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HVAC ContractingNewsBusiness Management

The NEWSMakers Podcast: From Third-Generation Tech to $20M Brand - Trey McWilliams on Building Blue Cardinal

McWilliams shares how he navigated growth, risk, and private equity while keeping his team front and center

By Dylan Kurt
The ACHR NEWS Podcast
The ACHR NEWS
December 15, 2025

Blue Cardinal Home Services Group founder Trey McWilliams joins the Newsmakers podcast to share how he went from third-generation East Texas HVAC technician to leading a $20 million brand and building a multi-location platform. McWilliams digs into what makes an HVAC business truly “deal-ready,” from financial literacy and cleaning up expenses to developing strong middle management and a culture that can handle change. McWilliams also explains how Blue Cardinal approaches partnerships differently from traditional private equity by focusing on protecting legacy, creating long-term opportunities for employees, and building a platform that owners are still proud to have their name on years after the deal.

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KEYWORDS: Leadership and HVACR Podcasts in HVACR

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Dylan kurt
Dylan Kurt is an editor with The ACHR News. He is an award-winning political journalist with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Iowa. Growing up, Dylan spent a lot of time fetching tools and assisting his dad, who held professional licenses in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and refrigeration, at his small plumbing and heating business.

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