Hulbert Credits a People-First Franchise Culture and Strong Leadership for HorsePower’s Growth
Tony Hulbert’s journey to leading HorsePower Brands as CEO was not a straight line, but every turn added to the leader he is today. “My career path has been anything but traditional,” he says. In his 20s, he worked as a CPA and then CFO, gaining an inside look at how privately owned companies succeed. From there, he made what he calls “the not-so-traditional leap to a sales and marketing executive in the distribution industry.” He has invested in real estate, cattle and small businesses. For many, that mix of experiences might look unrelated, but Hulbert sees a clear thread. Each venture taught him something new about people, growth and resilience. “My greatest passion is leading teams,” he says.
At HorsePower Brands, Hulbert gets to live that passion every day. Since its founding in 2021, the Omaha, Neb.-based company has grown rapidly with a portfolio of home service franchises that includes its first brand, Mighty Dog Roofing, to its most recently-launched brand, Varsity Zone Heating and Air Conditioning. “We are one of a kind and I guarantee one trip to our home office in Omaha will prove it,” Hulbert says. “We are only five years into this venture and there is no sign of stopping. We believe in entrepreneurship within home services; we are simply using franchising as our vehicle.”
Franchise Culture
Hulbert credits the company’s culture with fueling that growth. “Purpose-driven. Team-first. Relentless. Our franchise culture is entrepreneurial at its core,” he says. “We celebrate bold ideas, fast execution, accountability and winning together. Everyone on our team knows why we do what we do, and they show up every day committed to our franchisees’ success.”
Protecting that culture is something Hulbert takes seriously. He focuses on finding people who combine competency, character, capacity and commitment. “The right people in the right roles with the right mindset are the ultimate protectors of culture,” he says. That means making time for recruiting and developing the best talent. “When I invest more time in recruiting, retaining and developing top talent, everything else becomes easier.”
His own leadership philosophy is grounded in perspective. “Long-term over short-term. Make space for reflection to learn from the wins and losses. Lead with humility,” he says.
One of his favorite franchisee stories comes from Sarasota, Fla. “The franchisee was the first to launch Mighty Dog Roofing, the first to sign with Blingle!, and later serving as the founder location for Varsity Zone Heating and Air Conditioning,” he says. “The growth they’ve achieved is nothing short of remarkable. Their story is a testament to vision, execution and the power of fully embracing the system.”
For Hulbert, success is shared. “HorsePower Brands has been from day one a creation from our employees, franchisees, suppliers and stakeholders,” he says. “The success will always be the sum of its parts and never attributed to a single person in our company. I am immensely grateful to be a part of this journey.”
Q&A: Tony Hulbert, HorsePower Brands
What I love most about franchising is the community it creates.
1. What do you love about franchising?
What I love most about franchising is the community it creates. You’re joining a network of people who share the same vision, challenges and wins. The collaboration, shared learning and support within a strong franchise system are unmatched by any other business model. That sense of belonging and ‘we’re in this together’ is the intangible that makes franchising truly special.
2. What qualities do you seek in your team?
I look for a mix of the following.
- Competency: Must possess both hard skills and soft skills.
- Character: Doing the right thing when no one is watching.
- Capacity: Stamina, adaptability, resilience and ability to grow.
- Commitment: Are you all in?
3. Who in franchising do you admire and why?
I admire our founder, Josh Skolnick, and every founder or executive of a home service brand who has shared their time and knowledge with me. I’ve logged countless hours of invaluable conversations with incredible people in the franchise community.
4. Please share your favorite mantra or motto in business.
You don’t build a business. You build people and the people build the business.
5. What do you consider your greatest career accomplishment?
My greatest career accomplishment is attracting and recruiting the exceptional talent that makes up HorsePower Brands. Building a team of high performers who share the vision has been the most impactful and rewarding achievement of my career.
Visit HorsePower Brands for more information.
