Meet Wayne Rodgers | Owner, Batch & Trowel

We had the good fortune of connecting with Wayne Rodgers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Wayne, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I’ve thought about this a lot, but I’ve never really been asked about it.

I was once a different person. I had an good job, felt pretty happy about things. I was going places. But I was definitely addicted to the paycheck, and felt somewhat trapped. I mean in the way I felt unable to take major risks for fear of losing everything.

Then I had a series of personal tragedies strike all at once. I lost my brother and my dad suddenly, while going through a divorce. It’s kind of difficult to explain how much my life changed.

But what really changed was how bold I became for a couple of years. I wouldn’t say reckless, but I really didn’t care what anyone else thought and I did what I wanted. And I was very aware that it would “wear off” eventually. It was an exhilarating time.

I constantly told myself that my dad and my brother were smiling down on me, and that maybe I was living life for the three of us since their lives were cut short. I know they’d be prouder than heck if they were watching me doing everything I was doing. Everything I’ve done since then I know they’d be proud of. To this day thinking of them guides a lot of my decisions.

I wouldn’t wish that sort of tragedy on anyone, but I do wish everyone could feel the way I felt as I came to terms with all of it. There was no such thing as “trapped” for me. I took calculated risks, and bet on myself time and time again. I believed in myself more than I would have ever thought possible.

I decided I would never work for anyone else to make them rich instead of me ever again. I would rather lose everything. It was me, working for me, for the rest of my life. Damn the torpedoes.

Some of the changes stuck, and some of it wore off as I expected. I’m not quite as bold as I was during those couple of years. But I still do what I want. I’m willing to take risks. I saw the light.

I think ultimately what I experienced was the sudden realization that life is indeed actually short (and not just a thing people say). It can change suddenly. Some people should take risks. If you know you’re talented at something, you should probably take a lot of risks a lot in that direction.

I’m sorry to say that some people should not take risks. Some people have it better than they know. Some people are being carried already. But if you just know you’re better than what you’re doing, you should definitely start looking at taking risks. You’ll probably land on your feet if you’re wrong.

If you can close your eyes and imagine being a person who is extremely bold and nothing else matters but to be the person you wish to be, then you’d know you’ll take any risk. I know what being that person is like, if only just for a second. It was one of the greatest things I’ve ever experienced.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started a company called Batch & Trowel. We make GFRC concrete objects. I say “objects” because there’s really no limit to what we can make out of this type of concrete. Most people want countertops, but we also make a lot of furniture. Things like firepits. Fireplace hearths and surrounds are popular.

I started it on a whim that it would always be fun to do, and it would be in demand. I didn’t want a job, I wanted a hobby that I got paid for.

I was fortunate enough to be at a point in my career and skills where I could pick anything I wanted to do. Sky was the limit. I’m a licensed general contractor. I was mostly debating with myself if I wanted to build spec houses, or be a subcontractor of some type.

You’d think it would be an easy choice (of course you want to be in charge of the construction project instead of just being a small part of it, right?), but being this type of subcontractor allowed me to be creative and do pretty much what I wanted every day. Most of the time I’m one of the few artists working on a jobsite, so I get a little leeway.

When I was first learning GFRC this funny guy told me, “Man, I think you have to be a ‘prick artiste’ to do well in this business.” That always stuck with me. Not the being a prick part, but just that I’m really doing concrete art. You’re commissioning me to do my best at making this art, and I do every time.

The hardest time I have, and continue to have, with concrete, is that I’m a real perfectionist. Concrete isn’t perfect, as a rule. That’s what people like about it.

I have battled with myself countless times about what is good enough to go out the door. I legitimately envy lots of others in my industry who can love and appreciate the flaws.

I think I’ve finally reached a point where I make concrete about as well as it can be made. I do my very best every time, and I’ve never made it perfect. I like everything that goes out the door these days.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well it depends on who this person is, but assuming they’re my best (male) friend they probably don’t appreciate the finer things in life.

We’d go to my shop and work. Make something awesome. Their mind would be blown. Give them something awesome to take home that they could say they made.

Evenings hanging around Parker. Tailgate, Funugyz, Hilltop Taphouse.

For the right type of person, I don’t think you could have a better week.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have amazing friends and family that believe in everything I decide do. But my Mom and Danielle truly support me and get it.

And so many people in my industry have helped me along the way, it’s impossible to name them all. But Jeff Girard, the godfather, Martin Haddock, the brilliant redcoat, Canada’s favorite son Brent Indenbosch, and Dian Mullis, the bold engineer, have inspired and always been willing to help and sympathize with my problems along the way. Tiimo Mang and Justin McRae and so many others have always been willing to jump in and lend their expertise when I was floundering. The best GFRC artists in the world I count amongst my personal friends, and I can’t thank them enough.

Website: www.batchandtrowel.com

Instagram: @batchandtrowel