About Robs Jobs

PO Box 6366, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Like most homeowners, your single largest investment, and probably your most important, is your home. Just like your automobile needs regular maintenance to stay in top running form, your home needs regular maintenance to keep its investment value. Your home will continue to provide a lifelong source of pride and satisfaction if you tend to its needs on a regular basis. Let Robs Jobs, LLC handle your home's basic needs, tend to minor (and major) repairs, assist in remodeling and expansion, and help ensure that your home remains a place where you can spend quality time with your family and your family can grow and feel secure.

About Robs Jobs, LLC

One evening, in 1991, as Rob, Rob's grandfather Harry and Rob's grandmother sat around the kitchen table discussing Rob's financial situation, Harry broached the subject of Rob starting up a handyman service as a legitimate business. Harry had been observing Rob frequently doing a lot of free work and helping out many people. Harry was an accomplished businessman who built his own business from a garage shop into a multi-million dollar powerhouse in the hardware industry and he was uniquely equipped to spot a diamond in the ruff.

Rob was skeptical because although he knew he had skills and training, he didn't think he had enough talent to justify charging people. It was easy for Rob to do favors, but he struggled with the idea of charging people for work he truly enjoyed doing. After much deliberation, Rob decided to give it a try as long as his grandfather would be a partner with him. Harry flat out refused by saying adamantly "I will help you and advise you, but I am retired and want no part of being in business again with anyone!"

Harry's first contribution for the new company was the name - Robs Jobs. He felt confident that the catchy name would be easy for people to remember. Rob was still hesitant about going forward with this new business venture. Since the time he was a teenager, most of his energy had been spent on the road pursuing his dream as a musician with various rock and roll bands, but he always had to find other work to make ends meet financially. Little did he know that his 'other work' in carpentry, electrical, mechanics, plumbing and cable TV was about to provide for him a new career direction. As a cross country tractor trailer driver, Rob made good money, but he was not happy with being away from home for long periods of time.

For the first year after the formation of Robs Jobs, Rob drove a tanker truck over the road Tuesday through Friday and worked Robs Jobs on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Harry provided the first customer referral - a church friend of his who needed a set of wheelchair ramps. Robs Jobs' first job was soon completed and its list of satisfied customers had begun.

Business was growing, but very slowly, even for a part time weekend venture. Once again, Rob's grandfather offered his business expertise. Harry knew that Robs Jobs needed to market its services to a larger audience. He connected Rob with another church friend, Neil Buck. Neil was a computer programmer who needed help moving from one apartment to another, and Rob was labor; in need of a marketing flyer. To make a long story short, Neil got moved and every Robs Jobs flyer since that time has been some variation of the effective and catchy flyer that was originally designed by Neil. The flyer launched Robs Jobs to another level as thousands of flyers went out into older neighborhoods throughout Columbia, MD. Robs Jobs was no longer a weekend only business.

By the mid nineties, Robs Jobs evolved to the next level. Robs Jobs billed by the hour, but customers with larger projects were hesitant to start their work without a definitive price. Rob began to learn how to estimate and quote jobs and he eventually saw the benefits as business increased. By now, Rob needed some help. He was told "You can't do all the work yourself, because if you continue to try to do it all, the company will not grow." It was suggested qualified workers be brought on to help handle the heavier workload.

Within months, business was taking off. The office staff provided live, knowledgeable voices on the phone for potential clients and raised the level of professionalism for the company. Rob has often said "I try to surround myself with people smarter than me. As long as I continue to listen more than I talk, Robs Jobs will continue to grow".

As business increased, and Rob admitted he couldn't do it all, an opportunity presented itself to bring on a very skilled and conscientious individual. A good friend Trevor Colby, informed Rob that his father, Butch, had just been laid off from a company he had worked for all his life. Trevor felt that Rob should consider bringing Butch on. "He probably won't be able to help you for long because he will get hired by another firm but it could work to both of your advantages for awhile" Trevor said. Butch was an extremely gifted individual and there was nothing he couldn't do or fix. With his experience in the military and his handy electrical skills, Robs Jobs now had another friendly face." The customers adored Butch and though he was only with Robs Jobs a year or so before he was hired by a huge conglomerate and sent to Russia to instruct students in nuclear emergency systems, he is sorely missed to this day. His son, Trevor has gone on to be extremely successful with Colby Construction and builds large additions in Howard County.

