Dennis Goodhue opened Diamond G. Repair in 1985, when he started repairing farm equipment for his neighbors and other locals in a 2-stall agriculture building, working all hours of the night. From only employing himself, to now having a staff of 11, Goodhue says he has grown his business more than he could ever imagine.
Today, Diamond G. Repair is a “true” general repair shop. Goodhue and his team work on domestic and import cars and trucks, as well as fleet and construction vehicles and agricultural equipment. You can legitimately say they’re a jack of all trades.
When asked, Goodhue says his proudest accomplishment is not his shop’s continual increase in profits, but his team. His employees work together toward a common goal, each problem is handled with care and courtesy. He’s proud of everything they’ve accomplished together and is excited for what lies ahead. “We’re an honest, hardworking shop that will do our best to give you a great value on a variety of repairs and services,” he says.
The thing Goodhue loves most about owning his own shop is his ability to help his community and its residents. He says his service advisors always try to take care of everyone with their best interest in mind. Dennis stumbled into the auto industry by accident and found how rewarding it is to help fix someone’s broken things. He says, “I found out that fixing things was OK, but fixing people’s problems was far more important. The things don’t care if they get fixed, but the people do. We always treat every customer as if they’re family,” Goodhue says.
However, while he was able to satisfy his customers’ needs, Goodhue says his hasn’t always been able to satisfy his own. Before becoming a DRIVE client, there was little of anything positive in his life: sleep, money, time off, training, equipment, etc.. Now, Goodhue says he’s active in the shop by HIS choice; he trusts his team to get the job done but enjoys the work. He works on the business instead of in it.
“DRIVE’s training sessions have been crucial,” he says. “DRIVE has changed me, my business and my life. The organizational and management skills I’ve gained have made production more efficient, finances more appealing and life more rewarding.”
In 2010, Goodhue and his wife, Sherry, built a new building with 2 rental units in it. Since then they’ve occupied one of those units and are looking to add a second expansion onto the building in the fall.
Dennis’s shop is nestled into the western slope of Colorado is the town of Montrose. With tourists buzzing around all parts of the year, the town fulfills every need, from housing to agriculture to mining and, of course, recreation! While the area continues to grow, it still has that small-town feel.
Just on the edges of the city limits is where you’ll find Diamond G. Repair. When out of the shop, Dennis can be found outside, typically camping, four-wheeling, spending time with loved ones or racing supercross.
Goodhue says he is excited to attend the DRIVE EXPO in Orlando, FL, August 25-28. He says his favorite part is perusing the EXPO Floor and taking a look at what the various vendors have to offer. Each vendor is hand selected with shop owners in mind. He also can’t wait to see the familiar faces of his fellow shop owners and making new acquaintances. “There’s nothing like seeing friends and peers in person,” he says.
