Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacki Bradbury Guerrero.
Jacki, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Life sometimes throws lemons at us and it’s up to what we do with those lemons that defines us. I was thrown a lemon and was determined to make lemonade! I was a single mom with three young sons. I needed a career, not just a job, in order to offer my children a wonderful life. I went to work for a large heating and air conditioning company as a controller. The next thing I knew I was running it and within a few short months asked to buy it. I was not in a financial position to buy such a large company having just gone through a divorce, but saw a future in the HVAC industry (not at all common to women) and in running a small business. Women are great at running homes and motivating children – why not run a business and motivate employees. With a partner that had the technical background to assist me, I started my first HVAC business. Thirty years later, I can say it was a great decision. I raised my three wonderful sons, put them all through college and they all decided based on their mother’s success that they would stay in the family business.
The middle son went to graduate school in Houston and fell in love with Texas (and a local Texas girl!) He convinced me and his two brothers to relocate, sell my business in California and take on the adventure of starting an HVAC company in The Woodlands. That was seven years ago. We’ve grown Bradbury Brothers to a well-known and respected company in our area employing over fifty people. We’ve won numerous awards based on our growth, our customer service and our community involvement.
I taught my sons through my “preaching it” and “living it” that all good business owners need to give back to the community that provides them with their livelihood. The part of our success I am most proud of is that we are family-owned and operated (all four of us as well as two of my son’s wives and my husband) and we are deeply involved in our community through service organizations, charities and our church. We give back 5% of our income to those charities and 5% to our employees to show our appreciation. Every month of the year, we strive to involve ourselves and our employees in at least one charity event. All of our managers are required to be involved in at least one local organization that benefits our community.
We’ve been blessed with success! It’s a fun day when you get to work with your family and then have fun with them. As a mother, I couldn’t be prouder of what my sons have become.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Running a small business is never a smooth road. Dealing with the daily frustrations makes us stronger. Cooling, heating and plumbing means dealing with customers that aren’t happy – they’re hot, cold or don’t have water! Getting them cool, warm and comfortable is always a challenge but totally rewarding.
I would say our biggest struggle is finding good employees. We have developed our own in-house training program. You feel real satisfaction when you are able to show young people that are not college-bound that they can have a wonderful career without college debt in our industry. We are working now on a recruiting program through the local high schools.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
What sets us apart from others in our business is that we live by the law and the regulations of the State of Texas. Mechanical contractors are required to be licensed and insured (both HVAC and plumbing). Amazingly very few are! They work without either licenses or insurance. We have both an HVAC license and a Master Plumbers license. All of our technicians are registered with the state and are licensed individually when required. We have not only the insurance required by the state but all insurance needed to protect our customers.
What were you like growing up?
I have always been an entrepreneur! I grew up the eldest of four children. I didn’t want to make money being a babysitter – I did that for free at home. I was determined to start a business. During high school, I had my first business – I became a gardener! I bought a power mower and edger and found an employee and off I went.
My father was a painting contractor. When he was ready to retire, neither of my brothers were interested in the business so I took it over. My husband and I ran the business successfully til our divorce. Then I became an HVAC contractor.
Contact Info:
- Address: 131 S Trade Center Pkwy
The Woodlands, TX - Website: www.BradburyBrothers.com
- Phone: 2816515484
- Email: jacki@bradburybrothers.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BradburyBrothers/
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