Twenty years ago, Ron Blackwell made a bucket list: he wanted to get married, have a dog, raise kids and own his own business. In 2020, he opened Good to GEAUX Handyman Services, LLC and realized he had checked everything off his bucket list.

With Good to GEAUX, Blackwell is ready to tackle any kind of smaller job: electrical, plumbing, smaller bathroom remodels, hanging pictures or painting, power washing or staining decks.

“What I like about my job is that you meet so many people,” Blackwell said. “Some people really need help, and all are very appreciative. Just the other day I went to a job to hang curtains, to him it meant everything. It can be hard to find someone willing to do the smaller stuff.”

Blackwell started his handyman career about 20 years ago while working at a church facility. While working at the Washington D.C. facility, he went through a 5 year apprenticeship program.

“I started out just helping single or older ladies and gentlemen at the church because they didn’t have anyone to really help them,” Blackwell said. “They can’t get on a ladder or can’t or shouldn’t lift something and may not know who to call. So, I thought, ‘Yeah, I can help you out.’ And from there it turned into a business, which I’d always wanted to have. It’s been my dream for many, many years. I always thought, ‘when it happens, it will happen.’ Then, right around the start of the pandemic, I said let’s just do it; if it works, it works and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. It’s been great, and I really love it.

“For me, it’s always the people and the relationships that are the fun part. You get to see people [around town] and say, ‘Hey, I know this person,’ or ‘I did a job for that person. I really enjoy that part... It’s amazing how the Lord works. I feel like the Lord blesses me with these jobs.”

Blackwell said if he gets called about a job he can’t tackle, he will do his best to connect the customer with someone who can, “because otherwise, they’re just back to square one, not knowing who to call.”

Blackwell gained his home improvement knowledge over his last twenty-plus years working on various projects

“Working in a facility like a church, you have to know how to do plumbing, you have to know how to do electrical, you have to know how to fix a drawer, you have to know how to problem solve,” he said. “I started out as a janitor, not knowing much. I was working with someone, who became my mentor, but he really turned out to be a father figure. I’ve worked with different skilled professionals who have helped me along the way to be well rounded.

Blackwell said one of his favorite jobs is power washing.

“It’s satisfying,” he said. “I’m good at it because it reminds me of a high school dance — you just go nice and slow, back and forth, back and forth. I really enjoy that because you can clearly see the before and after. I like painting too, for the same

reasons. Painting is such a transformation right away. Everything has a fun side to it because you see the before and after, that transformation.”

Blackwell works in the Kalona area, Washington, Coralville and other surrounding towns — he’s flexible when it comes to traveling, he said. Give Blackwell a call he would love to help with your next job and provides free estimates

And what about the name, Good to GEAUX?

“People see the spelling and aren’t sure how to pronounce it. Is it “gawks”? Is it “gee-youks? What is that?” It is GO! Cajun/French spelling for the word GO,” Blackwell said. “I was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, so I like that the name of my business has a southern slang to it. People cheer on the football team there with “GEAUX Tigers!” My wife helped me pull my roots back into it with the name,” Blackwell said.

“It’s cool because anywhere you go, people always say, ‘Alright, you’re good to go,’ whether you’re in a hospital or a restaurant or all different spots. It’s a personal flavor and I really love it.”