A third-generation business owner shares the key to his family's near-century of success.
NFIB Member: Roy Jannsen
Business: A.M. Jannsen Well Drilling
Employees: 5
Location: Aloha, Oregon
A.M. Jannsen Well Drilling’s dedication to quality has led to nearly 100 years of service. Now with third-generation owner Roy Jannsen at the helm, the Aloha-based business looks forward to many more years of prosperity.
Jannsen talks Oregon’s business climate, shares the key to a lasting enterprise and offers a few words of advice for fledgling business owners.
Your business was founded in 1917. What are the reasons for its longevity?
Quality work and dedication to our customers. I think we’re more prominent now than we ever have been. A lot of the other outfits have been going out of business. It’s essentially us out here in the valley. We’re very busy, I think, because we’re the last man standing, but also because we do quality work.
It was started by my grandfather, and then my father had it, next my oldest brother had it with myself, and now it’s just me. Basically, I think [the familial lineage] is the reason we’ve been able to stay in business.
Is Oregon a good environment for small businesses?
It’s a nice place to live. But for a business climate, it’s not very good. We’re not in a city; we’re in an unincorporated county, but we still have state and county regulations. And there’s a metro, which is a three-county area around Portland that has its own set of regulations along with the Unified Sewerage District. There’s quite a few government agencies that are regulating us. It takes a long time for people to get building permits for right of ways.
What’s the most interesting project your company has done?
In recent times, we’ve done several geothermal and hot water wells that are very interesting. In my experience, dating back to the early ’70s, that’s the most engaging type of work. But probably the most enjoyable part of my job is getting fresh water for people so they can live in their homes.
What’s your advice to other small business owners?
Do the best you can. My dad used to say, “Stick with what you know.” We don’t branch out and do a lot of different things. We know what we’re good at, so we stick with it, and it’s paid off for us over the years.
