The Problem Every Growing Family Business Faces: Finding the Right People | The Family Biz Show Ep. 63

*]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:b15cefa7-b055-4559-83c1-b91c8173dd60-18" data-testid= "conversation-turn-20" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> Growth is exciting until you realize your biggest obstacle is not opportunity. It is finding the right people to help you deliver on it. "Where do I find skilled people who actually want to do the work?" "How do I keep growing when labor is already stretched thin?" "What happens when the next generation does things differently?" "How do I protect the legacy without getting stuck in the past?" This conversation gives you the answer. In this episode, Michael Palumbos talks with Bill Boulter of Boulter Industrial Contractors, a fifth-generation Rochester family business with roots dating back to 1892. What began as ice and coal delivery has evolved into a 130-year industrial contracting company known for rigging, warehousing, fabrication, crating, and solving complex jobsite challenges. Bill shares what it really feels like to carry a family business legacy forward, especially when growth opportunities are available but skilled labor is harder to find. He explains why people are the foundation of the company's success, why being "the best" matters more than being the cheapest, and how each generation has helped the business adapt to a changing market. Bill Boulter is the leader of Boulter Industrial Contractors, a long-standing family-owned company based in the Rochester, New York area. As a fifth-generation leader, he has helped guide the business through expansion, diversification, technology adoption, and growth beyond its traditional local market. The core insight is simple: a family business does not survive for 130 years by doing everything the same way forever. It survives when each generation respects what came before while having the courage to solve today's problems in today's way. For Bill, that means investing in people, trusting the next generation, diversifying the business, using better tools, and building a reputation strong enough that customers choose Boulter for quality, not price alone. This episode gives you a practical look at what it takes to lead through labor challenges, succession pressure, and the constant need to adapt. You will hear how one family business moved from ice and coal to industrial contracting, how it reduced dependence on a single major customer, and why the right team can become your strongest competitive advantage. A powerful takeaway: growth is not just about getting more work. It is about having the people, systems, and trust to handle that work well. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why finding skilled labor has become one of the biggest growth challenges for family businesses How Boulter Industrial Contractors evolved from ice and coal delivery into a 130-year industrial contracting company Why Bill Boulter believes reputation matters more than being the cheapest option How each generation can add something new without abandoning the family legacy Why diversification helped protect the business from depending too heavily on one customer How succession pressure feels when you are responsible for carrying a fifth-generation business forward Why people, trust, and problem-solving remain at the center of long-term family business success If you are leading a family-owned company, preparing the next generation, or trying to grow while struggling to find the right people, this episode will help you feel less alone and more equipped to move forward.