MPW.69 / 2017 Building a Better Eldon by Sarah Miller
Photographer
Sarah Miller Tyler, Texas

Team Chapnick

Story Summary

Newlyweds Shannon and Katie Imler have accomplished a lot as a young couple from a small town. The entrepreneurs co-own a successful construction business headquartered on Maple Street. Their own stately home in the heart of Eldon is a beautifully renovated 3500 square feet.

Katie, 24, and Shannon, 29 met six years ago, started SPI Enterprises, LLC and then married last December.

“I never dreamed I would own a business that helps 15 people. I’m employing people, and there’s nowhere better than Eldon,” Katie Imler said.

The Imlers work 12-hour days, four days per week running multiple job sites and usually meeting with new customers every night.

"I look forward to waking up each morning and going to work. I like seeing the progress of each job. If I'm not busy all the time, I'm not enjoying it," Shannon Imler said.

Being in business together works for the Imlers because each has their own specialty. Shannon does the bidding and keeps each job site set up and on track. Katie handles the office paperwork, does the company marketing and picks out paint colors and tile for their projects.

"We're both open to each other's ideas," Shannon said.

Living in a constant work mode can be tiring, but it’s just a way of life for the Imlers. The couple spends hours on their cell phones staying connected to their community and clients. Even mealtime and days off are combined with working on project estimates and marketing on social media. In a town of 4,500 people, SPI Enterprises has over 2,000 likes on their Facebook page.

The Imlers are renovating buildings all over town. The town is responding to their work with positive feedback. The Imlers believe that every new building they construct and every old building they renovate will make Eldon a better place.