About Us
Why We Do It
Samantha and Jim moved to St. Johns in 2020 when Jim was called as the new pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church. They felt a strong call to join the St. John’s community, put down roots, and make it home. Emily and Lucas joined the Lansing community in 2021 when Lucas started his grad school program at MSU.
While Jack Pearl Properties was founded in 2013, these transitions to the St. Johns and Lansing communities brought the new service line - MyHandyma’am Home Repairs and Renovations. It is the Pearl family’s desire to use their skills and resources for the benefit of others in their communities.
#GoodWorkGoodWorks
We’re proud of the work we do and the way we take care of our customers. And we run our business to do good! 10% of profits are donated to nonprofit and charitable organizations as well as individuals in need.
Get to Know the Crew
Samantha
Samantha is the owner of MyHandyma’am and Jack Pearl Properties. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Olivet College (which is an awesome little school whose mission is to teach students to do good in the world) and an MBA from Cornerstone University, as well as being licensed as a residential builder in Michigan. She’s handy, crafty, and determined enough to get anything done. She loves to surprise, delight, and please others, and this shows in everything she does.
Emily
Emily is the artist in the family. She’s behind the marketing, branding, staging, and artwork involved in our business. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and is a licensed Residential Builder in the state of Michigan. Emily serves as the Project Manager for My Handyma’am. If something catches your eye and you think, “that’s beautiful!,” Emily probably designed it, drew it, painted it, or picked it! If you love one of our homes or a specific renovation, you can thank Emily for that. Emily has a love for others that radiates from her open heart; she’ll do anything for anyone!
Sammie
Sammie is our Administrative Coordinator. She has a BS in Chemistry from Hope College and an MEd in Secondary Science Education from the University of Notre Dame. She’s a mom of three fantastic little guys and when she’s not wrangling them, she keeps us organized and on track! She has a heart for helping others; a trait that shines through in the service she provides our customers (and us!). Sammie is the glue that holds everything together and allows us to provide exceptional service when working in the field.
Sylvia
Sylvia is a superstar senior at St. John’s High School where she is a RESA Construction Trades student. She is developing her craft with on-the-job training both at school and with our team and has a remarkable talent for solving problems, repairing things, and building with wood. Sylvia cares deeply about those around her and pays special attention to what matters most to our customers. She is an involved member of her church and school, participating in cross country, National Honors Society, and volunteer work.
Arly
Arly serves as a Field Technician in this awesome team and has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Olivet College. She comes from a family of “fixers” and has been fixing and creating as far back as she can remember. She has a knack for both form and function…she’s a talented painter, builder, sewer, and trim carpenter. She’s also skilled at fixing and finishing furniture. Arly has a delightful personality with a strong love for animals (especially her pet bunny, Satchmo) and a commitment to take care of the people we serve. She makes things work; she makes things beautiful!
Cher
Cher is our dedicated Administrative Coordinator and loves to help the team (and our customers!) in any way she can. She has a BA from Michigan State University and continues to learn via her love of do-it-yourself. She is a problem solver by nature and isn’t afraid to tackle all kinds of projects around her house, from plumbing to renovating, to gardening and cooking. There are few things she loves more than making the home around her beautiful, but her husband and little boy certainly come at the top of that list.
Kayleigh
Kayleigh is driven to learn both in her studies at college and at Handyma’am, honing her skills and doing her best work for our customers. After some time in food service, Kayleigh took her passion for working around her home (including painting her entire farmhouse!) to work in real life when she joined our team. She possesses a practical nature in learning every handy skill she can master and isn’t afraid to try new things, when she isn’t busy with her fur babies and crocheting blankets. Her kindness and empathy make her a great addition to the team.
Jim
Jim is the CSO of MyHandyma’am (chief service officer)…which means he pretty much is just always serving others…our clients, us Pearl girls, his family of faith. He received a history degree from St. Thomas University and a Masters in Divinity from St. John’s Provincial Seminary. His call to St. John’s Lutheran Church is what brought us to St. Johns. Jim is honest, committed, and the hardest working human we all know. He’ll just work and work until the job is done. His faith fuels his compassion for others and his heart for service.
Hannah
Hannah is the organizer and planner in the family. She’s an industrial and operations engineer (IOE) and a graduate of the University of Michigan. She shares her IOE expertise and project management principles, which helps us plan out our projects and keep us on track. If something is on time and under budget, Hannah’s principles are probably at the heart of it. She has a heart for service, justice, and the well-being of others which drives her to invest her time and energy in helping others.
Gracie
2014 - 2024 | Deeply Loved. Sorely Missed.
Gracie is the fur baby, smunch face, running buddy, tennis-ball loving, all-around goofball of the family. She provides comfort, entertainment, amusement, and love. She’s the CCO (Chief Canine Officer) of MyHandyma’am and takes her role very seriously.
Who is Jack Pearl?
Jack Pearl (1921-2012) was Jim’s dad and one of the best men we ever knew. He was an incredibly hard worker, committed to his family, and dedicated to doing good through his work. He was a World War II veteran who won the Bronze Star Medal, which is awarded to members of the Armed Forces for heroic or meritorious service. He established and ran a sporting goods business in Battle Creek, Michigan for fifty-three years, serving his community and his church his whole life. Our business is dedicated to his memory, and our mission is the same as his – to do good in the world.
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