User:TJGranson
Once the owner of a concrete floor coating business, TJ Granson II is now a proud stay-at-home dad. Aside from carrying out daily household chores, he is also a teacher and a coach to his five children. This change in the course of his career is something born of necessity. However, who would have imagined that Granson ended up enjoying it, and that he would still want to continue being a stay-at-home dad?
Prior to being a full-time father, Granson was a fire captain at the Kokomo Fire Department. Having a retired Fire Chief grandfather and a retired 35-year veteran father, Granson recognized the importance of a third-generation firefighter in the family and work environment. So, when the fire department was hiring, Granson applied and explored the opportunity to follow the roots of his family. He may not have finished his business management degree, but he was able to secure a steady job with great benefits.
Granson never took the job for granted. He aspired to do his best in hope that it would lead to a promotion, taking every class offered at the Kokomo Fire Department. With his efforts, he became a Hazmat Tech, Rope Tech, Vehicle Extrication Tech, and the list goes on.
Firefighters in today’s world face tough challenges in the day-to-day operation of their job— firefighters don’t just suppress fire, they also carry emergency medical licenses and are called on every fire and medical-related 911 call (the fire department’s number is the first to appear in emergency contact lists). Firefighters are typically the first to arrive on emergency medical scenes. With dedication, passion, and hardwork, TJ Granson was promoted captain at age 34. Granson considered this the most joyful moment in his career as a firefighter.
TJ Granson was not only in service to his community by being a firefighter. He was also engaged in a number of charitable works. These included donating time, skills, and money. For 2 years, he has been a volunteer coach for third and fourth graders of the girls youth basketball at the YMCA. And, he has also given free softball pitching and hitting lessons to a travel softball team of various youth in Kokomo, Indiana.
When he was still in service, he never failed to give $2.00 per check to United Way, a social impact organization. He, too, donated countless items to Goodwill, a nonprofit organization, and donated to the veteran staffs and sheriff’s department. Moreover, he used his skills for good causes. Granson and his business crew volunteered to paint the UCT park baseball field for two weeks. And because of him, Sherwin-Williams, a paint store, was persuaded to donate almost 50 gallons of the paints that they used.
Granson actively involved himself with the Fire Department’s charitable acts as well. Every year at Christmas, they put up a talent show for the benefit of people with mental and physical health disabilities. Every year, Granson and his coworkers would join their Fill the Boot fundraiser. He and his colleagues would stand in intersections and people would put their change and cash in their boots. The proceeds go to MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association), a nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related diseases by funding worldwide research.
Most of Granson’s colleagues have second jobs. As for Granson, he started a concrete floor coating business and called it Tj’s Painting and Epoxy. He lacked knowledge on the epoxy line of business, but he persevered; he attended several epoxy classes and capitalized on his skills in marketing, selling, and math. Tj’s Painting and Epoxy grew surprisingly well, demanding for more workers and equipment. To maintain the business, Granson and his crew mastered all its facets. After only a few years, they were able to learn epoxy floor applications, hybrid floor applications, and polished concrete finishes. After some time, Granson’s business was taking precedence over his family time. He decided to take a step back in business and focus more of his time and energy on his family. During the step back in business, he concentrated more on his firefighter job, and this decision helped him in his promotion.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 made Granson and his wife, Abby, take on a hard decision. TJ Granson and his wife decided for him to become a stay-at-home dad, and Abby to pursue her travel nurse career.
