No job is too small for JMM Services

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LOOK WAY UP — JMM Services aren’t intimidated by big trees in tight spaces. JMM Services took down a tree in a local cemetery.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    HODGDON — Between the playful ribbing, you could tell by the look in John Tribou’s eyes that he admired his son and Matt’s business partner. You could also tell Matt appreciated and valued his father’s input into the business.
    Matt Tribou and Ben Henderson are operating JMM Services in Hodgdon. JMM Services is a “Jack of All Trades” business.
    As John fades out of the business, he knows Matt and Ben are able and up to the challenge.
     “Ben is a great business partner,” said John. “These two together are doing very, very well.”
    Matt and Ben, who went into a partnership last year, are a compliment to one another.
    “If there’s something I can’t figure out,” said Matt, “Well, he’s already figured it out and doing it.”
    JMM began 10 years ago, even before Matt was out of high school, with Matt’s lawn care and his father’s tree cutting.
    “Before I had my license, dad would bring my lawn mower, weed wacker and whatever else I needed into town,” recalled Matt. “I would get dropped off in town and go do my five lawns I did every week.”
    Now, Matt and Ben maintain at least 30 lawns, along with all of their other offered services.
    “We started taking down big trees that people didn’t either want to mess with or were afraid of,” said John.
    Matt added, “I adopted that from him and it has just branched out.”
    After Matt, a 2006 Hodgdon High School graduate, completed his degree in plumbing and heating from Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle, John wanted his son to take over the business. But, Matt became anxious about the commitment and whether or not the business would continue to grow or not.
    “I was afraid,” he said.
    Matt worked for a year for another local company getting full-time work and a steady paycheck. But, his heart was with the business his father and he had begun together.
    “Matt has always been part of the business,” added John, who also worked with Tim Bragan. “He felt he didn’t want to get into it right away.”
    “I had always worked for dad,” Matt added. “I never quit. Even in college, I would come home on my weekends off and help him. I started liking it and I never wanted to do anything else.”
    However, just in his 20s, Matt was hesitant.
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NEW SERVICE — JMM Services recently added fencing to its list of jobs that can be done. JMM Services deal with cedar, chain link and vinyl fencing.
    “The business started to grow and I wasn’t ready for it,” he said. “I got nervous. If I get on full board and then [poof], what am I going to do? But, that job [experience] matured me and taught me what I had and what I shouldn’t have left. Maybe it was time to take a risk.”
    Matt approached his father about coming back to JMM Services, and John said, “He wanted to go full tilt in the business and he has been that way ever since.”
    Henderson joined the business after working for a local fertilizer company.
    “I bought a house behind Matt and John and started working after hours for them and it turned into full time,” he said. “I just love it. It is something different every day.”
    Realizing diversity is a key to business today, JMM Services’ business card reads: “No job too small — One call does it all.” The company handles tree removal, chipping, stump grinding, bucket truck work, dump truck work, fencing, mowing, landscaping, pressure washing, property maintenance, chimney cleaning/repair, snow plowing, salting/sanding to home cleanouts. If you have an “odd job,” keep JMM Services at 681 Calais Road, Hodgdon in mind.
    “We learned this spring with all the rain, you cannot back across lawns to cut trees,” said Matt. “But, not much else stops us.
    With a diverse approach to business, JMM Services just took over Glen Williams’ fencing business, too.
    “Glen is physically unable to continue,” said Matt. “He is teaching us here and there some ‘tricks’ of the trade.”
    JMM Services puts up cedar, chain link and vinyl fences.
    JMM Services offers fair pricing and are fully insured and helps real estate agencies, to help make a property presentable for sale.
     “Ben and I love the work,” said Matt, “and we wanted to carry on with it. It has exploded for us.”
    As John rolls his eyes at his son, he said, “This boy right here is overwhelmed with what he has on his list. Every day someone calls.”
    Matt answers, “How do you turn business away? You just make it work. I always thought, I don’t go to a job to make a fortune. I always go to make a living and make it fair for everyone.”
    For more information, call Matt at 538-7888 or Ben at 521-1342.