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In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, host Matt Wagner sat down with the CEO of Keith McDonald Plumbing in Milledgeville, Ga., Lindsay Goodson McDonald.
In their conversation, Lindsay discusses her path to small business ownership. Lindsay began her work in plumbing in 2009. After losing her job in Athens, Ga. during the national recession, she moved back home to Milledgeville to help her father with the family business. At the time, Lindsay said, “I totally hated it. Hate’s not even enough of a word.” It wasn’t until several years later when her father wanted to begin scaling the service side of the business into new locations that Lindsay became more interested, and eventually passionate, about the work.
Around five years ago, Keith began planning for retirement and was slowly scaling back, allowing Lindsay to take on more of a leadership role. Unfortunately, the gradual succession plan was cut short when, in 2021, Keith tragically passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing Lindsay to decide whether to sell the business or take over as CEO. She made the decision to stay on, recognizing that she would need to make significant changes and scale back in certain areas in order to maintain the company without her father. Even with these changes, Lindsay says, the company has begun to grow and scale in new areas, largely due to her adaptation to innovative new technologies.
In the episode, Lindsay talks through the challenges and lessons learned from being a woman leading a company in a male-dominated industry, the importance of adapting to new technologies, overcoming imposter syndrome, and her passion for community development work.
Listen to their conversation here.
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Stay tuned for next week’s episode featuring Harvey Williams, co-founder and CEO of Delta Dirt Distillery in Helena, Arkansas.
See how Atlanta’s small business owners and corridor leaders are breaking barriers through the B3 initiative, building resilience, honoring legacy, and shaping inclusive growth.
Learn proven strategies for taking over a small business from other entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated business succession.
The USDA Rural Business Development Program brought coaching and peer learning opportunities to small business owners in Wyoming, Kentucky, and California. Here is how you can also develop a business development coaching program that supports Main Street businesses, providing them with technical skills and support networks for success.
