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Scaling Spidexx: Coleman Spaulding’s Door-Knock Grit, Nine Acquisitions & the Next Chapter After Proactive

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Manage episode 490966886 series 2899207
Content provided by The Boardroom Buzz. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by The Boardroom Buzz or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.

Coleman Spaulding cut his teeth knocking doors for Safeguard in 2005, parlayed that experience into Proactive Pest Management in suburban Chicago, and—after a decade of steady growth—launched Spidexx Pest Control in 2016 with a bigger vision: blend door-to-door horsepower, bolt-on buys, and EOS culture to build a multistate platform. Fresh off selling Proactive this spring, Coleman joins the Blue-Collar Twins to unpack the playbook behind nine tuck-ins, 65-person teams, and why he’s doubling down on Spidexx with a new HQ and more acquisitions on deck.

You’ll hear:

  • Door-Knock Roots – Virginia Beach summers that turned 20 straight “no’s” into $10 k days.
  • Proactive Era – bootstrapping 2 000 recurring customers without sales reps.
  • Partnership & Family – why co-founder Ryan upped Coleman’s stake to 40 %, and how brother Taylor makes the trio click.
  • Launch of Spidexx – starting in Des Moines with 380 accounts and grinding through the chaotic first year (yes, those two X’s are intentional).
  • Nine Small Acquisitions – buying 700–1 100-account firms, wiring funds fast, and knowing when to walk away.
  • Door vs. Deal – retention math, capital intensity, and reading the “gut flags” before you sign.
  • Selling Proactive – 60-day process with Potomac M&A, no earn-out, and lessons from the other side of the table.
  • Future Vision – new headquarters, keeping culture tight across nine markets, and invitations to join the ride.

From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience

https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore

www.potomaccompany.com

https://bluecollartwins.com

Produced by: www.verbell.ltd

Timestamps (podcast.co-ready)

00:00 – Cold-open: the power of someone believing in you

00:35 – Jason & Jeremy introduce Coleman and his recent Proactive exit

02:00 – First company: Proactive Pest Management launched 2013 in Chicago suburbs

05:55 – Door-knock backstory: Safeguard summers, Brent & Alan Draper connections

11:00 – Partner Ryan bumps Coleman from 10 % to 40 %—“gratitude moment”

13:30 – Proactive’s first year: 700 accounts, one summer team, slow-and-steady growth

16:00 – Why Spidexx was born in 2016 (Des Moines start, two X’s in the name)

19:10 – Chaos tolerance & economics of today’s door-to-door sales teams

24:00 – First tuck-in: buying 1 100 accounts, paying cash, rebranding vs. retaining

30:00 – Potomac relationship, quality-of-earnings, and Proactive sale closing in 60 days

33:30 – Door-to-door customers vs. acquired books—18-month retention rule of thumb

40:00 – Advice to the one-truck operator: “embrace small, learn, keep going”

47:00 – Working with brother Taylor and why family equity is a superpower

53:00 – New Spidexx headquarters coming 2026; podcast invitation for live show there

57:00 – Potomac 100 mastermind rumor & golf talk; wrapping with culture chat

1:00:00 – Outro and Private-Equity Masterclass CTA

  continue reading

216 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 490966886 series 2899207
Content provided by The Boardroom Buzz. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by The Boardroom Buzz or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.

Coleman Spaulding cut his teeth knocking doors for Safeguard in 2005, parlayed that experience into Proactive Pest Management in suburban Chicago, and—after a decade of steady growth—launched Spidexx Pest Control in 2016 with a bigger vision: blend door-to-door horsepower, bolt-on buys, and EOS culture to build a multistate platform. Fresh off selling Proactive this spring, Coleman joins the Blue-Collar Twins to unpack the playbook behind nine tuck-ins, 65-person teams, and why he’s doubling down on Spidexx with a new HQ and more acquisitions on deck.

You’ll hear:

  • Door-Knock Roots – Virginia Beach summers that turned 20 straight “no’s” into $10 k days.
  • Proactive Era – bootstrapping 2 000 recurring customers without sales reps.
  • Partnership & Family – why co-founder Ryan upped Coleman’s stake to 40 %, and how brother Taylor makes the trio click.
  • Launch of Spidexx – starting in Des Moines with 380 accounts and grinding through the chaotic first year (yes, those two X’s are intentional).
  • Nine Small Acquisitions – buying 700–1 100-account firms, wiring funds fast, and knowing when to walk away.
  • Door vs. Deal – retention math, capital intensity, and reading the “gut flags” before you sign.
  • Selling Proactive – 60-day process with Potomac M&A, no earn-out, and lessons from the other side of the table.
  • Future Vision – new headquarters, keeping culture tight across nine markets, and invitations to join the ride.

From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience

https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore

www.potomaccompany.com

https://bluecollartwins.com

Produced by: www.verbell.ltd

Timestamps (podcast.co-ready)

00:00 – Cold-open: the power of someone believing in you

00:35 – Jason & Jeremy introduce Coleman and his recent Proactive exit

02:00 – First company: Proactive Pest Management launched 2013 in Chicago suburbs

05:55 – Door-knock backstory: Safeguard summers, Brent & Alan Draper connections

11:00 – Partner Ryan bumps Coleman from 10 % to 40 %—“gratitude moment”

13:30 – Proactive’s first year: 700 accounts, one summer team, slow-and-steady growth

16:00 – Why Spidexx was born in 2016 (Des Moines start, two X’s in the name)

19:10 – Chaos tolerance & economics of today’s door-to-door sales teams

24:00 – First tuck-in: buying 1 100 accounts, paying cash, rebranding vs. retaining

30:00 – Potomac relationship, quality-of-earnings, and Proactive sale closing in 60 days

33:30 – Door-to-door customers vs. acquired books—18-month retention rule of thumb

40:00 – Advice to the one-truck operator: “embrace small, learn, keep going”

47:00 – Working with brother Taylor and why family equity is a superpower

53:00 – New Spidexx headquarters coming 2026; podcast invitation for live show there

57:00 – Potomac 100 mastermind rumor & golf talk; wrapping with culture chat

1:00:00 – Outro and Private-Equity Masterclass CTA

  continue reading

216 episodes

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