Ep.55 Lessons in Resourcefulness: Scott Van Kerkhove’s Path from Struggle to Leading Energy Wise Solutions

1/ Meet Scott Van Kerkhove—a Baton Rouge native who watched his father work multiple jobs, determined not to follow the same path of struggle.2/ Growing up, Scott Van Kerkhove learned invaluable lessons about hard work and grit. As he put it: "I never knew what the word quit was." Those early family values lit the entrepreneurial fire in him.3/ At first, his dream was to become a physical therapist. But after a rocky start at LSU (“I completely blew it by going to LSU and playing around”), his dad gave him tough love: “I can't keep paying for you to do this.”4/ Time for a reset: Scott Van Kerkhove joined the Navy, became a hospital corpsman, stepped into leadership roles, and—crucially—figured out the discipline and drive it would take to build his dream life.5/ After 20 years managing hospitals and clinics, he faced another crossroads. The traditional work model required constant relocating. He wanted more: “I made a change.”6/ Enter entrepreneurship. Scott Van Kerkhove ventured into construction, custom homes, insulation, and energy efficiency—eventually landing a major deal distributing polyurethane insulation nationwide. But then...7/ 2008 crash: The housing market imploded, killing the construction pipeline overnight. “We had to start all over again. There’s no more of this business that we had.”8/ Faced with “rock bottom,” Scott Van Kerkhove didn’t give up. He pivoted, targeting the commercial market and looking for opportunities beyond Louisiana. His mantra: “Be a survivor and be resourceful.”9/ The breakthrough? LED lighting. A single big residential project led to a Burger King client—and now Scott Van Kerkhove’s company supplies lighting to Burger Kings across North America!10/ Today, Scott Van Kerkhove runs EnergyWise Solutions, a boutique energy consulting firm known for helping clients save money and navigate energy rebates, not just pushing product.11/ It’s not all business: Scott Van Kerkhove found unexpected community and joy through pickleball, building friendships (and clients) across the country. Work-life integration, on and off the court!12/ What advice does he give his younger self? “Don’t screw up opportunities put in front of you. Appreciate the things that are given to you.” Sage words for us all.13/ Scott Van Kerkhove’s legacy goal? To be remembered as someone who built relationships, gave back where he could, and made an impact well beyond business.14/ Resilience, reinvention, relationships—this is the real entrepreneurial journey.