Page 31 - Flathead Beacon // 2.4.15

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BUSINESS
FEBRUARY 4, 2015 | 31
after his three-year commitment, and was working at City Chevrolet in San Diego as a salesman. He went to another dealership where he had management oppor- tunities. Soon after, he married Debbie, who he met in Southern California and talked into moving back to his home state after they began having children.
“I didn’t want to raise my children in Southern Cali- fornia,” he said. “I wanted to raise them in Montana.”
Moving back to the Flathead in 1985, Kaltschmidt got a job as the sales manager at Jim Dowen Chevrolet in Whitefish. He was promoted to general manager, and then bought out Dowen in 1990, followed by buying out Tommy Thomas in 1991 to become the sole owner.
He wasn’t risk averse, Kaltschmidt said, and he put everything he had into owning that dealership. Looking back, he understands what he had on the line.
“If it would have went the other way, I would have
“I KNOW ONE DAY I’VE GOT TO WALK OUT THAT DOOR. I REALLY FOUND WHAT I LOVE TO DO. THERE’S NO BETTER DEAL.”
Don Kaltschmidt
been broke,” Kaltschmidt said.
Business flourished, and the dealership moved from
its downtown location to its current spot just south of town on U.S. Highway 93. He said life was pretty good from 2001 to 2007, with few waves to mar the calm seas.
But then the recession hit the Flathead, taking jobs and income with it. The automotive sales market plummeted. Still, Kaltschmidt said he saw an oppor- tunity in the face of General Motors pulling franchises
from Montana dealers: he had been loyal to Chevro- let, but the company’s decision to pull franchises freed up his loyalties.
Don K expanded to include Subaru, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram by 2011. The recession was a bru- tal time at the dealership, he said. He stopped taking a salary in 2008 and 2009, and the company was down to 28 employees.
“In February 2009, we sold 13 cars,” he said. “I lost $40,000 that month, and I was elated that we only lost $40,000.”
The dealership persevered, and now sells an average of 150 automobiles a month, or 250 counting the fleet business. There are 100 people working at Don K, with 90 of them holding down full-time jobs.
Delsena Caldwell began working at Don K in 1989 in the parts department. She and her husband Jerry stayed with the dealership for 10 years before moving to Dillon for a decade. When they returned to the Flat- head, they came back to Don K, where she now works in warranty administration and Jerry works in the ser- vice department.
“We love working here,” Caldwell said. “He’s good to us.”
Kaltschmidt has a reputation for being a straight- forward, honest person, said Tony Hubbard, the general manager at University Motors in Missoula. Hubbard is chairman of the Montana Automotive Dealers Associa- tion, and has worked with Kaltschmidt on that board for several years.
“Don’s a great guy,” Hubbard said. “I think it’s one where he’s got a great personality, he laughs and jokes with you, but I think he’s a real honest guy, one of those people if he tells you something, you can count on it, both personally and professionally.”
Connecting with and giving back to the community is important to Kaltschmidt, who said he views his busi- ness success as a gift from the Flathead and a tribute to
Don Kaltschmidt was one of 55 dealers in the nation nominated for the Time Dealer of the Year award. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
his employees.
“It’s been a really great ride,” Kaltschmidt said. “I’m
just really grateful for what has been provided.”
At 58, Kaltschmidt is looking down the road to re- tirement, possibly in the next six to 10 years. Two of his three sons, Erik and Jason, already work at the dealer- ship, and his youngest, Kevin, is finishing up his degree at the University of Montana before returning back to
Whitefish to learn about taking over the business.
“He wants my job,” Kaltschmidt said. “He’s told me
that since he was 10.”
Retirement will mean more time for hobbies or phil-
anthropic endeavors, such as going on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, though it will also mean leaving behind decades of work.
“I know one day I’ve got to walk out that door,” he said. “I really found what I love to do. There’s no better deal.” [email protected]
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