One of the benefits of being a CEO facilitator is the opportunity to get to know the business owners and community members throughout our SWMN CEO area. Adrian Auto is a business we visit each year, and it has been exciting to watch Ryan Eidhammer grow his business, expand his services, and build strong community connections.

Ryan discovered his talent and passion for auto mechanics at a young age. At just 16, he participated in a school-to-work program with an auto shop in Heron Lake. After graduating from high school, he went straight to work at a local auto shop, eventually becoming a partner before taking over as the sole owner of Adrian Auto.

As his business continued to grow, Ryan invested in a new building to house the repair shop and expanded his services to include a towing business, now operating three large tow trucks. His next goal is to add an alignment shop. Today, Adrian Auto employs three full-time mechanics and works with three to four part-time tow truck drivers.

Ryan shared how much he enjoys working with customers and offering advice. He sees this as one of the many benefits of doing business in a small town, where building relationships and knowing your customers make a difference. He also noted that advances in technology continue to make his work easier and that having a mentor to help him talk through different situations has been a valuable resource.

Thank you, Ryan, for welcoming each SWMN CEO group into your business and sharing your experience and insights with our students. We appreciate you taking the time to invest in the next generation of young professionals!