91: Rens Hayes IV on The Value Growth Podcast: Building a Successful Company

Design Development

A licensed engineer with entrepreneurial spirit, Rens Hayes has a robust background in steel construction, structural engineering and business operations. He co-founded H+O Structural Engineering with Jeremiah O'Neill and has led the company to significant growth through innovative approaches and a commitment to company culture. Rens is also deeply involved in educational pursuits, continually seeking knowledge to grow the business and inspire his team.

Ken Sanginario

Ken Sanginario is the host of the Value Growth Podcast and a mentor to many business leaders through his Certified Value Growth Advisor (CVGA) platform. He specializes in teaching the principles of value growth and has played a significant role in guiding businesses to achieve sustainable success.

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Rens shares the journey of building H+O Structural Engineering from the ground up, underscoring the principles of value growth that have propelled the firm toward national expansion.

Starting from Rens' initial experiences helping run his father's steel fabrication business, the episode delves into how these early lessons, coupled with strategic educational pursuits like the CVGA, laid the foundation for H+O's mission and vision. Discussions cover building a company culture rooted in transparency and empowerment, which are encapsulated in H+O's commitment to "a better experience" for both employees and clients. Also highlighted are the core values that drive decision-making and behavior at H+O, making the firm a standout in a competitive field.

Key Takeaways:

• Importance of Core Values: Establishing mission, vision, and core values is crucial for aligning the entire organization and driving consistent decision-making.
• Open Book Financial Management: Rens emphasizes the power of transparency in building trust and making financial health a collective responsibility among employees.
• National Expansion: H+O's vision includes national growth and acquiring other firms to create a better work environment and superior client service on a larger scale.

Notable Quotes:

1. "Open book financial management... it's crazy to me that it's not more commonplace."
2. "The power of short, concise statements... programming the subconscious of everyone on what's actually important."
3. "What about your company being hard to find? Or why would good people know that there's something worth chasing at your company?"

Tune in to this episode to discover more about how Rens Hayes is shaping the future of structural engineering and learn invaluable business insights.

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