Whether husband-and-wife, parents-and-children, multi-generations or lots of cousins, family-owned businesses are a cornerstone of the economy in Maricopa. These are entrepreneurs with a unique atmosphere in the workplace of almost everyone “buying in” to the company goals. Here are some Maricopa business owners who shared the benefits and pitfalls they have found working with family.
Many Families in One
The Maricopa Real Estate Company
Owners: Steve Murray and Jay Shaver
Year established: 2008
Nature of the business: Residential and commercial real estate
Family members (all are Realtors): Jay Shaver and Eric Shaver (father/son); Steve Murray and Ryan Murray (father/son); Danielle Nichols and Cory Adams (sister/brother); Bryan and Coree Adams (husband/wife); Gene and Jan Roth (husband/wife); Kevin and Doris Lucas (husband/wife); Don and Leslie Gardner (husband/wife); Tony and Tina Schumacher (husband/wife); Van Talley and Andrea Mitchell (father/daughter); Mary Ann Toohey and Patty Johnson (sisters)
Why Maricopa? Steve moved to Maricopa in 1997 before the city incorporated, fell in love with the rural life and saw the tremendous promise of the area. Jay moved to Maricopa in 2006 to enjoy the quiet life that a small town offers and started working with Steve in 2007. When the housing market crashed, rather than moving away, as many others did, they decided to work with struggling homeowners to help them save their homes or their credit by doing short sales.
What do you like best about working with family? The ability to train and work with the next generation and, in the process, ensure the longevity of the business and the brand.
What is most challenging about working with family members? Critiquing family members in a positive manner can be a challenge and can create for very quiet and uncomfortable times around the dinner table.
Meet the Wizard
Lizard Heights Glass, LLC
Owners: John and Julie Turcott
Year established: 2006
Nature of the business: Glazing (glass) contractor, home, business and auto glass
What family members are involved in the operation, and what do they do? John is general manager and “Glass Wizard,” and Julie is office manager who does “everything John doesn’t do.”
Why Maricopa? Great community with great customers and the grocery stores carry Guinness.
What do you like best about working with family? Great communication which equates to better service to our customers; we’re in it together, and we can’t fire each other.
What is most challenging about working with family? We’re in it together, and we can’t fire each other.
All About the Kids
Legacy Montessori Preschool
Owners: Carol and Joe Hoover
Year established: 2003 as a licensed group home, 2005 as a licensed childcare center
Nature of the business: Montessori preschool for students age 1 through kindergarten.
What family members are involved in the operation, and what do they do? Carol and Joe Hoover, owners, and daughter Mary Kimball, teacher
Why Maricopa? Our daughter moved to Maricopa in 2002 expecting our first grandson. Grandmother Carol was concerned with childcare, so we started a group home to provide care for our first and then our second grandson.
What do you like best about working with family? Keeps the family close and they can continue the legacy if they wish. Can’t think of anyone else that I would rather work with.
What is most challenging about working with family? Having everyone off for family events; someone has to work!
A Piece of Inheritance
Maricopa Appliance Repair
Owner: Gary Jamieson
Year established: 2008 (formerly Appliance Works)
Nature of the business: Appliance service and repair
What family members are involved in the operation, and what do they do? Gary Jamieson, owner and technician, takes on service calls daily, manages hiring, marketing, customer acquisition and retention, as well as assisting Pam in the office with scheduling and inventory management. Pam Martin (Gary’s girlfriend) takes care of scheduling calls, marketing, back-end office tasks such as billing, accounting, reporting, accounts payable/receivable and inventory management. Founders Ronelle and Peter Jamieson, Gary’s parents, are currently in the process of a well-deserved retirement, but they still navigate into the day-to-day should we ever request their help.
Why Maricopa? When the founders moved here in 2009 they noticed a void in the area of appliance repair. They had to contact someone in Phoenix or Chandler who then proceeded to charge what we felt was too high of a price just to drive to Maricopa and put their foot in the door. Also, we were unable to get an appointment sooner than one to two weeks from scheduling. The owners wanted to fill that void and get to know the community through supplying a service they knew anyone could take advantage of.
What do you like best about working with family? All the time spent together. Having a family-owned business has been amazing because, as life gets in the way, we are always guaranteed to see each other and talk to each other daily. We are a close family, and I have cherished that for many years.
What is most challenging about working with family? All the time spent together. Just kidding, sort of. There are times when tension can run high, but as family we know we can have our moments and work through them. Maintaining communication and never losing sight of our goals has really improved our working (and personal) relationships.
In This Together
Maricopa Bug Busters Pest Control
Owners: Frank and Talisha Bradstream
Year established: 2014
Nature of the business: Pest control service
What family members are involved in the operation, and what do they do? Talisha does the administration, scheduling, and customer service. Frank is the field technician.
Why Maricopa? Maricopa is our hometown. We want to offer our community a quality service.
What do you like best about working with family? We have the same goal. We trust and understand that we are in this together.
What is most challenging about working with family? The most challenging is when you must communicate negative feedback or disagree over an issue.
Through the Generations
Hidden Valley Auto Parts
Owners: Don and Janet Hoctor (Hoctor Family)
Year established: 1961 – in Maricopa since 1973
Nature of the business: Automotive recycler
What family members are involved in the operation, and what do they do? Jeff Hoctor, manager; Cheryl Hoctor, office; Joe Hoctor, yard; Matt Hoctor, sales; and Kyle Hoctor, dismantler
Why Maricopa? Growing opportunities
What do you like best about working with family? You can count on them.
What is most challenging about working with family? Coordinating opinions
Investing Near Home
PostMaster Depot
Owners: Joe Licata and Cindy Licata
Year established: 2016
Nature of the business: Product manufacturing and retail sales
What family members are involved in the operation, and what do they do? Husband Joe is the chief executive officer and responsible for the overall strategic plan, new product development, distributor relationships and e-commerce operations. Wife Cindy, director of operations, is responsible for contracts, accounting, regulatory compliance and retail operations.
Why Maricopa? It really comes down to a choice about where we want to invest. Maricopa is more than where we have our business; it is where we have our home and where we plan to have and raise children. For us the decision was easy, we are all-in on Maricopa.
What do you like best about working with family? For Cindy and myself, family is everything. It means the world to us to have the opportunity to spend our most precious resource with each other – our time.
What is most challenging about working with family? There is added pressure to succeed. Simply put, when your family is fully invested in a single enterprise/business, failure is just not an option. There is a positive side to this, though. We tend to work harder and smarter because we know how important it is to get it right.
Family of Smiles
Premier Orthodontics
Owners: Drs. Dustin and Tyler Coles
Year established: 2005
Nature of the business: We help others smile!
What family members are involved in the operation, and what do they do? Dustin and Tyler are owners of the practice and provide orthodontic care. Our father, Dan, also works with patients providing orthodontic services. Our oral surgeon brother, Nick, worked in the practice for a while as well.
Why Maricopa? During the housing boom of the mid-2000s, we noticed there was no orthodontist in Maricopa. We decided that it would be a great place to start a practice and grow with the town. We have treated over 10,000 patients between all of our practices, and it all began with Maricopa.
What do you like best about working with family? It is great to know that you can trust those with whom you are working. Tyler and I are not exactly alike, but we have similar business minds, and it works out great. I love that we can bounce ideas off each other, and cover for one another when the other is out of the office.
What is most challenging about working with family? When you have disagreements, or challenges. Sometimes the business spills over into other social activities, and it’s hard to turn it off. Luckily, we have great wives that help remind us to focus our out of the office time on the family.
This story appears in the September issue of InMaricopa.
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