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
-
-
FFA trap competition
Southern Iowa FFA trapshoot held on Sunday, April 28 at the Bloomfield Izaak Walton League and hosted by the Davis County and Centerville FFA chapters. Winners included Gabriella Buban of Wayne County at Corydon, top female. The top team was Moulton
- Centerville City Council Agenda for May 20 Centerville City Council Centerville City Council will meet Monday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. Items on the agenda include approval of May 6 City Council meeting minutes, approval of April 11 Appanoose County Service Agency meeting minutes, a
- Prison term settles seven criminal cases A Centerville man facing 17 criminal counts in seven different felony, aggravated and serious misdemeanor cases in two southeast Iowa counties entered a guilty plea to three of the counts and was sentenced to state prison. The other 14 counts were di
- AC fair queen contest notice AC fair queen contest notice Contestants must be 16 to 21 years old as of Aug. 8. Contestants must be an active member of at least one worthwhile organization and be a resident of Appanoose County. Contestants must be present for the photo session,
- Work on 150th Avenue The Appanoose County Secondary Road Department reports the following road travel restrictions for 150th Avenue from 15129 150th Ave. to approximately .20 miles north of 15129 150th Ave. for a crossroad culvert replacement. Work started May 14 at 7 a.
-
Sprouse next IHCC president
OTTUMWA — The Indian Hills Community College Board of Trustees this week tabbed Dr. Marlene Sprouse to be the next president of the college. She will take over when current president Dr. Jim Lindenmayer retires in the fall. Board president John Poth
-
Loebsack calls for 'swift dismissal' in IRS targeting
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Dave Loebsack has called on President Obama to fully investigate the allegations that the Internal Revenue Service illegally targeted non-profit organizations based on ideological criteria. He also called for the swift
-
Students start new adventure with raised beds
Students and staff at SIEDA’s Appanoose County Head Start program were excited to receive their new raised bed vegetable gardens from the SIEDA Seeds of Hope program. According to Head Start staff, the students had chosen "Plants and How They Grow" a
- Rathbun Lake public information workshop The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rathbun Lake is hosting a workshop on Wednesday, May 22 with the intent to present information regarding the current water management operations, and the influence of recent and anticipated future trends necessitat
-
One airlifted after motorcycle accident on Hwy S70
One victim with injuries was transported to a hospital after sustaining injuries from a single-vehicle, motorcycle accident north of Plano Wednesday afternoon.
- Hy-Vee and Bill Riley Talent Search partner up DES MOINES - The Bill Riley Talent Search announced a new partnership with Hy-Vee Inc. Hy-Vee has agreed to become the presenting sponsor of the Bill Riley Talent Search with a multi-year contract, making a significant investment to keep the Iowa tra
- Board of Supervisors agenda for May 20 The Appanoose County Board of Supervisors will meet Monday, May 20 at 9 a.m. in the boardroom of the courthouse. Items on the agenda include approval of May 6 meeting minutes, resignation -- ADLM Emergency Management, approve liquor licenses, resigna
-
Woman with local ties makes colonel
On Feb. 8, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. LTC (P) Martha K. Brooks was promoted to colonel. Martha is the daughter of the late Willard E. Brooks and daughter of Nellie Brooks and granddaughter to the late Mattie Price of Centerville. Col. Brooks is the director
- IHCC Centerville campus graduation The spring term at Indian Hills Community College will culminate with a special student ceremony and graduation at the IHCC Centerville campus Wednesday, May 15. At 4 p.m. a reception will be held for the outstanding students on the Centerville campu
-
Centerville School Board agenda for May 13
The Centerville School Board will meet tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Administration Building.
- More Local News Headlines
-
