Charley Boyce joined Paschal Air, Plumbing & Electric in 2010 and bought the company two years later. He has expanded from one location to nine in three states and from 15 employees to 375. His grandfather John founded the HVAC company Airco in 1961 in Tulsa.
Boyce earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
What is your company’s growth strategy?
Our strategy has always focused on delivering world-class service by prioritizing our people and operational excellence. We take a long-term approach, making sure our team feels supported and set up for success. This has driven strong organic growth over the past decade. Recently, we’ve expanded by acquiring like-minded companies in new markets, using the Paschal playbook of putting our people and customers first. This sets us apart from the typical private equity model, which often emphasizes short-term gains and quick returns. We believe that our approach yields better outcomes for customers and employees.
What are the greatest challenges facing your company and industry?
A big challenge we’re facing — and it’s talked about a lot for good reason — is the labor shortage in the trades. There are more job openings than there are workers to fill them, which is a real problem. For a long time, the idea has been that success means getting a four-year college degree, but that’s not always true. There are great career opportunities in the trades. Our service techs, installers, plumbers and electricians make good money without the burden of college debt. While it’s encouraging to see attitudes about the trades starting to change, the reality is we’ll be dealing with this labor shortage for years to come.
How did your family background in the industry help you succeed?
Growing up in the family business, I developed a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit. I was fortunate to play baseball for the Hogs and quickly fell in love with the area, deciding to make northwest Arkansas my home. I have a bit of an independent streak, and I knew I wanted to forge my own path rather than follow directly in the family business. I eventually found my way to Paschal, where we’ve been able to apply the lessons I learned growing up while putting our own team-focused spin on the business.
What did you learn as an athlete that helped you in business?
Everything. We see our business as a team sport where everyone is working together to with a common goal. We rely on each other and hold one another accountable. While we are hyper-focused and take our business very seriously, we don’t take ourselves too seriously. It’s rewarding to come to work each day and collaborate with like-minded people all pushing toward the same goal.
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