Life has a way of altering the plans we make without asking or giving any advanced warning, and in many cases the path that it chooses for us turns out better than the one we chose for ourselves.
Business owner Buster Jennings had no intention of walking in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who originally owned Jennings Welding & Machine Works, but now almost five decades later he is still there, although now on a limited basis.
Jennings recently announced that he is selling the family-owned establishment to another family, Scott and Jordan Poindexter. Scott has worked at the shop for years, is a certified welder and is only too familiar with the quality of work that the shop has been known for over the years.
Jennings said he is confident that Scott and his wife will continue to provide the same quality of service and attention to detail that his customers have become accustomed to.
Despite handing the business’s management and day-to-day operation over to the Poindexters, Jennings said that he and his wife will still be around and available to assist and answer any questions until the couple is ready to handle things on their own.
Jennings said upon completing college, his original plan was to be a teacher. Nevertheless, life handed the would-be educator a different path, where a temporary stint as a welder turned in to a lifetime commitment to the family’s business.
He attended the former Indianola High School in the late 60’s, and subsequently enrolled in Indianola Academy and graduated with the class of 1971 before going on to Mississippi State University, where he graduated in 1975 with a degree in industrial technology.
Jennings said he ended up buying the business from his father and has always strived to provide a quality of work that surpassed any other shops and based on how his customers keep coming back time after time, Jennings said that he is confident that he has succeeded in doing that.
He mentioned the countless times that he and his crews have had to respond to customers’ worksites because of equipment breaking down in the fields and such. He asserted that it was more efficient to make the repairs on site to minimize downtime.
Jennings described his welding process as different than most welders who simply tack weld with small beads. He said his process provides a stronger more permanent bond.
He added that it may cost a little more and require a little extra time, but the finished results provide him with the assurity that his customers will be satisfied that they’ve gotten results that they can depend on and that is extremely important to him.
Jennings said with a certainty that the business his family started decades ago and of which he has taken care over the last 40-plus years is in good hands. He expressed his undying gratitude to each of its loyal customers for continuously trusting him to provide excellent customer service.
In addition, he acknowledged his employees and emphatically stated that they are an integral part of the business’s success and he genuinely thanks each one of them.
