The wives of Kevin McManus Sr. and Kevin McManus Jr. have a running joke: the two Kevins are actually the same person.
Because the father-son duo not only share the same name, but they also share the same personality and careers, past and present. For starters, they were both Air Force pilots; McManus Sr. in C-17 for nearly three decades, McManus Jr. in MQ-9 for eight years. And they are both now co-owners of Charleston Five Star Paintinga residential and commercial painting franchise in South Carolina.
Their similar personalities and life paths “make it really easy to work together, and most of the time we know what each other is thinking,” said McManus Jr., a 34-year-old married father of three. “He’s really great. I handle all the operations of the business, sort of like the COO, and he mainly handles the backend stuff like a CFO.”
With their homes just a mile apart, they enjoy civilian racing in close proximity to each other. McManus Sr., now 58, once worried about the potentially harmful impact his chosen career path would have on his children. So when his daughter, one of McManus’ four children, followed in his footsteps, it was very special.
“Having a son who followed our military lineage was validation that he was not negatively affected by the commitment and lifestyle I chose,” said McManus Sr. “Not being there for our children is without a doubt the biggest sacrifice for the military parents.”
On the contrary, the military lifestyle also had benefits. Both men greatly enjoyed their lifelong bonds with their fellow Airmen. There was a sense of duty and patriotic pride that arose from the pressures of training, air raids, TDYs, deployments and the like.
McManus Jr. knew his father could relate. So when it was time for McManus Jr. to leave the Air Force, like his father before him, it was an easy decision to return to Charleston, where his family was. Together, the two Kevins purchased the franchise, already operating in Charleston for more than a decade, from a previous owner in December 2022.
“The leadership the military taught me really helped me manage employees and gave me communication skills, which is essential in customer service,” McManus Jr. said.
Even before purchasing Five Star Painting, McManus Sr. relied on his military experience and network for help.
“I used VA resources to learn more about business acquisitions, tax implications and financial planning,” he said. “Post-acquisition, my VA resources have primarily been articles and publications that VA has published on its commercial sites.”
Apparently it’s working. Five Star Painting of Charleston recently celebrated its first month of $100,000 in sales, and every online review since the McManus acquisition has been, appropriately, five stars.
Part of that success, McManus Sr. said, is due to his son.
“I never have to worry about the tasks KJ performs, because he is a true professional and his integrity is beyond reproach,” she said. “Not many business owners are so fortunate to have a stress reliever like this.”
However, not everything has been fat contracts and lollipops. McManus Jr. found the transition from Air Force officer to business owner challenging, from small details like not having uniforms to larger ones like being at the top of the chain of command. There are no exact manuals for troubleshooting; you are a little alone. That’s why he recommends other veteran business owners reach out to each other for support and advice.
But most of all, the two Kevins are simply grateful.
“I feel truly blessed to have all of my children and grandchildren living in Charleston,” said McManus Sr. “Every day I celebrate Father’s Day and thank God for this honor.”