By Ava Simone Collier

Darien McDowell says he doesn’t consider himself a success story yet. “I don’t think I’m a success story until my business is actually able to hire others. Once I’m able to help other young black men and show them how to get into this field,” he says. The field Darien is speaking about is asbestos, lead, mold and insulation. Darien McDowell is the owner of McDowell Business Environmental Services and Insulation (www.mbesi-llc.com.)

Darien explained that although his dream of being an entrepreneur has just recently come true, he has had this vision for himself since he was a child. “I was motivated at 10 or 11 years old. I would always walk around and practice my signature. I always wanted to have my own business.” Darien’s story is inspirational because he was detoured on his journey. That detour landed him in the Lancaster Prison in Ohio for three years on a felony drug charge. “At the time, I had been working through the union and was laid off. I was a single father with a daughter to support and bills to pay. Although I worked, I had friends who sold drugs.” Darien states that after being laid off with no prospects of another job right away, and out of desperation to make ends meet, he took a chance at a high risk opportunity. “I took $50.00 and turned it into a business. My intention was make enough money to get my life together and get out.”

It wasn’t long before Darien’s new “business” caught the attention of law enforcement and he was arrested and eventually sentenced to three years in prison. While in prison, Darien says that he spent his time being productive. “ I had never been in any trouble like this before. I got my GED in prison and joined the dog training programming and took business management college classes also.” Darien says he was involved in sports while incarcerated. “I ran the basketball, soccer and softball programs. Eventually I became in charge of all the sports there, sort of like a sports director.”

Darien’s entrepreneurial spirit was undaunted, even behind bars. This was evident in his participation in the prison’s Honor Dorm Program, which allows model prisoners to work outside of the “fence” and earn money. Although things were tough when he was released in 2006, he persevered. “When I got out of prison, I had $75.00 in my pocket that they gave me. I had to make it last until I found work. I got two jobs and saved my money.”

He eventually found another job working as an asbestos supervisor under a local union. After being laid off from that job in May of 2009, he was inspired to follow his long-cherished dream of owning a business. “I knew people from different unions after working in asbestos removal since 1984. I told a friend of mine that I was going to have my own business and the opportunity came up to do so.” He continues, “I started MBESI in July, 2009. I went from prison with $75.00 to my name, then being laid off and getting a little $400-a week unemployment check to owing my own business.” Darien may not think of himself as a success story yet, but it certainly feels like one to me.