Toolbox for the Trades

From Shop Hand to VP: Family Business Leadership Lessons


Listen Later

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

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!


Register for Pantheon 2025 - see you in Anaheim!
Prometheus Award Nominations

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.


Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Toolbox for the TradesBy ServiceTitan

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

80 ratings


More shows like Toolbox for the Trades

View all
The Cardone Zone by Grant Cardone

The Cardone Zone

3,911 Listeners

The GaryVee Audio Experience by Gary Vaynerchuk

The GaryVee Audio Experience

16,800 Listeners

The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber by Tom Reber

The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber

414 Listeners

REAL AF with Andy Frisella by Andy Frisella #100to0

REAL AF with Andy Frisella

32,553 Listeners

The Martell Method w/ Dan Martell by Dan Martell

The Martell Method w/ Dan Martell

353 Listeners

The Game with Alex Hormozi by Alex Hormozi

The Game with Alex Hormozi

4,328 Listeners

Dropping Bombs by Brad Lea: CEO, Entrepreneur, and Host of The Bottom Line

Dropping Bombs

2,295 Listeners

The Home Service Expert Podcast by Tommy Mello: $200 Million Founder|Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur Columnist

The Home Service Expert Podcast

737 Listeners

Can't Stop the Growth by Chad Peterman

Can't Stop the Growth

46 Listeners

To The Point - Home Services Podcast by RYNO Strategic Solutions

To The Point - Home Services Podcast

215 Listeners

Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service by Tersh Blissett & Josh Crouch

Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service

81 Listeners

Contractor Evolution by Breakthrough Academy

Contractor Evolution

52 Listeners

Waste No Day: A Home Services Motivational Podcast by Brian Burton & Nate Minnich

Waste No Day: A Home Services Motivational Podcast

444 Listeners

Build with Leila Hormozi by Leila Hormozi

Build with Leila Hormozi

862 Listeners

Mastering ServiceTitan by ServiceTitan Podcasts

Mastering ServiceTitan

6 Listeners