CONWAY – She is a schoolteacher, spending her days developing and growing young minds in their insatiable thirst for knowledge.

He is a jack-of-all trades….good with his hands, sharp with his mind, and eager to tackle a new challenge.

Separately they each can stand on their merits, but together they form an unbeatable team.

Welcome to the world that is now Drake Construction.

This Conway-based business, which started as a part-time operation in September of 2007, has suffered growing pains, so much to the point where husband and wife Devin and Polly Drake combined their talents and watched their once tiny business sprout wings and fly.

Recently, the home-operated business opened their doors for the first time at an office on Conway’s main thoroughfare (201 West Main Street). That location is the former home of First Citizens Bank.

Drake Construction specializes in industrial/commercial infrastructure installation, repair and maintenance services, pond excavation, commercial/industrial/residential site preparation, custom long-reach excavator mowing, debris hauling, demolition, drainage maintenance, road maintenance and installation services, and concrete demolition, repair and installation services.

However, that list of work-related offerings didn’t start out that long. As a matter of fact, it all began with just one small farm tractor.

“I just started out mowing grass and doing a little landscaping work,” said Devin Drake, a Conway native and a 2003 graduate of Northeast Academy. “It just grew from there.”

Mr. Drake built his experience in maintenance by working six years for Hampton Farms in Severn. He holds a degree in electrical maintenance from Cape Fear Community College.

“I had my mowing/landscaping business on the side while I was at Hampton Farms, but it got to the point where my part-time job became full-time work as I was able to add more and more clients,” he noted. “From there, Polly and I took the plunge to take our business full time in 2012.”

Polly Drake, a native of Jacksonville, came to the Roanoke-Chowan area to further her education. She enrolled at Chowan University, graduated and went to work at Willis Hare Elementary School. At home, she helped out in the family’s part-time business.

She continued to teach and was working to obtain a Master’s Degree when the family expanded…the birth of twin sons, Alex and Max, three years ago.

“After that I quit teaching and became a stay-at-home mom,” she said. “That was just about the same time the business was growing to the point where it became a full-time job for the both of us.”

Those growing pains came with a big decision, either build an addition onto their home to serve as an office or seek another location.

“This opportunity (the old bank building) came along and it fit our needs perfectly,” said Mrs. Drake. “Plus it’s right on Main Street, increasing the exposure to our business and in the community. It’s a more professional setting; we use to hold face-to-face meetings with existing and potential new clients at our kitchen table at home.”

That growth also means additional jobs as the Drakes increased their full-time and part-time work force. Mrs. Drake and one part-timer staff the office.

“Over the years we’ve been able to grow our business to the point where we’ve developed some great relationships with other businesses and firms that use our services,” she said. “They helped spread our name.”

Drake Construction offers estimates. Call 252-678-0386 for more information.

“It’s always wonderful to see small business grow,” said Northampton County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Judy Collier. “Drake Construction has grown to the point where it became necessary to purchase office space. That should tell you the success of this business. We wish them luck and we will continue to work with them in an effort to help them continue their growth.”

Conway Mayor Tommy Barrett also wished the Drakes much success in their endeavor.

“We’re happy to see Polly and Devin make this investment in this building and into the town of Conway,” Barrett stated.