Ep. 119: 'We Started a Business SAVING Windmill Blades from the Landfill' w/ Nick Wylie

<p>In this episode of the Rhymes with Snaadt podcast, host Ryan Snaadt sits down with Nick Wylie, the COO of J.P. Petticord and co-founder of Renewal Blade. Nick shares his incredible 26-year journey from a 19-year-old mechanic’s helper to leading a 70-person heavy machinery team.We dive deep into his &quot;boots-on-the-ground&quot; leadership style and the innovative ways his team is solving a massive environmental crisis: recycling wind turbine blades. Discover how Nick is turning 150-foot pieces of recycled wind power into lightweight, indestructible concrete barriers and retaining walls right here in the Des Moines metro.Whether you&#39;re interested in the trades, sustainable tech, or high-level business operations, Nick’s &quot;easy button&quot; approach to business offers a masterclass in grit and innovation.Episode Timestamps00:06 – Introduction to Nick Wylie &amp; J.P. Petticord02:02 – Leadership Philosophy: Why a COO shouldn’t stay behind a desk04:40 – Nick’s Career Path: From mechanic’s helper to partner09:29 – Learning on the Fly: Estimating and sales at 19 years old12:45 – Implementing the EOS System and the &quot;Easy Button&quot; core value18:04 – Navigating tragedy and business succession planning23:33 – The growth of organic recycling and the compost business26:14 – The Problem: Why wind turbine blades are a landfill nightmare30:33 – The Solution: Engineering a new concrete formula from fiberglass waste34:24 – Creating &quot;Indestructible&quot; Jersey barriers and T-walls38:58 – Lightning Round: Best machinery to operate and expensive mistakes50:33 – Safety Culture: Captive insurance and risk management in the trades56:42 – Advice for young entrepreneurs in the sustainability spaceThanks for tuning in for this episode of the Rhymes with Odd podcast. Make sure to subscribe to catch future interviews. Follow on TikTok: @rhymeswithoddFollow on Instagram: @rhymeswithodd#RhymeswithOdd #BusinessPodcast</p>