Home improvement contractors spend thousands of dollars on new sales tools, better presentations, and software that promises to help their teams close more deals. Yet some companies continue to lose sales, struggle with poor closing rates, and watch their representatives follow different steps during customer appointments. One rep may explain the company’s value clearly, while another rushes through the products or moves to pricing before earning the homeowner’s trust.
For Dean Curtis, CEO of Ingage, this points to a problem that better technology alone cannot solve. Ingage provides interactive sales presentation software for contractors, helping home improvement companies create engaging presentations, manage sales content, and track how their teams use it.
But Dean has seen businesses come to Ingage without even having a clear sales presentation in place. They want new software to improve their results, yet they have not worked out what their sales reps should say or how they should guide homeowners through the buying process.
His message raises an important question for every contractor CEO: How can new technology improve sales when the company has not fixed the problems in the way it already sells?
That question became a key part of a PowerChat hosted by Greg Cummings, CEO of Power100, in which he spoke with Dean about the growing need for contractors to make smarter choices about their sales tools and business systems. Power100 is the only unbiased third-party platform that recognizes and elevates the top leaders and most impactful companies in the home improvement industry. Through conversations with experienced business leaders, Greg highlights the challenges contractors face and the lessons that can help them build stronger companies.
As some businesses face slower sales, fewer leads, and pressure to cut costs, Dean’s message offers CEOs another way to evaluate their next investment. Rather than rushing to buy software because their numbers are falling, he encourages leaders to first understand what is happening inside their sales teams. The goal is to identify the real problem, build an effective process and then choose technology that can help the business improve.
During the PowerChat, Greg Cummings raised a challenge that many home improvement CEOs face. Some companies are growing despite difficult market conditions, while others are struggling to keep sales moving and protect their profits. As business becomes harder, leaders often face tough choices about where to spend money, which partners to keep, and what changes to make before conditions get worse.
Ryan Lococo, CEO of One Click Contractor
The conversation also featured Ryan Lococo, CEO of One Click Contractor, who discussed why contractors should build strong systems before problems become too difficult to manage. Ryan explained how technology can help companies create a more consistent sales process and prepare for growth. But Dean added an important point. Before a company invests in another tool, its leaders need to understand whether the process they want to improve is working in the first place.
“Technology is not going to solve a faulty process,” Dean Curtis, CEO of Ingage, explained.
He warned that some contractors expect software to solve problems that go much deeper than the tools their sales teams use. If representatives do not follow a clear process, struggle to explain the company’s value, or fail to guide homeowners through a sale, adding new software will not automatically change those habits.
Dean believes leaders must first look closely at how their teams work and identify the areas where technology can make a real difference. For some companies, that may mean helping reps produce quotes faster. For others, it may mean building a more consistent sales presentation. What matters is knowing which problem needs to be solved before choosing the tool.
Dean shared an example from Ingage’s own experience with contractors. Some companies approach his team without having an existing sales presentation, even though they expect new presentation software to help them close more deals. Instead of starting with the technology, Ingage first asks what happens when a sales rep meets with a homeowner. That question helps the team understand the contractor’s sales story, the steps representatives follow, and where the conversation may need to improve.
Dean explained that they work with these companies to build a story that can help move the homeowner toward a buying decision. His point is that home improvement sales process improvement must begin with understanding what the company does today, not simply adding another system and hoping for better results.
The discussion revealed a larger lesson for CEOs who want to make better use of technology. A company may have access to strong sales tools, but those tools can only do so much if employees lack clear direction or proper training. Dean believes contractors should know what they want their teams to achieve, understand the problems holding them back, and build a plan for using technology to support those goals.
His perspective shifts the focus away from buying more software and toward building a stronger business. For home improvement leaders, that means the next step toward better sales results may begin with a closer look at their current process rather than another technology purchase.
During the PowerChat, Dean Curtis, CEO of Ingage, challenged home improvement leaders to look beyond the software they buy and pay closer attention to how their businesses operate. His experience working with contractors has shown him that even the best technology has limits when a company lacks a clear way to sell. From building a strong sales story to choosing tools that solve real problems, Dean explained why lasting improvement starts with understanding what a company needs to fix. His message also places responsibility on CEOs to prepare their teams, set clear goals, and make sure every investment supports a better experience for both sales reps and homeowners.
