Building Service Businesses with an NFL Mindset - Jesse Rack - CEO of Rack Electric

In this episode of Masters of Moments, host Jake Wurzak sits down with Jesse Rack, founder and CEO of Rack Electric, to unpack one of the most impressive and unconventional entrepreneurial stories in the home services industry.

Jesse shares his journey from Queens, New York, where he played college football and briefly pursued the NFL, to running a fast-growing business empire focused on electrical work, energy, and infrastructure across Florida. After stepping away from coaching football and returning to Florida to support his family, Jesse took over his father's small electrical business with a bold vision: to build a brand, not just a company.

What started with one truck and a handful of employees is now a multi-vertical operation with over 200 employees, five divisions, and specialties that include generators, propane delivery, solar installations, and EV charging infrastructure. Jesse breaks down how he's scaled the company by hiring for attitude, investing in operational systems, and acquiring other trades businesses through strategic M&A.

This episode covers:

- Jesse’s sports background and how it shaped his leadership style  

- Building Rack Electric from a local business into a state-wide brand  

- Creating a training pipeline for tradespeople and launching in-house licensing programs  

- How to buy, turn around, and integrate struggling home service companies  

- Why customer experience and honest communication are non-negotiables  

- The power of handwritten letters in sourcing acquisition opportunities  

- Lessons in grit, recruiting, and the value of walking the job site  

If you're interested in trades entrepreneurship, home services, or building a real business with staying power, Jesse’s story is as real and raw as it gets.

Links:

Rack Electric - https://www.rackelectric.com/

Jesse on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-rack-488185171/

Connect & Invest with Jake:

Follow Jake on X: https://x.com/JWurzak

1 on 1 coaching with Jake: https://www.jakewurzak.com/coaching

Learn How to Invest with DoveHill: https://bit.ly/3yg8Pwo

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:02) - Jesse’s background

(00:06:16) - The importance of trades and education

(00:08:56) - Challenges and growth in the electrical business

(00:16:35) - Marketing and expansion strategies

(00:20:33) - Current state of Rack Electric

(00:25:54) - Service excellence and customer experience

(00:31:41) - Leadership and team building

(00:44:08) - Navigating private equity and future goals

(00:45:15) - Importance of people and purpose

(00:47:44) - Negotiating debt and bulk buying

(00:50:24) - Asset purchase strategy

(00:56:21) - Building relationships and recruiting

(00:59:19) - HVAC business expansion

(01:12:27) - Future goals and vision

(01:16:55) - Favorite hotel experience

(01:21:04) - Closing remarks