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Business Journals
8 hours ago
- Business
- Business Journals
TJK Plumbing's blueprint for growth in Maple Grove and the Twin Cities metro area
TJ Knatcal epitomizes the spirit of perseverance. Newly married in 2008, Knatcal worked as a journeyman plumber when the Great Recession hit. His wife, Anisha, was just starting her speech-language pathology career when he became one of the country's 8.6 million people who lost their jobs. It didn't take long for him to decide what was next. The Knatcals founded TJK Plumbing Inc. the same year, offering residential plumbing services in Maple Grove and throughout the Twin Cities metro area. 'TJ got his master's plumber license and off we went,' Anisha said. 'It's all we've known as a family. This business is our first baby.' From one-man shop to community staple Today, the business has a team of 19 and has expanded to become TJK Plumbing and Augie's Drain Cleaning, which the Knatcals acquired in 2016. However, for a long time, TJ largely worked solo, often putting in 100 hours a week, handling everything from phone calls to scheduling to the actual plumbing work. In the early years, the Knatcals kept the business's plumbing supplies in their basement. The supplies later took over the living room and plumbers would come and go to get what they needed while Anisha was home taking care of their small children and helping manage the business. In 2012, TJ built a detached garage to store equipment and supplies. In 2014, the Knatcals took on their first warehouse lease. Through it all, the Knatcals have kept their focus on customer service, which they feel goes hand-in-hand with the level of specialization and expertise required in residential plumbing work. TJK Plumbing has earned numerous awards and referrals are the primary driver of new business. 'Having strong customer service has helped us along the way,' Anisha said. 'We have personable, friendly technicians who people feel safe with and trust in their homes.' The Knatcals make marketing personal, too. Residents will often find TJ, Anisha and their children handing out rolls of toilet paper as a memorable giveaway at booths at Maple Grove Days, home shows and other events. In addition, the company sponsors high school sports teams and donates to CROSS Services and Feed My Starving Children, among other causes. The power of a community banking partner Like most businesses, Covid-19 brought a new set of challenges to TJK Plumbing. As an essential business, the Knatcals were able to stay open, but had to implement new safety precautions, navigate supply chain issues and weather the economic uncertainty. When the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) launched, Anisha reached out to their bank about getting a loan, but struggled to get a response. She then turned to Sarah Anderson, a vice president and commercial banker at Highland Bank, whom she met through their shared volunteer work with the Maple Grove Community Organization. 'Sarah was fabulous in helping us in those early days of Covid when we didn't know how it was going to affect the business and what was going to happen,' Anisha said. 'She helped us move forward and secure PPP funds. We've been customers ever since.' expand Working with the Knatcals was an easy decision, said Anderson, who has been a TJK Plumbing customer herself. 'That community feel is part of this business,' she said. 'Their technicians are kind and warm.' The pandemic also opened an unexpected marketing opportunity for TJK Plumbing. The company had been buying toilet paper in bulk for giveaways at its community events and the Knatcals found themselves with a rare commodity. They put the word out on social media that if anyone — customer or not — needed toilet paper, they would deliver. Technicians left rolls on the doorsteps of anyone who reached out. It was a small way of giving back to the community they call home, Anisha said. 'Most of our technicians live in this area, so they're working for and serving their friends and neighbors,' she said. 'That's one of the perks of being a locally-owned small business.' A vision for growth With Covid in the rear-view mirror, the Knatcals continued to focus on growth. They've adopted new technology for scheduling and invoicing and have become more efficient at managing their 20-mile service area around Maple Grove. In 2022, they launched a second business, a small property management company. Having a trusted banking partner was key, Anisha said. 'We felt comfortable pursuing this because of Sarah's expertise and assistance,' she said. This year, the Knatcals are working to improve their apprenticeship program to streamline training for new plumbers. There are three apprentices in the business today and each will complete 7,000 hours of training over several years. 'I am proud of how my husband took his knowledge, expertise and willingness to learn how to start a business 17 years ago,' Anisha said. 'He worked hard to get this company where it is. We're grateful for the incredible team we have that takes his vision to heart and works hard to serve customers daily.' Learn more about how Highland Bank is making a big impact on small business success at TJK Plumbing is a friendly, family-owned plumbing company serving the Twin Cities since 2008. Based in Maple Grove, they offer honest pricing and expert service for everything from repairs and remodels to water heaters and emergencies — always with a smile and a commitment to doing the job right.
