Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc. is a franchise-based international automotive repair chain with over 900 locations. For all of your auto repair and car care needs, from oil changes to brakes, tires, batteries, exhaust, suspension all the way up to engine replacement, Meineke helps you “Drive a Little Smarter.” Charley Olson is the owner of the Meineke Car Care Centers located at 3322 Leavenworth St. and at 4839 N. 90th St. in Omaha.
Tell us a little about your business. – We provide automotive services for all makes and models of cars as well as light trucks, including privately owned vehicles and companies with fleet vehicles as well as lease and fleet maintenance companies (our current clients, ARI and LeasePlan USA are a couple of prime examples).
How did you get started in the business? – I’ve collected and restored Mustangs for a long time; I went to work for a competitor in town and really liked it. I came across the opportunity to purchase two of the three existing Meineke locations in Omaha at the same time and the rest is history.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – In 2002, when I bought the two businesses, they were operating under the former name of Meineke Discount Muffler and Brakes. Within a three year period the muffler side of the company dropped from between 50-60% of our total sales nationwide all the way down to under 10%. Consequently, our corporate identity shifted from specializing in those two areas alone to a full service car care center. Because of that, we had to invest in a lot more equipment as well as in our workforce to hire employees with the level of expertise necessary to perform all of the services we were now offering. This was a trying time, and got us into serious debt, but we worked hard to get back on our feet and thankfully in retrospect it was all worth it.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – When our yearly sales passed the million dollar mark.
Tell us a little about your family. – My wife and I have three kids; a freshman at UNL, a freshman at Marian, and a 5th grader at St. Patrick’s.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Spend time with my family. My daughter is on a competitive soccer team that’s ranked #1 in the state and one of the best in the country, so we travel a lot; our family vacations are usually planned around her tournament schedule.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – I used to be the president of the Archdiocese of Omaha School Board.
What are you the most proud of? – Being happily married for over 20 years.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – Live life in balance.
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? – Real estate.
What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? – There are two local organizations that I’m especially passionate about. I’m on the board of the Midtown Business Association and recently helped to start the Catholic Professional and Business Club of Omaha.
What is your favorite local restaurant? – Charleston’s.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? – Ronald Reagan.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – I can be reached at (402) 981-5009 or through our national franchise website at www.meineke.com.