If you're ever in the wide-open countryside of Western Montana, you may happen upon K-O Auto, which has been in business for 28 years. And while Jim Krell’s shop has grown tremendously, so has he as the owner. He’s proud of how far he’s come and what he brings to his town. He knows that the people there are great and “if there is a need, they will all help.” Helping his community is what it’s all about, he says.
The cozy town of Ronan, Mont., has just 2,100 residents. But while the community is small and tight-knit, there’s an abundance of area outdoor activities, including snowmobiling, motorbiking, boating, camping, hiking, to name a few. Krell says most of his free time is spent exploring the great outdoors with his family and grandkids.
The motto of K-O Auto, selected by DRIVE for its August Shop Spotlight, is “we care," and from their employees to their customers, they’re always going the extra mile. The dedicated team of seven uses the state-of-the-art technology they are supplied with to not only do their best, but be the best. The team’s customers know that they will be taken care of every time they step foot in the shop. They know the shop appreciates them, and in return, they appreciate the shop.
Krell says he used to feel frazzled and overworked.
“I was running around with my hair on fire,” he says. He was in every section of the shop, working on cars, sitting at the front desk, and then going home to do paperwork. After he became a DRIVE client, he says, he feels like he is now in command. “DRIVE gives you the tools to have total control of your own success,” he says. Now, he hasn’t worked in the day-to-day operations for two years. He gets to focus on revamping his shop’s systems and spending time with his family. K-O Auto is in a state where it runs itself – and it’s a benefit, not a hindrance. His advice for other shop owners is what he says is the best he’s received: “You can do it." Self doubt, he said, can hold a person back, but once you realize you already have everything you need to succeed, you can start to change your life.
“The only person holding you back from what you want to achieve is yourself,” he says. To him, communication is key, and once you know what you want, it’s time to advocate for it. Krell has achieved all of his goals so far. He has a great team helping him run a great shop. One of his favorite activities is talking to other shop owners and discussing how they’ve conquered their past problems. Networking is one of a shop owner’s largest tools in his or her arsenal, Krell says, noting “the more we communicate, the better off we’ll both be; we can learn from each other.” This is one of the many reasons he’s looking forward to the DRIVE EXPO, Aug. 25 – 28. To him, the best part of the EXPO is being with like-minded shop owners.
"The environment there is amazing. Everyone wants to become better in the industry and help others achieve their goals."
One of the other highlights of the EXPO, Krell says, is seeing the latest news and technology DRIVE has to offer. As the owner of a AAA Approved Auto Repair shop, Krell understands the importance of staying on top of the latest information the industry has to offer, reflected in the “Top Shop” award he received from AAA in 2019 and 2020, punctuating his belief that K-O Auto is the place to go for caring and complete car care.
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