Travis Waldstein leads the conversation on Iowa basketball’s surprising run, ongoing growth at Waldstein Plumbing and Air Serve, and the importance of getting outside and recharging this time of year. A mix of sports, business updates, and local perspective from one of Council Bluffs’ busiest operators.

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Travis Waldstein leads the conversation on the transition into spring HVAC and plumbing work, what customers are asking for right now, and how Iowa Western’s expanding apprenticeship programs are creating real opportunities for both employers and the next generation of skilled trades workers.

Todd Studer sits down with Travis Waldstein of Aire Serv Heating and Air Conditioning and Waldstein Plumbing to talk about a major step forward for the company. Travis shares why hiring the right operations person can transform a growing business, how leadership requires learning to let go of certain responsibilities, and why building the right team is the key to scaling. The conversation also touches on lessons from franchise training, business growth in Council Bluffs, and the mindset required to move a company to the next level.

Todd Studer and Travis Waldstein cover a lot of ground in this Circle of Trades conversation, from old houses and outdated plumbing systems to how service businesses earn trust in smaller communities. Travis shares why older homes require deeper technical knowledge, why meeting customers where they are matters, and how empathy, options, and long term relationships should come before chasing dollars. The episode also dives into local business growth, legacy planning, passive income, and what it really means to build something that lasts for the next generation.

Todd and Travis get into a very real service business problem: how do you handle after hours calls when people are stressed, it feels like an emergency, and nobody wants to fight a phone tree or an AI bot. Travis shares what he’s tried, what has worked and what has not, and why “less is more” can matter when customers just want a live human fast. Along the way, they hit the bigger point: communication is not a nice to have, it is survival in a trade business.

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#CircleOfTrades

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#SmallMarketMedia

Travis Waldstein checks in from the real world of contracting after a rough stretch at the shop. Water line breaks road closures power issues and the kind of problem solving that never shows up in the brochure plus a quick detour into travel stories and early Hawkeye football talk.

Todd Studer and Travis Waldstein are back in the studio for another episode of Circle Of Trades, starting with wrestling and local sports talk before getting into what really matters in the trades world. The conversation centers on integrity, accountability, and responsibility in business, what it looks like to own mistakes, and why strong culture matters from the shop to the jobsite. Along the way, Todd gets practical travel advice from Travis ahead of his first international flight to Mexico, and the two trade stories that only blue collar life can produce.

Todd Studer and Travis Waldstein are back for another episode of Circle Of Trades, mixing shop talk, workforce issues, apprenticeships, and the realities of running a trades business with plenty of humor along the way. From workforce development at Iowa Western to fuel costs, material pricing, apprenticeships, and the business side of HVAC and plumbing, this conversation covers what trades professionals are really dealing with right now in Southwest Iowa and beyond.