Can you really build a $15M HVAC empire from 1,500 miles away? In this episode of ExploreHVAC & Home Services Podcast, Pam Mashburn sits down with Marc Chard and Spencer Satorie of Apex Services. Their partnership started with a single transaction, Spencer buying Marc’s business, but it turned into an aggressive acquisition journey that saw them buy 9 businesses in just two years, leading to a massive private equity exit.
Marc (the technical veteran) and Spencer (the business strategist) pull back the curtain on how they managed a remote portfolio across Florida while living in Nebraska and Missouri. They discuss the “hard-fast” rules of acquisition, the reality of 100% technician turnover when shifting culture, and why they finally decided to sell when private equity came knocking. Key Takeaways:
- The Buyer-Seller Pivot: How a standard business sale evolved into a powerhouse partnership.
- Managing from a Distance: The systems and leadership required to run multiple locations from 1,500 miles away.
- The EOS Backbone: How the Entrepreneurial Operating System helped them scale from $3M to $15M in 24 months.
- Marketable Assets: Why “clean books” and service software are non-negotiable for a high-value exit.
- The 10th Acquisition: Why they aren’t stopping, and what their new “reset” looks like in Texas.
Whether you’re an owner looking to scale or dreaming of your own private equity exit, Marc and Spencer provide the ultimate blueprint for building an HVAC asset that doesn’t require you to be in the truck (or even in the same state.)
