In this episode of Drive by Entrepreneur, host John Frank welcomes longtime friend and United Rent-A-Fence president, Louie Adamo. Louie traces his winding path from a brief stint in corporate America to hands-on experience modernizing Caputo’s markets, trading futures at the Board of Trade, and ultimately helping his father launch United Rent-A-Fence during the 2008 downturn. Starting with a single truck and panels—and “smiling and faxing” for business—they grew through relentless responsiveness, smart pricing, and operational discipline into a regional leader serving construction, major events, and disaster recovery with 10+ daily crews and hundreds of miles of fencing.
Louie also shares the deeper roots of his entrepreneurial grit: his parents’ immigration journeys from rural Italy and Argentina, the sacrifices behind building a life in Chicago, and the family’s string of ventures from a bakery to homebuilding and fabrication. He outlines the principles that set United Rent-A-Fence apart—customer, customer, customer; invest in technology and systems; scale thoughtfully; and show up at 2 AM on Christmas if needed. His advice to aspiring founders: keep learning, stay humble, live below your means, reinvest in the business, cultivate thick skin, and focus on service over shortcuts. The episode closes with a fun lightning round on music, favorite holidays, and dream careers.
Sponsors:
– Third Road Management
– Two Hound Red Brewery
– NWC Media
Join us in this episode and be inspired to embark on or enhance your entrepreneurial journey!!
Listen on Apple Podcast | Spotify