To the Point Home Services Podcast

The Home Services Podcast That Gives Back

Episode 31: Making an Impact in the Family Business

August 18, 2020

Episode 31: Making an Impact in the Family Business

Published: August 18, 2020
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A 3rd generation expert in the trades, Dayna Hottle worked her way from the ground up to become GM of C&C Heating & Air Conditioning, a family HVAC business that is highly regarded in the HVAC/R industry. We pick her brain to learn more about what makes her family business success, her advice for those considering joining a family business, what it’s like to be a successful woman in the trades, and more!

About Dayna

Dayna is a valuable member of our RYNO family, and C&C Heating & Air Conditioning has been one of our clients since 2019. C&C is a multi-generational home services business, starting with Dayna’s Great Uncle and Grandfather. The business was later taken over by her father and uncle, and today she is the General Manager for C&C, which has been around since 1948 and holds over 2100 Google reviews with a 4.9 rating. You can’t be around that long without doing something right!

Dayna didn’t just walk into her role in the company, however. After graduating from Albion College, she went right into the family business, starting at the bottom like anyone else. What started as a summer job as a call-taker turned into a CSR role, then dispatch, AR, HR, payroll, and virtually every position in the company. At 70 employees and 14 million in sales, C&C is a testament to the success of a company isn’t just family-run, it’s a true culture of family extending from the management to the employees and customers alike.

Getting into the Family Business

It’s a common scenario: you’re interested in the family business, but you aren’t really sure where to start. You know that walking right into a management position won’t go over well with the current employees, and Dayna believes that starting from the bottom like she did is the only way to do it. You have to learn everything from the ground up, and recognize early on that running a business is hard work. It’s going to be many long hours, and if you don’t enjoy the work, you won’t survive. Before you start, be sure that your family business is something you’re actually passionate about!

Be humble, work hard, and learn every aspect of the business. Then, when it’s time to move into a leadership or management position, you’ll not only be ready, but you’ll have the respect of those in the organization.

Navigating the Challenges of Family Business

According to Dayna’s experiences, it can be hard to separate work and leisure time when you’re in a family business. Especially when you spend a lot of time with family members outside of work, it can be difficult to remove the high-paced environment at work from simply enjoying down time with your loved ones. That’s why excellent communication is a must. Not only does great communication go a long ways in resolving the inevitable conflicts that arise, it’s also a necessity to set clear boundaries and expectations for family members. If you’re vigilant in your communication methods, a family-run business can be a wonderfully successful and rewarding endeavor!

Dayna is more than happy to answer questions for those looking into joining a family business, and especially women in the trades. She’s familiar with the challenges that come with being a female in a traditionally male-dominated industry, and can certainly help anyone navigate through the trades. If you want to connect with Dayna, you can email Dayna directly. If you live in Macomb County and need service, or want to check out what a successful family-run HVAC company looks like, be sure to visit C&C Heating & Air Conditioning‘s website!

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