Creating Long-Term Value In Niche Markets Through Operational Excellence - Dave Rauch

Creating Long-Term Value in Niche Markets Through Operational Excellence - Dave Rauch - CEO @ ProTec

1M ago 43:06

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In this episode of Diners and Deals, host Seth Deutsch sits down with Dave Rauch, founder and CEO of ProTec, a company that has spent nearly three decades redefining how homeowner associations (HOAs) approach maintenance. With over 370 employees, eight offices, and more than 1,000 communities served across Southern California and Las Vegas, Dave has built a business that fills a major gap in a largely overlooked industry.

They dig into the unique operational challenges of serving HOAs, the massive opportunity in preventive maintenance, and how Dave has layered on services like plumbing, restoration, inspections, and construction to create a full-service solution. Dave also shares his long-term vision for taking ProTec national—and the systems, processes, and technology he’s investing in to scale efficiently.

This episode also covers:

Why preventive maintenance is the “holy grail” for HOAs
The importance of coaching, mentorship, and peer learning in entrepreneurship
What it takes to build a great management team and step out of daily firefighting
Dave’s passion for skiing, the power of de-stressing, and staying creative as a founder
How insurance and deferred maintenance are creating major risk in HOA communities nationwide

Whether you’re scaling a service-based business, thinking about M&A, or curious about building something meaningful in a niche industry, this episode is packed with wisdom from a founder who’s in it for the long haul.

Links:

ProTec Building Services: https://www.protec.com/

Dave on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdavidrauch/

Seth on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethdeutsch/

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:02:18) - Meet Dave

(00:04:00) - Understanding ProTec's Business Model

(00:05:54) - Challenges and Opportunities in HOA Maintenance

(00:07:27) - The Importance of Preventive Maintenance

(00:11:31) - Navigating HOA Insurance and Legal Issues

(00:19:42) - The Founder’s Journey: From City Planning to ProTech

(00:21:45) - Financing the Business and Early Challenges

(00:22:17) - The Importance of Coaching and Mentorship

(00:22:44) - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

(00:28:32) - Building a Strong Management Team

(00:32:46) - Balancing Work and Personal Passions

(00:37:07) - Future Vision and Industry Trends

(00:42:03) - Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

9 episodes