Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 12, 1990 TAG: 9004130588
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY CHERYL ANN KAUFMAN SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"One of my grandfathers, my father and his two brothers were in it," he said. "I figured I had to do it sometime."
Other than feeling obligated by a family tradition, Feazell, 36, said he decided to start his own contracting firm "to make more money."
Enough money, he hopes, to retire by his 50th birthday.
In the meantime, Feazell continues to recycle his profits into his business, a financial decision that has forced him to lead "a conservative lifestyle" while his company grows.
And grow it has. The Danny Feazell Construction Co. began as a one-man operation in 1972.
"I was right out of high school," said Feazell.
Armed with a tool belt, an idea, and some guidance from his father, E.D. Feazell Sr., Feazell "started out, by myself, painting and roofing."
"It was real tough," he said. "I started out small and put everything back into the business."
Eventually, Feazell employed a few experienced laborers. "I hired people older than me," he said. "I picked up on their years of knowledge."
By 1977, that knowledge, coupled with word-of-mouth advertising, created a company that custom-builds residential homes that average 4,500 square feet. Many of them can be found in South Roanoke, Hunting Hills and around Smith Mountain Lake.
Today, the company employs eight subcontractors, including Feazell's uncle Elmer and 21-year-old brother, Timothy.
Feazell believes that Timothy will eventually take over the business, which the contractor describes as hectic.
"We keep four to five projects going all the time," he said. "My day starts at 5:30 or 6 in the morning and runs till 10 at night, six days a week."
Even though Feazell operates from his home in Bedford County, he said he rarely sees his family "because you're out in the field during the day, and the only time me and my subcontractors get to communicate is at night."
According to Feazell, "the only way you can get away from business is to leave," which he does with his wife of four years, Connie, and 13-month-old daughter, Leah.
They vacation three or four times a year, often escaping for a week or two in Feazell's 172 Cessna single-engine airplane, which he pilots himself "to get away from day-to-day operations," he said.
Feazell also finds time to serve on the board of directors of the Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association. This is his second year as a member.
Back at the workplace, Feazell said his biggest problem is cash flow, since he doesn't get paid until a project is complete.
"And a lot of variables can hold up a project, the weather being the biggest," he said.
However, Feazell says his work is not seasonal. "We get more done during pretty weather," he said. "But we work continuously all year."
Looking back on all he has weathered as a builder, Feazell said he would not change his blueprints one bit.
"I set out a plan when I got out of school. Nothing came easy," he said.
His advice to anyone who desires a successful construction firm is to, "Find a good person who's in the business, go to work for them and pay attention."
In addition, Feazell urges aspiring contractors to "make sacrifices and treat [customers and co-workers] as you'd want to be treated."
by CNB