IN 1997, Susan Haynes had spent a decade working for Union Planters Bank, and though her husband, Andy, had a dependable job, one question kept circling inside his brain — “What if I started my own business?”
“When Andy approached me in 1997 with the desire to go ahead and start our own business,” Susan recalled, “I was a bit more hesitant, and definitely fearful of not having a weekly paycheck. What if no one called? What if we couldn’t pay our bills? But Andy, if you know him, you already know, is a ‘hustler.’ He never feared failure. He was out every day, passing out business cards to anyone and everyone. He said to me, ‘Saddle up! It’s going to be a long ride.’”
They moved their then 4-year-old son, Luke, into his older brother Zach’s bedroom, but they weren’t preparing for the birth of another baby. That exciting news would come a couple of years later, when their daughter, Emma, was born. They were stepping out by faith, and that empty third bedroom served as the first headquarters of Haynes Service Company.
In those early days, they didn’t own a computer. Every invoice and check was written by hand. They also didn’t key their income and expenses into Microsoft Excel or into an advanced accounting software. Those were tracked the “old-fashioned way.” When a customer called, the landline rang in their borrowed bedroom-office. They communicated using two-way radios instead of cell phones, since cell phones weren’t widely available. Andy started running service calls with one helper and a 1987 GMC pickup truck. These meager beginnings were the bricks and mortar that became the foundation for a company now known throughout our region as one built with integrity
“We soon had all the business we could handle,” Susan recalled. “Looking back, we know God was with us from the start, preparing us for this big step in our lives. It was in the jobs we were employed at, the people we had the privilege to meet, and the experiences along the way leading up to that point that taught us what we needed to know to have the ability to handle running our own business. I have found that you can often see God’s handiwork, not so much in the moment, but crystal clear in retrospect.”
Andy had learned electrical and plumbing from his father, Jimmy Haynes, and this foundational knowledge grew as he wired school buildings and completed commercial jobs while working for other companies. His father used to say, “Hard work doesn’t hurt anything but your feelings,” and Andy has lived this daily.
“Our company started as a service company, hence the name, but quickly developed into a lot more as we aimed to meet our customers’ needs in all aspects,” Susan said.
In October 2025, they purchased Dynamic Pool Designs LLC on Madison Street. Andy said, “We had been considering adding a pool division for a few years, and we just felt it was a natural fit for us, considering our experience building and remodeling houses as well as building custom railings in our welding department. Our company also has extensive knowledge in excavating and HVAC, as well as experience in wiring and plumbing residential and commercial, including pools and spas.”
This acquisition was another leap of faith. Andy said, “We have been amazed at the overwhelming need for quality pool service. Thankfully, we already had a team in place that could handle that part of the business with ease. We were also fortunate to be able to keep a few of the key people from Dynamic Pools when we purchased the business. As we move forward, we intend to bring second to none quality service and installation to our community, as we have with Haynes Service Company. We’re ready, willing, and able to install a new pool, remodel an old one, add a spa or outdoor living space, install fencing, concrete… or, really, anything our customers may want.”
Though their future looks bright, the last three decades haven’t passed without struggles. The economic crash from 2008 to 2009 was a time of self-reflection. Instead of closing their business as many others were forced to do, they branched out, “reinvented themselves,” and took yet another step of faith. “We give God the glory for anything good that comes our way, and we try to learn from any trials we go through,” Susan said.
It doesn’t matter if a customer wants them to complete a job as simple as hanging a picture; they will gladly do it. “Andy and I are very thankful to employ some of the best in the business who have been instrumental in handling the daily workload with great leadership and work ethic,” Susan said. “Between our extraordinary employees and our three amazing children leading each division, we haven’t met a challenge we couldn’t conquer. Zach oversees our new construction division, Luke heads our industrial division, and Emma manages the pool division. Our children are equally important components of our success and, hopefully, the future success of our company.”
Their initial sacrifice of giving up a bedroom in their Unionville home has come full circle, as three stars were added to their logo to represent each of their children. As the business continues to thrive, they may need to add even more stars to their logo.
“It is exciting to think of seeing the future of our companies in the hands of our children. Hopefully, we have provided a legacy that they will be proud to continue into the next generation. We pray our work ethic and integrity have proven to be a solid foundation for our Haynes family. Who knows? One day, our grandchildren may be running these companies.” GN
For more information, go to www.haynesservicecompany.com or www.hscpools.com.
