10/28/2010 - Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly

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JESSICA HARPER JOHN GESSNER T.W. BUDIG

Malt-O-Meal considers expanding Lakeville site 2A Burger Jones to occupy former Blockbuster space 2A Former Minnesota Gov. Al Quie backs Horner 39A

DATE RS E T DE N VO UI S OA G IN 7 G E BEPAG

##, 2009 OCTOBER 28, 2010 dakotacountytribune.biz dakotacountytribune.biz

VOLUME 30, NUMBER # VOLUME 31, NUMBER 35

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INSIDE BIZ FORUM

Laid-off worker makes ‘ultimate’ leap into entrepreneurship Photo by Jessica Harper

Fleet Repair business takes off in Eagan

After being laid off in 2008, Gary Dalton established his own fleet repair company in Eagan. Several of his former clients followed him. Today, they include MRCI, Coca-Cola and the St. Paul Park Fire Department.

by Jessica Harper DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Two years ago Gary Dalton was dealt a bad hand. He was laid off with three daughters two support, two of whom were near college age. But rather than look at the situation as a misfortune, Dalton saw it as a chance to be his own boss and founded Ultimate Fleet Repair in Eagan. “I had to find some way to make do and support my family,� Dalton said. The company’s official name is actually 3Kids and Us, but Dalton said he changed it to Ultimate Fleet Repair for marketing purposes. Dalton said he came up with the name Ultimate Fleet Repair as a way to remind customers he “always tries to give ultimate services.� The company repairs everything from company cars to limos to full-sized semis, but specializes in a niche — oneton commercial vehicles that are too small for most commercial repair companies. The business model is based on one Dalton helped develop at his former employer, Dakota Area Resources and Transportation For Seniors (DARTS). Despite having no source of income, Dalton rejected his former employer’s $5,000 stipend for a noncompete agreement so he would have the freedom to set up shop. The company started with two employees and quickly grew to 16 by 2010.

School boards have an obligation to make students — all students — feel safe. Recent bullying has shed light on the issue. DON HEINZMAN 4A FORUM

Community groups and companies throughout the metro are stepping up to encourage students to excel. JOE NATHAN 4A BEST PRACTICES

Business leaders can learn vital lessons from John F. Kennedy’s successful and unsuccessful decisionmaking processes. JEFF APPELQUIST 5A BUSINESS 101

STEVE BESEKE

Sometimes conf idence is harder to f ind than the Loch Ness Monster. Taking the right steps can help restore it. 5A

A risky move Dalton said he feels fortunate he established the business before the economy bottomed out. However, establishing the company was still risky. Dalton put every asset he had into the venture — taking $30,000 from his retirement account and borrowing $120,00 in an SBA loan. By the end of the year, Dalton had maxed out his See Dalton, Page 40

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Photo by Jessica Harper

Ultimate Fleet Repair provides service for nearly every kind of vehicle, from company cars to limousines to full-sized semi-trucks. The company’s niche market, though, consists of one-ton commercial vehicles that are too small for commercial fleet repair companies.

General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Advertising 952-846-2011

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