Greg Cummings, CEO of Power100
For home improvement CEOs, new technology can look like an easy answer when sales numbers begin to fall. A new presentation platform may promise better customer meetings, while a quoting tool may help representatives finish estimates faster. These tools can save time, but Dean believes leaders must ask a more important question before making the investment. Is the company already following a process that gives its sales team a fair chance to succeed?
During the conversation, Dean explained that businesses sometimes rush to improve speed without understanding what needs to change. A sales representative who moves through a presentation too quickly may still leave homeowners confused about the products. Another may produce a quote in minutes but struggle to explain why the company deserves the customer’s trust. In both cases, faster technology does not address the real problem. It only allows the same mistakes to happen more quickly.
“If you have a terrible sales process and you try and just add technology on top of it, you’re going to have a slightly better, bad sales process now with technology,” Dean Curtis, CEO of Ingage, explained.
His point places the responsibility back on business leaders. Before adding another platform, contractors need to look closely at what happens during their sales appointments. They should understand where customers lose interest, why representatives struggle to move conversations forward, and whether the company has a clear way to guide buyers. This kind of review helps leaders separate problems that technology can solve from those that require better training or a change in the company’s approach.
For contractors working on the contractor sales process improvement, this distinction an important. A business that understands its weaknesses can choose tools with a clear purpose. Instead of hoping new software will make the company better, leaders can use it to strengthen the parts of the sales process that already work and address the problems they have identified.
Dean’s message is not that contractors should avoid technology. It is that they should give technology something worth improving. A strong process creates that starting point, allowing new tools to support the team rather than becoming another expense that fails to deliver the expected results.
Once a company recognizes that its sales process needs attention, the next step is to understand what its representatives actually do when they meet a homeowner. Dean believes this is one of the most valuable places to begin because the sales appointment is where a company’s promises meet the customer’s expectations.
He shared that some contractors approach Ingage without having an established sales presentation. They may have skilled representatives, good products, and years of experience, but they have never created a clear story that every salesperson can follow. This means the company may depend too much on each representative’s personal selling style. One employee may give homeowners a complete explanation, while another may leave out information that could help the customer make a decision.
Dean explained that Ingage does not begin those conversations by simply placing a new presentation tool in front of the contractor. Instead, his team first wants to understand what the current appointment looks like.
“And the first question that we go through with them in the onboarding process is tell us what happens when you meet with someone in the home,” Dean Curtis shared.
That question helps uncover how the business introduces itself, explains its products, discusses the work, and leads homeowners toward a purchase. It also helps identify parts of the conversation that may need more attention. A contractor might discover that representatives explain product features well but struggle to connect those features to homeowners’ needs. Another may find that its team moves into pricing before the customer fully understands the company’s value.
From there, the goal is to build a story that gives every appointment a clear purpose. A strong presentation should help representatives introduce the business, explain what makes its products valuable, and show customers what they can expect when the work begins. Each part should lead naturally into the next, so homeowners can follow the conversation without feeling lost or rushed.
This is where sales presentation tools for home improvement contractors can become more useful. Once leaders know the story they want their teams to tell, they can use presentation technology to organize that message and make it easier to share across the company.
The lesson for CEOs is that a great presentation does not begin with attractive slides. It begins with understanding what customers need to hear and ensuring the sales team can explain it clearly.
Building a clear sales process does more than help representatives remember what to say. It can also change how homeowners feel about the company they are considering. Dean believes the strongest sales conversations help customers understand their options, rather than leaving them to make a major purchase with unanswered questions.
A homeowner looking for new windows may hear different claims from several contractors. One company may focus on energy savings, another on product quality, and another on price. Without clear explanations, it can be difficult for the customer to know which option is right for their home. The same challenge applies to roofing, siding, and other major remodeling projects.
Dean believes that education should play a central role in these conversations.
“The whole sales process, I believe, for home improvement is really about education,” Dean Curtis explained.
A clear sales story gives representatives a way to teach homeowners as the appointment moves forward. Rather than jumping between unrelated product details, the rep can explain what the customer needs to know at each stage. The homeowner gets a better understanding of the company, the work being offered, and the value behind the price.
But Dean also sees another important part of this process. Business leaders need to know whether the sales story they created is reaching customers as planned. A company can spend time building excellent sales materials, but that work provides limited value if representatives rarely use them or leave out important parts.
Dean explained that Ingage helps companies create and share presentation content while also measuring how teams use it. With sales presentation analytics for home improvement companies, leaders can gain a clearer view of presentation activity and use that information to guide improvements.
