Erik Rhyne, age 30,
was born and raised in Greensboro and had high hopes of becoming a NASCAR Race official.
After graduating high school, Rhyne went to NASCAR Technical Institute and
graduated in 2006 at the top of his class. BMW corporate saw Rhyne’s potential
and recruited him to train as a master technician on scholarship in Roanoke,
VA. After graduating, Rhyne worked at
various auto bodies as a master technician, and then received a call from his
mother who sat next to Rissy Sutherland, president of Honest-1, on a flight.
Rhyne moved back to his hometown of Greensboro and opened his own Honest-1 AutoCare at the age of 29.
How did you learn
about the brand?
My mom was on a flight and happened to have a seat next
to Rissy Sutherland, the president of Honest-1. They began talking and my mom
told her I was a mechanic and Rissy provided more information about the
franchise. She said the Greensboro location was open and it’s the first and
only Honest-1 in the state of North Carolina.
Why did you choose
an opportunity with Honest-1 Auto Care?
I love auto repair and my wife and I are very
eco-friendly, which Honest-1 spotlights. I don’t want to do anything just to
generate profit; I want to be proud of my work on a daily basis. Their
environment was comforting to me. They have everything I require.
What makes your
business unique in the community?
There are plenty of automotive repair shops in the area
but we are clean, attractive, and nice. The eco-friendly services we offer are
very unique and the fact that we can give people a pleasant experience in a
stereotypically unpleasant business speaks volumes about the brand.
Are you involved
with any charities or do any community outreach with your business?
We partner with Wheels for Hope where we repair donated
cars and sell them to needy families at an extremely low cost. We donate our
labor and parts at no cost. We are also well connected with the University of
North Carolina – Greensboro. We work closely with students with autism or
Asperger’s who work in the auto shop and learn how automotive repair works. I
give my employees PTO to volunteer in the community, which isn't a norm for
most businesses.
What challenges
have you overcome to get where you are now?
Being in management as a young person is something I've
had to learn how to do. During the recession, it was also
difficult to get a bank on board, and in addition to having two young kids and
working full- time, my
experiences have definitely been challenging.
What are your
expansion or development plans? What is your end goal with Honest-1 Auto Care?
We would like to open more locations in Greensboro and
the surrounding area within the next 2-3 years.
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