Owner of Jerry Kyser Builder, Inc. and Founder of Kyser Property Management
Jerry Kyser got his start at an old Murphy gas station before securing a job at the Atlanta West Point railroad. During this time, he built his first house and met Mr. ED Nixon whose counsel encouraged Kyser to explore more lucrative ventures, ultimately leading to home building. Over the years, his dedication and craftsmanship garnered recognition, notably through his collaboration with the Lowder family, whose support proved pivotal to his success. Kyser passed on some of his learnings and insights to our local young business owners.
What would you tell your younger self?
I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but I think some of those make you stronger and a little bit better. You’re certainly not going to knock a home run every time you do something, but if you get a lot of singles, almost as many home runs—I think that pays off in the long run.
In retrospect, would you change your path?
I would spend a little bit more time with my children. Working seven days a week doesn’t give you much time. Things like holidays and other things—I probably missed some opportunities there. But fortunately, I have three wonderful kids. They’re all married and doing well.
What practical business advice do you have for young business owners and operators in Central Alabama?
I tell everyone I know and every businessperson to get involved with their local chamber. The connections you get from them will contribute overwhelmingly to your success, so get involved and get connected early on. If you want to get ahead in life, you need to get there 15 minutes early and stay 15 minutes later—just doing this makes you ahead of 90% of your competition.
What are your proudest achievements?
I would say I’ve been involved and committed to the Homebuilders Association since the late ‘60s—that’s where most of my early connections came from. One of the best things we did for that organization was set up a workman’s compensation fund and build a self-insured insurance company. We are now celebrating our 40th anniversary, and I’m proud to say it’s one of the most well-funded organizations in the country.
What pivotal moments or decisions played a role in your success?
After high school and Auburn, I started working for an old Murphy gas station and the owner got me a job at the Atlanta West Point railroad. I caused a train wreck that shut down the main line from Atlanta to New Orleans for three days which resulted in a 90-day suspension. During those 90 days, I built my first house. Had it not been for that investigation, I never would have gotten into home building. Over the years, I met the Lowder family, and I started building for them. I give them many thanks for what they’ve done over the years to help me.
JUST FOR FUN:
Go to Tunes
I’d have to say it’s the music I grew up on as a teenager: Elvis and Conway Twitty. My favorite song is “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” by Toby Keith.
Guilty Pleasure
You know I would have to say banana pudding is one of my favorites.
If You Could Have Dinner with Anyone (Dead or Alive) Who Would It Be and Why?
My mom and dad. They worked seven days a week, but we could not have asked for a better home life. They didn’t have any money, and we never took vacations, but I wouldn’t trade my parents or that life for a billion dollars.
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