Locally owned and operated here in Ashland, Handyman Pro is available and fully equipped to handle all of your home improvement needs. In today’s interview, I spoke with the owner, Shannon LaFleur, about Handyman Pro and his mission to provide a valuable service to our community.
Hi Shannon, thanks for taking the time to speak with me today.
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to reach out, thank you!
Shannon, to begin with, will you please tell us a little bit about your background and your work here in the valley?
Of course! I’ve been working in the trades since I was a young adult. I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands and I love the feeling of accomplishment that comes with problem-solving and creativity. I’ve owned two other construction companies, but Handyman Pro has by far been the most satisfying in that regard. My family has lived in Ashland for 13 years, and I’ve been working as a contractor in the valley most of that time.
Shannon, please tell us about the inspiration to create your company and the scope of services you seek to provide here in the valley.
I’m glad you asked! I got the idea from a friend I worked with a few years ago. I came to realize that Ashland’s local skilled labor options were very limited. I thought with a little teamwork I could help our community while making an honest living, so I started Handyman Pro. Our goal is to provide excellent service at a fair cost. We provide home improvement solutions. The diverse skills our crew possesses allows us to provide a wide array of services.
How has business been going so far?
Amazing! We serve many businesses throughout the valley, we have hundreds of clients in Ashland and beyond, and we’re working on a list of around 100 customers right now.
Wow! That’s incredible! So how are you keeping up with all the work that you are doing and where is this all going next?
Honestly, it’s been a challenge! We have a lot on our plate and we’re doing the best we can to help everyone as quickly as possible. We’re tackling larger projects primarily and squeezing the smaller projects in simultaneously. We’re also working on a first-come, first-served basis. Our staff has been advising clients to visit our website and fill out the contact form to be placed in our queue. We hope to expand our crew in the near future, at the moment we’re looking for additional staff to continue providing even more excellent service!
It sounds like you have a great team joining you!
Yes! Our staff is like family and we have a fun time working together!
Shannon, can you talk more about the qualities of character that you look to employ when recruiting members for your team?
We only hire staff who are happy, polite, respectful, and care about others. We spend time at our clients’ homes, in their personal space, so our goal is to be unobtrusive and cheerful.
Shannon, are you only working in Ashland or are you also working elsewhere in the valley?
We work primarily in Ashland and Talent, but we also take on projects all the way from Ashland to Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, and Shady Cove from time to time.
Please tell us a little bit about some of your most recent projects.
We’re wrapping up a complete home remodel on Holly Street right now, a project that we’ve been working on for almost a year!
We’re also working on building and repairing several decks in Ashland, performing maintenance and repairs for a coffee shop and hotel in town, and knocking out to-do lists for many local residents.
Shannon, what do you enjoy most about the work you do and the team you are working with?
I love the variety of things we do. We specialize in carpentry projects such as decks, porches, patios, pergolas, gazebos. sheds, awnings, carports, garages, doghouses, catios, and much more. But we also work with flooring, drywall, paint, doors and windows, etc. The list goes on and on, and we get some really interesting requests! Everyone on our crew possesses several different sets of skills, so we send out the most qualified member to work on each project depending on what needs to be done. I love our team, they’re awesome. They work hard, they’re transparent and they really care about others.
What is the hardest part of your job?
It’s very difficult for me to tell potential clients that it could take some time to fit them in. I want to be able to help everyone on their desired schedule, but I’m learning to accept there’s only so much we can handle. The skilled labor shortage that’s happening nationwide and locally has proven to be a very frustrating factor. At this point I’m just staying positive and hoping things bounce back somehow.
Shannon, are there any last thoughts or comments you would like to share with our readers today?
Yes! Throughout this journey with Handyman Pro I’ve built relationships with some great local businesses and clients. It’s been truly rewarding in so many ways. I feel very fortunate to live in such a wonderful town, surrounded by so much love. I’d just like to express gratitude to the community. Thank you so much.
Thanks so much for doing this interview today and keep up the good work.
Learn More:
Handyman Pro
280 E. Hersey Street Suite 22, Ashland, Oregon 97520
www.oregonhandymanpro.com
541-209-3949
