Page 88 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2019

rewarding
story by Alexis Williams
Helping the community they serve is important to all small businesses, whether service or retail. Two local companies, Engel Electric and Guaranteed Plumbing are working in Jackson County and along the Coast to not only build and repair homes and businesses but also help organizations in need.
John Engel founded Engel
Electric in the tough economic
times of 2008. Having worked alongside his father, also an electrician, for years, he decided to go out on his own and 11 years later, he’s grown his business and now employs four others.
“Once you have a small business,
you’re pretty much married to it,” says Engel. His company contracts with local municipalities, so he’s always on call. “When a lift station goes down in the middle of the night, we go down and repair no matter what time.”
While his business spans from Bay St. Louis to Moss Point, Engel lends his skills and time to help other organizations including the Blossman Family YMCA, the Mary C
and Wild at Heart Animal Rescue. Currently, he is building an addition for the rescue organization donating labor and building materials.
“We try to help when we can,” he adds. “We want to help our community and give back.”
For Guaranteed Plumbing in Ocean Springs, it’s family that
has kept the business strong since it began
in 1971. Millie Jackson works alongside her sons
Shane and Heath and has a total of five employees. When plumbing problems
arise, it’s certainly an inconvenience. The Guaranteed
Plumbing team works to help those who need timely repairs as well as taking on new construction projects.
Millie Jackson says cases of plumbing emergencies in a home can include gas leaks, as well as broken pipes and sewer lines that can often flood homes. The business also keeps busy updating faucets and installing new toilets in homes, as well as helping contractors with remodels.
Having a small, local business gives Jackson and her family the freedom to help those who
experience hardships and need more time to pay their
plumbing bills. “We work with our customers and make
arrangements,” she added.
“It’s been very rewarding to work with my sons,” says Millie Jackson.
And certainly, local businesses, like family, are there when you need
them.
88 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • November 2019
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