Andy Rodenhiser Continues A Family Tradition In Holliston

Photo courtesy of Andy Rodenhiser.

By Judy Bass

When Andy Rodenhiser was a freshman at Minuteman High School in Lexington in the late 1970s, he knew exactly what career path he wanted to major in and when he wanted to begin – and he was willing to take on people in positions of authority in order to get his way.

Mr. Rodenhiser, who lived in Framingham, couldn’t take the plumbing courses he had his heart set on at Keefe Tech, the vocational high school in his hometown, because back then, Keefe did not offer them. So Minuteman was his choice for high school, even though Framingham was not in Minuteman’s district. In fact, Mr. Rodenhiser says he was the sole student at Minuteman at that time from Framingham.

Mr. Rodenhiser had to board a privately-contracted bus at 5:30 a.m. every day to get to the school before he got his driver’s license and was able drive to Lexington himself. Still, there was one other important situation that had to be resolved.

Students were then required (and still are) to participate in freshman exploratory at the beginning of ninth grade. It was compulsory for them to visit each technical program Minuteman offered for a week-long introduction and overview before choosing one to major in. The idea was to facilitate having the students make the most informed decision possible about which technical program they were best suited for and liked the most.

While praising the concept of sampling each shop, Mr. Rodenhiser nevertheless was absolutely positive he wanted plumbing - so positive, in fact, that he insisted on bypassing part of freshman exploratory altogether.

He agreed to spend time in welding, machine shop, electrical, HVAC, hydraulics carpentry, auto body, automotive and drafting because those mechanically-oriented career fields seemed to have some connection with his future profession, but he was intent upon skipping the other technical programs, preferring to start majoring in plumbing ahead of schedule instead.

He stood his ground and got what he asked for. “I challenged the system at every turn,” Mr. Rodenhiser, 54, says today.

That intensely focused attitude, maverick sensibility and unrepentant eagerness to take on the system may well have figured into Mr. Rodenhiser’s present success. To this day, he readily acknowledges that whenever someone insists something can’t be done, it just spurs him on to demonstrably prove them wrong.

Reflecting on his high school experience, Mr. Rodenhiser, who graduated in 1983, gratefully credits Minuteman with making him “a fighter and advocate for what I wanted done. Minuteman gave me the confidence to stick up for myself and get what I needed.”

That robust approach has been the foundation of his ability to lead and inspire others who work for him. For the past thirty-four years, Mr. Rodenhiser has been the fourth-generation owner of Rodenhiser Home Services, Inc., the Holliston-based business started by his great-grandfather and grandfather in 1928. (He is also the president and “Chief Experience Officer” whose mission is “to develop and communicate the vision of Rodenhiser, guard the culture and be the conscience of the company,” as his resume states.

Rodenhiser Home Services, which encompasses plumbing, electrical, HVAC, carpentry, remodeling and home repair for residential customers, is clearly flourishing. The company earned $25 million in revenue last year and employs over 150 people in various capacities, many of whom have shown their loyalty by being there for an average of 10 years, some for much longer than that. Mr. Rodenhiser typically gets five applicants a day who are seeking jobs.

“We have a really good culture,” he says, one that features a lot of military veterans. “They are some of the most valuable people we have,” Mr. Rodenhiser explains. “Their ‘I’ve got your back’ mentality is so impressive.”

The standards he sets are relentlessly lofty. “I challenge people to be better,” Mr. Rodenhiser says. “The goal is for every job to get a five-star review. Excellence is the primary target.”

Mr. Rodenhiser has earned a slew of professional licenses and awards, has served in leadership roles including immediate past president for the New England Air Conditioning Contractors, and is very active in civic affairs in Medway, where he lives. He is an elected member and chairman of the town’s Planning and Economic Development Board and of its Redevelopment Authority.

“Situations end up creating who you are,” Mr. Rodenhiser declares. His rigorous Minuteman education, the relationships he forged there - some of which have lasted to the present day - plus the experience of being on his own in an unfamiliar environment miles from his hometown contributed immeasurably to his personal growth and to building his character.

“I met some great people at Minuteman,’ Mr. Rodenhiser says, “and I also had friendships at home” [in Framingham.] He greatly appreciates the role his parents played in being behind him every step of the way throughout high school, a journey that was not always easy, but ultimately very worthwhile.

“The things I dealt with as a young person built me into who I am today,” Mr. Rodenhiser says proudly. “Minuteman was an amazing springboard to my career. It gave me a sense of what was possible. What I do improves my life and my employees’ lives. All that comes from a vocational education.”

“I love what I’m doing,” Mr. Rodenhiser says enthusiastically. “I’ve worked hard and I’m very happy with my life.”

Minuteman is five months away from moving into a new $145M facility that has been designed to support a robust college and career academy model. The academy model was adopted by staff and administration to create smaller “schools within a school” thereby promoting more personalized learning founded upon close relationships between students and teachers. The Minuteman college and career academy model integrates rigorous academics with relevant technical programming in occupational areas providing individual economic opportunity.

The new facility will accommodate project-based learning across disciplines, requiring students to learn how to work on a diverse team, solve problems and think critically. These are essential 21st-century skills that students practice and apply in a variety of school-based and work-based environments.

As an accredited member of the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC), Minuteman inspires all students to attain their full potential, accelerate their learning, and become purposeful citizens in the global community.

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