I couldn’t decide what to write about this time around… The topic came to me after I had just finished maintenance on Kendall’s company websites which included project updates and so forth. (It’s handy to have a wife who does all your marketing, social media, website design/maintenance, etc.). All too often I think Kendall’s accomplishments and hard work in business and in life go unnoticed especially by him. So this post is about my hubby, Kendall, as an ode of appreciation shouted out across the mountain tops …or the World Wide Web.
The end of May will mark mine and Kendall’s 9th wedding anniversary. If it weren’t for Kendall’s dogged persistence I wouldn’t be where I am today: as a wife and mother. What seems like ages ago, Kendall tried for over six months just to date me. I refused him numerous times telling him we were too good of friends and if we dated there would only be two possible outcomes: we would eventually break up and lose our friendship, or we would get married. I pointed out that the latter was never going to happen. He was resolute though and tried on, and eventually won me over (never say never!). It’s funny when I look back because not only was I adamant about not dating Kendall, I was also dead set against marriage in general and especially having kids. My former self would never have dreamed I’d be happily married with a daughter that I adore more than life itself. I must say that Kendall has a great deal of persistence …and patience …and a weird sort of wisdom.
That same tenacity is evident in his career as well. In 2007 Kendall found himself laid off (as is customary during the winter in the construction trade), and he decided that he was tired of traveling for work anyway. He wanted to be home through the week to be with me. And so with a meager startup amount of $2,500 he started Finnie Plumbing, LLC. He had an office set up in our home and did all the labor, paperwork, management, etc. himself. Now this “little” company has grown from a one man operation to a very successful and reputable enterprise, employing up to 18 individuals at one time, and with an office in Beckley.
Kendall is a particular person and takes pride in his work so Finnie Plumbing, LLC has earned quite a reputation for providing outstanding quality. His company offers new construction services for both commercial and residential building. When he started out, Kendall worked primarily on new homes; now most of their projects are commercial and they run with the big boys, so to speak. Finnie Plumbing, LLC has under its belt such projects as the Summit Bechtel Reserve for the Boy Scouts of America (which consisted of ground up plumbing for 330 bathhouses). Other noteworthy projects include Iaeger Elementary School, WV School of Osteopathic Medicine Student Center, Oakvale Elementary School, Social Security Administration Office, and many, many more.
Kendall also has an intense entrepreneurial spirit, and seeing an opportunity to expand his services, he and a friend partnered up to start Finnie General Contracting (FGC) in 2014. In two short years, FGC has already gained many satisfied clients through their services for residential and commercial projects. Honestly, I think Kendall would have a monopoly on the whole construction industry in Southern West Virginia if he could.
It’s not to say it’s all been easy… Success takes a great deal of hard work (continually), and a certain amount of luck. Besides, if it were easy then there would be no reason to take satisfaction in it. The first year was a bit financially difficult, but we were still able to pay our bills and Finnie Plumbing, LLC never went into the “red,” which is impressive for a new company. Things eventually took off and we are blessed enough that I am able to be a stay-home-mom, something many families are not able to afford. Occasionally Kendall works long hours for this cause; something that does not go unnoticed or unappreciated by his family. As such, we make the most of our time together.
Kendall works very, very hard. Sometimes I’m not sure the stress he endures is worth it, nor do I think he understands how far he’s come and how proud he should be. When I tell him how much Olivia and I appreciate him and that we are extremely proud of all his work, he will simply shrug and say something along the lines of, “it’s just a job.” Maybe so, but we are proud of him just the same.