Episode 19 | Jamison Lippolis - Combining Trades to Create a Unique Service

In this episode of the Service Contractor Allstar Podcast, Trevor sits down with Jamison Lippolis, Operations Manager at Lightning Mobile Electric, a commercial electrical service company based in Denver, Colorado, operating across multiple states and generating over $18M in annual revenue.

Jamison breaks down how Lightning Mobile evolved from a power washing business into a high-growth, multi-trade commercial operation - and why combining electrical, low-voltage, data, and IT services has become a major advantage in the commercial space.

This conversation goes deep into the real operational challenges of scaling trade businesses, especially beyond the 30–50 employee mark, and what actually works when growth starts to get messy.

In this episode, we cover:

How Lightning Mobile scaled past the 50-employee “glass ceiling”
Why digitization and automation are mandatory for serious growth
How to evaluate real technician skill - not just resumes
Mentorship-based training for apprentices and journeymen
Combining electrical, low-voltage, and data services under one roof
Managing commercial operations across multiple states
Commercial vs residential work - margins, risks, and realities
Client vetting, payment terms, and avoiding cash flow disasters
Using temporary staffing for large commercial projects

What cybersecurity and hacking taught Jamison about business efficiency

Jamison also shares lessons from his background in cybersecurity and hacking, explaining how that mindset helped him spot inefficiencies in trade businesses and rethink outdated systems that quietly kill profitability.

If you’re a contractor, operator, or business owner dealing with growth pain, operational chaos, or scaling decisions, this episode will hit home.