From Ireland to N.M. desert, man’s skills lead to growing business

Using skills he gleaned through a well-traveled life starting on a farm in Ireland, a Rio Rancho man has built a handyman service from start-up to three full-time employees in a year and a half.

John Whitney runs Mr. Fix It Irish Handyman LLC, which serves Rio Rancho and Albuquerque, with occasional jobs in Santa Fe or the East Mountains. He and his employees handle remodeling, carpentry, electrical services, plumbing, wall repair, painting, roofing, swamp cooler repair and landscaping services.

I was always able to do a lot of things, and what I cant do, I can pick up pretty fast, he said. And the guys I employ are even more qualified than I am, so that helps. (I) try to build a good team.

Whitneys handyman training began as he grew up on a farm in northwest Ireland.

Youre using your hands from the age of 4, building stuff, knocking stuff down, building stuff again, he said.

In high school, Whitney learned trades such as metal work and drafting.

After he came to the United States in 1999, he worked in Massachusetts as a roofer and then as an engineer on pipelines and tunnels in California, before moving to New Mexico and working as a cowboy on a ranch near Santa Rosa. About three years ago, he moved to Rio Rancho to be with Lindsey, his then-girlfriend, a City of Vision native.

Whitney worked as a landscape maintenance employee at Santa Ana Star Casino, and then as an estimator for an asphalt company.

Two years ago, he enrolled in Central New Mexico Community College to pursue an associate degree in construction management. He found a full-time college schedule wasnt compatible with his job at the asphalt company.

So, Whitney said, he got a job as an extra for The Lone Ranger and started renovating his yard.

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From Ireland to N.M. desert, man’s skills lead to growing business