For a CEO managing several teams or locations, this can make an important difference. The company may discover that some representatives use the full presentation while others skip important sections. Sales managers can then review those differences, provide support, and help employees understand why certain parts of the conversation matter.
This does not mean every customer must hear the exact same words. Homeowners have different needs, questions, and concerns. What matters is that every representative has a clear foundation to work from while still making the conversation personal.
For Dean, a better sales process should benefit both sides of the appointment. Representatives gain the structure they need to explain products well, while homeowners receive the information they need to make a confident choice.
After building a clear sales process, contractors face another important decision. Which technology will actually make that process better?
Dean believes the answer depends on what the business needs to improve. Some companies may struggle with how long it takes to prepare a quote. Others may have a strong sales team but lack a consistent way to present their products. The right technology should address those specific needs rather than forcing employees to change their entire way of working to accommodate another system.
One problem Dean raised during the PowerChat is that software can lose value when different platforms operate separately. A representative may use one tool to explain the company’s products, another to create an estimate, and a third to manage the next steps. If those tools cannot share information, the rep may have to repeat work or interrupt the conversation to move between systems.
“When it exists in a silo, it’s less valuable,” Dean Curtis explained.
His point helps explain the partnership between Ingage and One Click Contractor. Both companies support different parts of the home improvement sales process. By connecting their platforms, they aim to help contractors move more easily from presenting products to preparing quotes and taking the next steps toward a sale.
Dean also discussed how Ingage’s PriceKit feature addresses a specific need within the customer appointment. After a representative has explained the company and its products, the homeowner wants to understand what the project will cost. PriceKit allows the rep to enter a base price and present different pricing, discounts, and financing options within the sales presentation.
This keeps the price discussion connected to the story the representative has already shared. Instead of treating the estimate as a separate part of the meeting, contractors can help homeowners understand how their options relate to the products and services being offered.
Dean also shared his vision for making this process easier in the future. He discussed plans to integrate live quote details and financing information from systems such as One Click Contractor via Ingage’s dynamic content capabilities. At the time of the interview, these were future improvements rather than fully available features.
For CEOs exploring connected contractor sales software and home improvement pricing presentation software, the larger lesson is to choose tools based on the work they need to improve. A useful platform should help solve a problem that leaders can clearly explain, whether that means reducing repeated tasks, improving price conversations, or helping representatives deliver a better customer experience.
When technology supports a well-planned process, sales reps can spend less time dealing with disconnected systems and more time focusing on the homeowner in front of them.
Explore how Ingage and One Click Contractor help home improvement companies connect sales presentations with quoting tools to create a smoother buying experience.
Even when a contractor chooses the right tools, the work does not end once the software becomes available. Dean believes one of the biggest mistakes companies make is expecting employees to start using new technology without a clear plan for how it should be integrated into their daily work.
A CEO may see the value of a new platform right away, but the sales team may not share that understanding. Some representatives may feel comfortable using their old methods. Others may struggle to learn the new system or fail to understand why the company wants them to change. Without the right support, the business can end up paying for technology that employees rarely use to its full value.
Dean said he has seen how this can happen. A company buys software with high expectations, but months later, its leaders begin to question the decision because they never planned for how the team would adopt it.
“A big part of success with technology is having a really good plan,” Dean Curtis explained.
That plan should begin before the company introduces the new tool. Leaders need to decide what success should look like, which parts of the sales process they want to improve, and what their representatives need to learn. Sales managers must also understand how to support employees as they begin using the technology during real appointments.
Dean connected this approach to the stronger sales results he has seen among Ingage customers. He explained that companies can achieve meaningful gains when they introduce technology carefully and help their teams learn how to use it well. The improvement does not come simply from owning the platform. It comes from combining the tool with a strong process and training that helps representatives perform better.
For CEOs investing in sales technology training for home improvement contractors, this means looking beyond a single training session. Employees may need ongoing guidance, time to practice, and feedback on their use of the system. Leaders should also review whether the new technology is helping the company solve the problem it set out to address.
A contractor who introduces presentation software to improve customer education, for example, should pay attention to how representatives use the content and whether homeowners receive clearer explanations. If the goal is to help reps move through appointments more smoothly, managers should look for changes in how the sales process works rather than assuming the investment is successful because employees have logged into the system.
This approach also makes technology a leadership responsibility. CEOs must create the conditions for their teams to succeed, while managers help turn the company’s goals into daily habits.
