From the Ground Up: Our Origin Story

After a challenging business venture that didn’t go as planned, AJ had to find creative ways to make ends meet. His journey began after high school when he attended Tulsa Welding School in Jacksonville, Florida. From there, AJ traveled and worked in the industrial world, gaining experience in welding and fabrication.

One of AJ's early jobs was at Bulldog Steel in Madison, Georgia, where he worked on fabricating trailer parts. It was here that he worked with Lake Country Mechanical co-founder, Tyler Batchelor.

In 2015, AJ made the decision to leave his welding job on the road and return home. Around this time, he noticed a lot of construction activity around the lakes and decided to start a business called Lake Country Cleaning. The success of this venture allowed him to finally pursue his long-time dream of starting a welding business.

AJ’s wife, Becky, played a crucial role in making it all happen, stepping up and taking on a big responsibility in managing Lake Country Cleaning, which helped keep things running smoothly as the business grew.

Fast forward to 2022, AJ approached Tyler, who had become a highly skilled fabricator, about this new business venture. AJ saw an opportunity in the handrail business and, with his connections and Tyler’s expertise, they decided to take on the challenge. Once AJ secured the first handrail job, the duo built it in a friend’s shop, marking the beginning of their welding business.

In just three years, AJ and Tyler's business grew from working out of a small shop to a 6,000 square-foot facility. Their continued dedication and hard work have driven the business forward, and LCM continues to expand in the welding and fabrication industry.