Over time Tom Jr slowly took over the daily operations of the company and in 1986 presented a buyout proposal to Tom Sr and his father accepted the offer. Tom Jr. was now the proud owner of Chesley Fence and Deck

Tom, after buying the business began to specialize more in residential/decorative fencing opposed to the prior chain link and a small percentage of aluminum and wood. Over the years Chesley became known as the place to buy your fence in St Clair County and surrounding cities. Today as you drive around local neighborhoods it’s difficult not to find a fence with the Chesley Name Tag.

Chesley had $100,000 in gross sales in 1986 when Tom Jr. purchased the company. Tom put in the long hours needed to grow the company and never looked back. In 1994 Chesley achieved $1,000,000 in sales and in 2006 the business grossed almost $3,000,000. Tom will tell you that his wife Patty who came into the company in 1989 had a huge roll in the success and growth of the family business.

In 2013 Tom and Patty decided it was time to slow down and possibly sell the company. They had several things to achieve if this was going to happen. Sell their family business to another successful family business who would keep the Chesley name, take care of their customers as Chesley had for 47 years and both Tom and Patty wanted to continue working for the company, but without the daily stress of ownership.

On March 14th, 2014, Tom and Patty sold Chesley Fence and Deck to Scott and Bud Jacob, owners of Jacob Family Enterprises LLC.

Scott and Bud Jacob gave Tom and Patty what they wanted. The Jacob brothers were very happy to bring Chesley Fence and Deck into their family of businesses and keep the Chesley name.

Tom handles sales for Chesley and Patty continues to run the office. The transition of ownership has worked well for everyone involved.