In this era of fast-paced advancements and increasing complexity, the role of a leader goes beyond command, control, and delegation. Transformational leadership empowers individuals to unleash their full potential, thereby fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and shared success.
By nurturing relationships, articulating a compelling vision, and championing the growth of their team members, transformational leaders create an environment where extraordinary achievements are not just possible but inevitable.
One shining example of a transformational leader who embodies these principles is Kent Rockwell, Founder and CEO of Universal Registered Agents (URA).
Since establishing the company in 2013, Kent has inculcated a mindset of growth and built an exceptional team that strives to deliver exceptional results.
Featuring as the Cover of our Transformational CEOs of the Year, we look into the story of Kent Rockwell and Universal Registered Agents.
The Journey
Growing up in Lincoln, Nebraska, Kent always had an entrepreneurial mindset. During his teen years, he started his first business by cutting lawns. “I purchased the equipment, managed the financials, and had one person working with me,” he recalls.
Armed with a humble lawnmower and an unwavering determination, Kent went on to work around more than 20 yards as well as some commercial spaces. He enjoyed being his own boss.
After graduating from college, he began exploring different options and spent a year working with ConAgra. However, he soon realized that the flour milling business wasn’t exactly for him. He joined ARI Network services soon after to dive into the UCC business, or Uniform Commercial Code.
At the age of 24, working with ARI, he was given the responsibility of creating products for their online network. After several failures, Kent created an online UCC database for Illinois banks.
“While I worked for a company, the products I developed were truly entrepreneurial and gave me the full scope of developing something from scratch. This product catapulted me into the Registered Agent / Corporate Services industry and gave me the opportunity with National Registered Agents, Inc.”
Over the course of the next 14 years, he served as the Head of Sales & Marketing for National Registered Agents, Inc. Kent was able to help the company attain the position of being among the top three registered agent / corporate service providers in the entire country.
In 2011, the company was sold to Wolters Kluwer.
The Start of URA
Following a two-year non-compete period, Kent decided to leverage his experience in the industry and recruited two former colleagues to conceptualize the birth of Universal Registered Agents.
“I also explored other job opportunities during that time, but when I couldn’t secure a position that aligned with my aspirations, starting URA became the best option.”
Together with Joe Winrich, Vice President Legal, and Will Cleaver, Chief Technology Officer, Kent was able to create a team of experienced professionals who really understood the industry.
Although the company faced its share of challenges during its initial stages, it never looked back and only focused on providing exceptional services. Today, URA has established its name across 50 states as a premier provider of corporate and registered agent services.
Empowering the Team
For Kent Rockwell, transformational leadership goes far beyond simply managing tasks and delegating responsibilities. According to him, it’s about inspiring and empowering others to reach their full potential, both individually and as a team.
He mentions, “I have a clear vision and communicate that vision to team members regularly. This helps to create a shared sense of purpose and direction, which in turn fosters a sense of motivation and commitment among team members.”
Kent further understands that while he sets the direction, it is also imperative for him to be flexible and adaptable in the face of change. Moreover, he makes sure to encourage and support any form of innovation and creativity from his team.
As the CEO of the company, Kent’s role revolves around empowering his team and providing them with the support they need to succeed. This involves spending significant time on recruiting, training, and motivating his team.
Talking further about his role, he asserts “I also set budgets, establish goals, and collaborate with the team to develop new products and strategic initiatives. Additionally, I actively identify potential strategic acquisitions for the company.”
Kent’s commitment to his work and responsibilities, further captures his idea of leading by example.
People are Assets.
According to Kent, being surrounded by great people has always been the key behind his success. He explains, “I did learn that hiring / partnering with the wrong people can lead to devastating results. If you get people that don’t fit the mold or are disruptive to the goals of the company, get them out quickly.”
He emphasizes the need for organizations to hire great people and get rid of the bad apples from the team. In URA, Kent has made sure to pay ample focus on hiring quality people to ensure quality results. Moreover, he stresses the need to provide people with comprehensive training and support.
“Our team goes through extensive customer service training, and we’ve developed procedures/best practices/training manuals for all aspects of customer satisfaction.”
He continues, “The industry standard for discontinuances in our business is 15 percent annually. We pride ourselves on being almost 10 percent less than the industry average.”
With his simple mantra of living life with no regrets, Kent has cultivated a work culture of being the best and rewarding them with equity.
Moving Forward
Talking about the future, Kent mentions “Each day brings new challenges and opportunities. Our industry has been under considerable pressure to consolidate with Private Equity. We are proud to be independent and the opportunities this presents.”
He aims for URA to be the industry leader for new incorporations, strengthen their presence in law firms, and gain significant corporate market share in change of registered agent to URA. Furthermore, Kent is willing to acquire as well as collaborate with companies that will help the company reach its goals.
