08/05/2023
A LONG BUT IMPORTANT READ……
Hello to our dear clients, family and friends. I apologize for the length of the post in advance. I don’t know how to put out everything I’d like to say in a simple paragraph. Never had I imagined a career in garage doors. I can’t imagine any girl thinks in her late teen years, “I think I’d like to sell garage doors”. However, once I got in the industry I found myself interested and constantly searching to learn everything I could. During my early time in the industry I was still attending Farmingdale University. I graduated with my business degree, got married and had our twin babies. With a home and a family, it was time to decide where I planned to go with my career. My husband Bryan had definitely taken an interest in my love for garage doors. Although he worked in the computer field, he also had previous years of experience in construction. With an itch to get back into construction paired with my desire to take the next step, the idea of Twin Garage Doors came about. Truth be told, after selling doors for so long and people becoming familiar with my face, often I would be out and about and someone would approach me saying “hey, are you that garage door girl”. Lol. So much so, that I really considered naming the company The Garage Door Girl. I think Bryan and the kids are pleased we opted for Twin. Lol. With that we eventually opened our little company. I recall the very beginning, the fear and also excitement. The unknown. Opening the phone line and waiting desperately for it to ring. My kids were so little at the time and my office was at home so I would keep m&m’s at my desk to give them if the phone rang so they could stay quiet. And then it happened, a call here a call there and then suddenly our little company took off. We really enjoyed it and we had fun. Of course, the occasional stressors and tougher days but overall we enjoyed it. Although sometimes I’d have to remind Bry that I didn’t necessarily feel like talking about how much headroom was on a job at 10 pm. Lol. With that, we figured out the kinks and worked through. Who would’ve known the busiest time for us was when the world felt like it shut down due to COVID. We were never busier. Somehow garage doors were considered essential and we went with it. Even when lead times crept close to 25 and 30weeks. Heck at one time we even opened our own storefront, right on 25A. We loved it and were so proud. Perhaps no one was as proud of that as my Dad. He was such a presence at the little store. Always wanting to help, answer the phone or chat with a customer. I simply could not go on there in that space after he suddenly passed. With that, I returned to working from home. My suburban stocked with samples, traveling towns and selling doors. Skip to present day. After a recent injury to my husband, we are grappling with the realization that our little company that we created with so much pride simply can’t sustain. Back on June 15th, I got that dreaded call that Bryan was in an accident on a jobsite. The large spring came back at him with extreme force, immediately severing his artery to the hand, tendons in his fingers, nerves and broke the bone in multiple places. If there is one thing that I would like to make known in this long post is that the homeowner, his training and quick response was the very first miracle of that day. By the grace of God that homeowner was a 23 year retired officer and trained EMT. He applied his own belt as the first turniquet and knew there was not enough time to call an abulance. He was correct. Bryan and our helper rode in the back while he sped him to the hospital out East. From that point on, there were a handful of true miracles that I’d need a whole book to write. Bryan would eventually be transferred to Stony Brook where he was in an immediate surgery to restore the artery. He then went back in for a second surgery to address the tendons, bone and nerves. I must say we are blessed on Long Island with such outstanding doctors. Wow! We are awaiting to see if an additional surgery will be required. We are forever grateful and indebted to everyone that has been a part of what eventually allowed Bryan to come home and to continue being a husband, father, son, brother, friend, amongst many others. With that, the one role he cannot continue is being a garage door guy. And that is ok because he is ok. The doctors have made it very clear that he will not return to this style of work. In addition, it could take 1-2 years to see what function he will regain in his hand. The business cannot wait that long and we know he can’t return to what he used to do. Although I appreciate the support from others with ideas of how to continue, I truly believe what might have helped in our overall success was the way we truly cared about our company and clients. We were a solid team. We worked together to give the best experience our clients could have getting a new door. I don’t want to have to rely on someone else doing what we did and what we created together. Fact is, there are a gazillion jobs out there but there’s only one Bry, and we are so lucky to have him. Although I’m uncertain what our future holds as far as careers, for my part I am hopeful to stay within the industry one way or another. Whether that be at a distribution center, sales etc. I’ve accrued a ton of knowledge over the years and don’t plan to throw it to waste. I recently took my daughter to see the Barbie movie for her 13th birthday. I can’t believe I am sitting here thinking about the movie’s storyline as I’m writing this post. I think by now everyone knows how much I have absolutely loved being a female in this primarily male industry. It’s been challenging but it’s also been incredibly rewarding. Especially early on, needing to prove myself and the knowkedge I had of garage doors. I’d like to believe I have done so and that I have made my own little mark in the industry, even if in the absolute smallest way. I am actively looking for a position within the industry, to continue providing my expertise and knowledge, and remain hopeful this garage door girl will be given that opportunity.
So, with that my friends comes THANK YOU! Thank you to our incredibly wonderful clients. My goodness we adore you guys. Every single one of you. Our FB friends that might have shared one of our posts, thank you. Our friends and family that have supported us throughout this journey, thank you. The moms and dads pages on FB groups that have recommended us time after time, thank you.
And of course to Tom, the homeowner on that day, for your heroic actions and the start of what gave us a positive outcome that day, thank you. Tyler, riding in the back of that truck with Bryan that day, thank you. Janelle, for picking the pieces that day and getting the word out to our clients and figuring out our scheduling when I couldn’t even speak, thank you. The incredible surgeons, doctors and nurses at Stony Brook University, thank you! Thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Although Twin shall close its final doors, as I’ve said before, when one door closes another one opens. Be well friends🚪❤️
Jodie & Bryan
