NET Gain (Networking, Encouragement, Training)

Most snow and landscape companies lose money every winter because they don’t actually know how much salt they’re putting down. Over‑application eats away at margins, damages client trust, and hurts the environment, while under‑application risks safety, service failures, and callbacks. Operating on guesswork puts your team, your profitability, and your reputation on the line.
In this episode, Craig Sandmann of Hilltip NA shows how to move from uncertain, inconsistent salt usage to full tracking, control, and efficiency. You’ll learn how modern salt‑tracking systems help you measure exactly what’s applied at every site, giving you the data you need to improve productivity, protect margins, and operate responsibly — without adding workflow complexity.
You’ll walk away with practical takeaways on how to:
Eliminate guesswork and make data‑driven decisions about material usage
Maintain compliance and environmental responsibility with accurate tracking
Reduce waste and protect profitability during peak storm cycles
Use equipment insights to train crews better and improve accountability
Strengthen retention by giving teams tools that make their work easier and more predictable
If you want a team that performs consistently — and a business that stops bleeding money on materials — this episode shows how the right tracking system becomes a cornerstone of your Win/Win Workplace.
NET Gain (Networking Encouragement Training) exists to encourage, train, and connect the Snow, Landscape, and Small Businesses. We host podcast recordings where attendees can network with the guests after the recording. To be registered for future meetups, sign up here. 
Support NET Gain and gain access to our peer group, resources, and advertising opportunities.
NET Gain is sponsored by Wolf America, wheel loaders engineered specifically for the snow contractor. Wolf America machines are developed with real-world input from snow professionals who depend on their equipment during long, demanding storms. If you are considering a new loader for your fleet, reach out to Aron and Harry at Wolf America or visit WolfAmerica.com.
Theme song "Snow Fight Win" by Evan The Jack available on all streaming platforms.
Jack of All People Trades Website
 
 

Most snow, landscape, and service companies invest in software hoping it will fix their operational headaches, only to end up using 30% of what they bought. The result? Confusion in the field, frustrated teams, scattered data, and leaders who feel like they’re paying for a tool that never delivers.
In this episode, Evan sits down with Bart Huber of Yeti Software to show you how to turn software chaos into a streamlined, people‑powered system that actually works. You’ll learn how the best companies evaluate software, roll it out successfully, and build processes their teams will follow, even during the busiest weeks of the season. With the right approach, software doesn’t just automate tasks; it empowers your people, increases engagement, and supports a healthier, more consistent operation.
You’ll walk away with practical takeaways on how to:
Choose software that truly fits your business, not just what’s trendy
Roll out new tools in a way your team buys into
Turn better data and workflows into faster decisions and higher profitability
Reduce chaos during storms with clearer communication and repeatable processes
Use technology to support recruiting, training, and retention by giving your people what they need to succeed
If you want your software to stop slowing you down — and start building a Win/Win Workplace — this episode gives you the roadmap.
 
Yeti Discount Code: Use Code NG25 to get your first month free on Yeti.
NET Gain (Networking Encouragement Training) exists to encourage, train, and connect the Snow, Landscape, and Small Businesses. We host podcast recordings where attendees can network with the guests after the recording. To be registered for future meetups, sign up here. 
Support NET Gain and gain access to our peer group, resources, and advertising opportunities.
NET Gain is sponsored by Wolf America, wheel loaders engineered specifically for the snow contractor. Wolf America machines are developed with real-world input from snow professionals who depend on their equipment during long, demanding storms. If you are considering a new loader for your fleet, reach out to Aron and Harry at Wolf America or visit WolfAmerica.com.
Theme song "Snow Fight Win" by Evan The Jack available on all streaming platforms.
Jack of All People Trades Website

