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PROGRESS2014

A L S O I N S I D E :

I N D U S T R Y & B U S I N E S S ! P A R T F O U R O F F O U R ! A P R I L 6 , 2 0 1 4

Fowler Trucking expanding across state...........................................................PAGE5

Nehls still delivering customer based service .....................................................................................Pg. 3 & 11B&CCleaners keeping up to date on latest technologies ....................................................................Pg. 6 & 10Republic Industries looks to future with granite .................................................................................... Pg. 10

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ewsMessenger,Sunday,April6,2014

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Nehls still delivering customer-based service

As early as the mid-1930s, NehlsChevrolet has been a local fix-ture in the automobile industry,

boasting a long-time legacy of owner-ship by the local Rex Brown family.

“I’m third generation in it, so part ofmydecision to be in it is justmore fam-ily-based and I enjoy the business,”

said Rex Brown III, ownerand general manager.

Brown’s grandfather,Rex Brown Sr., startedworking in the business forthe establishment’s name-

sake, Mr. Nehls, in 1946.

“We kept the name,” said Brown.“My dad (Rex Brown II) bought out

the final part in 1965, so it’s been com-pletely in our family since 1965,”Brown added, sharing that he himselfhas worked in the business full-timefor 22 years, but it’s been a part of himhis entire life.

Brown said the history behind hisgrandfather’s introduction to the in-dustry is interesting within itself. Aflight instructor by profession, the el-dest Brown, who moved from Ore City

Left: Rex Brown III, general manager at Nehls Chevrolet, ispictured at the long-time family business on U.S. Highway59 South. The business has been in the Brown family forthree generations. Below: Nehls Chevrolet, which hasbeen in the local Rex Brown family for three generations,is seen on U.S. Highway 59 South.

CARS ON DEMANDNEHLS CHEVROLET

PROGRESS 2014: INDUSTRY/BUSINESS

See Chevrolet, Page 11F

Story andphotos byRobin Y

Richardson

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FIT & FABULOUSSHAKE & MOVE FITNESS


Shake & Move helping localsfind more fun in exercise

Zumba isn’t exactly a dance club. It’s notyour typical gym either. It’s actually some-where in between.

Shannon Johnson, owner of Shake & MoveFitness in Marshall, prefers it that way.

“The point of Zumba is to have fun,” Johnsonsaid. “It’s not your typical aerobicworkout or anything you’d get atthe gym. We get in shape and work-out by dancing. One of the slogansis, ‘Feel the music, ditch the workout, join theparty.’”

Zumba is a combination of dance and aerobicsand it includes elements of salsa, hip-hop, mar-tial arts and other.

“We like to think outside the box,” Johnsonsaid. “We will often make up our own routinesand we have several different formats.

“We also have a lady who teaches belly danc-ing so we have a wide range of things going onCourtney Case/News Messenger File Photo

Shannon Johnson, center, leads her class through a cardio routine during an evening Zumba classat Shake and Move Fitness. See Zumba, Page 10F

Story byNathan Hague

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5

TRUCKING ONFOWLER TRUCKING


Fowler Trucking expanding across stateSince establishing in Marshall 13

years ago, Fowler Trucking hasmade an impact not only in the

community but also across two statesin the rig moving and oilfield busi-ness.

“We established here in Marshall in2001andat that time therewasonlyoneof three locations, the main location at

that time and we had aterminal in Palestineand one in Haynesville,La.,” Chief Financial

OfficerRandallArnhartsaid.“Ourpri-mary service is tomove drilling rigs.”

Since 2001, the companyhas expand-ed across Texas and Louisiana andgrown internally and financially. TheMarshall terminal is the corporate of-fice for all six locations.

“Westartedwith15-20peopleand it’sgrownandsomeyears.We’vehadtocutback but we have 70 people,” Arnhartsaid. “We’ve grown from20 to 70 peoplelocally; the company’s total employeeshave gone from 50 to 325 employees butthat’s across all areas. The office hasgrown, but the whole company hasgrown, too.”

