Latest news with #Royce
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
He built three companies, became a CEO twice, and credits it all to his 6th grade teacher
A Classroom That Changed Everything Lessons in Leadership Giving Back, One Entrepreneur at a Time When David Royce looks back on his journey from a restless child struggling with undiagnosed ADHD to the founder of three multimillion-dollar companies, he doesn't begin with business plans or boardrooms. Instead, he begins with a name etched in his heart: Lynn Luft , his sixth-grade Royce is a celebrated entrepreneur, the founder and former chairman of Aptive Environmental , a company that in less than a decade became the third-largest residential pest control firm in North America, earning over $500 million in annual revenue. He's also a two-time CEO and an Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year winner. But for all the headlines and accolades, Royce says none of it would have been possible without the transformative role of one teacher who believed in him before he believed in moving account was recently shared in an interview with CNBC Make It, where Royce opened up about the critical early intervention that changed the trajectory of his elementary school, Royce often felt like an outsider, especially when some teachers failed to understand his learning needs. One painful memory from fifth grade stands out: classmates laughing at him, and the teacher joining in. 'It was not an environment that inspired confidence,' he came sixth grade and Lynn Luft.'She created a safe space for all students to learn,' Royce said. Luft ensured that no teasing went unaddressed, lovingly correcting students and promoting empathy. It wasn't just academic help; it was emotional scaffolding. Her classroom became a sanctuary, a place where Royce felt seen, understood, and stuck with Royce wasn't the syllabus, it was the spirit. Luft, he says, taught him a different kind of curriculum: how to lead with compassion, how to lift others up, and how to foster belonging.'She taught me the importance of not just being respectful,' Royce told CNBC, 'but actively searching out ways to make others feel good about themselves.'That became the bedrock of his leadership philosophy. At Aptive, one of the core values is 'elevate the tribe' — a direct inheritance from Luft's classroom culture. Whether leading startups or training sales teams late into the night, Royce continued the tradition of building people passion now extends beyond pest control. He regularly speaks at universities and serves as a judge at business competitions, sharing his story to inspire future leaders. On his LinkedIn profile, he lists his core interests as entrepreneurship , strategy, and manager development and business all the scale and success, he's never lost sight of his roots. 'Everyone learns at a different pace,' he says, remembering how Luft patiently tutored him after class to help him grasp the this philosophy, one that champions individual growth, patience, and empathy, that Royce has scaled just as ambitiously as his Royce sees himself as a product of belief; not only his own, but someone else's, a teacher who saw promise in a child struggling to stay still, and who chose kindness over criticism.'She changed everything,' Royce says. And in doing so, she may have shaped the future of an industry and the lives of countless employees inspired by Royce's leadership.
CNBC
23-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
2-time CEO credits 6th grade teacher for his success: 'She created a safe space for all students to learn'
David Royce has seen his share of success. In the past 17 years, Royce founded and co-founded three companies in the pest control industry and was an owner of another before that. Most recently he founded Aptive Environmental, a provider of environmentally responsible pest control solutions. But Royce's success didn't come easy. His ADHD went undiagnosed for decades, and Royce struggled in his early years in school. It wasn't until 6th grade that he was able to see his own potential and began to apply himself. That's in large part thanks to his teacher, Lynn Luft, who created the kind of supportive environment he needed to shift his mentality. "Lynn taught me a lot of things," Royce says, "but what stuck with me the most wasn't a particular subject like math or English, but the leadership lessons and the culture she built in the classroom." Here's why Luft's leadership back then was so critical to Royce's success later in life. In elementary school, Royce didn't always have the most supportive teachers. He remembers a moment in 5th grade in which some of his classmates were laughing at him. "[The teacher] actually started laughing at me with them," he says. It was not an environment that inspired confidence. But Luft offered the opposite. "She created a safe space for all students to learn," he says, "and was quick to lovingly correct anyone who teased another." That helped shape his understanding of how to treat others. "She taught me the importance of not just being respectful," he says, "but actively searching out ways to make others feel good about themselves." That attitude was one he carried into his leadership as a CEO. Among his companies' core values was one called "elevate the tribe," he says, "to emphasize the importance of lifting up others and creating an environment where everyone felt good about themselves." Luft also went above and beyond to ensure Royce found success in his studies. "Everyone learns at a different pace, certainly myself," he says. "And on numerous occasions, Lynn took extra time with me, both in class and after class, tutoring me to ensure I understood the material." That, too, was a lesson he carried into his career. "When I began training hundreds of salespeople," he says, "I spent countless nights after our offices had closed working with sales reps to help them practice and hone their sales techniques."
USA Today
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Prince Royce runs on 'old-school' workouts, video games and action TV
In USA TODAY's The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether it's at home, on set, or on the road. As far as Prince Royce is concerned, the mark of a great song is that it "lasts a lifetime." The multiplatinum Latin pop star, who broke out in the early 2010s with his charming bilingual rendition of the Ben E. King classic "Stand by Me," is tipping his hat to the greats once more on his latest album "Eterno" (out now). The singer reimagines pop standards from the likes of Elvis Presley, the Bee Gees, Backstreet Boys and others with his signature bachata style. But for Royce, it's about more than just throwback jams: "As an artist ... you want to put out music that could go through generations and that can fit in other genres and rhythms and hopefully can just cross the globe." Royce, who grew up in a Dominican family in New York City, says these tropical-infused covers not only "show love and respect" to the original hits but also allow him to share a slice of his bicultural heritage with fans of varying backgrounds. "I grew up listening to American music, but I also grew up listening to Latin music in Spanish and English, and that's just my upbringing, all these rhythms in one place," Royce, 36, says. "And I kind of can bring that mix of my upbringing to (Dominican Republic), to American people, to people who know both languages." Music isn't the only esencial in Royce's life. The singer dishes on some of his beloved staples, from video games and daily workouts to action-packed TV. Prince Royce stays fit with 'old-school' workouts, 'sweet' dog Ruby Who needs a gym buddy when you have man's best friend? Royce stays in shape with a series of daily workouts that span "old-school" weight training with metal free weights to outdoor runs and golfing. As for warming up, the singer gets his blood pumping with morning walks with his Belgian Malinois dog Ruby. "The physical aspect just forces me to be healthier, to wake up early," says Royce of his exercise regimen. "Subconsciously, I wouldn't stay out drinking all night because I know I got to walk my dog and go to the gym, get up early and grind." Royce, who's "never really been that much of a dog person," gushes about his canine pal. "It's like a military dog," he says with a laugh. "She's like 70 pounds. It's my first big dog, but she's a sweet girl." "Originally, it was more like, 'let's get a dog to protect the house' type of vibe," Royce adds. "We kind of got lucky. … We read all these things online that said Belgian Malinois are crazy and they'll eat up everything in the house, but she's been good so far." 10 bingeable memoirs to check out: Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé Prince Royce is all about the action for gaming, TV faves Royce doesn't play when it comes to his screen time. A self-described "big gamer," Royce often turns to video games as a travel pastime during long flights and hotel stays. Some of his favorites include the action franchises Call of Duty ("It's always the game that never ends") and Assassin's Creed. The singer's love of gaming extends beyond the console. When it comes to TV, Royce has been watching video game adaptations such as "The Last of Us" and "Fallout," with the latter blowing him away with its faithfulness to the game. "The way that they would play classical music while they're blowing something up and people are getting shot up, that's how the game actually was,' he says. "Those things kind of hype me up." Additionally, the Prime Video series' canine protagonist CX404, a Belgian Malinois, was the catalyst for Royce getting his dog Ruby. "It's also the same dog from 'John Wick,' and I like 'John Wick,' too. So then when I saw it in 'Fallout,' I'm like, 'That's it. I'm getting the badass dog.'" Prince Royce is grooving to deep house and this Drake album For Royce, there doesn't have to be a party to keep the beat going. The "Stuck on a Feeling" hitmaker has been listening to the pulsating grooves of deep house, a subgenre of house music known for its ambient and soul influences. "I've always liked it," Royce says, adding that the genre is perfect for "chilling by the pool on a Sunday or on a boat or just at home." "It's kind of chill vibes but still up-tempo." Royce's playlist is also bumping with Bad Bunny's reggaeton banger "Velda," taken from his latest album "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos," as well as the Drake and PartyNextDoor collaboration record "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U." "I'm a big Drake fan in general," he says. "That album was pretty cool." Prince Royce nerds out with self-help books, documentaries Royce isn't one for passive entertainment, whether it's the pages of a book or his channel-surfing destinations. The Latin Grammy-nominated singer recently finished reading "Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee" by Shannon Lee, a self-help biography he says he appreciated for its "motivational" exploration of the late martial arts icon's Zen philosophy: "You put water in a cup, and it just transforms into whatever shape of that cup. It kind of molds into whatever situation." "If I'm going to listen to something, or if I'm going to read something, I really hope that I'm reading something that can make me a better person or better my business or family," Royce says. Royce's thirst for knowledge also influences his viewing choices, citing documentaries as a favorite film genre. "I like learning something," he says. "I'll watch random animal documentaries on the History Channel or something, and those things sometimes interest me more than regular movies."
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
I bought a mouldy caravan for £500 & gave it a budget makeover – now we holiday for just the price of petrol
Read on to see how much it really costs to live in a caravan WHEEL GOOD I bought a mouldy caravan for £500 & gave it a budget makeover – now we holiday for just the price of petrol WHEN Hayley Rubery stumbled upon a £500 mouldy caravan on sale she decided to snap it up. While most people would be put off by its condition, Hayley, 34, decided that with a little TLC it would make the perfect holiday home. Advertisement 7 Hayley Rubery bought a mouldy caravan for just £500 Credit: Hayley Rubery 7 Hayley shared how this wasn't the first caravan renovation she has completed Credit: Hayley Rubery 7 The caravan was outdated and hadn't been touched in years Credit: Hayley Rubery 7 She was able to transform it on a budget using TikTok shop and Amazon buys Credit: Hayley Rubery The 1989 Royce van was riddled with mould and was put on sale on Facebook Marketplace for just £500. Hayley decided the renovation would be easy as she had previously renovated another caravan she called Joyce. Now, Hayley spoke to Fabulous about the renovation and how she was able to do it on a tight budget. 'We actually bought our first caravan, which we named Joyce, last year,' Hayley explains. 'It was just a little two-berth, and we picked it up for £500. Advertisement "After renovating it, we realised it was a bit too small for our needs, so we passed it on and decided to do it all again—but bigger this time.' Hayley has transformed the home on wheels with her partner Ben, 41, a recruitment consultant. Now, Hayley has a new four-berth caravan she has lovingly named Elddis Presley. And to keep costs down, she gave herself a budget of just £500 to transform her new caravan into something special. Advertisement "I was sticking to the same budget structure of spending £500 on the renovation, as the new caravan "Elddis Presley" was a four berth it meant the money had to stretch further as the caravan is bigger," she explains. Once they picked up the caravan it took about an hour to go home. I bought a dated caravan & turned it into my family's very own second home for £4.5k - now we holiday for just £10 a day 'We towed it from Norwich—it took about an hour,' Hayley says. Once it was safely parked on their drive, the real fun started. The caravan was a sight for sore eyes when she got it into her driveway, the outside was covered in mould and green algae that Hayley had to scrub off. Advertisement Inside was no better either, some of the white finishings had been stained yellow and mould was seeping into the wood. 7 The dated kitchen was in need of a lick of paint Credit: Hayley Rubery 7 She was able to paint the whole thing for less than £5 Credit: Hayley Rubery But with a little motivation and some money-saving hacks, Hayley gave it a homely and modern update. Advertisement One of the biggest money-saving wins came from a £6.99 pack of green gingham tea towels she picked up from TK Maxx. Hayley was looking for some small curtains for the bathroom's tiny window and transformed the tea towels into curtains. "Sometimes I think a little imagination goes a long way, you don't have to buy everything new or the 'best' to make something look nice," she says. Another great find was a small tub of kitchen paint from Poundstretcher for £3.50. Advertisement The small tub may not be enough for a kitchen in a home, but it was just the right amount for the small kitchen in the caravan. When asked about the DIY process, Hayley says painting was hands-down the easiest and most satisfying part. 'I love a job where you can instantly see the before and after,' she says. But it wasn't all smooth sailing. She says the flooring was definitely the trickiest part. Advertisement "I used individual stick-on planks, and cutting around the furniture was so fiddly. Not hard—just time-consuming," she explains. How much does it cost to live in a caravan? LIVING in a caravan can be an economical and flexible lifestyle choice in the UK. Here's a breakdown of potential costs: Initial Costs Caravan Purchase: £8,000 - £40,000 (depending on size, age, and condition) £8,000 - £40,000 (depending on size, age, and condition) Caravan Insurance: £200 - £800 per year Ongoing Monthly Costs Pitch Fees: £150 - £600 (varies by location and facilities) £150 - £600 (varies by location and facilities) Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water): £40 - £120 £40 - £120 Maintenance and Repairs: £20 - £80 £20 - £80 Internet and TV: £20 - £50 £20 - £50 Gas for Heating/Cooking: £15 - £40 Other Potential Costs Waste Disposal Fees: £8 - £25 £8 - £25 Transport Costs (if moving locations): Variable, depending on distance Variable, depending on distance Optional Add-ons (Awning, Solar Panels, etc.): £400 - £1,600 (one-time) Sample Monthly Budget Pitch Fees: £400 £400 Utilities: £80 £80 Maintenance and Repairs: £40 £40 Internet and TV: £40 £40 Gas for Heating/Cooking: £25 £25 Total: £585 Annual Estimated Cost Total Monthly Costs: £585 x 12 = £7,020 £585 x 12 = £7,020 Insurance: £500 £500 Maintenance and Repairs: £480 £480 Total Annual Cost: £8,000 Tips to Save Off-Peak Pitch Fees: Look for lower rates during off-peak seasons. Look for lower rates during off-peak seasons. DIY Maintenance: Handle minor repairs yourself. Handle minor repairs yourself. Energy Efficiency: Invest in solar panels to reduce utility costs. While initial setup costs can be significant, ongoing expenses for living in a caravan can be relatively low, making it a viable option for those seeking an affordable and mobile lifestyle in the UK. Still, it was worth it. 'I genuinely love every part of the caravan,' Hayley says. 'It's so cosy and homely. It's amazing what a bit of creativity and elbow grease can do.' Hayley also bought plenty of home items on TikTok shop, including some of the stick-on vinyl flooring for the caravan which cost her just £60 in total. Advertisement She removed the old cushion covers in the living room and switched them with a white fabric for a more modern feel. Hayley also bought cheap floral stick-on wallpaper from Amazon for just £8.99 to finish off the room. Now, all that is left for Hayley is to paint the outside of the caravan. And she is thrilled to say that she managed to change the caravan while staying below her £500 budget. Advertisement 'I haven't added up the exact total yet,' she admits. 'Last time I checked, I'd only spent around £350. "We still need to paint the outside, but I reckon the whole thing will come in at around £450—still under budget!' Hayley and Ben have already taken their new holiday home on three trips within the UK. 7 Even the bathroom curtains were made from tea towels Credit: Hayley Rubery Advertisement She reveals that 'Elddis Presley' has taken them to two local Norfolk getaways and one to the Peak District. 'We still need to paint the outside, but once that's done, we'll be off exploring more. I'd love to do a European trip in it next year," Hayley says. While the caravan is perfect for the couple now, Hayley says she is eager to do the renovation process all over again. Hayley adds: "This is the second caravan I've renovated and I've loved every second. Advertisement "A third project is definitely on the cards—maybe even a campervan next time.'
The Sun
15-07-2025
- The Sun
I bought a mouldy caravan for £500 & gave it a budget makeover – now we holiday for just the price of petrol
WHEN Hayley Rubery stumbled upon a £500 mouldy caravan on sale she decided to snap it up. While most people would be put off by its condition, Hayley, 34, decided that with a little TLC it would make the perfect holiday home. 7 7 7 7 The 1989 Royce van was riddled with mould and was put on sale on Facebook Marketplace for just £500. Hayley decided the renovation would be easy as she had previously renovated another caravan she called Joyce. Now, Hayley spoke to Fabulous about the renovation and how she was able to do it on a tight budget. 'We actually bought our first caravan, which we named Joyce, last year,' Hayley explains. 'It was just a little two-berth, and we picked it up for £500. "After renovating it, we realised it was a bit too small for our needs, so we passed it on and decided to do it all again—but bigger this time.' Hayley has transformed the home on wheels with her partner Ben, 41, a recruitment consultant. Now, Hayley has a new four-berth caravan she has lovingly named Elddis Presley. And to keep costs down, she gave herself a budget of just £500 to transform her new caravan into something special. "I was sticking to the same budget structure of spending £500 on the renovation, as the new caravan "Elddis Presley" was a four berth it meant the money had to stretch further as the caravan is bigger," she explains. Once they picked up the caravan it took about an hour to go home. I bought a dated caravan & turned it into my family's very own second home for £4.5k - now we holiday for just £10 a day 'We towed it from Norwich—it took about an hour,' Hayley says. Once it was safely parked on their drive, the real fun started. The caravan was a sight for sore eyes when she got it into her driveway, the outside was covered in mould and green algae that Hayley had to scrub off. Inside was no better either, some of the white finishings had been stained yellow and mould was seeping into the wood. 7 7 But with a little motivation and some money-saving hacks, Hayley gave it a homely and modern update. One of the biggest money-saving wins came from a £6.99 pack of green gingham tea towels she picked up from TK Maxx. Hayley was looking for some small curtains for the bathroom's tiny window and transformed the tea towels into curtains. "Sometimes I think a little imagination goes a long way, you don't have to buy everything new or the 'best' to make something look nice," she says. Another great find was a small tub of kitchen paint from Poundstretcher for £3.50. The small tub may not be enough for a kitchen in a home, but it was just the right amount for the small kitchen in the caravan. When asked about the DIY process, Hayley says painting was hands-down the easiest and most satisfying part. 'I love a job where you can instantly see the before and after,' she says. But it wasn't all smooth sailing. She says the flooring was definitely the trickiest part. "I used individual stick-on planks, and cutting around the furniture was so fiddly. Not hard—just time-consuming," she explains. LIVING in a caravan can be an economical and flexible lifestyle choice in the UK. Here's a breakdown of potential costs: Initial Costs Caravan Purchase: £8,000 - £40,000 (depending on size, age, and condition) Caravan Insurance: £200 - £800 per year Ongoing Monthly Costs Pitch Fees: £150 - £600 (varies by location and facilities) Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water): £40 - £120 Maintenance and Repairs: £20 - £80 Internet and TV: £20 - £50 Gas for Heating/Cooking: £15 - £40 Other Potential Costs Waste Disposal Fees: £8 - £25 Transport Costs (if moving locations): Variable, depending on distance Optional Add-ons (Awning, Solar Panels, etc.): £400 - £1,600 (one-time) Sample Monthly Budget Pitch Fees: £400 Utilities: £80 Maintenance and Repairs: £40 Internet and TV: £40 Gas for Heating/Cooking: £25 Total: £585 Annual Estimated Cost Total Monthly Costs: £585 x 12 = £7,020 Insurance: £500 Maintenance and Repairs: £480 Total Annual Cost: £8,000 Tips to Save Off-Peak Pitch Fees: Look for lower rates during off-peak seasons. DIY Maintenance: Handle minor repairs yourself. Energy Efficiency: Invest in solar panels to reduce utility costs. While initial setup costs can be significant, ongoing expenses for living in a caravan can be relatively low, making it a viable option for those seeking an affordable and mobile lifestyle in the UK. Still, it was worth it. 'I genuinely love every part of the caravan,' Hayley says. 'It's so cosy and homely. It's amazing what a bit of creativity and elbow grease can do.' Hayley also bought plenty of home items on TikTok shop, including some of the stick-on vinyl flooring for the caravan which cost her just £60 in total. She removed the old cushion covers in the living room and switched them with a white fabric for a more modern feel. Hayley also bought cheap floral stick-on wallpaper from Amazon for just £8.99 to finish off the room. Now, all that is left for Hayley is to paint the outside of the caravan. And she is thrilled to say that she managed to change the caravan while staying below her £500 budget. 'I haven't added up the exact total yet,' she admits. 'Last time I checked, I'd only spent around £350. "We still need to paint the outside, but I reckon the whole thing will come in at around £450—still under budget!' Hayley and Ben have already taken their new holiday home on three trips within the UK. She reveals that 'Elddis Presley' has taken them to two local Norfolk getaways and one to the Peak District. 'We still need to paint the outside, but once that's done, we'll be off exploring more. I'd love to do a European trip in it next year," Hayley says. While the caravan is perfect for the couple now, Hayley says she is eager to do the renovation process all over again. Hayley adds: "This is the second caravan I've renovated and I've loved every second. "A third project is definitely on the cards—maybe even a campervan next time.'
