The purpose of the interview was simple but powerful. To give leaders in the home remodeling space an honest look at culture, accountability, health, and legacy through the lens of someone who has lived all sides of it. Steve served as CEO of Southwest Exteriors for a decade and was ranked among the top leaders in the country. After surviving a life threatening brain aneurysm, he returned to the industry with a new perspective that few executives ever get the chance to share.

This conversation was especially relevant for founders, CEOs, executive teams, and growth driven contractors who are building companies in a high pressure environment. The home improvement industry continues to grow at a rapid pace. Competition is high. Expectations are rising. Many leaders feel the weight of constant performance. This interview addressed that reality head on.

What made this conversation unique was its honesty. Steve did not speak from theory. He spoke from experience. He shared what it feels like to carry the full weight of leadership. He talked about the pride many executives take in working long hours. He reflected on what almost cost him his life. And he told the story of the night his executive team left family gatherings to meet him at the hospital when they learned he might not survive.

This was not a highlight reel interview. It was a leadership mirror. It challenged leaders to ask themselves not only how fast they are growing, but who they are becoming in the process. 

Where Culture Truly Begins Inside the Company

As the conversation moved deeper, Steve made one thing clear. Strong companies are not built by chasing customers first. They are built by taking care of the people inside the walls.

“Everybody’s worried about taking care of their client,” Steve shared. “But if you take care of your internal client first, you don’t have to worry about taking care of your external client. They’ll take care of themselves.”

For him, the team was never a group of employees. It was family. He did not see himself as their boss. He saw himself as their leader. He learned their spouses’ names. He knew their children. He showed up to birthday parties and holiday gatherings. They did life together. 

That level of care was not soft leadership. It created strength. When people felt known and valued, they worked harder for each other. Accountability did not need to be forced. It was fueled by loyalty. 

Culture, in his view, is not a poster on the wall. It is the way people treat each other when no one is watching.

Watch Building A Family For Great Company Culture | Steve McNary PowerChat PART 1. 

Accountability That Comes From Care Not Control

As the discussion continued, the focus shifted from structure to heart. Steve spoke openly about something rarely heard in executive circles. Love.

“When you really start to care for who people are, figure out what their dreams are, what really motivates them, that’s when they know that you really care,” he said.

That care changed how accountability worked inside the company. Tough conversations still happened. Standards were still high. But correction came from a place of relationship, not fear.

“When you have to sit down and have those conversations, they know that it comes from a place of love,” Steve explained.

Because trust was already built, accountability carried weight. Team members felt conviction when they were not pulling their weight, not because they feared punishment, but because they did not want to let their teammates down.

This is leadership rooted in responsibility and respect. It is firm. It is clear. But it is deeply human.

Listen in on Steve McNary PowerChat PART 1 | Watch Building A Family For Great Company Culture.

The Dangerous Pride of the Twenty Four Seven Grind

The tone shifted when the conversation turned to health. At fifty years old, in strong physical shape, Steve suffered a brain aneurysm. The odds of survival were low. The moment forced a painful reflection.

“We turn into fools,” he said. “We take pride in the fact sometimes that we’re working sixty hours a week and burning the candle at both ends.”

He spoke about late night emails and early morning messages as if they were badges of honor. He admitted that many leaders secretly hope others notice how hard they are working.

“That’s just foolish behavior,” he said plainly. “Your health is more important than that. Your family is more important than that.”

Then he shared a realization that landed hard.

“Believe it or not, the company is still there and I’m not at the helm. The world keeps moving whether we’re there or not.”

The lesson was not about lowering goals. It was about redefining what winning means. Success should not cost you your life.

Watch Steve McNary PowerChat PART 2 | Stop Glorifying The 24-7 Grind and Take Care Of Yourself.

Measuring Success by the Leaders You Leave Behind

When asked what he appreciated most about his time as CEO, Steve did not mention revenue or rankings. He talked about people.

“What I appreciate the most was getting to do it with a team,” he said. “Watching them grow. Watching them hit their full potential.”

He described the weight of leadership as heavy. The higher you climb, the harder it becomes. Decisions carry more responsibility. Pressure increases. Yet what mattered most was seeing other leaders develop and begin developing others.

The company continued after he stepped away. Projects moved forward. Customers were served. The systems worked. The team stood strong.

That is legacy. Not being needed every second. Building something that stands on its own.

True leadership is not about being indispensable. It is about making sure you are not.

