I begin my DIY journey back when I was in junior high school.  During my eighth grade year, I enrolled in woodworking shop class and worked on several projects from a cutting board, serving tray, bookshelf, step stool and a nightstand for my parent’s bedroom.

I was pretty good at woodworking and I really enjoy working with my hands and using power tools to make wood projects.  When I attended high school, I continue to participate in woodworking shop class. During my 10th grade year, my family moved to another state and the high school did not have a wood working shop class, however, they did have a vocational technical school next to the high school, which taught carpentry, plumbing, electricity and wielding. I elected not to attend the votech school at the time.  During my high school day during the weekend and summer time, continued working on home improvement projects. I had the opportunity to assist my father in working on several home-improvement projects, including installing wood, paneling and flooring in our newly constructed house. Additionally, I had opportunity to work with an experienced carpenter to help build a garage for my dad’s auto repair shop. After high school, I attended college where I majored in mechanical engineering technology and had the opportunity to learn how to do mechanical drawing which is now called computer aided design.  I also learned how to develop blueprints for a new house construction project.  While in college I play football and also participated in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).  Upon graduating college, I was  commission as an Army officer and served for 24 years.  While in the military, I had the opportunity to be involved in military base installation renovations, remodeling, and area beautification projects.  During my free time, I worked on several home-improvement projects at both military housing and private residence locations.  Additionally, I participated in the Army base self-help area beautification program to beautify the landscaping on the military installation housing and work place facilities. While stationed at my last duty station, I bought a new house and begin getting more involved with DIY Home Improve projects. Over the years, I worked on the outside landscaping and built two patios , a bridge, a putting green, a pergola,and two decks.   One year, I entered into a Home Depot best backyard competition and my backyard was selected a winner.  I won a $2500 gift card from Home Depot which I use to by material to build a deck around my above the ground swimming pool.

Inside the house, I designed and completed an unfinished basement.

After serving 24 years in the military, I decided to retire and start my own business, Initially, I focused on designing and constructing websites.  I worked on websites for time and continue to do home-improvement projects to include kitchen and bathroom renovations and upgrades.  One day, my cousin, who does stucco repairs and installation on old and new homes and commercial buildings, asked me if I wanted to go into business with him.  I agreed to be the business manager and we started a company called C&V construction.  Initially I was only to help manage the business side of things because I lived in another city and my cousin focused primarily on the stucco work on houses and commercial buildings.  As we contracted more work from dealing with carpenter work, I became more involved and began working on projects . We worked together for three years and then I decided to start my own home improvement/handyman business in the city close to my home.  To date, I like many other home owners, still enjoy working on my own home improvements projects because (1) I can be creative and develop something new from scratch and to see and touch the results of my work.  (2) It promotes family quality time by spending time working together. (3) It can be enjoyable and mentally and physically therapeutic. (4) Enhances quality of life by upgrading rooms in the home to make things more comfortable and efficient (5) DIY projects can be more cost-effective than hiring professionals. (6) It increased your home value and can add value to your home, especially larger projects like kitchen or bathroom renovations.