Dean’s message is that good technology becomes more valuable when the people using it understand both how it works and why it matters. For contractors planning their next stage of growth, building that understanding may be just as important as choosing the software itself.
For Dean Curtis, CEO of Ingage, the belief that technology must support strong business processes is more than just advice he shares with contractors. It is also part of how he has helped grow Ingage into a successful software company. Dean joined Ingage in February 2017 as Chief Revenue Officer, later became Chief Operating Officer, and took over as CEO in October 2019. Since then, he has helped the company reach $10 million in recurring revenue. During an appearance on The CEO and the Salesman Podcast, Dean discussed how he guided the business through its $1 million and $4 million growth milestones before reaching $10 million. His journey shows how a clear plan, strong leadership, and a focus on solving real customer problems can help a technology company grow.
Dean Curtis, CEO of Ingage
One of the clearest examples of that approach is how Ingage has developed its platform to help contractors understand what their sales teams actually do. Rather than simply giving companies a tool to create presentations, Ingage has built a system that helps them create content, share it with their teams, and measure how representatives use it. In a RoofersCoffeeShop interview, Dean explained how the platform’s reporting tools allow managers to see how many presentations their teams deliver, how much time they spend presenting, and which pages they show to customers. Ingage has also worked with manufacturers, including Kohler, to make product information easier for contractors to access and update. By allowing manufacturers to share product content through the platform, the company helps sales teams spend less time rebuilding materials and more time explaining the value of their own services.
That focus on making sales processes stronger has also produced reported results for contractors using Ingage. In the same RoofersCoffeeShop interview, Dean shared how East Coast Roofing improved its closing rate by 4 to 6 percentage points after creating a more consistent sales presentation process. Ridgetop Exteriors reported a 3.5% increase in its closing rate and a 12% increase in average ticket size after improving how it shared current product information. C&L Ward also reported a 7.5% increase in its closing rate, with Dean citing stronger rep confidence, more consistent presentations, and easier training as key benefits. These examples show how contractors have used Ingage to address problems within their sales operations. While results can vary from one company to another, they give weight to Dean’s message that technology works best when it supports a process people can follow.
Dean has also continued to invest in the people who help Ingage customers succeed. In December 2025, the company appointed Kyle Sellers as Vice President of Customer Experience, bringing in a leader with experience in home improvement sales, training, and customer support. Sellers was tasked with leading customer success and training teams as Ingage expanded its work with franchise groups, large companies, and independent contractors. The move reflects a key part of Dean’s leadership approach: helping customers get value from technology requires more than providing the software. It also requires the right people to guide companies as they begin using it and continue improving.
Ingage’s growth has earned recognition both nationally and within its local business community. The company appeared on the Inc. 5000 list for three straight years, ranking No. 1,341 in 2024, No. 1,249 in 2025, and No. 2,038 in 2026, with 167% revenue growth over the three years measured for its latest ranking. In August 2025, Montco.Today also named Ingage among Bucks County’s fastest growing companies, reporting 350% growth for that year’s ranking period. The company also earned the No. 8 position among Power100’s Top 15 Preferred Partners for 2026, recognizing its value to the home improvement industry.
Together, these achievements tell a larger story about Dean’s impact. He has helped grow Ingage into a nationally recognized software business while building tools and support systems that help contractors improve the way their teams work. From improved sales data and manufacturer partnerships to customer training and reported gains in sales performance, Ingage’s work demonstrates what can happen when technology meets a clear business need. For home improvement CEOs, Dean’s leadership offers an example of the same lesson he shared during the PowerChat. Strong results begin with understanding the problem, building the right process, and giving people the support they need to succeed.
For home improvement CEOs, the pressure to find better ways to grow can make new technology feel like the answer they have been looking for. But as Dean Curtis, CEO of Ingage, shared during the PowerChat, real progress begins with understanding what needs to change. A company does not have to replace every tool or rebuild its entire business to see improvement. Sometimes, the most important step is taking a closer look at how the team works, identifying what holds people back, and ensuring everyone has a clear path to follow.
That understanding gives technology a greater purpose. When leaders know what they want to improve, they can choose tools that make the work easier instead of adding more steps. A sales rep who understands the process can use technology to better serve homeowners, while a manager who knows what success looks like can provide the team with the right support. The goal is not simply to make everything faster. It is to make sure the business is moving in the right direction before picking up speed.
