CENTERVILLE —
When Vern Graham decided to start his own plumbing, heating and cooling business, he knew the decades spent working in the community would be an asset.
He did not anticipate, however, the outpouring of support he received from business leaders.
“That was so overwhelming and encouraging,” he said.
Graham always planned to own his own business someday, he said. After two decades of working for Pettit Plumbing & Heating, he decided the time was right to strike out on his own and create Graham Mechanical.
Before he even announced he was starting a business, the word got out and he started getting calls.
“Before I was even really ready I had several local business people call and say, ‘Hey, we’d sure like you to help us with this project,’” Graham said.
Graham said another way the business community supported him was when he applied for and received a small business loan from the Appanoose Economic Development Corporation’s Revolving Loan Fund in May.
“I didn’t even know it existed,” he said.
After he learned about the RLF program from other small business owners who had been involved in it, Graham made an appointment with AEDC Director Tod Faris to start the process.
He got even more out of it than he expected when several RLF review committee members spent time counseling him on the financial aspects of small businesses.
“It impressed me that those people would take their time and financial resources and put it back into the community,” Graham said.
He used the loan to purchase required specialty equipment.
“I was working really hard, but I kept dumping the money back in the company. After a time, that ties up your personal finances,” Graham said. “The loan enabled me to buy those required specialty tools and really give me a stronghold to start showing better profit margins.”
When temperatures rose the week of June 18, Graham found himself working 12 to 14 hours a day responding to cooling-related calls. He prioritized households with small children or the elderly and hired temporary help to get to all the customers.
“You’re just happy to be able to help when it’s hot like that,” he said.
Though Graham relies on temporary help now, he said as soon as he is able he hopes to hire a crew of employees.
Graham has been living in the community for about 25 years. His wife, Lori, was born and raised in this area, and they moved here after they got married. They have two sons, Chris Graham, a software engineer and recent graduate of the University of Iowa, and Cody Graham, a senior at the University of Iowa.
Graham has a master’s license in plumbing and heating from the state. He said he spends most of his day repairing and maintaining previously installed equipment, but he is also able to purchase and install equipment. He offers a 10 percent discount on work for non-profit organizations like schools and churches.
He also offers 24-hour emergency service and can be reached at (641) 895-2852.
Graham said he is committed to being available when his customers need him.
“In all of my ads I put in there that we’re honest, fair and dependable, and that’s not just words,” he said. “If there is going to be any long-term success, you have to abide by that.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Vern Graham started the plumbing, heating and cooling business Graham Mechanical in January 2012. Photo by Brooke Sherrard
Share your thoughts!
The Daily Iowegian welcomes your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
July 5, 2012
Graham Mechanical offers new option for heating and cooling
- Local News
-
- 4 Counties For Kids meeting agenda for May 28 4 Counties For Kids Early Childhood Iowa Area Board The 4 Counties For Kids (A.D.L.M.) Early Childhood Iowa Area BOard will meet Tuesday, May 28 at 1 p.m. at the Monroe County Extension Office in Albia. Items on the agenda include call for public inp
- School board approves resignation The Centerville Community School District Board of Education Monday, May 13 approved Rob Busch's resignation as curriculum director, athletic director and business manager effective June 30. The board was also notified by Dr. Hindley through written
- Public input meetings for Historic Hills Scenic Byway plan Pathfinders RC&D is seeking public input to the Historic Hills Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan at meetings on Tuesday, June 11. The meetings will be held at 9 a.m. at the Farmington EMS Building, 2 p.m. at the Savannah Church in the Historical
- Jury returns guilty verdict against Udell man An Appanoose County jury on Monday, May 20 found Cliff Allen Lowe, 40, of Udell guilty of two counts of conspiracy to manufacture more than five grams of methamphetamine, class B felonies. Lowe was found not guilty of the charge of possession of a fi
-
B.V. Sodbusters meeting minutes and activities
The B.V. Sodbusters 4-H club met on April 21 at the Extension Office with 17 members and 13 visitors present. The club had a fundraiser and sold Finley Grace wickless candles and cookie dough. Money was given to the top seller of the candles, which w
-
'Tireless' 93-year-old volunteer honored
The fourth annual Cline Medal, presented March 28 at the Appanoose Economic Development Corporation banquet, honored Virginia Padovan. The Cline Medal recognizes a citizen who has invested a great deal in the betterment of Appanoose County, which can
- Area students named to Dean's List STORM LAKE — The following students were named to the Dean's List for the online program of Buena Vista University Graduate & Professional Studies for terms three and four. Misti Bridges from Centerville. Bridges attends Buena Vista University Gradu
- Show me the money Beginning next fiscal year Centerville will have approximately $115,000 in returned Appanoose County Railroad Local Option Sales and Service Tax funds to use. The Centerville City Council Monday night wasted no time and voted to award $20,000 of thos
-
Pursuit that began in Marion County ends in Wayne County
CORYDON — A pursuit that began in Marion County Tuesday evening ended in Wayne County Tuesday night. The two-hour, high speed chase that went through several counties, with an alleged short stint in Missouri as well, involved several agencies with a
-
Mayor swears in new officers
Centerville Mayor Jim Senior swears in Angela Widmer and Bryan Baum as the newest addition to the Centerville Police Department. Widmer has been a reserve officer with the department since 2011 and Baum has been a Wapello County Sheriff's reserve sin
- BOB fundraiser BOB fundraiser The Betterment or Bust group raised $1,700 Saturday soliciting at the intersection of Highway 2 and 5. The donations will be used for improvements to the VFW Hall, also known as the CB&Q Railroad Depot, on the Levee in Centerville. Thi
-
UPDATE, 10:43 a.m.: Pursuit that began in Marion county ends in Wayne county
A pursuit that began in Marion county Tuesday evening ended in Wayne county Tuesday night.
- Free concert Thursday Free concert Thursday On Thursday, May 23 Howar Junior High and Lakeview will be giving a free concert at 6:30 p.m. on the Centerville Square. IHCC compete at BPA National OTTUMWA -- Indian Hills Community College fared well at the recent Business P
- Memorial Day services The Memorial Day service in Numa will be held at 11a.m. Sunday, May 26 at the Numa Cemetery. A musical prelude will be performed. Taps will be played and the Gettysburg address will be recited. Pastor Kay Singley will be the main speaker. After the s
- Indian Hills students compete at BPA National OTTUMWA – Indian Hills Community College fared well at the recent Business Professionals of America National Contest in Orlando, Fla. Jeremy Carlsten, of Exline, was a top 10 finisher in Fundamentals of Web Design, Java Programming and Visual Basic
- More Local News Headlines
