Sarah Rodriguez
Sarah Lawler Rodriguez is the owner and operator of Modern Vision Projects (MVP), a renovation and maintenance company serving homeowners in Abilene, Texas. With more than eight years of hands-on experience in the trades, Sarah specializes in painting, flooring, drywall, insulation, and general home repairs. As a sole business owner, she manages every aspect of her company—from on-site renovation work to bookkeeping, marketing, and client communication—earning a reputation for precision, efficiency, and reliability. Her philosophy centers on quality workmanship, transparency, and doing the job right the first time, never sacrificing long-term results for the lowest bid.
Prior to launching her business, Sarah spent seven years working as a maintenance assistant in a long-term care facility, where she oversaw repairs and renovations for a 30,000-square-foot property. During this time, she developed extensive technical skills while working alongside her husband in construction and maintenance, an experience that strengthened both her professional confidence and their partnership. After an honest conversation about their future, Sarah made the decision to pursue entrepreneurship full-time, turning her passion for craftsmanship into a sustainable, community-focused business. While she runs MVP independently, her husband continues his full-time career, supporting the family’s shared goals.
A strong advocate for women in the trades, Sarah is passionate about challenging stereotypes and inspiring young women to consider skilled trades as empowering, fast-paced, and fulfilling career paths. She believes confidence, perseverance, and consistency are essential to success—especially in male-dominated industries. A mother of two, including a child with special needs, Sarah credits her family as her motivation and grounding force. Looking ahead, she is pursuing real estate certification with an interest in property management and plans to run for City Council, hoping to represent working-class individuals with honesty, integrity, and real-world experience.
• Army Veteran
• Florida National University - Bachelors of Science, Criminal Justice and Corrections
What do you attribute your success to?
The single motivator to success is my family. I do it for them. I was able to take knowledge gained from my husband then utilize all of it into a business that is growing steadily and gaining traction as being a competitor to more established companies.
I want my children to see not just from their father but also from me, what real ethic looks like. I hope they grow up knowing what success looks like, and what it takes to get there.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Know your worth.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the trades is to be willing to learn, dedicate yourself to mastering your craft, and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. Confidence, perseverance, and hands-on experience are key—prove your capabilities through action and let your work speak for itself.
Be committed to learning everything that you can about your intended trade. Surround yourself with experienced trade workers as mentors: they will give you the best guidance.
Learn real confidence. It shows.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge currently is trying to meet clients' budgets. Renovations do get expensive, and clients have budgets. It can take creativity to find a project budget that meets their budgets and also allows for a profit for myself.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and humility.
As we say in Texas, "Don't get too big for your britches."
Honesty is essential for anything that I do. Humility goes a long, long way.
Locations
Modern Vision Projects LLC
Abilene, TX 79605