"I started working on cars at the age of 15, and currently I am 54 years of age. During high school,
I attended Polaris vocational school in my junior and senior years for auto tech. Before graduating, I went on early
job placement at a large family-owned Goodyear tire dealer. At that time they ran 18 shops and currently have 39. When
I became 18 years of age, they made me a service manager, and I ran a six bay shop.
"I ran that shop for six years, and then my wife, Sheri, and I decided to start our own business. In 1986-1987,
we purchased Fuerst Automotive, an already existing automotive repair business, and rented a 1,800 square feet facility,
roughly two bays side-by-side. As our business grew, we added a third lift to better accommodate our customers, but we were
running out of room!
"One afternoon, I was looking out our front window when I noticed the auto repair shop across the street from us had a
‘going out of business’ sign placed in the window. I immediately grabbed the phone, called my wife, and said this is our
chance. I called the owner of the property and made the necessary arrangements. We signed a 5 year lease with option to buy.
In 1998, we purchased our building."