Chicago Tribune
20 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
South Holland woman sentenced in theft scheme, pocketed rent payments
A South Holland woman was sentenced to two years in prison for taking more than $18,000 in rent payments while she was working for a property management company, according to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office. Delvya Harris also admitted to fraudulently obtaining more than $41,000 in federal Paycheck Protection Program loans by falsely claiming she owned a business, Raoul's office said in a news release. Harris, 32, was sentenced Monday by Cook County Judge Laura Ayala-Gonzalez after pleading guilty to a Class 3 felony theft charge, according to the release. Harris was employed by management firm Habitat Co. as an assistant community manager at the Chicago Housing Authority's Trumbull Park Homes in Chicago's South Deering community when she stole 50 money orders, according to the release. Harris admitted to depositing money orders CHA tenants used to pay, worth $18,215, into her personal bank account between December 2022 and March 2023, according to the release. Harris also fraudulently applied for two PPP loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration by falsely claiming that she owned a retail business that did not exist, Raoul's office said. Harris received a total of just over $41,000 in February and May 2021 from two fraudulent applications, according to the news release.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ directs US attorneys to seek to revoke citizenship of naturalized Americans over crime
The Justice Department issued a memo directing US attorneys to "prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings" as part of an effort by the Trump administration to crack down on crime. The memo from Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate states that denaturalization cases against "individuals who pose a potential danger to national security, including those with a nexus to terrorism, espionage, or the unlawful export from the United States of sensitive goods, technology, or information raising national security concerns" are one of the key priorities. "The benefits of civil denaturalization include the government's ability to revoke the citizenship of individuals who engaged in the commission of war crimes, extrajudicial killings, or other serious human rights abuses; to remove naturalized criminals, gang members, or, indeed, any individuals convicted of crimes who pose an ongoing threat to the United States; and to prevent convicted terrorists from returning to U.S. soil or traveling internationally on a U.S. passport," Shumate wrote. "The Department of Justice may institute civil proceedings to revoke a person's United States citizenship if an individual either 'illegally procured' naturalization or procured naturalization by 'concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation,'" he added in the June 11 directive. Trump Appointee Vows To Focus Doj's Largest Division On Dei, Denaturalization Shumate said the Justice Department's Civil Division should "prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence." Read On The Fox News App The memo said attorneys should pursue denaturalization cases against individuals who "committed human trafficking, sex offenses, or violent crimes" and those who "engaged in various forms of financial fraud against the United States (including Paycheck Protection Program ('PPP') loan fraud and Medicaid/Medicare fraud)." Federal Judge Allows Irs To Share Illegal Alien Data With Dhs In Court Win For Trump It also calls for attorneys to initiate cases against "individuals who further or furthered the unlawful enterprise of criminal gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and drug cartels" and "individuals who engaged in fraud against private individuals, funds, or corporations." Overall, the memo lists ten priority categories for denaturalization. Two days after issuing the memo, the Justice Department said it "secured the denaturalization of a convicted collector and distributor of child sexual abuse material."Original article source: DOJ directs US attorneys to seek to revoke citizenship of naturalized Americans over crime
Fox News
a day ago
- Politics
- Fox News
DOJ directs US attorneys to seek to revoke citizenship of naturalized Americans over crime
The Justice Department issued a memo directing US attorneys to "prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings" as part of an effort by the Trump administration to crack down on crime. The memo from Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate states that denaturalization cases against "individuals who pose a potential danger to national security, including those with a nexus to terrorism, espionage, or the unlawful export from the United States of sensitive goods, technology, or information raising national security concerns" are one of the key priorities. "The benefits of civil denaturalization include the government's ability to revoke the citizenship of individuals who engaged in the commission of war crimes, extrajudicial killings, or other serious human rights abuses; to remove naturalized criminals, gang members, or, indeed, any individuals convicted of crimes who pose an ongoing threat to the United States; and to prevent convicted terrorists from returning to U.S. soil or traveling internationally on a U.S. passport," Shumate wrote. "The Department of Justice may institute civil proceedings to revoke a person's United States citizenship if an individual either 'illegally procured' naturalization or procured naturalization by 'concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation,'" he added in the June 11 directive. Shumate said the Justice Department's Civil Division should "prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence." The memo said attorneys should pursue denaturalization cases against individuals who "committed human trafficking, sex offenses, or violent crimes" and those who "engaged in various forms of financial fraud against the United States (including Paycheck Protection Program ('PPP') loan fraud and Medicaid/Medicare fraud)." It also calls for attorneys to initiate cases against "individuals who further or furthered the unlawful enterprise of criminal gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and drug cartels" and "individuals who engaged in fraud against private individuals, funds, or corporations." Overall, the memo lists ten priority categories for denaturalization. Two days after issuing the memo, the Justice Department said it "secured the denaturalization of a convicted collector and distributor of child sexual abuse material."
