Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse and Cathy Ruhmann.
Hi Jesse and Cathy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Jesse started working in the automotive collision repair industry in 1996 and has since grown to learn more about the ins and outs of the industry. He has a strong belief in visualizing where he wants to be and strives to put in the time, energy, and effort to get there. He worked for a few small collision repair centers and gained most of his experience working for a Cadillac collision center as a repair tech. Jesse has also worked part time as a firefighter for a large metropolitan department for over 18 years.
Cathy began her career working as a receptionist at a Ford dealership in Bloomington, MN, before transferring to an Abra Auto Body collision center. Cathy worked her way into an estimator position, working directly with clients to determine their collision needs. She continued to work hard, paving her way into an Abra Auto Body location general manager in a male-dominated market.
After 15 years of working separate jobs, Jesse and Cathy decided it was time to join forces and start their own collision center: Referral Collision. Starting from the bottom, they founded their business on the belief of completing automotive repairs correctly and to meet or exceed manufacturer standards and requirements. The name Referral Collision stemmed from the idea of exceeding customer expectations so much that customers would be the source of new customers. During their 8 years of ownership, Jesse and Cathy were able to become one of the only repair centers certified to work on electric vehicles before having the opportunity to sell their business and start a new venture.
Today, Jesse and Cathy have started their new business: Vehicle Response Training.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It is always difficult to start new businesses, let alone be successful. In the automotive collision industry, only 50% of collision centers make it past the 3 year mark. We were fortunate enough to not only surpass this mark, but to expand the collision center three times during an 8 year period. However, it did not come easy and without hard work. Jesse typically worked seven days a week just to keep up with business and to make the revenue to pay the bills. Cathy worked multiple roles in order to meet the demands of the business and push through the growing pains. Learning the ins and outs of business ownership was something new, but the opportunity was exciting.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
After Jesse and Cathy sold their collision center, they wondered what was next. After receiving feedback from others, they soon identified that many people lack the knowledge and awareness of working around electric vehicles. It was then that Jesse and Cathy determined what was next.
Vehicle Response Training was born to combine their knowledge and expertise of the automotive collision industry and firefighting to training first and second responders on the hazards of electric vehicles. VRT incorporates different perspectives to meet the training needs of clients and organizations. Training has been completed for fire departments, tow companies, state fire marshals, HAZMAT teams, railways, and colleges.
VRT sets itself apart by incorporating real-world knowledge to create a training program that is realistic and based off experience. VRT also strives to train as many people as possible, so to do this, a training semi-truck brings two EVs, battery cells, and high voltage components directly to trainees so organizations can save on sending trainees elsewhere for training. We want our customers to have training that exceeds their expectations while becoming more aware of EV safety and what they can do to be better prepared.
How do you think about luck?
Sometimes you just get lucky. There are certainly good and bad times, but things tend to just fall into place when you work hard and do the right thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vehicleresponsetraining.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vehicle.response.training
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Vehicle-Response-Training/61556931030089/
