From Corporate to Construction: Pete Hayes on Family Business & Growth

Pete Hayes is the Branch Manager of The Hayes Company’s Nashville branch, Hayes Insulation, which provides insulation solutions for builders and homeowners. Before launching Hayes Insulation, he worked in the automotive industry at Nissan Motor Corporation. With eight years of experience in construction and a lifetime of exposure to his family’s business, Pete specializes in small business development.

In this episode…

Starting and scaling a construction business can be daunting, especially when facing the pressures of a family legacy, leadership, and limited resources. Many first-time entrepreneurs in this space struggle with burnout, maintaining cash flow, and building a team that shares their vision and values. How can you transform a family-owned business into a reputable operation while staying true to your principles?

After missing a crucial family milestone, construction professional Pete Hayes left the corporate sector to return to his roots and scale his family’s business. Throughout the process of launching a new franchise location, he learned the importance of hiring based on values, not just skills, and creating a workplace where employees feel seen and invested. Pete also encourages business owners to maintain transparency with customers and employees, delegate intentionally, and mentor team members to reflect the company’s vision.

Join Michelle Keckler in this episode of Industry Edge as she hosts Pete Hayes, Branch Manager of Hayes Insulation, to discuss his process for building a family franchise business from the ground up. Pete talks about balancing growth with culture, customer service strategies, and how to manage delayed payments from customers.