We recently connected with Ben Rogers and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

The biggest risk that I ever took was starting my company. It was 2020, right in the midst of the covid pandemic. We had recently had our first kid, she was only about 4 months old. I left a very stable job. We worked great hours, they paid me a very fair wage, I had a company truck to drive home, and my bosses were all top notch. I wanted something more. I’d been in the HVAC profession here in my hometown for 14 years at that point. I’d worked for many of the local companies and I knew first hand that I had what it takes out perform them. 3 months into business, with the before mentioned brand new child and I found myself with $86 in my bank account. I was terrified, but I was motivated! Nothing was going to stop me from taking care of my family and giving that little girl everything that I never had. Some jobs rolled in and with that my name and quality began to spread. Before I knew it I had a fairly steady stream of customers calling me and trusting me to take care of their home comfort needs. It’s still risky to this day. I wake up scared for whatever might be coming my way that day, but now I have a phenomenal crew beside me. Rogers HVAC is now 9 employees strong.

Ben, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I graduated high school in 2007. I’d already enlisted into the Army National Guard and soon after graduation I shipped out to basic training. When I got home I needed a job, I applied at a local HVAC company and got hired. For the next 11 years I bounced around to different companies, never fully content with where I was. I wanted to learn and grow and become the best. The room to advance with a lot of these guys just wasn’t their. I toyed around with the idea of starting my own company for many years but I had no idea where to begin. I had experienced first hand how crooked some of these local companies could be and that didn’t sit well with me. I knew that I could offer folks a better price and a better quality of work, and Rogers HVAC was born. From day one I started a company based on integrity and creating a name that people knew they could trust. Talking my customers through the various options and finding a solution that worked best for them. Whether it’s a more efficient and advanced heating and cooling system or just something basic. I want every one of my current and future clients to know that when you hire Ben Rogers you are getting the best that I have to offer. I do not take their trust lightly. It is a big deal to me when you hire me to come into your home, I will leave you more comfortable than you had ever been, that’s a promise.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I’ve had to be resilient my entire life. I was born into a house full of drug use and neglect. The only person I had to rely on was my little brother Alex. We essentially raised one another. Life was never easy for us. We went to more elementary schools than I can count. Our mom couldn’t keep us in one house for more than 7 or 8 months at a time it seemed. We never had time to make many friends. Mom spent too much money on her addictions to ever really take care of us. It was us against the world. I have a firm belief that being raised the way we were is what gave us both the drive and work ethic that we have now. I’ll work my ass off until the day that I die to ensure that my kids never deal with any of the hell that I went through.

Any advice for managing a team?

I currently have 9 employees. That’s about double the amount that I ever thought I would need. You can go ask any one of them right now who the best boss that they’ve ever had was, and they will all tell you that it’s me. I don’t day that to arrogant or cocky. I say that because that is the environment that I strive to foster at my company. My employees quickly become my friends. I take an interest in their personal lives. We go hunting and fishing together. We cook out and have a good time. I help ensure that when we work hard we will play even harder. Get to know your staff. Without them a company will go nowhere. Take care of them when they’re off the clock. If they need a shoulder to lean on and express their worries be that kind of leader. When mistakes are made don’t jump down their throats. A calm collected conversation will get you so much farther than an ass chewing ever will.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: @benrogershvac
• Other: Email- rogershvacusa@gmail.com

Image Credits
All pictures were taken by me