Fowler Transportation provides rigmobilization as well as heavy oilfieldhauling service to oil and gas indus-tries in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma

andNewMexico.Though the Marshall location has

been good for the company in findingemployees, Arnhart noted that for thepast few years they’ve had to open newlocations to accommodate the evermoving drill rigs.

“We’ve been in some tough yearslately because a lot of drilling rigs havemoved, that’s one of the reasons we’veopened up some yards in south andwest Texas,” he said. “It’s not the onlyreason why we moved to other places,that’s just the nature of it, times havebeenalittlebit leanbutrecently there’spromise on the horizon. I feel like thedrilling activities in north Texas andnorth Louisianawill improve.”

Under the eye of their presidentRickey Wright, the company hasearned nearly $65 million in salesacross all locations. Arnhart said withall the changes in the oil industry, he’sproud that the company can still takecare of their employees.

“I’m proud of that we offer a full ar-rayofemployeebenefits,a lotofcompa-nies that do what we do don’t offerthat,” he said. “We strive to take care ofthese employees and their familieseven when times get tough, we try notto let those benefits take a back seat orget reduced.”

Naomi Prioleau/News Messenger PhotoPresident Rickey Wright, left, looks over the work his employees are doingat Fowler Trucking.

Story byNaomi Prioleau

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As Jim Says, “Three things that make yousuccessful: God, good people, and timing.”

(903)938-3800www.DavisChemicalServices.com

Randy Root began work with Jim in 2001. He has been the CFO in all ofJim's endeavors and continues in that position today with Davis Chemical.

Laura Wall began in 2006 in the AP/AR and moved into operationsmanagement quickly. She is currently in an executive management position.

Paul Whaley began in 2006. With Paul's background skills and experienceas a Private Investigator he was a good fit for leading the safety department.

Wayne Nicholson started in 2007. He was the leading force for all thepumping service. He is currently serving as VP for Davis Chemical.

Cassidy Porter started in 2007. She started her career in the accountingdepartment and soon became the company controller and continues in thatposition today.

Micah Fenton began in 2008 as a supervisor and quickly elevated as anoperations manager. Micah was a key factor to the start up of Davis Chemical.

“Good People” who havebeen here the longest...

STEAMING OUT STAINSB&C CLEANERS


B&C Cleaners keeping up to date on latest technologies for today’s fabricsFor decades, B&C Cleaners of

Marshall has provided laundryservices to residents.

Owner Bob King purchased thelaundry service seven years ago. Sincethen, he has continued to keep doorsopen for locals and has even expandedthe services B&C provides as well asupgraded equipment.

“It was started here atthis location in the early60s,” King said. “It'sbeen at this location

originally as Star Cleaners, and thenchanged hands several times until Ibought it seven years ago. It'd been inthe Ives and Tarpley families for 20years.

“I've had it for seven years. We are afull service dry cleaning companywith 17 employees using state of theart equipment and processes. We are amember of the Dry Cleaning andLaundry Institute in good standing.

We work under their guidelines andpractices.”

King acquired the company in orderto work here in Marshall, rather thantravel to work.

“I travelled for a company for ap-proximately 30 years,” he said. “I livedin Marshall, my wife is a teacher here.I had the opportunity to not travel anylonger and purchase B&C. It becameavailable due to an illness in the fami-ly of the previous owners and we hadbeen customers prior to buying thecleaners.”

The local laundry shop offers all ofthe basic cleaning services expected ofsuch a facility, as well as alterations toclothes including repairing zippers.

“We do everything from laundry forsh i r t s and j e an s t o l i n en anddraperies,” King said. “We offerminor

Austin King/News Messenger PhotoOver the years, B&C Cleaners has made several upgrades to itstechnology to provide more efficient services.See Cleaners, Page 10F

Story byAustin King

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COMMUNICATION CABLEGENERAL CABLE


General Cable making innovations in telecommunications fieldGeneral Cable has been growing

a n d m a k i n g a m a r k i nScottsville.

“General Cable is a $6.4 billion pub-licly-traded company; the third largestwire and cable business in the world,”HR manager of the Marshall plant,Jesse Vanpool said. “We serve our cus-tomers around the world through aglobal network of sales offices and dis-

tribution centers, with57manufacturing facili-ties located in 26 coun-

tries.”The company may be off the beaten

pathbut employs 328people,more than90 percent of which live in HarrisonCounty, in their 795,000 square footplant.

