ABOUT US

Donny sadly disclosed to Ray that the chimney business wasn’t going to happen. Donny had a full-time position at his current job, and they offered health benefits and retirement. He was close to retirement and needed the health benefits—Donny couldn’t afford to risk it all to open a chimney sweep business. Ray was admittedly a little disappointed because he’d just closed down his lawn business, which he could have extended for a couple more months—either laying mulch or fall fertilizing. Donny offered a solution to Ray’s problem: Donny would sell Ray his chimney cleaning equipment for $300, and if Ray liked the business, he could keep cleaning. If Ray did not like the business, Donny would buy the same equipment back for $300. Donny taught Ray how to clean chimneys for about a week, and then Ray flew the nest on his own. Ray quickly learned everything there was to know concerning the chimney cleaning and repair business. Ray became CSIA-certified, and Nicole thought of the name, “Step in Time.” Wanting to be first in the telephone book, the name “A Step in Time” in Virginia Beach, VA was born. Ten years later, with the help of Ray’s first employee, Matt Watkins, A Step in Time in Virginia Beach, VA has expanded to seven different states and—by footprint— is the largest chimney cleaning and repair business in the United States.