For Errol and Prudence Parks, launching their own business was a leap of faith.

Errol, a licensed math teacher, started flipping houses in the Detroit area to earn some extra money on the side. But soon, he attracted the attention of another local contractor, who invited Errol to become a partner in his business.

“I did that for eight years, starting in 2003. But in 2010, I felt confident enough to go off on my own, so I worked to get licensed and start my own company, Jonmar Construction,” Errol shared.

Those first few years were hard – but Errol and his wife Prudence leaned on their faith to get them through. There’s a lot that goes into launching a construction company. You have to be licensed and insured, and your company has to be declared financially “fit” in order to cover construction costs upfront until payment comes through.

“I was really scared because I didn’t know if we were going to make it,” Errol recalled.

At the time, he was still trying to teach – but after a few bumps in the road showed Errol that he preferred to be on-site, directly overseeing work, he had a difficult decision to make.

As he struggled with the choice, Prudence told him, “If you’re going to do this, you have to commit wholeheartedly.” Listening to her sage advice, Errol quit his teaching job and hasn’t looked back.

For Errol, his work is a calling.

“Part of my zeal is to help others – it’s a blessing to me,” he said.

That perspective threads through everything he does – whether repairing a window for free to help out someone in need, going the extra mile and adding extra features to a paid job, or cleaning up a work area beyond clearing construction debris.

“One client I had, we cleaned up her whole backyard – even picking up things we didn’t put there,” Errol shared. “My guys were like, ‘Why are we doing this? We didn’t make this clutter – we’re not getting paid for it.’ I told them that we would leave every site better than how we found it because it’s the right thing to do.”

That work pays off, too.

“I’ve never had to advertise,” Errol explained. “People like my work and keep recommending me to friends and family. I really credit the Lord with that success.”

But building a successful business still took time – and a lot of effort.

“In the construction industry, you take on a $20,000 contract – you don’t get paid until the job is over,” Errol explained. “So you have to front that cost. You have to buy materials, pay for labor, whatever you need. So, if you need $15,000 to start a job and only have $5,000, you’re stuck.”

Like many other contractors, Errol relies on lines of credit to cover those initial costs. As a young entrepreneur, securing that was difficult.

“I think when I started, my credit was in the 500s. But over time, as people saw my work, I started building that rapport and those lines of credit,” he shared. “And now my credit score is almost 800, last I checked.”

David Watkins, Community Business Lender with First Merchants Bank, sat up and took notice when he saw Errol’s work ethic, dedication, and solid business practices.

Watkins helps manage a First Merchants program that relies on grant money to help seniors and those struggling financially to afford home repairs. The program relies on a list of contractors who are willing to wait for grant funds to come through before they receive a paycheck – Errol is one of the longest-serving contractors on that list.

“The quality of his work is just outstanding,” Watkins shared, “And he’s always willing to step in and help his community.”

Watkins was able to help Errol get a line of credit through First Merchants Bank to cover those initial materials and labor costs.

“I was so happy to be able to help him because he’s such a great supporter of the community,” Watkins said. “He’s just a great person, and he and his wife run a great business.”

Errol is proud of all he’s built. He said his favorite thing is seeing his clients’ reactions to a finished job.

“I had a lady we built a fence for, and she was so excited she called all her neighbors to come over and look at it when it was done,” he recalled with a laugh.

To those looking to start their own businesses, he has a few words of advice.

“Go ahead, but you have to put your whole heart into it,” he said. “If you have a setback, you can’t just give up – you have to keep going.”

But, most importantly.

“If you’re married, trust your wife,” he said. “Listen to your wife because she’s on your side. And whatever you do, put God first.”