Women in Charge: How AI and Automation Are Powering Home Service Growth

How do women in the trades go from underfunded marketing and clunky tech to dominating their local markets with AI and automation? In this episode of Catalyst for the Trades, host Jennifer Bagley sits down with three powerhouse home service entrepreneurs—Courtney Van Delden Supplee (Van Delden Wastewater Systems), Amanda Casteel (Cherry Blossom Plumbing), and Stephanie Allen (AirWorks Solutions).You’ll hear real stories of growth from women-led businesses in HVAC, plumbing, and septic services. The conversation dives into hard-won lessons on failed marketing investments, the leap from WordPress to Webflow, and how embracing AI content, dashboards, and automation turned their marketing from a liability into a lead machine.These women get candid about tech transitions, brand control, data-driven decisions, and how being first to adopt AI-powered web platforms gave them a 12-month head start on their competition. Timestamps:00:00 – Meet the Guests: Women Redefining the Home Services Industry01:20 – Business Beginnings: Legacy, Pivots & Pandemic Launches09:42 – Marketing Lessons: Tracking ROI, Attribution, and Broken Promises20:28 – Why They Left WordPress: Moving to AI-Driven Web Platforms29:33 – The 120-Day Ramp: Planning for Momentum and SEO Visibility32:24 – AI vs. Human Marketing: Dashboards, Control & Training Smart Agents35:00 – Trial and Error: Teaching AI, Managing Risk, and Staying Agile40:33 – Content Repurposing at Scale: Blogs, Social Media & Link Building45:00 – Brand Control: Managing Digital Assets and Image Guidelines50:13 – Future-Focused: Compliance Automation and Smarter Processes57:40 – Final Thoughts: Leadership, Feedback, and Scaling TogetherGuest Details:Courtney Van Delden SuppleeCo-owner, Van Delden Wastewater SystemsFourth-generation owner of a septic services company in San Antonio, Courtney modernized a legacy business through AI-driven marketing, CRM tech, and deep customer trust.Amanda CasteelCo-owner, Cherry Blossom PlumbingLaunched during the pandemic, Amanda helped scale Cherry Blossom Plumbing with smart digital strategies, strong client relationships, and a relentless focus on tech and transparency.Stephanie AllenCEO, AirWorks SolutionsHVAC and plumbing leader from Alabama, Stephanie blends law and business acumen with grassroots and AI-based marketing to run a fast-growing, family-focused service brand.Relevant Links:Van Delden Wastewater SystemsCherry Blossom PlumbingAirWorks SolutionsCI Web GroupCatalyst for the Trades PodcastEnjoyed this episode? Subscribe to "The Catalyst for Trades" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Share this episode with aspiring and established leaders, and stay tuned for more insights on driving business success and personal leadership growth.