Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 11-22-16 Online Edition

Features
Business Owner Wants To Continue To Grow And Serve The Community
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
After making many sacri- fices, Donald Dunlap opened his heating and air conditioning business. At times, there were obstacles in his way, but he stayed true to his dream.
Today, Dunlap said his goal is to continue to provide a valuable service to the Tampa community. “The team I have are really good and we are striving to do bet- ter in the business,” he said.
His staff consists of
Desten Duncan, Ray- mond Jenkins, Em- manuel Watson, and himself.
He became interested in the heating and air condi- tioning business several years ago. And while inquir- ing about how to get started, he learned there were not too
Shown standing beside their service truck left to right are: Desten Duncan, Donald Dun- lap, owner of the company, Raymond Jenkins, and Emmanuel Watson.
city because the opportuni- ties for a young Black man were not there.
Dunlap, 52, is married and the father of twin sons. When not spending time with his twin sons watching drag racing, Dunlap enjoys bowling and staying active. He is a member of Love First Non-Denominational Church.
Dunlap, who moved to Tampa more than 20 years ago, hopes to help other young Blacks and give them an opportunity to learn the trade. “Once they learn it, no one can take it away from them, and it will keep them out of trouble. I hope to bring others into the business.”
many Black owned and oper- ated companies. “I figured this was something that I could do.”
When he decided to enroll in school to become certified, he met his first roadblock. He was working as a machine operator for a business and the company wouldn’t allow him to attend classes.
“So I quit that job and worked in construction while I went to school.” After com- pleting the course, at Erwin Vocational School, Dunlap found a job in the field to learn the trade from the in- side and gain experience.
In 2009, he opened the doors of Dunlap’s Heating & AC LLC. The business is lo-
cated at 1248 E. Hillsbor- ough Avenue.
A native of New Jersey, Dunlap was raised in Cler- mont, Florida. He left that
Daymond John To Visit Tampa
Entrepreneur and star of of ABC’s hit show “Shark Tank,” Daymond John, will visit Tampa on Decem- ber 1st.
His invitation
only appearances
will take place at
Tampa Palms Golf
and Country Club,
5811 Tampa Palms
Blvd., and A La
Carte Shrine Pavil-
ion and Egypt Shrine, 4050 Dana Shores Drive.
During the visit, John will share his personal success story. He will also share infor- mation on utilizing high level entrepreneurial and leader- ship skills; discuss activating
DAYMOND JOHN
personal entrepreneurial plans of attack; developing professional networks through business management; engag- ing increasing icome and earn- ing potential; and the use of cutting edge strategies in the market.
PAGE 4 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2016