#293: Buying Local “Mom and Pop” Businesses and Making Them Successful with Carl Dieckmann, USAFA '98

Service Academy Business Mastermind

“Having served in the military, having that leadership experience, having gone to a service academy, I think that we can optimize things really well. We're relatively decent with technology. And so rather than having to invent a business, our skill sets work pretty well with – let's buy a Mom and Pop business and bring it into this century. Modernize things and make it work more efficiently.” –Carl Dieckmann

Carl Dieckmann is a commercial real estate broker at Emily Dieckmann Real Estate Team in Lago Vista, Texas, a firm he co-owns and runs with his wife Emily, which is one of the top producing brokerages in the Austin area. As a real estate investor, Carl has over a decade of experience flipping properties, managing buy-and-hold properties, and purchasing tax foreclosures. A serial entrepreneur, in 2020 Carl purchased Snowblaze Ski Shop in Angel Fire, New Mexico. In doing so, he acquired one of the most prime commercial property locations in Angel Fire along with additional land that’s earmarked for future development. In 2021, Carl teamed up with retired military veteran Ismael Reyna to start CJ Site Works, a tree clearing and dirt work business servicing Northwest Austin. Carl also leads a team of five in a syndication to develop a 120-pad RV park in New Braunfels, Texas. In addition to running his businesses, Carl is a part-time military reservist in the 701st COS supporting the Korean Theater.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How a risky move from Las Vegas, Nevada to be closer to family near Austin, Texas opened up a wave of new opportunities for self-employment and entrepreneurship.
• How Carl and his wife Emily turned a real estate business that made only $5,000 its first year into one of the top producing brokerages in the Austin, Texas area.
• Opening up and running a ski shop on the fly, right before ski season opens, and coercing your kids into cleaning skis when they’re returned.
• Why RV parks can be a good investment and the kinds of challenges you can face setting them up.
• Getting expert help to fill in for your own skill gaps.

Carl Dieckmann's journey from Air Force pilot to multi-faceted entrepreneur highlights how seemingly simple “Mom and Pop” type local businesses can turn into big opportunities while diversifying your business interests. After a risky move from Las Vegas to the Austin area, Carl and his wife Emily transformed a struggling real estate brokerage into one of the top-producing firms in the area. Carl's entrepreneurial spirit led him to expand beyond real estate, acquiring Snowblaze Ski Shop in New Mexico and co-founding CJ Site Works, a land clearing business, with a fellow vet. His latest venture involves developing a 120-pad RV park, demonstrating his ability to identify new business trends.

Carl's story illustrates how embracing change, leveraging local opportunities, and filling skill gaps with expert help can lead to success in different niches. His experiences remind us that entrepreneurial growth often comes from being adaptable, taking calculated risks, and continuously exploring new business avenues while maintaining a strong foundation in core competencies.

Connect with Carl Dieckmann:

• LinkedIn
• Team Dieckmann Commercial
• Snowblaze Ski Shop
• CJ Site Works
• [e-mail]

If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.

Subscribe and help out the show:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Carl for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01