REASON FOR THE SEARCH

Granite Comfort needed a General Manager for Frymire in Dallas, Texas, due to the founders transitioning out of the company. The role needed to be filled by the end of 2024 to ensure stability during this leadership change.

THE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM

Tiger Infrastructure Partners 

THE PORTFOLIO COMPANY

Frymire, based in Dallas, Texas, is a well-established HVAC and plumbing services provider. Operating since 1950, the company offers installation, maintenance, and repair services for heating, cooling, and plumbing systems in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Frymire is backed by Granite Comfort, which was founded in 2018 by Alex Black and Tiger Infrastructure Partners to invest in and partner with HVAC contractors in the United States.

THE SEARCH REQUIREMENTS

The key requirement for the General Manager position, aside from HVAC or Residential Services experience, was cultural fit. The client preferred a candidate from Texas or someone with significant experience working in Texas. This was crucial for maintaining the company's culture and understanding the needs of both the team and customer base.

WHY RAW SELECTION

Raw Selection was engaged because of its proven track record of handling challenging searches and its deep understanding of cultural fit. The need for a Texas-based or Texas-experienced candidate, along with the need to conduct thorough assessments through the Culture Index Survey, made this search particularly suited for Raw Selection's expertise in identifying the right talent.

THE PROCESS

The process involved sourcing candidates from the Texas market, focusing on individuals who would align with both the company’s operational needs and cultural expectations. Extensive, in-depth interviews ensured candidates met the client’s requirements for experience and leadership style. Additionally, the Culture Index Survey was used to assess cultural fit, which led to eliminating some candidates early on.

CHALLENGES

1. Geographic Constraints – The client required a candidate from Texas or someone willing to relocate there, significantly narrowing the talent pool.

2. Culture Index Survey – Every candidate had to complete a Culture Index Survey before proceeding to interviews. This led to early eliminations and made the search process more selective.

3. Tight Timeline – The client needed someone in place before the end of the year, adding urgency to the search.

HOW RAW SELECTION OVERCAME THESE CHALLENGES

• Targeted Search – Focused heavily on the Texas market to identify and engage candidates with the right background and fit.

• Deep Candidate Evaluation – Conducted detailed interviews, asking thought-provoking questions to assess leadership style, experience, and cultural fit before presenting candidates.

• Proactive Outreach – Engaged extensively via LinkedIn, email, and direct outreach to ensure continuous communication and follow-ups with potential candidates.

• Culture Index Integration – Managed expectations and worked with candidates to align with the survey requirements, preventing unnecessary delays.

THOUGHTS ON THE CANDIDATE 

Sean was the perfect fit for this role. A Texas native, he brought a strong network and valuable industry connections within the client’s target market. He was also seeking an opportunity to move back to Texas from Florida to be closer to family, making this role an ideal match. His experience, industry expertise, and leadership qualities made him the best choice for the position, both professionally and culturally.

Garo Kassabian, Senior Associate, Raw Selection

GET IN TOUCH

Raw Selection favors a meticulous approach to talent research. Our process for selecting the right talent means we can boast a 100% success rate for all our retained and engaged C-Suite clients, with 96% of placed candidates still in their roles after 12 months.

If you are looking for new talent, please get in contact with Garo or Mo today, at garo.kassabian@raw-selection.com or mohammed.vali@raw-selection.com