and I want you to know when he does this for families $11.11 per month. I mean, that's nothing, it's peace of mind. And you're right, you don't see it on a billboard. And that just hit me just now. It's not a promotion, it's your give back and the way you want it to get out is word of mouth. So I challenge or I implore veterans to say, hey, let me just find out what this is about. Ring their phones, I'll put a link, but do yourself a favor. You're going to spend the money one way or another. Support a veteran-owned business who doesn't even want anything back for it. That's it. That's pretty cool.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and and have fun while you're doing.
Speaker 3:Yeah, no doubt, tell me about, tell me about the business place here, like I keep going back to this man because I'm so fascinated how, how big, how many employees are here.
Speaker 2:Uh, so we have 22 employees in total. Okay, 19 trucks on the road every day.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And about five of us here in the office. Yeah, and this is the. This is the original franchise one hour and that ever started. Yeah, 22 years ago.
Speaker 3:Yes, and and you bought it from the.
Speaker 2:I bought it from the the, the, the pioneer.
Speaker 3:Yeah, the pioneer. And you bought it from the. I bought it from the, the. The the pioneer, yeah.
Speaker 2:But uh, yeah, he, John McCarthy. He started the whole thing and he called me in to and the organization. You know he was looking for somebody that can just help him grow and get the company in the right place that he wants it to be. I mean he was an older gentleman at the time. Sure, wants to retire and you know I honestly was not looking for employment.
Speaker 3:And you were over there in another franchise.
Speaker 2:I was over in another franchise, yeah, and I loved the people that I worked with and you know it's. You know he just chatting with him here and there and you know it kind of made me realize okay, maybe there are other things out there. And I had left that location for a little while and about six, eight months later he calls me back. He's like what are you doing? I'm like working. And he goes I think it's time you come to Omaha. And I said I think it's time you go get your your Alzheimer's checked, Cause I told you that it's not going to happen. Yeah, he and he's like well, it's negative 40 here, cause you guys had a real bad freeze. Oh yeah, and and I saw I snapped a photo of my palm tree. I said it's 86. Leave me alone.
Speaker 2:And so, yeah, I mean my wife. You know we had this internal checklist that only her and I discussed about if we were to ever leave or relocate. You know, florida, what would it look like? And you know, at the time you know he checked off every box and literally, you know you just start feeling that tug and so we just, we just put it in God's hands and you know our prayer was to close every door. We're stubborn Close every door that we can't or don't need to go through and open the ones you do. And lo and behold, omaha, nebraska, gets here.
Speaker 2:And you know, I move here and he got sick. He got really sick and we weren't really quite sure if he was going to make it. Our house got destroyed by a downdraft Wow, first, 90 days, and so it's like our stuff hadn't even gotten here yet and I called my wife. I'm like put the house back into market. She's like nope, you made a commitment to us in Christ. You're going to follow through and through him, you'll get through this.
Speaker 2:And there's a lot of turmoil that we went through, I'm sure, and you know, through faith, and faith alone and obedience, you know that's why we have that cross at the front door. Be still and know. You know Psalm 46, you have to be still and know that Christ is King and he will put us through it. And he put me here for a reason, you know. It is to truly give back and glorify him, and that's what is the most important thing to me and that is what my mission is to do. And the greatest thing is, you know, you, you, you deal with tradesmen and a lot of tradesmen don't know Christ. You know it was a testimony in itself and maybe another time for another podcast.
Speaker 2:But you know, when I got here, culture was not the greatest Sure, people were run down and you know, it was just. It was just. What it was is what it was, you know. And you know my wife and I talked and I told her I want to put a cross on the door. She helped me find a nice one and you know it's scary. You know, put that up there and five, six people walk right out the door and I'm like, and not because of that or whatever reason, it just happened.
Speaker 2:And you know, I, I literally found myself, you know, walking through the lobby and it's like five, 30 at night, just fell to my knees and just crying out to God and like okay, what, what am I supposed to do? And literally, within two weeks we had five fully qualified striven people and I'm like you have got to be kidding me. Well, no, there's no kidding and no, and these guys, I mean they, they love what they do, they love their the walk, they love the talk, and I tell everybody in the interview, I'm a Jesus-loving guy, and if you don't like it, don't work for me. I'm going to talk it, I'm going to preach it, I'm going to put scripture on the wall. It's going to be all over. Yeah, and they love it, they absolutely love it.
Speaker 3:Well, you're attracting what you want.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, Right. If you're someone who this is not just something you say, it's something you live and it's something that you want for others, you know what I mean. That's important it is, and the struggle in this business cable plumbing, air conditioning, heating, electrical it doesn't matter. We can train people, we can develop people, but at the end of the day, after that interview and after that face-to-face we have, it's really challenging to find out what are they really doing in that home it's true and you know, the biggest thing is, I never, ever want to, nor ever have been on, you know, one of those inside edition shows or whatever we actually undercover, boss yeah, you know, we've
Speaker 2:uh, we've been one of the professionals that have been contacted, you know, but you, you know, to have like-minded people of who I am representing me, the best way that I know how to the community is a piece in its own, and again, that's when you have to be still and know, and you know, and the representation is extremely important and you know they look the part, act the part and provide the best service possible, and that's what we're known for that's a big deal.
Speaker 3:You can do a whole master class, scott, on just hiring people, right you know I mean it's one of the most difficult parts. Like you said, this is a people business. You'll find many skilled, but will you find the people, the who they are versus the what they are?
Speaker 2:right, that's the challenge you want, the who they are versus what they are. Hire for character and train for the trade. Yeah.
Speaker 3:I mean easier said than done. Much, I mean. Is there anything else you want to impart? Any other knowledge, Any other last-minute Scott wisdom sayings before we go?
Speaker 2:I've got a lot here, man yeah, I just appreciate the opportunity to partner up with you guys. I mean, it means you know equally as much or more to me than than than maybe to you guys. But I know what we're doing together along with all the other sponsors, is so important, and that's what I really love. I will say this that's one thing I really did and was attracted to your organization about is it's not about the name on the shirt. Yeah, you have other heating and air contractors there, you have cabinet people, counter people. We're all people serving people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you know, that's the one thing that really was a really nice icing on the cake, so to speak, and it's just true, people that really want a purpose of helping others. And that's what I really like and that really fits me and our and my my model here very well and yeah, so I mean I appreciate that, I appreciate the opportunity and you know I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do in the years to come. Man, cause this is a, this is the beginning. That's awesome.
Speaker 3:Well, you guys heard it here Scott Wood, sarah Wood, I got to meet her, your entire family. I just want to say to you and people watching our gratitude towards your family. The fact that you all attended really said something about you know. Your family says something about what you want to do in the community. I saw the news piece when you were out in the parade. Was it the Irish?
Speaker 2:The St Patrick's.
Speaker 3:Day Parade and your family was there, right, and Sarah was there. You had your outfit on. I was like this guy's all in on the community. I want people to watch where his feet point and they always point towards the community. So if you need someone to confide or trust in, definitely the Wood family. Thank you so much. Appreciate you, Scott.
Speaker 2:Yeah, man.
Speaker 3:Appreciate it.
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