Many snow, landscape, and service companies struggle with the same core challenge: they can’t find, develop, or keep the right people. Turnover drains momentum, seasonal retention suffers, and leaders feel stuck repeating the same staffing battles year after year.
In this episode, Evan Tachoir shares the passion that drives Jack of All People Trades, and how that passion directly solves the people problems holding companies back. After helping one organization reduce turnover by 46% and increase self‑performing growth by over $2 million, Evan reveals what he learned and why he is committed to helping snow and landscape businesses do the same.
You’ll discover how purpose and people strategy come together to:
Build recruiting systems that attract the right employees
Train teams to perform with confidence and consistency
Strengthen retention through engagement and strengths‑based development
Create Win/Win Workplaces where employees thrive and company goals accelerate
If you want a team that stays, grows, and performs — not just one that shows up — this story will inspire you and give you practical steps to start transforming your workforce today.
NET Gain (Networking Encouragement Training) exists to encourage, train, and connect the Snow, Landscape, and Small Businesses. We host podcast recordings where attendees can network with the guests after the recording. To be registered for future meetups, sign up here. 
Support NET Gain and gain access to our peer group, resources, and advertising opportunities.
NET Gain is sponsored by Wolf America, wheel loaders engineered specifically for the snow contractor. Wolf America machines are developed with real-world input from snow professionals who depend on their equipment during long, demanding storms. If you are considering a new loader for your fleet, reach out to Aron and Harry at Wolf America or visit WolfAmerica.com.
Theme song "Snow Fight Win" by Evan The Jack available on all streaming platforms.
Jack of All People Trades Website
 
 

Many snow, landscape, and service companies get stuck doing things “the way they’ve always been done,” which leads to stalled growth, disengaged teams, and missed opportunities to develop people. When leaders don’t adapt, innovate, or invite feedback, their workplace and their workforce stop progressing.
In this NET Gain Short, Evan shares how a simple experiment, free lunch & learns, transformed into the NET Gain podcast and live networking series. Along the way, he reveals how asking for feedback, pivoting based on what works, and leveraging the strengths of others helped expand impact across the snow and landscape industries.
You’ll walk away with practical takeaways you can use immediately, including how to:
Identify which actions to start, stop, and continue inside your company
Use team strengths to unlock better performance and engagement
Build a culture of continuous improvement that attracts and retains great people
Stay focused on your purpose and let it guide how you lead and develop your workforce
If you’re ready to create a team that grows with you — not away from you — this episode shows how small experiments can lead to big improvements and help you build a true Win/Win Workplace.
NET Gain (Networking Encouragement Training) exists to encourage, train, and connect the Snow, Landscape, and Small Businesses. We host podcast recordings where attendees can network with the guests after the recording. To be registered for future meetups, sign up here. 
Support NET Gain and gain access to our peer group, resources, and advertising opportunities.
NET Gain is sponsored by Wolf America, wheel loaders engineered specifically for the snow contractor. Wolf America machines are developed with real-world input from snow professionals who depend on their equipment during long, demanding storms. If you are considering a new loader for your fleet, reach out to Aron and Harry at Wolf America or visit WolfAmerica.com.
Theme song "Snow Fight Win" by Evan The Jack available on all streaming platforms.
Jack of All People Trades Website

Seasonal crews are essential to snow operations, but too often they show up undertrained, overwhelmed, and unsure of expectations. That lack of preparation leads to mistakes, slow performance, safety risks, and frustrated full‑time staff. When the storm hits, you feel it: gaps in training quickly turn into gaps in service.
In this episode, Steve Smythe breaks down how to transform unprepared seasonal workers into confident, storm‑ready teams through intentional training and standardized development. Fresh off the Storm Days event, Steve explains how Storm Academy equips snow companies with practical systems, hands‑on education, and repeatable processes that help seasonal staff perform like seasoned pros. He also shares insights from the first season of the Storm Chasin’ series, highlighting how companies can level up training and team execution.
You’ll learn how to:
Build a simple, effective seasonal training program that actually sticks
Develop team confidence before the first flake falls
Reduce chaos during storms by aligning expectations and responsibilities
Equip crews with skills that boost retention and long‑term engagement
If you want to recruit the right people, train them well, and build a team that stays — this episode shows how structured seasonal training becomes a competitive advantage and a cornerstone of a Win/Win Workplace.
NET Gain (Networking Encouragement Training) exists to encourage, train, and connect the Snow, Landscape, and Small Businesses. We host podcast recordings where attendees can network with the guests after the recording. To be registered for future meetups, sign up here. 
Support NET Gain and gain access to our peer group, resources, and advertising opportunities.
NET Gain is sponsored by Wolf America, wheel loaders engineered specifically for the snow contractor. Wolf America machines are developed with real-world input from snow professionals who depend on their equipment during long, demanding storms. If you are considering a new loader for your fleet, reach out to Aron and Harry at Wolf America or visit WolfAmerica.com.
Theme song "Snow Fight Win" by Evan The Jack available on all streaming platforms.
Jack of All People Trades Website