For CEOs thinking about the future, Dean’s message is also a reminder that meaningful change takes leadership and patience. Companies will always face new challenges, and the tools they use will continue to change. But a team that understands its work, learns from mistakes, and receives the right support can adapt as the business grows. Leaders who invest in their people and build better ways of working today give their companies a stronger chance of handling whatever comes next.
The lesson from Dean’s conversation is clear. Better software can open new doors, but it cannot build a strong business on its own. That responsibility still belongs to the people leading the company. For contractors ready to take their next step, the greatest opportunity may not be the next tool they purchase, but the changes they make before bringing it into their business. The companies that get their process right today will be better prepared to make tomorrow’s technology work for them.
Yes. Power100 gives home improvement contractors access to leadership interviews, industry news, business insights, and expert advice, regardless of their company’s size. Contractors can join the Power100 member portal for free and access PowerChat episodes, expert interviews, and an AI business coaching tool. These resources help business owners learn from experienced leaders and find practical ideas to improve their companies.
Yes. Power100 allows qualifying CEOs and companies to share business information with its research team via the Expert Contributor application or the contact form. The team reviews company data and other evidence as part of its ranking process. However, sharing information does not guarantee a ranking or feature. Power100 uses its own research and review process to decide which leaders and companies earn recognition.
Contractors should first review what happens during each sales appointment. They can look at how representatives explain products, answer homeowner questions, discuss pricing, and ask customers to make a decision. They should also compare how different reps handle the same steps. During his PowerChat, Dean Curtis, CEO of Ingage, explained that technology works best when a company knows exactly what it needs to improve. If sales reps struggle due to a lack of a clear process, buying new software alone will not solve the problem.
Yes. Ingage offers interactive sales presentation software for contractors, including ready-made templates, manufacturer product content, and tools that help companies create their own presentations. Ingage Pro also provides a guided setup process for smaller contractors without a design team. However, companies still need to decide what they want to tell homeowners and how they want their sales appointments to work. Ingage can help them present that story, but business leaders must first understand their products, customers, and sales goals.
No. Ingage helps companies keep their main sales message consistent while allowing representatives to adjust what they show each homeowner. Sales teams can use shared content to explain the company’s value, products, and services without giving every customer the same presentation. Ingage also offers tools that let reps show or hide specific pages and include personal details in their presentations. This helps contractors maintain a clear company message while providing homeowners with information that fits their needs.
Ingage uses a cloud platform that lets companies manage and share sales content with their teams. When a company updates its presentation, representatives can access the latest version instead of relying on old slides or printed materials. Ingage also provides manufacturer content that helps contractors share current product details with homeowners. Companies must still manage their own information and review changes, but Ingage can make sales presentation content management for home improvement companies easier across several locations.
Yes. Ingage supports integrations with other business software, allowing contractors to connect presentation tools with parts of their existing sales process. For example, Ingage has worked with One Click Contractor to support a smoother move between presentations and quoting. Ingage has also shared how Bath Fitter connected the platform with its SalesNow CRM. However, contractors should check whether Ingage supports their specific software before making a decision. The goal is to help existing systems work better together, not force every company to replace the tools it already uses.
CEOs should find out why their teams stopped using the platform before buying another tool or blaming employees. They should ask whether reps understand the software, have the right training, and know how it fits into their daily appointments. Ingage’s published Bath Fitter case study shows how the company improved adoption by giving managers clear responsibility, connecting the platform to daily work, and providing ongoing coaching. Dean Curtis believes successful sales technology adoption for home improvement contractors starts with a clear plan and strong leadership. Companies need to guide their teams, review how they use the tools, and keep improving their sales process after the first training session.
Power100 is the only unbiased third-party platform that recognizes and elevates the top leaders and most impactful companies in the home improvement industry. Led by Greg Cummings, CEO of Power100, the platform works to give great CEOs the recognition, support, and connections they need to grow and succeed. Through its national rankings, PowerChat interviews, and industry insights, Power100 shares lessons from business leaders who are raising the standard of leadership, company culture, and customer service. Its mission is to become the number one external resource for the nation’s best exterior remodeling CEOs, helping them share their knowledge, strengthen their companies, and create a better future for the home improvement industry.
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Power100 is the nation's premier CEO ranking and media platform for the home improvement industry. Using a proprietary 5-layer evaluation system, Power100 identifies and celebrates the top CEOs, companies, and strategic partners driving innovation, customer satisfaction, and leadership excellence across the country.
