Zach Rogers, 29

Zach Rogers had finished Plant City High School at 18 when he bought his current business, Rogers Well Drilling Inc., a company owned by his grandfather.

His family had little doubt Rogers could handle the asset-heavy, labor-intensive business.

"It's just his passion," says Kelley Rogers, his wife. "It's been his passion since day one."

Indeed, when asked what is the one thing he loves about his job — the thing that makes the intensive job worth it — Zach Rogers, 29, has an answer ready. "Seeing water flow from a new well that just a couple days prior did not exist," says Zach, in an email response to questions. 

Zach cites his father as his mentor, the person who taught him his work ethic. Chuck Rogers, his father, is now retired from Tampa Electric.

Zach, in his 40 Under 40 questionnaire, says his dad "raised me into the man I am today and instilled core values that will carry me through life."

Those lessons include to always tell the truth and to work hard. 

The lesson stuck, and Zach began learning the trade at 14 when he started installing water softeners. (His company still does some water-conditioning business on the side.) In 2012, he started day one as the leader of Rogers Well Drilling.

The company drills commercial, residential and agricultural wells. It has several pieces of heavy equipment and three employees.

Zach's work ethic involves honesty, his wife says. Often the company will make bids above competitors, since he prides himself on honest estimates. Low bids can win business but they can also mislead customers, Zach believes. He doesn't want to do that, Kelley says.

And during the bidding process, the potential client is told extra sand in the ground can lead to higher costs. (Sand is one of the main substances to drill through in making a well, Kelley says.)

Every problem in drilling and management is different, Kelley says, but Zach takes the necessary steps to solve the problem and make every party happy. It's part of his work ethic, she says. And Zach says he takes what comes in business and life as a lesson.

"Everything happens for a reason," Zach says. "Learn from the outcome, no matter good or bad."

And how does he relax? Kelley say he enjoys coming home to the boys, having dinner and enjoying the pond on their property.