Rodgers Painting has been a staple in Paducah, KY for decades. However, the family-owned business is new to Lexington. We recently caught up with owner Bryce Rodgers about the history of the business, what it means to be an employee-first company, and more.
Here’s what he had to say:
Q: Why did you decide to go into the family business and continue its legacy?
A: My grandfather had a significant impact on my life. I grew up living next to him, and spent much of my childhood following him around and learning from him.
Unfortunately, he passed away when I started my senior year of high school. As my focus shifted to post-high school plans, I felt compelled to continue the legacy of the Rodgers name and business.
Q: How long has this company been around? Was expanding always part of the plan?
A: JB Rodgers Painting & Decorating was founded by my grandfather in 1964. Today, the business is called Rodgers Painting and is run by multiple family members. Despite the name change, we still hold onto our 1964 roots and proudly celebrated our 59th year in the painting industry as a family this year.
Q: What can the community expect from your business?
A: At our business, we consider high-quality painting to be the minimum standard. We don’t need to brag about our work, because doing a good job is simply part of our responsibilities. Our focus is on exceeding expectations by providing exceptional communication, security, and return on investment for our customers.
Q: How big of a UK fan are you?
A: From my earliest memories, my family always watched Kentucky basketball games. My sister attended the University of Kentucky, so I got the chance to see some of those games, too — they were some of the most cherished moments of my childhood. I played basketball growing up and even went to state tournaments one year, which only strengthened my passion for the University of Kentucky Basketball. Go Cats.
Q: What’s your favorite spot you’ve discovered in Lexington so far?
A: Choosing just one amazing place in Lexington is a challenge. Excluding college athletics, my wife, Alli, and I would have to pick Drake’s as our go-to spot.
Q: How are you adapting the business to feature new technology?
A: At Rodgers Painting, we strive to provide an exceptional customer experience by leveraging technology to its fullest potential. Our approach involves effective communication with our customers, accurate job quotes, and retaining skilled talent. Using CRM automation, production rate job costing, and in-house quality control reporting enables us to achieve this goal seamlessly.
Q: People are the product. Why is being an employee-first company important for you?
A: I realized the importance of understanding my motivation for running a business during my career. It requires consistent daily effort; like most people, I aim to find fulfillment in my work. Guided by my core values rooted in my religious beliefs, I recognized my goal was to create a safe, strong, and fulfilling workplace for as many people as possible.
Though a desire for an honorable legacy may have driven my initial concept, pursuing this idea resulted in a better product than I could have imagined. Thus, the concept of “people are the product” was born.
Can a workplace ever truly reach greatness? As an employer, there is always room for improvement, and my top priority is to strive toward this goal continuously.
Q: What resources are available to employees?
A: Incentive-based pay scale (base pay + bonus/commission), two weeks vacation, HSA program, and our cutting-edge training program, which focuses on the employee goals followed by the company goals.
Giveaway
We’re teaming up with Rodgers Painting to give one lucky reader $500 to spend at any of Bluegrass Hospitality Group’s restaurants (you might see Bryce at Drake’s if you’re lucky). The winner will be picked on Wednesday, July 26. Here’s how to enter:
1. Follow LEXtoday and Rodgers Painting on Instagram.
2. Like this photo on LEXtoday and tag a friend in the comments who you would grab dinner with if you win.
