Hands On Future: Jack Geiser on Legacy and Opportunity in the Trades

Clean Cut Handyman is a family operation in Decatur, Illinois, where the work is personal and the standards are high. Jack grew up around the business his dad started, and now he’s helping carry it forward with a clear eyed view of what the trades can offer the next generation.

“The trades are really important, especially today, because people in the trades are becoming harder to find in my generation. It’s sometimes forgotten that these are the very people who literally built America.”

From the family shop to the future:

Jack’s path is hands on and straightforward. Show up, solve the problem, and leave the space better than you found it. In a family run setting, that mindset shapes everything from how the phones get answered to how a job gets finished.

“For me, being in the trades is about providing real value. Whether it’s a residential or commercial project, our goal is to deliver something that makes our clients proud of their space.”

Value you can see:

Handyman and painting work is immediate. Walls get repaired, rooms get refreshed, storefronts get renovated. The before and after is visible, and the impact is local. Jack likes that you can step back at the end of the day and see what changed.

“It’s rewarding to step back and see what we’ve built, and to know the impact our company has on clients, employees, and the local economy.”

Why the shortage is an opening:

Fewer young people are entering the trades, which creates room for leaders who want to build real careers and stable teams. For Jack, that looks like investing in quality and treating every job as a chance to earn the next one.

The legacy mindset:

Jack respects where the business came from and is focused on where it can go. Learn the craft, keep promises, grow the opportunities for the people around you.

“Honoring the tradition of the trades while building something meaningful for the next generation is what it’s all about for me.”

Know someone in the trades with a story worth telling? Reach out and help us spotlight the people improving homes, businesses, and communities one project at a time.