Sat, Jul 19 2008
|
|
Published March 10, 2008 04:56 pm - Steve’s Frame & Body Shop...Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of profiles on the 2008 Small Business of the Year finalists. Winners will be named during the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet on April 24 at Hammons Convention Center. Community involvement reputation part of reason for small-business nomination Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of profiles on the 2008 Small Business of the Year finalists. Winners will be named during the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet on April 24 at Hammons Convention Center.
——— By Melissa Dunson mdunson@joplinglobe.com It started with a Schwinn bicycle. Steve Chenault, now 63, said he knew it would be his only one, so he had to make it count. When he got tired of the color, he would paint it — again and again. “It was like having a new bike all the time,” Chenault said. His knack for taking things apart, repairing and restoring them led to the business he has run for the past 27 years, and to a spot as a finalist in the 2008 BKD Small Business of the Year competition. Steve’s Frame & Body Shop, 910 S. Joplin Ave., does dent repair, both paintless and painting, along with some mechanical work, minor paint work, alignments, and motorcycle repair and painting. Chenault said he was more than a little surprised at his success. He attended what now is Missouri Southern State University for two years but picked up the auto skills on his own. He spent years working for other people at local businesses. When he had the opportunity to buy his current building and start a business, Chenault took the leap. “I didn’t have a business plan,” he said. “I didn’t know what I was going to do.” Chenault consulted a friend, Joplin dentist Benjamin Rosenberg, who helped him put together a business plan. With his dental-inspired plan and shaking knees, Chenault went to the bank and said he was surprised and terrified that the bank said “yes.” “It scared the heck out of me,” he said, laughing. “But I’ve been very blessed since then.” Chenault now owns all but one building on the west side of the 900 block of Joplin Avenue, and some property on the east side. He has gone from five employees when he opened his doors in 1981 to 21 employees today, and from $30,000 a month in sales to $210,000. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Business section
Wally Kennedy: Dryer’s now wearing The Right Shoe Farm, Mike Surbrugg: Tomato plants vunerable to leaf blight Farm: Rice is nice ... But wet year doesn’t mean it’s time to plant, according to agronomist |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
 |
 |
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
The Joplin Globe Publishing Company 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. |
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service 
|