“My Guy,” also known as Tim Kraus, grew up in a family-run company – Catons Plumbing and Heating – that had been owned by his father and started by his grandfather in 1946. He learned the business literally from the ground up, starting as a company ditch digger at age 12.
Catons Plumbing and Heating was sold to Roto-Rooter Services Inc. before young Tim could follow in his dad’s footsteps taking over the family business; but the remodeling bug had bitten -he knew that was the business for him!
Tim worked for Roto-Rooter as a young man and became the youngest general manager in the company’s history, directing 50 employees in sales and service that reached over $5 million in annual sales. Silver ‘Branch of the Year,’ Top Regional Commercial Sales Growth, and Top Profit Percentage were all awards of recognition Tim’s ‘Baltimore North Branch’ achieved during his tenure.
After five years as general manager Tim took a different, but related road, and went to work for Clarks Landing Boat Sales. There he applied everything he’d learned about repair and remodeling to the maritime industry. But his heart was still in the home remodeling and rebuilding business, so Tim branched out on his own to form My Guy Services.
“I founded the company to provide the best tradesmen to the homeowner, but to take it one step beyond, to dedicated, personalized service” he said. “My goal is to build a good relationship between the customer and My Guy Services.”
To this end, Tim has no desire to build My Guy Services into a mega-company. “I want to keep the company local so I can focus on localized, personal service,” he said, adding that the company’s client base is primarily in the Annapolis corridor.
“Most people appreciate knowing that local, hometown craftsmen are doing their work because it’s all about relationships.”
Tim, with his wife; Jennifer, step-daughter; Kylie (12), and their newest addition Alyssa (1 year) live in Severna Park. Jennifer is a photography teacher at Old Mill High School and operates Sunset Pics Photography – a full service Family, Wedding, and Portrait Studio. Her work can be seen on line at www.sunsetpics.net and throughout the Annapolis area under her professional name, Jennifer Lee.
