From Shop Hand to VP: Family Business Leadership Lessons
Family business succession is never easy, but Karly Rolls has done it with heart, hustle, and a big dose of humility.
As Vice President of Rolls Mechanical, a Michigan-based contractor with 200-plus employees, Karly shares how she scaled the service department from 3 to 80 techs, implemented new processes, and kept “old school” values alive in a modern operation. She discusses her journey from shop hand to VP, the importance of technical training for leadership credibility, and how the company continues to scale without sacrificing quality or culture.
Whether you’re growing your family business or navigating generational leadership, Karly’s story is packed with lessons on grit, growth, and leading by example.
Join us as we discuss:
[5:54] Why having a technical background is important as a leader in the trades
[10:38] Getting out of the business to make time to work on the business
[16:41] Setting up a marketing budget and installing a branding campaign
You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.
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