Collision Repair |
Monte Rutherford, who worked as a mechanic for a local Chrysler dealership, and who is the grandfather to current owner, Tom Rutherford, got his big break that year. The dealership intended to start a body shop and asked Monte, now deceased, to run it. He took charge of the modest shop with a mere $5,000 in pocket. Later Monte's son, Don, assumed the reins of the business. From that point, Don's two sons, Tom and Terry (the latter of whom died in a boating accident) soon joined the business in their teens and later began running the business. Tom has served in some capacity at the shop for 44 years. Rutherford's current general manager Jim Sayre has been there 33 years. Sayre, who arrived at the shop with no experience, was indoctrinated into the business by Tom's brother, Terry.Sayre started by sweeping floors. At the time he was a firefighter, which enabled him extra time to learn the shop business, working around his shift schedule.
Six decades after the business opened, Sayre says the success of this business would not be possible without high-caliber employees – all 38 of them (25 at Pickerington; 13 at Canal Winchester). That number has grown from the original four at Canal Winchester. Today, Pickerington, according to Sayre, is fully staffed. The Canal Winchester location is looking to add one or two more. "We never stop stressing to our employees that they mean something to us," Sayre says. Shop employees have the option of working four 10-hour days. Employees can pick their day off. With gas prices hovering at $4 per gallon, Sayre said this enables employees to save on gas and it benefits the shop, which can be open longer – from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Beyond hourly benefits, employees are treated to frequent luncheons based on sales. And training is always an option. Rutherford operates with an important goal of creating the type of atmosphere so that employees want to come to work. "We want employees to know they're part of the family," Sayre says. "We're only as good as they are." Apparently, the recipe for success is sizzling – turnover is a word unfamiliar to Sayre. Some employees, aside from Rutherford and Sayre, have already racked up 15 years of service. Sayre says hands-on training also remains near Rutherford's top goals for employees. "We go to anything we can get our hands on training-wise to stay on top of industry knowledge," he says, citing training via I-CAR or the paint company they use. Most of the employees have I-CAR Gold status; some have achieved I-CAR platinum. The shop is not currently ASE-certified. |
