In this powerful and deeply personal episode of To The Point Home Services, Chris sits down with one of his closest friends, Charles “Charlie” Sanders, for a conversation unlike anything we’ve ever recorded. From humble beginnings in the Arizona desert to building a $30M+ company from the ground up, Charlie’s story is one of grit, hard work, and resilience. But this episode isn’t just about business—it’s about life’s highest highs and most devastating lows.
Charlie opens up about:
- Growing up in Morristown, AZ with limited resources and a challenging home life.
- The mental toughness forged through early struggles and how it shaped his success.
- Starting Arizona Trench Company with his wife, Kelly, and scaling it to an industry leader before selling to Fortune 500 powerhouse Quanta.
- Leadership lessons on culture, caring for your team, and building strong client relationships.
- The unimaginable tragedy of losing his daughter, Hope, to suicide, how it impacted his family and business, and why it’s so important to talk openly about mental health.
This is a raw, emotional, and inspiring conversation about perseverance, perspective, and what really matters. Whether you’re a business owner, leader, or simply someone navigating life’s challenges, Charlie’s journey will leave you with lessons you won’t forget.
Resources & Links Mentioned:
Timecodes:
00:00 – Chris introduces the special bourbon bar setting for this episode
02:00 – Growing up in the Arizona desert and overcoming adversity
08:00 – Early lessons in responsibility and resilience
14:00 – Meeting Kelly and finding the perfect business partnership
16:45 – Starting Arizona Trench Company in 2013
20:00 – Scaling to $30M and selling to Quanta
25:00 – Choosing the right partner over the highest offer
30:00 – Maintaining culture and leadership through growth
31:00 – The hardest chapter: losing Hope
36:00 – Coping, leadership, and finding purpose after tragedy
45:00 – Why caring for people is the foundation of lasting success
⭐️ Thank you to our Sponsors!
Rilla: https://www.rilla.com/tothepoint
Chiirp: https://chiirp.com/
Contractor Commerce: https://www.contractorcommerce.com/ryno/
Bluon: https://www.bluon.com/get-demo?referral_code=ToThePoint
Avoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepoint
🔗 Connect with Charlie
Website: https://arizonatrenchcompany.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arizona_trench_company/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Arizona-Trench-Company-688918797807381/?fref=ts
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-sanders-ba1559124/
If this episode moved you, please:
👍 Like the video
💬 Share your thoughts in the comments
🔔 Subscribe to To The Point Home Services for more real, unfiltered conversations
📢 Share this with someone who needs to hear it
