YOU AND YOUR OHANA
What is your name?
Andrew D. McGurn, Jr. (“Junya”)
Where were you raised?
Newport Beach, California
Where is your ohana originally from?
Moloka’i, Maui, and O’ahu
Do you come from a family of entrepreneurs or have people close to you who have encouraged and supported your entrepreneurship?
No. My dad was a union iron worker his whole career, and my mom worked in medical billing for a few years.
YOUR BUSINESS
What is the name of your business?
Upcountry Pool Care, Ltd.
What is the best way to contact you/your business?
Email us at jenniferswim@hotmail.com or phone/text 808-281-7387.
Do you have a website? If so, please provide a link.
No.
How long has your business been in operation?
16 years
Where is your business located today?
Upcountry, Maui
What products and/or services does your business provide?
Pool service, repairs, and remodels.
Please describe your business in 1-2 sentences.
We service pools and do needed repairs and remodels in the Upcountry, Maui area.
Why do you do what you do?
It’s what I’ve always done! I would never want to work in an office setting. I prefer working outdoors and on my own schedule.
STARTING YOUR BUSINESS
When did you first think of starting this business?
I’ve been in the pool business (in various roles) since I was 17 years old, where I started as a pool plasterer.
What type of experiences (education, work, life) were most important in shaping the skills you use to run your business today?
I’ve been self taught and taught by mentors over the years. I have made a career and supported my family with this business despite no formal post high school education.
YOUR BUSINESS TODAY
In what stage of development is your business: pre-formation, early stage, growing, or mature?
My business is definitely mature as I have been doing this a long time and have had many of the same customers for 15+ years!
Do you have employees? If so, how many?
I have one part time employee who cleans many of the pools while I take care of the more complicated accounts and handle all the repairs and remodels.
Are you working to get your business to the next stage in development? If so, where are you in that development?
I am at the stage where I am eyeing retirement (within the next 6-10 years) but am hoping to pass my knowledge on to another young Hawaiian(s) who could make a career and support his own family.
CHALLENGES
What is the greatest challenge you have experienced as an entrepreneur?
Being in business for yourself, you don’t get paid sick days, paid vacation days, or fancy benefit packages. But the trade off is flexibility and control over your own destiny!
How did you overcome that challenge? (Or are you still working through it?)
I’ve just gotten used to it over the years and fortunately my wife’s job provides health insurance for the family.
THE FUTURE OF YOUR BUSINESS
How do you envision your business in the future?
I plan on focusing on my customers who have been loyal over the years and picking up a few more loyal customers who really care about good service from someone they can trust.
