Episode
46
December 8, 2025

Future-Proofing Your Business with AI: A Conversation with Remy Skerjanz

What happens when a real estate entrepreneur, a government tech dropout, and a world-changing technology collide? You get a story of grit, innovation, and a fast-track roadmap for staying ahead in the AI era. In the latest episode of the Catalyst for the Trades podcast, host Jennifer Bagley sits down with Remy Skerjanz—co-founder of Sales Blaster AI—to talk about building a business from the ground up, the future of AI in customer service and marketing, and what it really means to be "agentic ready."

If you're a home service business owner trying to make sense of the changing tech landscape, this is a must-watch episode. Discover some of the highlights below.

From Pre-Foreclosure Leads to AI Voice

Remy's entrepreneurial path began early, bypassing the traditional college route after a year of success in commercial real estate. He launched a startup providing pre-foreclosure data to investors, but quickly realized data wasn’t enough. Clients wanted results. That demand led Remy to dive into outbound marketing and eventually into the world of AI voice technology.

His partner Max took a parallel route, leaving a government tech job after growing disillusioned with the slow-moving bureaucracy. When they met in an AI-focused online group, Max was the only one willing to help Remy solve a complex problem. Two weeks later, Remy flew to Miami, slept on Max’s living room floor, and they drafted their first operating agreement. That commitment eventually became Sales Blaster AI, a company redefining what’s possible with outbound email, inbound agents, and voice-powered conversions.

Turning Down Millions to Build Their Own Exit

While many startups dream of being acquired, Remy and Max made a bold move: turning down a lucrative offer from a company with eyes on a nine-figure exit. Why? Because they believe in what they’re building. From scratch. Bootstrapped. No shortcuts.

It’s a level of conviction most home service entrepreneurs can relate to—betting on your own ability to deliver and outlast the noise.

How AI Is Disrupting Search, Sales & Support

In the episode, Jennifer and Remy dig deep into AI’s impact on Google Search, customer communication, and marketing automation. The conversation zeroes in on one transformative concept:

🔍 Agentic Optimization

Coined during the interview, this term refers to preparing your website and business systems to interact with AI agents; not just human users.

“Imagine telling your AI to book a haircut and it handles everything. No human needed. That’s where we're headed,” Remy explained.

For service businesses, that means your site can’t just look good, but it needs to function intelligently. Agentic optimization is the new SEO: If your site can’t talk to an AI agent or complete a transaction autonomously, you're already behind.

Key Takeaways for Home Service Business Owners

AI isn’t optional anymore – From Microsoft to political campaigns, companies are replacing humans with smart agents that handle support, sales, and scheduling faster and more accurately.

Being “agentic ready” is now mission-critical – It’s not just about talking to humans; your site needs to respond to bots, voice commands, and virtual assistants. Think Siri, Alexa, ChatGPT…now think booking, payments, and conversations happening without a human.

Voice is just one piece – While Sales Blaster AI started with outbound AI calls, they’ve evolved into personalized outbound email, inbound AI agents, and full automation of sales pipelines with human oversight until 99% confidence is reached.

Build slow, build smart – Remy and Max are focused on sustainability, scalability, and simplicity. They're not trying to be trendy. They're trying to win, and bring clients along for the ride.

“Garbage In, Garbage Out” — Training AI Like a Human

The episode also tackled the misunderstood topic of AI hallucinations (when AI gives incorrect outputs). Remy's take? It all comes down to training.

“If you train a child poorly, you get poor results. Same with AI. Feed it quality, give it context, and you’ll get reliable output,” he said.

This mindset is crucial for any business owner exploring AI tools whether for content creation, customer service, or automating scheduling.

Watch the Full Episode

Want to hear the full conversation, learn how Remy’s team booked thousands of calls for the Kennedy campaign using AI, and discover what it takes to make your site agentic ready?

🎥 Watch the full episode of Catalyst for the Trades featuring Remy Skerjanz now on YouTube.
👉 Click here to watch

Final Word

If you're in the trades, home services, or local business and you’re still on the fence about AI, now’s the time to lean in. The future isn’t five years away. It’s here, and it's voice-enabled, AI-powered, and agentic-optimized.

Don’t wait for someone else to dominate your market with better tools. Learn from disruptors like Remy and Max, and start building your own exit plan—one system, one automation, and one smart decision at a time.

Meet Your Hosts

Jennifer Bagley
Jennifer Bagley is the CEO and founder of CI Web Group, an AI-enabled marketing agency helping home service businesses achieve exceptional growth. With over 15 years of experience, she has led companies to significantly increase their leads and revenue through innovative strategies and emerging technologies. Her 12 Step Roadmap to Accelerated Results is a trusted framework for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies looking to expand their markets and achieve lasting success.

Chuck Staszkiewicz
Chuck is an accomplished entrepreneur and growth strategist, renowned for scaling All Hours Plumbing into a $20 million industry leader before its successful sale in 2023. A co-founder of The Opus & Golds Group, he helps companies grow through innovative strategies and operational excellence. Through his work, Chuck continues to inspire entrepreneurs to achieve their highest potential.

Don’t Fall Behind. Subscribe Now.

The trades industry is moving fast. If you’re not learning, you’re losing. Catalyst for the Trades gives you real strategies from real experts. No fluff, just what’s working.

🎧 Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get the insights you need to stay ahead, grow smarter, and win more business.

Episodes you may like

Future-Proof Your Business: A Guide to Developing Your Technology Strategy

Develop a winning technology strategy to future-proof your business. Align tech with goals, implement effectively, and leverage AI for growth.

Read more
Published
December 8, 2025
Connect and Conquer: Understanding CRM

Conquer growth! Learn how customer relationship management empowers home services with data, boosts efficiency, and delights customers.

Read more
Published
December 5, 2025
Beyond the Click: Strategies for Supercharging Lead Generation and Conversion

Boost sales! Discover top strategies for lead conversion optimization, leveraging nurturing, AI, and data-driven personalization.

Read more
Published
December 4, 2025

Guests

Remy Skerjanz
Sales Blaster AI