8 minute read
Kokomo Men in Business
JAX, KOKOMO JACKRABBITS
My favorite thing about being the lead cheerleader for this team is sharing the excitement and enthusiasm that I have for Jackrabbits baseball with everybody who is here. I think of Bobby, Kokomo’s BobKats basketball mascot, more as a sibling than a friend. Like all siblings, at the heart of everything we have love for each other, but sometimes we might not see eye to eye. We’ll always be competitive, but when it’s all said and done, we’re family. We’ve both got busy schedules, but from time to time we’ll show up at each other’s place and cheer for each other. We’ll rib each other a bit, too. We definitely have a competitive spirit between the two of us. This is sports, after all!
BOBBY, KOKOMO BOBKATS
I love getting the crowd fired up at the games. I love to see the smiles on kids’ faces, and seeing how much their parents enjoy getting their pictures taken with me and their kids. I enjoy representing a wonderful a wonderful organization. People are always happy and in a good mood when they see me. Their faces light up! Jax is wonderful for the baseball crowd! If it ever works out, I would love to race him on his team’s outfield. I thin the fans and kids would love that.
MARK JANSEN, JANSEN ASPHALT AND JANSEN TAX SERVICE
I’ve learned from the best when it comes to running two businesses. Both the businesses I own were started by my father, Tony. His nickname is ‘T. Love’. He stays busy. I’m one of five of his kids and he’s always helping me or one of my siblings. He’s just great. We handle tax returns from January until mid-April and the asphalt work from the first of May until the end of October. We’ve been serving Kokomo and the surrounding area for 51 years. I love the Kokomo community and love working for people I’ve known for a long time! MAYOR TYLER MOORE
When one thinks of Kokomo, you’re immediately drawn to our automotive heritage and the accomplishments of entrepreneurs like Elwood Haynes and the Apperson Brothers. But almost equally renowned is Kokomo’s rich sports heritage. From the likes of Jimmy Rayl, Jim “Goose” Ligon, Pat and Tom Underwood, Joe Thatcher, Nolan Sanburn and Bradon Wood, Kokomo has had its share of both basketball and baseball greats through the years. Because our community has always celebrated our athletes and has made it our “business” to rally behind our teams, it’s exciting to see representatives from our newest additions to our sports history featured in this month’s edition: Bobby the BobKat and Jax the Jackrabbit! The TBL Kokomo BobKats and Northwoods League Kokomo Jackrabbits have brought an amazing amount of energy to our sports and hospitality industry, and the citizens of Kokomo have embraced these athletes as their own each season and appreciate them calling Kokomo “home.” And just like Bobby and Jax have helped earn the respect of their teams’ fan base, so too have the Kokomo businessmen featured this month earned the respect and admiration of the companies for which they work and the customers and clients for whom they serve. Kokomo has always historically possessed a great “team” of businessmen making our city great--and those joining Bobby and Jax this month are City of Kokomo stars just the same!
ALL INGREDIENTS MADE WITH PURE INGREDIENTS FROM LOCAL FARMS!
• Customizable Dog Bandannas
• Organic Grain Free Treats • Wellness Products
KEVIN GASAWAY, GAFFNEY INSURANCE AGENCY
I enjoy the personal connection that we have with each of our customers. On top of not only being a local and family-owned business, I like how insurance is also a way to help protect local families. It is great to work with my son, Michael Gasaway, who is now the third generation to be a part of Gaffney Insurance Agency. Gaffney Insurance has always supported its customers, and other local businesses. Kokomo has been the home of Gaffney Insurance Agency (GIA) since 1965, when Richard Gaffney started the agency. Because of the support from other small, locally-owned businesses, GIA has been able to thrive and grow each year. We can’t thank our customers, and the Kokomo community for all their support throughout the last fifty-six years.
MITCHELL RIGSBY, CLOSING MANAGER AND ASSOCIATE BROKER, THE HARDIE GROUP
This is a family run business and I work with my wonderful in-laws. We get along great and it’s nice to work at a place that has been around for so long. People really know and trust us here and that helps tremendously. I really like helping people list and sell their homes. It’s a really good feeling to help first time homebuyers. I enjoy this business. There is never a dull moment. Things are always changing, and you have to adapt with the environment. RAY BASS, CUSTOM BUILT BARNS
If you treat people right, they will take care of you as well. My son, Johnny, builds the barns on location, and does repair and releveling work. My sister, Renee McGinnis, does the sales and scheduling. I do a lot of delivering and hauling as well as overseeing the business. We’ve been in business since 1975 and what I like most is taking care of our customers and making them happy. We get along with people because we are very truthful with them. We just try to do things on time and be honest with everyone.
BILL CONE, CONE AND DAUGHTERS LANDSCAPING
We have been a professional lawn care, landscaping and snow removal company since 1998, and we love the way our customers’ yards look when the jobs are finished. We put a lot of care into our work. We take pride in the way the product turns out. We make sure the job is done to our customer’s satisfaction every time. JONATHON MALIN, COMMERCIAL LENDER AND VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNITY FIRST BANK
Building solid relationships with clients has made a huge difference. We have great technology, but it still means a lot to meet people face to face. I have enjoyed seeing customers grow their businesses. We have exceptional banking products and outstanding customer service. We really put an emphasis on knowing our customers. We help people achieve their dreams and we also do a lot to encourage local non-profits. The people here really now how to better serve their community, and we are so proud to be a part of that.
LES FELTON JR., MOTORWISE OF KOKOMO
Motorwise is a family business fully owned and operated by military veterans. I served in the Army and Navy from 1983 to 1993. I love hearing people tell us they enjoy going to a business operated by military veterans. That means a lot to me. We’ve had the same loyal customers since we opened. We meet a very diverse group of people who have become like friends to us. We have the best people who work for us. Having great employees just really makes a big difference. We also have the best coffee! Our customers and staff just love our coffee!
We Keep You On The Road.
• Complete Auto Care • Car/Truck/Light Duty/ Medium Duty/Heavy Duty • Veteran Owned and Operated • Napa Auto Care Center 1116 S. Leeds St • 765-252-3211 • Veteran Discounts
DIRK WEBSTER, SENIOR LOAN OFFICER, RUOFF MORTGAGE
I’ve been here since October, 2019, and I love the team I’m on. The late Amy Romero, branch manager and vice president, did an outstanding job of building a great business, and I’m proud to be part of it. The great community here rallied around our office after she died. We are the number one purchase lender in the United States. The big difference is our attention to detail and communication. We also have a lot of cool technology that helps us work with clients and quick turn-around times. We really work with people to help them get the homes they want.
BUD DECLEENE, DECLEENE OPTOMETRY
My wife, Kate, and I opened our business in February, 1994, with the goal of being able to juggle work and home life. We met our goal. We were really thinking about the future, and what we wanted it to look like. We wanted control over both our work and family. We have four kids, and didn’t want our business and lives to have a corporate feeling. We wanted to have a family-owned business. We’ve had a lot of generations of family members who have been our patients for a very long time. We have wonderful patients. We have grown our practice with the goal of providing life-long eye care for the good people of the Kokomo area. BRETT ELLISON, MCCOOL’S FLOORING
I have worked at McCool’s for 27 years as of May 2021. My past work experience was in department store management. Our first son was born in 1994 and the hours of working are much better. No nights or Sundays. Also, it is nice to work for a family-owned business. My family had owned a Farm Machinery retail business when I was growing up so it was kind of like returning to my roots. We offer premium flooring products at a great value for the residential replacement segment of the retail market while living our values of Faith, Family, Flooring.
1918 W. Sycamore / 765-450-6041
421 W. North Street