New York Post
a day ago
- Politics
- New York Post
DOJ memo outlines plans for ‘prioritizing denaturalization' — aka yanking US citizenship — of individuals charged with certain crimes
The Justice Department will prioritize revoking the US citizenship of individuals charged with certain crimes, according to a memo issued by the agency earlier this month. 'The Civil Division shall prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence,' read a June 11 'enforcement priorities' memo sent by Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate to all employees within the DOJ's Civil Division. Shumate noted that the civil division has established several 'categories of priorities for denaturalization cases' in order to 'promote the pursuit of all viable denaturalization cases … and maintain the integrity of the naturalization system while simultaneously ensuring an appropriate allocation of resources.' 'Denaturalization' was among five priorities for the DOJ's civil division listed in a June 11 memo. Getty Images The 10 categories of crimes that could lead to citizenship being stripped range from 'war crimes' to COVID loan fraud, according to the memo. Individuals 'who pose a potential danger to national security, including those with a nexus to terrorism, espionage, or the unlawful export from the United States of sensitive goods, technology, or information raising national security concerns' will be among those prioritized for denaturalization. As will individuals who 'further or furthered the unlawful enterprise of criminal gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and drug cartels.' Various forms of fraud are also listed in the memo, including 'Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud and Medicaid/Medicare fraud' and 'fraud against private individuals, funds, or corporations.' The DOJ will also target 'individuals who committed human trafficking, sex offenses, or violent crimes.' Naturalized citizens who didn't disclose previous felonies during the process or acquired their citizenship through 'government corruption' or 'misrepresentation' could also be subject to prioritized denaturalization proceedings. The DOJ, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, has already stripped the US citizenship of at least one person convicted of possession of child pornography. AP 'Any other cases referred to the Civil Division that the Division determines to be sufficiently important to pursue' will also meet the priority threshold, according to the memo. 'These categories are intended to guide the Civil Division in prioritizing which cases to pursue; however, these categories do not limit the Civil Division from pursuing any particular case, nor are they listed in a particular order of importance,' Shumate noted. 'Further, the Civil Division retains the discretion to pursue cases outside of these categories as it determines appropriate.' Denaturalization is among the DOJ's top five enforcement priorities for the civil division, which also lists 'Combatting Discriminatory Practices and Policies,' 'Ending Antisemitism,' 'Protecting Women and Children' and 'Ending Sanctuary Jurisdictions' as top concerns. At least one person has been denaturalized since the memo was issued. Elliott Duke, a British national convicted of receipt and possession of child pornography in 2014, was stripped of his US citizenship on June 13, according to the DOJ. Duke was granted US citizenship in 2013 after enlisting in the US Army the year prior. He claimed on his 2013 citizenship application that he had never committed a crime for which he was not arrested, but the DOJ determined that in 2012, while serving in Germany, Duke began receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material. Duke's denaturalization case was investigated under 'Operation Prison Lookout,' which the DOJ describes as 'an ongoing national initiative involving the Justice Department and ICE to identify and prosecute sex offenders who have fraudulently obtained United States citizenship.' 'The laws intended to facilitate citizenship for brave men and women who join our nation's armed forces will not shield individuals who have fraudulently obtained US citizenship by concealing their crimes,' Shumate said in a statement. 'If you commit serious crimes before you become a US citizen and then lie about them during your naturalization process, the Justice Department will discover the truth and come after you.'
