Chairman
Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing
Type of Business: Home Services
Based in: Southwest US
Hails from: Las Vegas
Years Org. has been in Nevada: 14
Years with Organization in Nevada: 14
Employees with Organization: 250
How did you get into your profession?
I started in the home services industry at the age of ten when I would hold the flashlight for my father while he was fixing air conditioning units in Las Vegas. You could say I’ve been in the industry for a while.
Who has been instrumental to your success?
My dad – he showed me at a young age what it means to put in a hard day’s work. He also taught me the virtues of having confidence, learning how to fix things, and no matter what, even when times get tough – don’t quit.
What career advice would you give to someone just starting in your industry?
Be a curious student and constant learner of the industry. Every day, make it a point to read something and learn something new. Knowledge is power.
What is an issue currently facing your industry that an outside observer might not be aware of?
We have an incredibly shrinking labor pool. Forty-nine percent of our industry workforce is over the age of 40, and there’s not enough young people training in the pipeline. A career in home services can be lucrative, with the average earning potential of an HVAC tech at $150k-$175k/year.
What is the best moment of your career?
When I sold part of Goettl to a private equity firm, I told our executive team that within 1,000 days, we would increase the value of the remaining business TEN-FOLD. Not only did we accomplish the goal, we did so in 996 days!
What was the most difficult experience you encountered as a leader?
As a young business owner early in my career, I was unaware of payroll taxes until the IRS paid me a visit. They garnished my revenue, which meant I couldn’t meet payroll or pay my vendors. Everyone quit except for two employees. I had to rebuild both my business and my reputation. A hard lesson to learn, but one I would not soon forget.
What would be the title of your autobiography?
The Secret Lives of Broken Things
What is an assumption people make about you that is wrong?
I’ve acquired and sold many businesses over the span of my career. Some think of me as a corporate raider, when really, I’m an entrepreneurial crusader! I love nothing more than putting together a great team and motivating them to create the impossible. I love the game.
