The Water Nerd, John Atlee

How someone goes from selling suits to running a successful water treatment company? John Atlee did just that, and his journey is anything but typical.When John took a chance on a job at Water Doctors, he had no idea it would turn into his lifelong career. Fast-forward to today, and he owns the company, turning his passion for clean water into a thriving business. But his success didn’t come without challenges—hiring the right team, navigating generational differences, and making sure his employees actually want to stick around.In this episode, we dig into what it takes to build a strong team in the trades. John shares how he's bridging the gap between seasoned pros and the next generation, why a simple perk like on-site chiropractic care keeps his crew happy, and how he keeps leadership real—no corporate fluff, just honest conversations and solid work.And if you think trade jobs aren’t for today’s workforce, John’s here to prove otherwise. With high school partnerships, tech advancements, and hands-on training, the industry is shifting, and he’s right in the middle of it. Whether you're a business owner, a young tradesperson, or just curious about what really goes into keeping your water clean, this one’s for you.Highlights:How John went from architecture to water treatment and never looked back.The hiring challenges that come with balancing old-school experience and new-school ambition.Why hands-on training and leadership matter more than a fancy resume.How Water Doctors keeps employees happy and reduces turnover.What the future of the trades looks like—and how to fix the five-out, two-in hiring gap.🚨 Big News! 🚨We just launched a brand-new website and community for all things Blue Collar BS! If you’re in the trades or run a blue-collar business, you don’t want to miss this. Head to BlueCollarBS.com to check it out, join the BS’ers community, and get access to exclusive resources, conversations, and more. Let’s build this thing together!Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! If you liked this episode, share it with someone in the trades—it helps us keep bringing you the real talk that matters.Connect with John:WebsiteLinkedInConnect with us:Check out our new website.Steve Doyle:WebsiteLinkedInEmailBrad Herda:WebsiteLinkedInEmailThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpOP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy