Councilmember Ly Juggles Business, Family, and Civic Duty

In Episode 76 of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast, host Bryan Eisenberg sits down with Michelle Ly, a City Council member, business owner, and mother, for a revealing conversation about her relentless schedule and dedication to Round Rock. The episode, titled "Michelle Ly: Balancing City Council, Business Ownership & Motherhood in Round Rock", dives into Ly's journey as the daughter of Vietnamese refugees who moved to the city for the semiconductor industry. Now in her third term on City Council, Ly manages an impressive portfolio: Hall Roofing & Construction, which she opened with her husband Eric in 2012; three downtown establishments—The Rock Sports Bar, The Flats, and Alcove Cantina; and board service with the Round Rock Chamber, Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center, and Rotary. She also stepped off the YMCA board after two terms when she felt less effective, demonstrating her commitment to impactful service.

Ly is candid about the personal cost of her commitments. She tells Eisenberg she survives on three to four hours of sleep most nights, time-blocking the gaps between meetings for payroll, phone calls, and roof inspections. On rebuilding The Rock Sports Bar after losing its lease, she recalls her husband's determination: "Our landlord doesn't get to tell us the end of our story. We are in it for the long haul." The episode also explores Round Rock's transformation from a "ghost town" anchored by a funeral home and Round Rock Donuts to a thriving downtown, thanks to cautious rezoning by Mayor Pro Tem Kristen Stevens and colleagues. Ly shares her hope to take her daughter Reagan to Vietnam to immerse her in their culture, and she discusses donating a roof after being moved by nonprofit leader Philip Golden's speech. She leads by example, even picking up trash at her bars.

Produced at Round Rock Studio, Rock Solid profiles entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and civic leaders shaping Round Rock, Texas. The show emphasizes neighborly conversations over politics, highlighting the people behind everyday businesses. Episode 76 with Michelle Ly is available now wherever podcasts are heard.