Until 1996 Robs Jobs advertised only by word-of-mouth and occasional neighborhood flyer distribution. A friend of Rob's, who owns and operates a restaurant, Jilly's in Enchanted Forest Shopping Center, offered to put a Robs Jobs advertisement on their breakfast menu. For only the cost of the paper run, the owner Will, agreed to give Robs Jobs its first advertising type exposure. The response to the ad was great and it is still on every breakfast menu handed out to early morning customers at the renowned restaurant. Will now owns and operates several more restaurants including the Forest Diner in Ellicott City, MD.

By 1997, Robs Jobs, had surpassed its local competition in size and sales and was the only Handyman outfit in the area to run multiple trucks. Although the vans and trucks have changed over the years, the logo remains the same and is one of the most recognized logos in the area.

Sporting their favorite NFL teams. From left: Joe, Derek, Bobby, DJ, Ronnie, Rob, Tony & Jess

With the addition of some of the finest craftsman and subcontractors in the region as well as major changes made by Rob Rogers, Robs Jobs, LLC is now known as the premier professional Handyman and Home Improvement company in Howard County, MD.

Robs Jobs specializes in the 'Honey Do' list (many husbands are all too familiar with this). They have been serving Howard County, MD (and surrounding counties) for over 18 years. Robs Jobs has grown almost exclusively through repeat customers and word-of-mouth advertising. Many of their clients have remarked that Robs Jobs is probably "the best kept secret in Howard County". Robs Jobs provides high quality work and excellent customer service at extremely affordable prices. Robs Jobs stands behind their work, will show up when expected and will work with clients through-out each stage of the construction and "growing pains" process.

Realtors from ReMax Columbia, ReMax Advantage , O'Conor Piper & Flynn ERA, Long & Foster , and Coldwell Banker count on Robs Jobs to get their listings looking their best and to complete inspection items promptly so settlement proceeds smoothly. Landlords rely on Robs Jobs to quickly and efficiently prepare their properties for the incoming tenants.

Home Depot and locally owned and operated Clark's ACE Hardware depend on Robs Jobs to competently service their loyal customers with honesty and integrity.

Homeowners in Howard County (and Baltimore County ) continue to utilize Robs Jobs to maintain their investment in their homes. Whether you need a big job or a small job done right or would like to set up regular service calls to keep your home operating in top condition, Robs Jobs is the call to make.

Robs Jobs has been featured in various newspapers and publications and was spotlighted on the front page of "The Business Monthly" a Howard County publication dedicated to the circulation of noteworthy news in the business community. Most recently a feature article on Robs Jobs was on the front page of the Daily Record.

You can reach Robs Jobs at 410-750-1599, by fax 410-740-0669 or by email. Robs Jobs, LLC is licensed, bonded, and insured with Workers Comp as well as a two million dollar general liability policy for the protection of our valued customers.

As a child, Rob was an avid carpenter's helper. From the time he was able to carry a hammer, he was always at his dad's side helping with projects and studying intently, not only his father's skills, but those of neighbors as well.

By the time he was 14, he could utilize his skills to build anything that was needed around the home. By the time Rob left Port Deposit, he and his father had totally remodeled their 5000 SF home on seven acres in rural Cecil County, MD. Included in the remodeling was the addition of a 3000 SF barn, a 4-car carport/garage, a 12 x 40 screened porch, fencing, kennels, new bay windows, new heating and AC, a new roof, new aluminum siding, a redwood sauna, and total demolition's and remodels of all rooms in the house.