“We are a producer of high-qualityaluminum, copper and fiber optic wireand cable and system solutions for theenergy, construction, industrial, spe-

cialty and communications markets,”Vanpool said. “General Cable deliverspower to people all over the world. Formore than a century, our company hasbeenapioneer in thedesignandmanu-facture of high-performance wire andcable products for power transmissionand distribution through the air, un-derground and even under the ocean.

“Whether the energy source is basedon coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear, wind,solar or hydro, from resource extrac-tion to generation, transmission anddistribution, General Cable is the sup-plier of choice to energy and powercompanies around the world.

“Our business has grown exponen-tially over the last 15 years, drivenmostly by strategic acquisitions andpartnerships around the world. Wehave also added new talent, productsand capabilities.”

General Cable has a long history,

tracing its roots to the 19th century.“General Cable Corporation was

originally incorporated in New Jerseyin 1927,” Vanpool said. “At that time, itbrought together the plant facilitiesand manufacturing experience of sev-eral older companies founded in the1800s, including Standard Under-ground Cable, which was founded byAmerican entrepreneur, engineer andelectrical industry pioneer, GeorgeWestinghouse.

“General Cable supplied the insulat-edwiretoSamuelMorseforhishistoriccommunication between Washingtonand Baltimore. We supplied wire tolight the Statue of Liberty twice—firstin1886andagainfor theCentennialcel-ebration in 1986. And, we provided 100percentof thecable for thepowertrans-mission lines from the Hoover Dam toLos Angeles—1,626 conductor miles.”

Not resting on their historic laurels,General Cable has been pioneeringtechniques and products in their field.

“GeneralCable’s innovationhasnev-er stopped,” Vanpool said. “ In NorthAmerica, more than 18 percent of ourproduct sold today has been refreshedor launched over the last three years.Two of these new products are manu-factured in theMarshall plant.

“The first is PowrNet® low-voltage

“General Cable supplied theinsulated wire to Samuel Morse for

his historic communicationbetween Washington and

Baltimore. We supplied wire to lightthe Statue of Liberty twice — first

in 1886 and again for theCentennial celebration in 1986.”

Jesse VanpoolHR manager of the Marshall plant

See Cable, Page 11F

Story byCait Shields

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1839 - Harrison County is es-tablished by the Congress of theRepublic of Texas. The county isnamed for Texas revolutionary lead-er Jonas Harrison.

1842 - Marshall, which wasnamed in honor of U.S. Chief JusticeJohn Marshall, becomes the countyseat of Harrison County.

1854 - First telegraph office inTexas opens in Marshall, with con-nections to Shreveport, Alexandriaand New Orleans.

1863-1865 - Marshall be-came the Confederate Capitol ofMissouri for nearly two years afterGov. Thomas C. Reynolds and oth-er Confederate sympathizers wereforced out of Missouri by Uniontroops. Offices of this government inexile were located at 402 S. BolivarSt. While that building occupied bythe Missouri officials no longer exist,a Texas historial marker designatesthe site. Consequently, Marshall issometimes called the City of SevenFlags - because the flag of Missourionce flew here along with the othersix flags that have flown over Texas.

1863 - Marshall becomes theheadquarters for Confederate oper-ations west of the Mississippi Riverafter the fall of Vicksburg. A factorythat made military hats for Confed-erate troops, blankets and saddleblankets also was operated at 201W. Grand Ave. - and a Texas histori-cal marker was placed at the site ofthe factory.

1870s - Jay Gould, president ofthe Texas and Pacific Railway, agreesto locate the T&P’s workshops andgeneral offices for Texas in Marshall.

1901 - The HarrisonCounty Courthouse is com-pleted in downtown Marshall.The renaissance-revival court-house was designed by J. RielyGordon, one of the most ac-claimed courthouse architectsin Texas at the time. Countygovernment offices weremoved into a new courthousein 1964. The old courthouse,which is listed in the NationalRegister of Historic Places,then began housing the Harri-son County Historical Museum.The oldcourthouse, which also hasbeen lavishly decorated forMarshall’s Wonderland ofLights holiday lighting extrava-ganza for the last 25 years, wasrecently the site of a massiverestoration project.

