What does it take to keep a business moving forward for nearly a century?

In this episode of In Good Company, Taylor McAlpine sits down with Ryan Carpenter of Armstrong Plumbing, Air & Electric, a fourth-generation Lubbock business founded in 1934.

Ryan shares how Armstrong has stayed resilient by planning ahead, embracing new technology and solving problems before they reach the jobsite. From prefabrication and robotic layout to workforce development and preparing for the company’s 100th anniversary, the conversation explores how thoughtful preparation can protect a business’s legacy while positioning it for what comes next.

They also discuss Ryan’s path into the family business, the importance of learning from previous generations, building the next generation of skilled tradespeople and why long-term success requires more than simply continuing to do what has always worked.

For business owners thinking about succession, growth or how to prepare for an uncertain future, this episode offers a practical look at what it means to stay one step ahead.

In Good Company is a Local LBK podcast featuring the people behind multigenerational family businesses and the lessons they have learned while building companies that last.

• (00:00:00) - In Good Company: Ryan Carpenter
• (00:01:27) - 4th Generation Plumbing and Electrician Business
• (00:05:26) - Family Business: HVAC and Refrigeration
• (00:08:56) - In the Family: Design and Construction
• (00:10:29) - What does legacy look like for Armstrong?
• (00:14:31) - Legacy Projects: Plumbing, Electrical, and More
• (00:16:57) - Reaching Out to the Lubbock Market
• (00:22:16) - Water Treatment Plant, Amarillo
• (00:24:33) - How to Have a Thanksgiving Without Talking Work
• (00:25:26) - Having a Family Business
• (00:26:35) - Looking to grow the service side of our business
• (00:28:03) - How Plumbers Are Staying Together
• (00:28:59) - Prefab Construction Company's Future Proofing
• (00:30:02) - Armstrong Construction Company's Community Engagement
• (00:32:16) - How Can Your Community Engagement Help You?
• (00:36:11) - Lubbock resident on the city's future
• (00:36:50) - Favorite Place to Eat in Town
• (00:39:11) - Deals of the Week