Rob's father, former Navy jet pilot and American Airlines pilot, was a disciplinarian and a hard worker. He didn't believe in paying other people to do repairs. He did them himself or they "didn't need to be done". Walter didn't believe in wasting his money and hated to see other people waste theirs. This philosophy is also part of Rob's life and he will often offer "inexpensive fixes" to customers rather than see them waste money on costly replacement. Rob grew up taking his lunch to school in a brown bag and folding it up in his back pocket to carry home after school to be re-used. Always taught to conserve resources, Rob's family was essentially recycling in the 1970's before most of the country had even heard of it.

Walter Rogers had his family work four large gardens on seven acres to supply the family with food. Excess vegetables were canned for winter use by Jansie, Rob's mother. Jansie pickled, canned, and froze vegetables, baked bread, took care of her flowers/landscaping and took care of her family.

Once a year, a steer was butchered for meat. Milk came from a local farm where Walter or Rob filled gallon jugs straight from the dairy holding tank before the tanker truck would come to take the milk to the pasteurizing plant. Usually the milk was still warm when they filled the jars. After returning home and letting the milk settle in the cellar for a day, someone would carefully scoop the cream off the top of the jars with a ladle. The cream was later used by a family member to make butter for the family. Trips to the grocery store were not as common as most families but occasionally Rob's dad would take the family to McDonalds in a neighboring town after church on Sunday, this was a luxury the family looked forward to.

Even as a young boy, Rob loved fixing things. Rob says his father was the "original handyman" and was able to fix anything. This "hobby" of Rob's continued throughout high school as he continued to develop his carpentry expertise and add other skills to his repertoire.

Rob's strict upbringing taught him not to waste and how to make a little go a long way. He was taught at an extremely young age how to "find a fix" and to embrace the idea that there is "always a way". Rob brings this philosophy to the customers of Robs Jobs and his employees are trained to try to save the customers’ money rather than to try to "convince a person they need something that they really don't.

Growing up in farm country breeds very strong and self-sufficient individuals and Rob proved to be no exception to this rule. When he headed off to college at NC State, Rob's technical knowledge helped finance his studies. He soon started as an apprentice at an electrical company and worked his way up through the ranks. His time in the south also enabled him to add plumbing, cable tv, and retail management to his resume.

Rob's children were raised with lots of love, but they were also passed down the teachings of Walter and Jansie Rogers. Both kids paid for their own automobiles and insurance from money earned by becoming entrepreneurs at a young age. Doug's Discount Lawn Service and Carolyn, Certified Babysitter Extraordinaire were ventures put together by Rob and then owned and operated by the kids, each with their own business account at the local bank.

As pretty as Carolyn is, it is sometimes hard to believe this is a young woman who changed her own oil, tires, and even did her own brake jobs. Besides being well versed in mechanics and landscaping, Carolyn is a great musician and an expert in Home Improvement. She can do small to large jobs, including everything from painting all the way up to vinyl siding on houses. In addition, Carolyn is an accomplished book keeper and office manager. She is liked, respected, admired and adored by all that know her.

Carolyn currently resides in Wilmington, NC where she and her husband Dean just built a custom home. She is a full time Registered Nurse in the Medical ICU at Pitt County Memorial Hospital. Of the past 80 nurses hired by PCMH, she is one of only two to get assigned to the elite ICU unit. She accomplished a 4.0 GPA at University of North Carolina and oustanding marks at Cape Fear College where she completed her Nursing degree. Her Dad is VERY proud of her :) She is also able to access the Robs Jobs accounting ledgers through an internet connection to the business office using "PC Anywhere".

Rob has three nephews. Tyler is pictured below left and Christopher and Jimmy below right. Rob also has two twin nieces, Sarah and Caitlyn, pictured below left.

Sometimes referred to as "the guy who can fix anything" or "Mr. Jobs", Rob's diverse experiences have led him to offering his services and know how to customers throughout the local area as well as many employees, past and present that have worked for Robs Jobs over the past 18 years.

The Robs Jobs office staff is joined during the long days in the office by Rob's Labrador Brittany, pictured below right. Rob's other lab, Alexa, went to Doggie heaven on March 22nd, 2004 where she is chasing frisbies with Rob's Dad.