LAKE MILLS BUSINESS CHOSEN FOR STATEWIDE SBDC AWARD
Dave’s Auto Service chosen for Small Business of the Month Award
America’s SBDC Iowa (SBDC) is pleased to announce that Dave’s Auto Service, of Lake Mills, is the winner of the organization’s statewide August Small Business of the Month Award.
Joe Jamtgaard purchased Dave’s Auto Service in November 2020 from Dave Anderson after working for him for 15 years. Dave, the founder of Dave’s Auto, had always talked about how one day he would be ready to move on from the business but hoped someone would take over and keep the tradition going. Dave’s Auto is a full-service gas station, a place where a customer can buy tires, get the windows cleaned and oil checked while pumping a few gallons of gas. “It’s one of the unique value propositions of the business,” says Brook Boehmler, Regional Director of the North Iowa Area SBDC. When a local teenager gets their first car, their local gas station isn’t just a place to fill up, it’s a place to learn car maintenance and care. “If someone has a problem, you send them to Joe and Dave’s Auto, and they create a lasting relationship, ” says Jackie Villela, Joe’s partner.
Joe and Jackie participated in the Fall 2020 University of Iowa Venture School program at the NIACC Pappajohn Center before officially opening the business. “We didn’t think we had time for it, but we’re so glad we did before we finalized the purchase – the business takes up a lot of time and concentration, but we were ready with the prep work. It was worth our time,” says Jackie.
Joe and Jackie also have some advice for their fellow entrepreneurs just starting out. “Use the Small Business Development Center and other professionals as a resource,” Joe says. “They have contacts who can help you find what you need.” Jackie adds, “don’t be afraid to ask for advice if you don’t how the processes work, even if you feel dumb for not knowing. There are so many things we learned that we never would have known if we hadn’t asked.”
America’s SBDC Iowa is an outreach program of Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business and the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations. Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 3410 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, Hotline 515-294-1222, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, America’s SBDC Iowa has 15 regional assistance centers located strategically across the state. Since program inception in 1981, the SBDC has helped Iowa businesses and entrepreneurs through no fee, confidential, customized, professional business counseling and practical, affordable training workshops.
