What makes a small town thrive — and how do you grow without losing what made it special in the first place?

In this episode of American Operator, we sit down with Josh Schrader, Mayor of Georgetown, Texas, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, small business, community, and the real work behind building Main Street America.

Mayor Schrader shares how Georgetown became one of the fastest-growing cities in the country while still preserving its small-town charm, why community involvement isn’t optional for business owners, and what leadership actually looks like when the headlines don’t matter.

This conversation covers:

• Why small businesses must give back to the communities they serve
• How Georgetown avoided becoming just another suburb
• Leading through rapid growth, COVID, and hard decisions
• The importance of humility, honesty, and accountability in leadership
• Why young people are returning to trades and small business ownership
• Balancing growth, culture, and long-term sustainability

From law to local government, from downtown squares to generational leadership, this episode is a masterclass on why Main Street still matters — and why the American Dream is alive in places willing to protect it.

If you care about small business, local leadership, and the future of American towns, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Join the Movement
Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:

• Website: www.americanoperator.com
• AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
• Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com

How do you go from corporate life to building a nationally recognized service brand?

In this episode of American Operator, we sit down with the founders of Pink’s Window Services to talk about leaving corporate jobs, surviving COVID layoffs, and building a blue-collar business with purpose.

They share the real story behind starting a window cleaning company, the humility required to succeed in the trades, and why hospitality, culture, and trust matter more than hype or technology.

This episode covers:
- Leaving corporate America to start a small business
- Building a service business in the trades
- Creating a culture-first blue-collar brand
- Faith, friendship, and entrepreneurship
- Why small businesses are the backbone of America

If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, small business ownership, service businesses, or the future of blue-collar work, this conversation will challenge how you think about success and work.

Join the Movement
Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:

• Website: www.americanoperator.com
• AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
• Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com

Will Fry, Founder of American Operator, returns to the podcast to break down why Mainshares became American Operator—and what that shift means for the future of small business in America.

In this episode, we unpack the real problems with traditional private equity and solo ETA, why operators—not spreadsheets—should lead businesses, and how American Operator structures deals that keep companies locally owned and community-driven. Will shares the thinking behind the rebrand, the mission-first model, and why ownership is the clearest path to preserving the American Dream.

This is a conversation about stewardship, long-term thinking, and building a better future for America’s small businesses—one operator at a time.

Real stories. Real ownership. Real lessons from the field.
This is American Operator.
AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
Website: https://www.americanoperator.com

Join the Movement
Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:

• Website: www.americanoperator.com
• AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
• Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com