Andrew Krawczel grew up in the trades, doing everything from carpentry to debris removal. He ended up attending Virginia Tech’s construction management program, and during his freshman year, the September 11 attacks happened. Krawczel saw this as a call to action and joined the Marine Corps. After about 10 years of active duty, in 2014, he transitioned to a reserve unit in Quantico near Washington, D.C., to spend more time with his growing family. By Kelsi Trinidad
Finding a New Mission to Serve
Andrew Krawczel grew up in the trades, doing everything from carpentry to debris removal. He ended up attending Virginia Tech’s construction management program, and during his freshman year, the September 11 attacks happened. Krawczel saw this as a call to action and joined the Marine Corps. After about 10 years of active duty, in 2014, he transitioned to a reserve unit in Quantico near Washington, D.C., to spend more time with his growing family.
Eventually, Krawczel bought an existing party rental company and rode the wave of the COVID-19 pandemic until he was able to bring the company back to its most profitable self. It was time to shift gears and sell off the business. At the same time, he was winding down his career in the Marines and his family was looking for a change. Having spent time in Montana, they felt the outdoor lifestyle made it the perfect place to raise their children.
Once they relocated, Krawczel was looking into various business opportunities and noticed a Paul Davis Restoration location up for sale. He looked into purchasing it and familiarized himself with the company and the residential and commercial restoration jobs it does. He knew it was a good fit, thinking it could maybe fit into their long-term plan. He started looking into available territories, and Bozeman, Montana, just happened to be available.
What sold Krawczel was Paul Davis Restoration’s commitment to doing the right thing when people are experiencing their worst moment. The company’s tagline – “When things go wrong, we do what’s right” – spoke to his own dedication to his values and serving others.
His military experience has also played a crucial role in how he manages his business.
“In the military, you’ve got a mission. You’re going out, and it’s something you can believe in,” said Krawczel. “We’re able to align ourselves behind the mission. It’s something you feel good about. The hardship makes sense. I think in this business, there’s certainly hardship, but the hardship makes sense. Helping someone out when their home is in crisis mode is incredibly rewarding.”
Krawczel quickly established a strong service-oriented reputation in his community.
“We may not have as much capacity as companies that have been here for 35 years, but we’re providing better service at a higher quality level,” he said. “If you want something done right the first time and you want people who show up and knock on your door, that you’re comfortable having in your home and leaving them unattended, we’re the company to call.”
Within the Paul Davis Restoration franchising community, Krawczel has found a lot of support through the other Montana franchisees. They’ve even established a standing monthly in-person meeting where they discuss issues that they’re having or exchange business advice. He also keeps in touch with the owners he went through training with and participates in a new owner’s group.
While he has many successes to celebrate, for Krawczel, his business is all about serving his community.
“The team that we have around us, the team that we built in a short period, their commitment to the mission and getting out and doing the work when it’s hard, being able to respond and having people that want to be a part of that solution has been rewarding,” he said.
Kelsi Trinidad