All in the family

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James Caldwell started Five Star Restoration as a business his kids (from left: Chloe, Dakota and James) could take over for him. (Photo by Jillyann Burns)
James Caldwell started Five Star Restoration as a business his kids (from left: Chloe, Dakota and James) could take over for him. (Photo by Jillyann Burns)

James Caldwell started his business to secure his children’s future

For 11 years, James Caldwell has successfully created and became the president of Five Star Restoration, a water and fire restoration business. However, Caldwell’s motives were not the normal reasons behind starting a business.

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From left: Chloe, James, Dakota and James Caldwell and Alex Miller

In 2002, when his 1-year-old daughter, Chloe, had yet to start walking, Caldwell knew something was wrong. After a trip to the doctor, the Caldwells were given the news that their daughter, as well as their 2-year-old son, James, and their unborn child, Dakota, all had an incurable disease known as spinal muscular atrophy – a disease that takes over all the muscles and would eventually cause all three of his children to be in a wheelchairs.

Thinking years into the future, Caldwell did something extremely noble and selfless, he created a business with the hopes that his kids could run it in the future.

“I started the company so that my kids can take it over and so that it won’t be hard for them to find a job,” Caldwell said. “I want to make it as easy as I can for them.”

Because his past employment consisted of the water department at the City of Carmel and another carpet restoration job, ChemDry in Indianapolis, Caldwell did what he knew best and started Five Star Restoration.

Five Star Restoration also offers carpet cleaning, flood checks, home repairs, maid services and more. The company is family and veteran operated. Caldwell himself served five years in the National Guard.

To help not just his kids, each year part of the company’s profit is donated to the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation to help find a cure. Caldwell is hoping for a big check to give to them this year.

“I think James has all the right motives and ideas,” company Vice President Alex Miller, who has worked with Five Star for six months and has known Caldwell since middle school, said. “He’s doing it for noble reasons, and I wanted to get on board.”

When Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, the company sent half of its staff to New York, where it paid for the costs of the flight, the hotels, as well as the expenses of drying out the flooded houses for free. Over all, they dried out approximately 10 houses.

From left: Alex Miller, James Caldwell and Mayor Andy Cook at Five Star Restoration's ribbon cutting.
From left: Alex Miller, James Caldwell and Mayor Andy Cook at Five Star Restoration’s ribbon cutting.

“[Hurricane Sandy] really makes you look different at your life and what you have and cherish it,” Caldwell said, adding he cherishes spending time with his three kids.

Caldwell started the company not only for his kids in the future, but also for their benefit now. He wanted a flexible work schedule so that he would be able to spend time with them more often.

“We go fishing and play video games a lot,” Caldwell said. “We’ll stay up all night and watch cartoons in the morning, but I don’t get to spend as much time with them as I want.”

However, he said he hopes once business is steadier,he’ll be able to change that. Although it has been in business for more than a decade, Five Star Restoration only has been open at 17715 Commerce Dr., Suite 100, in Westfield for a few months. Previously it was housed in Castleton, but Caldwell says he already has noticed an increase in business.

“Westfield has made the turnaround for our company,” he said. “We are a dedicated business that strives to have technicians that have pride in what they do. We are a household name and strive for excellence and the best customer service. We worked hard to get where we’re at and we want to stay where we’re at. We’re here to stay.”

Caldwell’s kids are growing up. James, the eldest at 14, already has started helping his dad in the shop by working three days a week around the office with the secretaries as well as sweeping up in the shop when he can. He wants to major in business and can’t wait to start working at Five Star Restoration full time.

Chloe, 12, has already told her dad that she wants to be the lady answering the phones, and the youngest, 11-year-old Dakota, isn’t sure what he wants to do yet, but Caldwell said he hopes it’s something within the business. Caldwell wants his kids to follow their goals and dreams, wherever they may lead.

For more information about Five Star Restoration, visit www.fivestarindy.com or like Five Star Inc. on Facebook. For repairs, water damage or fire restoration, call 288-2444.

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