Snow, landscape, and service companies lose countless hours, and dollars, every winter because their crews are equipped with tools that slow them down instead of setting them up for success. Inefficient plows, outdated equipment, and the wrong tools for the job lead to longer routes, higher labor costs, and teams who feel like they’re fighting their equipment more than the storm.
In this episode, industry expert Rob Thibault shows how to turn wasted time into efficient, profitable snow operations by choosing equipment that actually boosts performance. He breaks down what contractors should consider when upgrading their gear and explains how innovations like back blades can dramatically improve speed, coverage, and productivity in the field.
You’ll learn how to:
Identify where your equipment is costing you time and money
Choose tools that match the demands of commercial snow operations
Increase route efficiency without increasing labor
Equip your team to succeed and reduce burnout during peak storms
If you want to recruit great people, keep them, and set them up for success, this episode shows how the right equipment becomes a foundation for building a Win/Win Workplace where crews feel supported and performance rises across the board.
NET Gain (Networking Encouragement Training) exists to encourage, train, and connect the Snow, Landscape, and Small Businesses. We host podcast recordings where attendees can network with the guests after the recording. To be registered for future meetups, sign up here. 
Support NET Gain and gain access to our peer group, resources, and advertising opportunities.
NET Gain is sponsored by Wolf America, wheel loaders engineered specifically for the snow contractor. Wolf America machines are developed with real-world input from snow professionals who depend on their equipment during long, demanding storms. If you are considering a new loader for your fleet, reach out to Aron and Harry at Wolf America or visit WolfAmerica.com.
Theme song "Snow Fight Win" by Evan The Jack available on all streaming platforms.
Jack of All People Trades Website
 
 

In many snow, landscape, and service companies, operations fall apart when accountability isn’t clear. Missed details, inconsistent performance, and finger‑pointing lead to frustrated crews, upset clients, and owners who feel like they’re constantly putting out fires instead of improving their operation.
In this episode, veteran snow operations leader John Mocharko breaks down how to move from blame and breakdowns to a culture of accountability that strengthens your entire operation. He shares why true accountability starts before the first snowfall, through clear planning, agreed‑upon standards, and year‑round preparation that sets teams up for success.
You’ll learn how to:
Build accountability into preseason planning and site expectations
Set standards your team can understand, follow, and be measured against
Create a workplace where people take ownership instead of making excuses
Improve service quality by tightening your processes (not tightening the reins)
If you want to recruit the right people, train them well, and retain a crew you can trust, this conversation shows how accountability becomes the backbone of a Win/Win Workplace.
NET Gain (Networking Encouragement Training) exists to encourage, train, and connect the Snow, Landscape, and Small Businesses. We host podcast recordings where attendees can network with the guests after the recording. To be registered for future meetups, sign up here. 
Support NET Gain and gain access to our peer group, resources, and advertising opportunities.
NET Gain is sponsored by Wolf America, wheel loaders engineered specifically for the snow contractor. Wolf America machines are developed with real-world input from snow professionals who depend on their equipment during long, demanding storms. If you are considering a new loader for your fleet, reach out to Aron and Harry at Wolf America or visit WolfAmerica.com.
Theme song "Snow Fight Win" by Evan The Jack available on all streaming platforms.
Jack of All People Trades Website
 

Career paths don’t build themselves , and without them, even your best people eventually stall out, burn out, or walk out. In this episode, we break down how snow, landscape, and service companies can turn day‑to‑day job chaos into clear, motivating career trajectories that keep employees growing and sticking around.
You’ll learn how to identify growth opportunities inside your organization, create simple development paths for every role, and turn overwhelmed teams into confident, capable crews who know exactly where they’re headed. Whether you’re trying to retain your top talent, promote from within, or give your team a reason to invest long-term, this conversation gives you practical steps to make career development a competitive advantage.
If your crew feels stuck , or you’re tired of starting from scratch every season , this episode shows you how to build careers, not just fill positions.
NET Gain (Networking Encouragement Training) exists to encourage, train, and connect the Snow, Landscape, and Small Businesses. We host podcast recordings where attendees can network with the guests after the recording. To be registered for future meetups, sign up here. 
Support NET Gain and gain access to our peer group, resources, and advertising opportunities.
NET Gain is sponsored by Wolf America, wheel loaders engineered specifically for the snow contractor. Wolf America machines are developed with real-world input from snow professionals who depend on their equipment during long, demanding storms. If you are considering a new loader for your fleet, reach out to Aron and Harry at Wolf America or visit WolfAmerica.com.
Theme song "Snow Fight Win" by Evan The Jack available on all streaming platforms.
Jack of All People Trades Website