#172 - From Dropout to CEO—Kelly Roberts on Building a $15M HVAC Business
Feb 25, 2025
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Kelly Roberts, CEO of Moss Heating and Cooling, shares her inspiring journey from college dropout to leading a $15 million HVAC business. She discusses overcoming significant financial challenges and how strategic partnerships have propelled company growth. Kelly delves into the complexities of managing dual companies while emphasizing the importance of employee ownership and brand recognition. She also highlights creative marketing strategies, the unique HVAC challenges in the sunbelt, and her commitment to empowering women in the construction industry.
Kelly Roberts highlights the importance of decisive leadership and communication in overcoming financial challenges during rapid business growth.
The podcast emphasizes leveraging technology, like Modernize, to boost lead generation and enhance inbound marketing in the HVAC sector.
Strong personal relationships and strategic partnerships are crucial for expanding business opportunities and driving revenue growth in the construction industry.
Deep dives
Navigating Leadership During Financial Challenges
The CFO of a growing construction company proposed bankruptcy as the team faced significant financial difficulties, highlighting the need for clear communication and decisive leadership in challenging times. With ambitious goals to expand from $7 million to $15 million, the team struggled with cash flow issues exacerbated by the pandemic. As a result, the CEO and team had to adjust their strategies to ensure the survival and growth of the company, learning critical lessons in financial management and resilience. The transition included hiring an interim CFO who provided essential financial guidance and support in overcoming the tough financial landscape.
Innovative Lead Generation Through Modern Partnerships
The company discovered the effectiveness of lead aggregators, particularly Modernize, which provided direct inbound calls for home improvement projects. This approach proved to be advantageous over traditional lead lists, yielding a higher booking rate and generating quality leads for challenging services such as HVAC units and water damage restoration. By connecting Modernize directly to their call center, the team could streamline and enhance their inbound marketing efforts, creating a reliable flow of potential clients. This partnership illustrated the growing trend of leveraging technology to improve lead generation in the construction sector.
The Journey of Balancing Dual Roles
Kelly Roberts, the CEO of Moss Heating and Cooling, discussed her unique experience balancing multiple leadership roles as both CEO of a new company and CFO of an established utilities business. Transitioning full-time to Moss Heating required careful planning and resource allocation while navigating the complexities of the employee ownership model. The rapid expansion from $7 million to $15 million in revenue illustrated the challenges and opportunities arising from such rapid growth. This dual role has allowed her to gain deep insights into both operations, fostering a unique understanding of the construction and utility industries.
Strategic Growth Through Diversification
Moss Utilities has successfully diversified its offerings, transitioning from a heavy focus on commercial work to now including residential new construction across various project types. Since its inception in 2016, the company has rapidly grown, reaching $180 million in annual revenue by leveraging relationships within the industry. By fostering partnerships with public infrastructure and private development projects, the company managed to mitigate risks associated with economic downturns. This strategic pivot illustrates the importance of adaptability and service diversification in achieving sustainable, long-term growth in a competitive market.
The Importance of Strong Relationships in Business
The podcast underscored the critical role of strong relationships in expanding business opportunities within the construction industry. By leveraging brand recognition from Moss Utilities, the heating and cooling division has been able to open doors with major builders and developers. Personal connections have led to lucrative contracts, directly impacting revenue growth. Additionally, establishing partnerships with real estate brokers has opened avenues for reaching new clients, demonstrating that effective networking is just as crucial as technical expertise in driving success in home services.
In this episode CEO of Moss Heating and Cooling Kelly Roberts, shares her journey from college dropout to C-Suite member in a fast-growing HVAC company.
Kelly talks about the challenges of shifting to high-end residential new construction, navigating financial setbacks, and scaling from $7 million to $15 million in just one year.
This episode is packed with real-world insights on leadership and growth you won’t want to miss.
Special Thanks to Modernize
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