Hey, my name is Mitch White. I'm a local boy, Chatham-Kent born and raised. I can say without a doubt in my mind that I am proud to be Living CK; here is my story.
Growing up, I wanted to get out of Chatham-Kent. I wanted to go out and experience the world. I was young, and dumb, and the grass was always greener on the other side. The day I graduated high school, I boarded a plane, and flew to Prince Edward Island where I spent the next 4 years of my life.
I never thought I'd return home, but growing up in a big family (6 kids plus my parents) had me missing my folks. Coming back was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I had to start over; clean slate. Eventually, I started working for HandyBros, a heating and cooling company founded in 1959, alongside my older brother Nic.
Long story short, after some time in the field, Nic and I ended up buying HandyBros together and became the official owners on March 1st, 2018. What's really cool, is that HandyBros was founded by two brothers, passed on to two brothers, and now has been passed on to it's third set of brothers. Not only are we Handy, but we truly are BROS too.
Today, I not only work alongside my older brother Nic, but we have recruited my father Ken, and my two younger brothers as well. We have a phenomenal management team and the techs and staff are second to none. We are currently operating at 50 strong!
Since then, a lot has changed. In three years of business, I have learned and grown so much. I absolutely LOVE being a business owner in CK. The last year, 2020, has made that completely evident to me. When times are good, everyone is happy and things are great… but when times are tough, one's true character is exposed. All I can say is that tough times have brought the people of CK together. We've rallied behind causes, efforts, charities and people, and I truly haven't seen anything like it. Chatham-Kent offers something special, something rare; kind and hearts.
When Nic and I took over HandyBros, we vowed to ourselves and to God that we would use this company for something greater. We wanted to use our profits to help others. Thanks to the people of CK, and the continual support they offer, that was made possible. This year we created "HandyBros Heroes", an outlet for us as a company to give back to a community, who has given so much to us. There are so many in need, and we want OUR community to know that we are here to support them not only today, but for years to come.
Thank you Chatham-Kent for remaining so rare, for being so full of passion, for being kind hearted, and for banding together when times get tough. This is what it means to LIVE CK!
