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Bruce Broxterman — Built It. Bought It. Grew It.
Ep 2: Bruce Broxterman — Built It. Bought It. Grew It.
From qualifying for food stamps to CEO and owner — leadership, culture, and building Richards Industries.
Episode Summary
Bruce Broxterman shares how he went from qualifying for food stamps to leading and later owning Richards Industries. We dig into leadership frameworks, culture, channel strategy, and why the CEO should still sell — plus the habits that build durable, multi-decade growth.
GuestBruce Broxterman, Former Owner & CEO, Richards Industries
HostGilbert Welsford Jr., Founder of ValveMan
PublishedSeptember 2025
Runtime38:38 minutes
TopicsLeadership & culture, management by objectives, sales focus, distribution vs direct, relationships over networking
Show Notes
Timestamps
- 00:00 – Welcome and intro with Bruce Broxterman
- 00:49 – Bruce’s early career and Richards Industries
- 03:17 – Buying the company and leadership insights
- 10:45 – Culture, sales, and legacy wisdom
- 37:59 – Final reflections and future advice
Key Themes
- Relationship over networking: build genuine connections
- CEO as chief seller: “nothing happens until something is sold”
- Culture test: care, excellence, trust
- Management by objectives: set, measure monthly, adapt
- Technical depth vs. leading from 10,000 ft
- Channel strategy: reps/distribution vs. direct sales teams
Links Mentioned
Featured Quotes
“We qualified for food stamps when our first child was born.”
— Bruce Broxterman
“What better person to be the best salesperson than the CEO?”
— Bruce Broxterman
“People ask of their leader: Do you care about me? Are you committed to excellence? Can I trust you?”
— Bruce Broxterman
“Nothing happens until something is sold.”
— Bruce Broxterman