Two years after being injured in fight, Lillie Williams is discovering footing within the trash hauling and demolition enterprise.
On April 25, Williams held a grand opening for her JDog Junk Removing & Hauling franchise in Pickerington.
JDog operates out of workplace area supplied by Domesticate, a enterprise incubator with 3,600 sq. toes at 19 N. Heart St. in Olde Pickerington Village.
Williams additionally operates out of a Domesticate area in Grove Metropolis, 3989 Broadway, that opened in September 2021, and she or he maintains a warehouse at 2808 Banwick Highway in Columbus the place she homes her dump truck, in addition to its firm truck and trailer.
“I run all three franchises,” Williams mentioned. “I did 21 years within the (U.S.) Military, and this appeared like a very good match as a result of I handled logistics.
“Logistics is extra managing transportation, managing individuals.”
Williams determined to hunt civilian enterprise alternatives after being injured in fight in Somalia in Might 2019.
“Our camp was attacked a number of instances, and I skilled a mild-traumatic mind damage,” she mentioned. “I used to be at Walter Reed (Nationwide Navy Medical Heart) for just a little over 9 months.”
After recovering from the damage, Williams took half in a Boots to Enterprise program at Mississippi State College designed to arrange army personnel to transition into the civilian enterprise world.
She mentioned an teacher advisable franchising with JDog, as a result of the company gives enterprise alternatives to veterans to assist them discover enterprise possession and transition from their time in service.
A Groveport resident, Williams determined to start out JDog franchises in Pickerington and Grove Metropolis as a result of each cities are inside 25 miles of her house.
“We thought Pickerington can be a very good place to (broaden),” Williams mentioned. “It is small and has an outdated city feeling.
“All people is aware of everyone.”
JDog has six workers among the many three websites, and Williams expects to rent three extra inside a month. Williams is one in all three veterans employed.
JDog gives residential and enterprise junk removing and hauling, in addition to demolition and recycling.
“We additionally get furnishings individuals need to donate and provides it to teams like Volunteers of America, Habitat for Humanity and Goodwill (Industries),” Williams mentioned. “Throughout the subsequent two years, I am trying to have upwards of 15-20 workers.”
Williams mentioned she desires to assist fellow veterans discover jobs, partially, as a result of some battle to transition into civilian life.
“We need to embody and embrace the actual fact we’re army service members, however we additionally need to have the ability to assist them reside and work with out the construction of the army,” she mentioned. “We’re additionally hoping to have the ability to develop group applications to combine college students and highschool graduates into the workforce to allow them to study totally different facets of the job and begin their very own companies.
“JDog is right here and able to serve individuals the way in which we served once we had been within the army.”
Matt Yerkes, who based Domesticate, mentioned he is happy he is been in a position to present workplace area to Williams so she will be able to construct her enterprise.
He mentioned JDog gives extra specialised companies to the group, and in addition gives franchise and employment to individuals who want these alternatives.
“JDog Junk Removing & Hauling or different locally-owned companies can focus all of their time and efforts towards the early steps of nurturing their enterprise and are in a position to preserve their overhead low,” Yerkes mentioned.
“Lillie is a good addition to the Pickerington small-business group.”
nellis@thisweeknews.com
@ThisWeekNate
