On Their Own, 1957

By 1957, Al had become the lead foreman with Schmerheim Electric, one of the largest electrical contracting firms in that area of Michigan. He was also on close terms with the owner of the company. At that point he probably could have continued on for some time, in a contented grove. Even if the conditions of the company had turned sour, as eventually they did, he was a union electrician, he would have just been picked up by another. After all, he now had his master journeyman card and that made him a highly sought after commodity on the market at the time.

However, Al wanted something different for himself, for his family. He was not happy. Oh, he loved the work and he made decent money. They had a home he liked and the boys were growing up, 10 and 8 now, but he he found he really did not like working for someone else. He wanted to be his own boss; he wanted to strike out on his own.

To set up as a contractor and to start up a business without a strong cash flow, without a client base, or a business plan was risky, but Al and Winnie had talked it over and they both were in agreement. Winnie would stand with him and help him out and he wanted this.

Things were very tight for a long time as Al built relationships up and gained clients. With Schmerheim, the clients were mostly commercial and industrial. In business for himself, without any helpers, he concentrated on residential and on service work. In the long run, the service work carried him. He was a gifted technician and troubleshooter. He gained accounts with firms needing someone who could maintain equipment and operations. The residential work, the bread and butter, brought in enough extra to allow him to do what he really loved doing. It would be another twenty years before he looked back again.