In episode 76 of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast, titled "Michelle Ly: Balancing City Council, Business Ownership & Motherhood in Round Rock," host Bryan Eisenberg explores the relentless schedule of one of Round Rock's most visible civic leaders. Published June 2, 2026, the episode arrives as Ly enters her third term on City Council and continues to expand a portfolio that spans roofing, hospitality, nonprofit boards, and motherhood. The conversation offers a candid look at servant leadership in a Texas city the mayor recently described as able to be "picky" about new arrivals.
Ly, the daughter of Vietnamese refugees who moved to Round Rock for the semiconductor industry, has built an impressive array of ventures. She co-owns Hall Roofing & Construction, opened in 2012 with her husband Eric, and operates The Rock Sports Bar, The Flats, and Alcove Cantina in downtown Round Rock. Her board service includes the Round Rock Chamber, Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center, and Rotary, and she recently stepped off the YMCA board after two three-year terms when she felt less effective.
Ly is direct about the cost of doing it all and why she keeps showing up. Asked how she manages, she told Eisenberg she runs on roughly three to four hours of sleep most nights and time-blocks the slivers between meetings for payroll, phone calls, and roof inspections. On the decision to rebuild The Rock Sports Bar in a new commercial kitchen building rather than close after losing the original lease, she recalled: "My husband was like, this is not the way we end the Rock Sports Bar. Our landlord doesn't get to tell us the end of our story. We are in it for the long haul. We want to see downtown thriving."
The episode explores Round Rock's transformation since Ly's graduation, highlighting fellow alumni entrepreneurs like Brooks Bennett and Salicia Sanchez Adame. She recalls a downtown that was once "a ghost town" anchored by a funeral home and Round Rock Donuts, and credits Mayor Pro Tem Kristen Stevens and colleagues for cautiously reshaping zoning. Ly also discusses donating a roof after hearing nonprofit leader Philip Golden speak, leading by example on trash duty at her bars, and her hope to one day take her daughter Reagan back to Vietnam to immerse her in the family's culture.
Produced at Round Rock Studio and hosted by bestselling author and keynote speaker Bryan Eisenberg, Rock Solid profiles the entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and civic leaders shaping Round Rock, Texas. The show is built on neighborly conversations rather than politics, spotlighting the people behind the businesses listeners pass every day. Episode 76 with Michelle Ly is available now wherever podcasts are heard.