The Night That Proved the Culture Was Real

The most powerful moment came when Steve shared what happened the night of his aneurysm. It was Memorial Day weekend. Families were gathered. Barbecues were happening across the city.

Lying in the ambulance, he sent a message to his executive team.

“Hey y’all, I love you guys deeply. It has been an honor and privilege serving you as your leader. I’ve had a brain aneurysm. I don’t know if I’m going to live.”

By the time he arrived at the hospital, six of the seven team members who were in town were already there waiting. They left family parties. They showed up with their spouses. Some even brought their children.

“That’s the kind of team that we had built,” he said.

Culture is tested in crisis. In that moment, it was clear that what they built was not transactional. It was relational. It was real.

For leaders watching, the story raises a quiet question. If something happened tomorrow, who would show up?

Listen in on A Company Culture Story That Will Make You Cry | Steve McNary PowerChat PART 3.

A Defining Moment for Leadership in the Home Improvement Industry

As the conversation came to a close, it left behind more than insight. It left a pause. A moment for leaders to reflect on the kind of companies they are building and the kind of lives they are living.

The home improvement industry is filled with driven people. Growth is celebrated. Expansion is rewarded. Long hours are often seen as proof of commitment. Yet this discussion reminded everyone listening that success without balance is fragile. Titles can be replaced. Roles can be filled. But health and family cannot be restored once they are gone.

There was reassurance in the story as well. Strong leadership does not mean carrying everything alone. It means building teams that think, lead, and act with ownership. It means creating clarity so others can step forward with confidence. It means choosing long term strength over short term ego. That kind of leadership is not only possible. It is already happening across the industry.

Looking ahead, conversations like this point to a shift. The future of home remodeling will not belong only to the fastest growing companies. It will belong to the most grounded leaders. Those who build strong cultures. Those who protect their health. Those who develop other leaders. Those who understand that real power is shared.

The question now is simple and personal. If you stepped away tomorrow, what would remain?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Power100 and what does the platform do?

Power100 is the only unbiased third party platform that recognizes and elevates the top leaders and most impactful companies in the home improvement industry. The organization reviews thousands of CEOs through its proprietary ranking system to identify the most influential leaders shaping the future of the industry. Beyond rankings, the platform produces interviews, leadership conversations, and industry insights that help contractors, partners, and service providers learn from the best operators in the country.

2. Who is Steve McNary and why was he featured in this PowerChat interview?

Steve McNary is a former CEO of Southwest Exteriors and a respected leader in the home remodeling industry. During his leadership, the company experienced strong growth and he was ranked among the top CEOs in the country. After serving as CEO for ten years and later surviving a life threatening brain aneurysm, Steve joined the Advisory Board. His experience leading a successful company and his reflections on leadership, culture, and health made him a powerful voice for this conversation.

3. What leadership lesson did Steve McNary share about company culture?

Steve emphasized that strong companies start by taking care of their internal team before focusing on customers. He explained that when leaders genuinely care for their people, accountability becomes stronger and performance improves naturally. As he shared during the interview, “If you take care of your internal client first, you don’t have to worry about taking care of your external client. They’ll take care of themselves.”

4. What warning did Steve McNary give about the nonstop work culture among CEOs?

Steve spoke openly about the pride many executives take in working extremely long hours and constantly pushing themselves. After surviving a brain aneurysm, he reflected on the danger of glorifying sixty or seventy hour work weeks. He reminded leaders that sending late night emails and constantly grinding does not define success. According to Steve, protecting your health and spending time with your family matters far more than trying to prove how hard you are working.

5. Why did Steve McNary say leadership legacy matters more than individual success?

When reflecting on his time as CEO, Steve said his greatest reward was watching his team grow into strong leaders. The company continued to operate and thrive even after he stepped away from the role. For him, that was the real measure of leadership. Building systems, developing people, and creating a culture that lasts beyond one individual is what creates lasting impact. 

About Power100

Power100 is the only unbiased third party platform that recognizes and elevates the top leaders and most impactful companies in the home improvement industry.

Through its proprietary five layer ranking system, Power100 reviews thousands of CEOs across the country to identify those who are driving real impact. The platform highlights leaders who are shaping culture, strengthening accountability, and advancing the industry through responsible growth. 

Power100 serves as a trusted resource for contractors, partners, and service providers who want clarity on who is leading at the highest level. By showcasing interviews, rankings, and industry conversations, the platform creates visibility for leaders who are setting a higher standard.

We exist to shine a light on leaders who are not only building successful companies, but also building an industry worth being proud of.