DAVID BRUMLEY &
DARRIN MCCLARY

Featured Partners at RLP MECHANICAL

FAST FACTS

Key Dates

Joined RLP: David - 2005 | Darrin - 2015

Became RLP Owners: 2015

Partnered With Midway: 2022

RLP Careers

Current Positions: Vice Presidents

Starting Positions: Project Managers

Learn About RLP Mechanical

MEET DAVID AND DARRIN

David Brumley and Darrin McClary developed RLP Mechanical around a clear principle: "Do what you tell people you are going to do." It guides their interactions with customers and employees alike. When they decided it was time to sell, they found a matching approach in Midway.

"Do what you tell people you are going to do."

BUILDING RLP MECHANICAL

David has been a cornerstone of RLP since 2005, initially joining as a project manager with an eye toward ownership. A decade into his journey, he invited Darrin to join him. At the time, Darrin was excited about the prospect of leaving an impersonal, oversized corporate environment. He saw RLP as "a smaller company that took very good care of employees at all levels and very good care of customers." Three months later, they were co-owners driving RLP into its next evolution.

When asked about the development of a distinct RLP culture, David recalls interactions with customers early on. After receiving services, customers would comment, "You came in, you told me what you were going to do, and that's exactly what you did. You fixed my problem. I appreciate you doing what you said you would do."

Inspired by this longstanding approach, David and Darrin were cautious about the extent of growth they pursued after assuming ownership. "I think many HVAC companies might have grown faster than us," Darrin notes, "but they also encountered numerous problems. They were getting too far ahead of themselves." This careful approach resulted in an 800% increase in net income over seven years before selling to Midway.

The MIDWAY Transition

"They were good people: honest, straightforward—exactly what we wanted our business to be. And they never backtracked on what they promised."

From the beginning of their partnership, David and Darrin knew they were building RLP with an eye on retirement and legacy. Given their deep investment in the company, it still was not easy when the time came to consider selling. They talked to several potential buyers, but it was not until they talked with Midway that they had the right “gut feeling” to move forward. As Darrin puts it, "We honestly felt like we found the right people, not overbearing, not trying to sell us the world.” They felt comfortable with the lack of a formulaic sales pitch, describing Midway leadership as “good people: honest, straightforward—exactly what we wanted our business to be. And they never backtracked on what they promised."

Beyond the gut feeling, David and Darrin trusted Midway’s plan to take care of their employees. “We had a lot of fear about losing people,” David says, “especially the key people that have been here since I got here. Those guys put us in a position to sell. They're good people.” With support from Midway leadership, they announced the change to employees with warmth and an emphasis on continuity. Darrin explains, "We rented a meeting room in a hotel and announced the change. We said that nothing should change for you, except a few improvements.” They were ecstatic at how smoothly the transition went, including experiencing no turnover.

“We had a lot of fear about losing people,” David says, “especially the key people that have been here since I got here. Those guys put us in a position to sell. They're good people.”

THE MIDWAY IMPACT

Post-sale, RLP experienced operational improvements and growth, from introducing new roles to expanding the team from 44 to 55 employees over two years. "We're getting more systems out the door. They're more complete. We're covering more ground," Darrin explains. David emphasizes how nice it is to delegate more responsibility to different team members, leaving him and Darrin fewer headaches and time to focus on the most substantive opportunities and challenges. They are currently in vice president roles.

"We're getting more systems out the door. They're more complete. We're covering more ground."

After the sale, David and Darrin experienced notable improvements in work-life balance, with both finding more time for family and leisure. They describe just how exhausted they were in the years leading to the sale. When asked how they are using their extra time, they joke about how they each have a favorite lake to vacation at. Darrin and his family enjoy their spot in Texas, while David and his family have an Arkansas lake they enjoy. And though they are still working full-time, their wives are ramping up retirement plans for the near future.

At Midway, we partner with individuals like David and Darrin because of the profound level of care and commitment they invest in their business. Their dedication to maintaining a culture of honesty and integrity at RLP Mechanical resonates with our core values. We not only appreciate their ongoing leadership within RLP but also value their role as mentors for others in the Midway family of brands. Thank you, David and Darrin, for what you have built and all you are still doing.