If you’ve ever felt stuck because your business outgrew your leadership team — or rushed a key hire just to relieve the pressure — this episode is for you.

In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Brendan Aronson, Founder of The Military Veteran (TMV), a recruiting firm that places military veterans into executive and operator roles.

They break down what it really takes to hire a GM or operator who can scale a $10M–$25M home service business — and why most hiring failures aren’t talent problems, but clarity and process problems.

The core theme:
Great companies believe people drive value creation. If you get the leadership hire wrong, the cost compounds. If you get it right, everything unlocks.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

What “operator” actually means in a scaling home service business
Why hiring becomes the bottleneck as companies grow
How military leadership experience translates (and where it doesn’t)
Enlisted vs. officer backgrounds — and what each typically brings

They also cover the difference between hiring for:

A private equity–backed platform (timeline-driven, playbook-oriented)
A family-owned business (culture, long-term alignment, succession planning)

🎙️ Hosts
Host: John Wilson — https://x.com/WilsonCompanies
Guest: Brendan Aronson, Founder of The Military Veteran (TMV)

Check Them Out Here

💼 Big Reputation —

Stop chasing reviews and watching competitors outrank you. Big Reputation is the AI-powered review + SEO platform built for home service pros. Automate review generation, respond with AI, track local SEO, and integrate with your CRM. Setup is free, and your first month’s on the house.

👉 Book your demo

💼Shoutout to Avoca AI!

Looking to train your call center and improve technician performance? Avoca AI helps teams identify issues, improve call quality, and drive results from start to finish.
🔗 Schedule a demo

Shout Out to FieldPulse 🚀

FieldPulse is an incredible Field Service Management platform that helps you save hours each week while keeping your operations running smoothly. If you're looking to streamline your processes, stay competitive, and focus on what truly matters, FieldPulse is a game-changer!

📅 Book your demo

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John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

The One Hire That Unlocks Growth

Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast