Tools of the Trade: Business Fundamentals for Energy Pros

Master a proven framework for building and sustaining your energy services business!

With Tools of the Trade, you’ll gain new insights into recruiting and retaining your workforce, improving the financial viability of your business, understanding the needs of your customers and capitalizing on Vermonter’s growing interest in clean energy and energy-efficiency oriented solutions. Expand your capacity to assist everyday Vermonters save money, improve the comfort of their home and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Tools of the Trade is an in-person, 9-month business training program designed to support the needs of weatherization contractors to improve your executive business skills, enhance core operations, expand your workforce and improve your work-life balance.

Program Overview

Hone your business skills in the areas of:

Workforce Recruitment and Retention
Financial management, including revenue projections, budgeting, project costing, and managing your cashflow
Operational efficiencies
Identifying your ideal customer, how to reach them and customer pipeline management
Company leadership and work-life balance, company culture

Areas of Focus

Tools of the Trade – Business Fundamentals for Energy Pros includes three distinct training elements:

Small Group Training

Monthly half-day, in-person, interactive and engaging learning sessions on a particular topic, including 1:1 individualized coaching time so that you spend time working on your business each month

Peer Learning

Peer learning and sharing that can lead to lasting relationships with others in your field

Concurrent One-on-One Coaching Support

One-on-one coaching time outside of monthly learning sessions, tailored to your interests and needs

Professional Industry Insight

Access to industry adjacent professionals such as an employment attorney and workforce training providers

Program Flow Content

January 2026: Program Kick-Off; Business Case and Value Proposition
February 2026: Financial Statements; Revenue Projections, Budgets and Cash Flow
March 2026: Costing of Projects; Intended Markets and Customers
April 2026: Customer Personas
May 2026: Industry Panel on Trends and Workforce Training Programs; Future Staffing Plan
June 2026: All Things Human Resources
July 2026: Operational Efficiencies, KPIs and Project Management
August 2026: Outside Panel TBD
September 2026: Pulling It All Together; Leadership and Culture

Graduation Incentive

Eligible participants who successfully complete the Tools of the Trade 2.0 program will receive receive a graduation offer of up to $1,500, which can be used to purchase new equipment or business support services to help grow their business.

Hear what our participants have to say…

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“An excellent collection of industry professionals offering their time and expertise on multiple business topics. It isn't often that you have access to so many successful business minds that can share insights on accounting, mission, HR, advertising and sales. Well worth the price for the program.”
Ben ServiceRoots Builders, Tools of the Trade 1.0 Participant

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“I was at a place prior to the program of wanting to close my doors and become a one-person builder operation. The skills and confidence I gained have enabled me to continue working on improving my employer / employee relationships and create more work opportunities.”
Eric SolsaaSolsaa Building and Energy Solutions, Tools of the Trade 1.0 Participant

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“This program was a fantastic jump forward for me as a business owner - I wish it had existed ten years ago!”
David BaileyBlack Cat Builders, Tools of the Trade 1.0 Participant

Timeline

Application Closed: December 15

Notification of Businesses Selected to Participate: December 19, 2025

Program Start Date: Week of January 12, 2026

Program End Date: September 2026

Participation Cost: $1,000; this program and its delivery is valued at $7,000 per company.

Contact for questions about the program: Kurt Ericksen, kurt@vsjf.org

Additional Details

Participants are encouraged to have at least a year of experience running their weatherization business or at least three years in the building trades prior to wanting to launch their weatherization business.

Continuing education credits from EVT for program hours completed will be awarded.

Our Business Coaches

You’ll have access to a team of seasoned business professionals with a range of subject matter expertise, all of whom have owned, led, or managed entrepreneurial companies in Vermont for decades. In addition to interactive in-session presentations, there will be ample time for 1:1 coaching to help you dial in on the specific needs of your business.

Participant Pledge

We ask that you make a commitment to showing up both to work on your business and to engage with and support the other participants who are also working on their business.
We ask that you be open to learning and adapting your business based on new insights you gain and new practices you are exposed to in the program.
Confidentiality will be maintained throughout the program.