Member Profile: James Wisler of Wisler Plumbing & Air
Q: Where did you grow up, and tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up near Roanoke, VA, with three siblings. My father founded Wisler Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, and Electric in 1986, so I spent my childhood immersed in our family’s startup business, either riding along with my father or helping my mom with household chores and administrative tasks. I attended Franklin County public schools through 9th grade and then transitioned to homeschooling, giving me early exposure to business operations and professional development. I married my high school sweetheart, and we have three wonderful children. Our Christian faith is central to our family and guides all aspects of our lives. After graduation, I attended Patrick Henry Community College.
Q: Please tell us about your journey to becoming a CEO.
From a young age, I began leading teams, often learning through trial and error. Valuing personal growth, I’ve had many influential leadership mentors and experiences over the years. At 22, I became the general manager at Wisler, and by 29, I stepped into the role of President and co-owner alongside my brother. Today, we continue striving to build and lead one of the best companies in our industry.
Q: How are you promoting leadership development at Wisler?
We prioritize identifying, hiring, and developing future leaders internally. Our strategies include personalized leadership development plans, tuition reimbursement, and both internal and external training opportunities. Additionally, our current leadership team dedicates one day each month to collaborative learning and professional growth.
Q: Are you working on any new business ideas?
Currently, our primary focus is on enhancing efficiency, increasing automation, and continuously improving the value we deliver to our customers. Many smaller, innovative ideas are emerging around these core objectives.
Q: What books are you reading? Podcasts you’re listening to? Other impactful media?
Currently, I’m reading “The Gap and the Gain” by Dan Sullivan, “Teamwork” by Natalie Dawson, and “Raising Men” by Eric Davis. Each of these books has offered valuable insights that impact both my leadership and personal life.
Q: When you’re not leading your business, what do you like to do?
I deeply enjoy spending quality time with my family and engaging in conservation projects that improve local habitats. These activities provide balance and fulfillment outside of work.
Q: Tell us how you’re involved in the community.
My family is actively involved in our church community and partners with several local organizations, including The Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Virginia. We regularly participate in community events, often distributing free water and goodies at family-oriented gatherings each month.
Q: Since you’ve been a member of VACEOs, how have you grown as a CEO?
Being a member of VACEOs has significantly expanded my network of Virginia-based relationships and provided opportunities to connect with other local CEOs whom I might not have otherwise encountered. The organization consistently offers high-quality learning experiences that have contributed positively to my growth as a leader.
Q: What are you looking forward to this spring/summer?
After navigating a period of transition and filling some leadership roles in our business, I’m looking forward to reclaiming some personal bandwidth. I plan to dedicate this time to advancing our business development projects and enjoying meaningful family moments this summer once school concludes.
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