In this episode of To The Point, recorded live at RYNOx 2026, two leaders who represent both the legacy and the future of one of the most iconic brands in the trades sit down for a conversation: Ken Goodrich and Jake Gress of Goettl.

Goettl is nearly 90 years old and has deep roots in the industry. Founded by brothers Gust and Adam Goettl, the company helped pioneer residential air conditioning and played a key role in making Phoenix, AZ habitable. Ken Goodrich became the sixth CEO when he bought the company in 2013, rescuing the company when it was days away from bankruptcy and rebuilding it into a powerhouse brand. Today, Jake Gress is stepping into the role as the seventh CEO, tasked with leading Goettl into its next phase of growth.

Building & Scaling Billion-Dollar Businesses

Jake’s background is not traditional to home services. He began his career in consumer products with companies like Sunbeam, Newell, and Rubbermaid before moving into building materials with USG and later L&W Supply, where he helped scale the business from $1 billion to $4 billion in six years. That experience managing complex branch networks, processes, and systems translated well to Goettl’s multi-location structure.

When Jake stepped into the role, however, the timing was anything but easy. The industry was facing supply chain challenges, increased competition, and aggressive recruiting battles for talent. Jake describes the business as deceptively simple. The fundamentals are clear, but execution across people, systems, and handoffs is complex. Running a home services company, he says, is like a 100-person relay race. Every handoff matters, and any drop can cost revenue or damage the customer experience.

• KG’s journey and the handoff to Jake
• The challenges in the industry over the last 5 years
• Similarities between scaling L&W Supply and Goettl
• Identifying operational leaks
• Ken’s challenges letting go of the company he rebuilt from the ashes
• The evolution of the trades industry and looking ahead
• And more!

The Future of Goettl

Looking ahead, both leaders see massive opportunity in the trades. Consolidation will likely continue, but technology and automation could also lower the barriers for smaller operators to scale. Younger entrepreneurs who grew up with technology may be especially well positioned to take advantage of this shift.

For Goettl, the focus remains on strengthening its presence in the Southwest, particularly in Nevada, Arizona, and Texas, while eventually exploring colder markets to balance seasonal demand. Through it all, the goal is clear: build a business where people want to work, customers feel taken care of, and the next generation of leaders can continue pushing the brand forward.