During Episode 21, Tim had a conversation with Ray Hornsby about his journey from being a Lead Carpenter to becoming a Production Manager. Ray is among the few who have successfully made this transition. He has moved up the growth track and is now the proud owner of Hopkins and Porter Construction located in Potomac, MD. The shift from being an employee to becoming an owner, or even just a Production Manager to an owner, can be quite challenging. Ray, along with Tim and Greg, discuss the process of purchasing the company and how the employees reacted to this change.

Ray Hornsby is the General Manager at Hopkins & Porter, a construction company located in Potomac, MD. Ray’s career in construction began in the late 70s in West Virginia and North Carolina. In 1986, Ray joined Hopkins & Porter as a carpenter and worked his way up to lead carpenter, project manager, production manager, and eventually, the general manager. In 2015, Ray became the owner of the company, after purchasing it.

Ray, Tim, and Greg talk more about:

• How did other employees respond?
• What worked well that you would recommend to other business owners who may want to sell to an employee?
• What advice would you give to employees who aspire to own the business they work for?