Off The Gravel Road
Off the Gravel Road
Robb Ellis is a husband, father, grandfather, educator, tradesman, and public servant with a deep-rooted commitment to small-town life and hands-on learning. Born in Los Angeles, California, Robb moved to Vermont in the 1980s, where he began his first career in law enforcement. After retiring from the field, he transitioned into the plumbing and heating industry—eventually becoming a technical trainer at FIA, where he now helps shape the next generation of skilled trades professionals across New England.
Robb’s journey has taken him through Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and now New Hampshire—where he and his wife Kristen have lived for many years. Married for over 31 years, they’ve raised three sons and are now proud grandparents to two granddaughters.
In addition to his work at FIA, Robb serves on the Barnstead Select Board and as an ex officio member of the zoning board, where he brings a grounded, practical voice to local governance. He’s also the force behind Storer Ranch and Cow Camp, rural education initiatives rooted in soil health, regenerative agriculture, and trades-based learning. Through programs like the Storer Ranchers 4-H Club and partnerships with local schools, Robb is helping rural youth gain real-world skills and a sense of stewardship for the land.
Having lived in small towns across New England, Robb has come to appreciate their quiet differences and shared spirit. Off the Gravel Road, his podcast, explores what makes these communities tick—sharing conversations from porches, pastures, and town halls that reflect the values, humor, and grit of life beyond the pavement.
Off The Gravel Road
“Be Curious, Not Judgmental” — Leadership, Learning, and the Future of the Trades with Jeff Groth
When troubleshooting, leadership, and life all come down to one thing — asking better questions.
In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, Robb Ellis sits down with Jeff Groth, President of Ambient Temperature Corporation, to talk about the mindset shift from judger to learner — inspired by Marilee Adams’ book Change Your Questions, Change Your Life.
Jeff shares lessons from his journey with Trane, his new role leading a long-time FIA customer, and how private equity, sustainability, and curiosity intersect in today’s mechanical contracting world.
Together, they explore what it means to lead with curiosity, how the phrase “Be curious, not judgmental” (which actually originated from a 1986 advice column, not Walt Whitman) applies to the trades, and why teaching kids to ask questions — and advocate for themselves — is at the heart of Off the Gravel Road.
