Josh & Natasha with Mako Gutter and Screens

 

 Meet 

Josh & Natasha 

with 

Mako Gutter and Screens 

Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Josh and Natasha, the hardworking couple behind Mako Gutter and Screens, a family-owned business they built together in 2017.

I asked Josh and Natasha to share a little about their journey, what drives them, and what life is like behind the scenes of Mako Gutter and Screens and here's what they had to say.

First things first, tell us a little about yourselves and your story. 

Josh and Natasha: 

We’re Josh and Natasha, owners of Mako Gutter and Screens. We’re a hardworking, family-oriented couple who built our business together in 2017. We have four sons, ages 15, 16, 21, and 23. Our 21-year-old works alongside us, which makes the business even more special. 

Life at home is never quiet, we have three dogs. Rollo, our Rottweiler, and Bo and Jethro, our two yellow labs), a kitten named Demon, and a rabbit named Psycho Bunny (both names they absolutely live up to! 😆). 

When we’re not working, we enjoy spending time with our family, our animals, and continuing to grow both our business and our life together. We also just celebrated 18 years of marriage last month.

Are you originally from Southwest Florida?

Josh: I was born and raised right here in Southwest Florida.

Natasha: I was born in Indiana but moved to Southwest Florida in my early teens. I’ve spent more than half of my life here and couldn't imagine calling anywhere else home.

Thinking back to when you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Josh: Like a lot of young boys, I dreamed of joining the military or going into law enforcement.

Natasha: When I was younger, I wanted to be an author. That or become a veterinarian.

Tell us, how did Mako Gutter and Screens begin?

Josh: I got tired of working for someone else. I wanted to be my own boss, make my own schedule, and spend more time with my family.

Natasha: He told me what he wanted to do, and I supported his decision. I gave my job their two-week notice and immediately started doing research on where and how to start.

Running a business together is a big journey, what has it taught you about each other?

Josh: It’s made us appreciate each other a little more. One thing I’ve learned about her is that she can hold her own just like any other guy on the jobsite.

Natasha: I’ve learned that I don’t get any special treatment on the jobsite just because I’m his wife 😆 I’m treated like any other worker, which I actually appreciate. We get along so well, and we're both jokesters so work can get pretty comical.

Let's get to know you a little better outside of work. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?

Josh and Natasha: When we’re not taking time to relax, we enjoy staying busy. You’ll usually find us hiking, fishing, kayaking, shooting, or working on projects around the house. We also enjoy getting out of town to find new places to hike or exploring small towns, especially their antique shops, bookstores, and small cafés. I enjoy photography, so I’m always on the hunt for ‘Old Florida.’ I love capturing our state’s natural beauty as well as abandoned places with history behind them. Josh enjoys hunting and building things, often creating something out of wood or metal. Overall, we love spending our free time outdoors and with family whenever we can.

Early bird or night owl?

Josh: Definitely a night owl.

Natasha: Honestly, both, which explains why I’m usually running on very little sleep. Nothing coffee can't fix 😉

Tell us, what’s one hobby people might be surprised you have?

Josh: I hunt for antique Japanese cast iron art. I’ve always appreciated the craftsmanship and history behind those pieces. It’s something I enjoy searching for and adding to my collection whenever I find a unique piece.

Natasha: Writing. I’m actually an indie horror author. I love creating dark stories and exploring the psychological side of fear and testing people's boundaries. It’s a creative outlet for me that’s completely different from my daily job, and it’s something I’ve been passionate about since I was a kid. And knife collecting. I had to add that one in there. My knife collection is something I'm quite proud of!

So, what’s been your proudest moment since starting the business?

Josh and Natasha: Our proudest moment has been watching our hard work pay off and seeing satisfied customers, growing our reputation, and knowing we built something together that people in our community trust.

I know that you guys are very big on supporting other local small businesses, tell us why that is so important to you.

Josh and Natasha: Absolutely! We’ve met so many incredible local business owners in our community. As small business owners ourselves, we know how much hard work and dedication goes into it, so we love supporting other local businesses whenever we can and building those relationships.

And that’s the heart behind the hustle. 💙

Because behind every business is a real person with a real story. 😀