Published June 2, 2025
By Lauren Lawley Head – Contributor to Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal
TJ Knatcal epitomizes the spirit of perseverance.
Newly married in 2008, Knatcal worked as a journeyman plumber when the Great Recession hit. His wife, Anisha, was just starting her speech-language pathology career when he became one of the country’s 8.6 million people who lost their jobs. It didn’t take long for him to decide what was next.
The Knatcals founded TJK Plumbing Inc. the same year, offering residential plumbing services in Maple Grove and throughout the Twin Cities metro area.
“TJ got his master’s plumber license and off we went,” Anisha said. “It’s all we’ve known as a family. This business is our first baby.”
Today, the business has a team of 19 and has expanded to become TJK Plumbing and Augie’s Drain Cleaning, which the Knatcals acquired in 2016. However, for a long time, TJ largely worked solo, often putting in 100 hours a week, handling everything from phone calls to scheduling to the actual plumbing work.
In the early years, the Knatcals kept the business’s plumbing supplies in their basement. The supplies later took over the living room and plumbers would come and go to get what they needed while Anisha was home taking care of their small children and helping manage the business. In 2012, TJ built a detached garage to store equipment and supplies. In 2014, the Knatcals took on their first warehouse lease.
Through it all, the Knatcals have kept their focus on customer service, which they feel goes hand-in-hand with the level of specialization and expertise required in residential plumbing work. TJK Plumbing has earned numerous awards and referrals are the primary driver of new business.
“Having strong customer service has helped us along the way,” Anisha said. “We have personable, friendly technicians who people feel safe with and trust in their homes.”
The Knatcals make marketing personal, too. Residents will often find TJ, Anisha and their children handing out rolls of toilet paper as a memorable giveaway at booths at Maple Grove Days, home shows and other events. In addition, the company sponsors high school sports teams and donates to CROSS Services and Feed My Starving Children, among other causes.
Like most businesses, Covid-19 brought a new set of challenges to TJK Plumbing. As an essential business, the Knatcals were able to stay open, but had to implement new safety precautions, navigate supply chain issues and weather the economic uncertainty.
When the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) launched, Anisha reached out to their bank about getting a loan, but struggled to get a response. She then turned to Sarah Anderson, a vice president and commercial banker at Highland Bank, whom she met through their shared volunteer work with the Maple Grove Community Organization.
“Sarah was fabulous in helping us in those early days of Covid when we didn’t know how it was going to affect the business and what was going to happen,” Anisha said. “She helped us move forward and secure PPP funds. We’ve been customers ever since.”
Working with the Knatcals was an easy decision, said Anderson, who has been a TJK Plumbing customer herself. “That community feel is part of this business,” she said. “Their technicians are kind and warm.”
The pandemic also opened an unexpected marketing opportunity for TJK Plumbing. The company had been buying toilet paper in bulk for giveaways at its community events and the Knatcals found themselves with a rare commodity. They put the word out on social media that if anyone — customer or not — needed toilet paper, they would deliver. Technicians left rolls on the doorsteps of anyone who reached out.
It was a small way of giving back to the community they call home, Anisha said. “Most of our technicians live in this area, so they’re working for and serving their friends and neighbors,” she said. “That’s one of the perks of being a locally-owned small business.”
With Covid in the rear-view mirror, the Knatcals continued to focus on growth. They’ve adopted new technology for scheduling and invoicing and have become more efficient at managing their 20-mile service area around Maple Grove. In 2022, they launched a second business, a small property management company.
Having a trusted banking partner was key, Anisha said. “We felt comfortable pursuing this because of Sarah’s expertise and assistance,” she said.
This year, the Knatcals are working to improve their apprenticeship program to streamline training for new plumbers. There are three apprentices in the business today and each will complete 7,000 hours of training over several years.
“I am proud of how my husband took his knowledge, expertise and willingness to learn how to start a business 17 years ago,” Anisha said. “He worked hard to get this company where it is. We’re grateful for the incredible team we have that takes his vision to heart and works hard to serve customers daily.”
Learn more about how Highland Bank is making a big impact on small business success at highland.bank/for-your-business.
TJK Plumbing is a friendly, family-owned plumbing company serving the Twin Cities since 2008. Based in Maple Grove, they offer honest pricing and expert service for everything from repairs and remodels to water heaters and emergencies — always with a smile and a commitment to doing the job right.