1909 - Doctors James F.Rosborough, Rogers Cockeand Frank Littlejohn establishMemorial Hospital in Marshall.Later renamed Marshall Me-morial Hospital and MarshallRegional Medical Center, thehospital operates today asGood Shepherd Medical Cen-ter Marshall.

1912 - Claudia Alta “LadyBird” Taylor Johnson, formerfirst lady during the presidencyof her husband, Lyndon, B.Johnson, is born in Karnack.She graduated from MarshallHigh School.

1914 - East Texas BaptistCollege is founded in Mar-shall. The college’s name waschanged to East Texas BaptistUniversity in 1984.

1937 - Harrison CountyAirport begins operating in theMarshall area. Today, the airportcovers an area of 480 acres, andit includes two asphalt runways.In 2007, an average of 44 aircraftoperated out of the airport daily -an average of 44 per day.

1944 - Jerri Lynn Mooney,better known as Susan Howard -an actress known for portrayingDonna Krebbs on the “Dallas” TVshow, is born in Marshall.

1949 - George Foreman, atwo-time former world heavy-weight boxing champion, Olym-pic gold medalist and promoterof the George Foreman grill, isborn in Marshall.

1981 - Actress Brea Grant,best-known for playing DaphneMillbrook in the NBC TV series,“Heroes,” is born in Marshall.

1982 -Marshall residentsbegin holding the Fire Ant Fes-tival in October to salute theFire Ant. Events have includedbike rides, chili cook-offs, rub-ber chicken chunking contest, aparade and many other events.

1985 - The MichelsonMuseum of Art was establishedin Marshall for the purpose ofcaring for the works of Russian-American artist Leo Michelson.Since then, the museum hasexpanded to include otherworks.

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Republic Industries looks tocover the future with graniteSince 1975 Republic Industries has

provided services around thecountry from right here in Mar-

shallRepublic Industries offers cabinets,

countertops, flooring and doors forhomes and apartments that employtheir services.

“Wemanufactureand install kitchencabinetsandcountertopsin large apartment com-plexes,” said PresidentBrianRoper.“Wedoallofour manufacturing in

Marshall.“We do single family homes through

our company stores.”Currently Republic Industries has

fourRepublicCabinetsDirectlocations,including the facilities in Marshall,Garland,Kenner,La. andNorcross,Ga.The companyhouses 400 employees.

“Right now we’re running at capaci-ty,” Roper said. “As we move up in thesummer time,we’ll berunningatabout120 percent capacity, so about 10 hourdays.”

The company is a member of Mar-shall Economic Development Corpora-tion, and just recently received a grantof $48,000 as an incentive for local ex-pansiontooffer20morejobsinthearea.In addition to creating more jobs inMarshall, thecompanyseekstostayac-tive in the community.

“We also received a grant this year

from MEDCO for $48,000. It’ll be usedfor adding manufacturing capacity,”Ropersaid.“We’remembersofMEDCOandwesupport the annualCrimeStop-pers anti-drug auction and the Mar-shall-Harrison County Literacy Coun-cil aswell.”

Over the years, Republic Industrieshas expanded its product base and ser-vices.

“I think the product diversity has in-creased dramatically over the years,”Ropersaid.“Asaresultwehavebecomea lot more varied over the past fewyears. We offer a lot more customerchoices.Wealsohave invested ina lotofnew machinery over the past fewyears.”

Just last year, Republic Industriestook on new offerings with the help ofElite Multifamily Interiors, a companyRepublic acquired.

“In 2013 we acquired a granite andflooring company,”Roper said. “Wearenow offering granite countertops andflooring under the name of EliteMulti-family Interiors.”

What’s more, Republic Industrieshopestoopenamanufacturingplantforgranite in the near future.

“Hopefully in the first quarterof 2014we’ll be expanding and opening a gran-ite manufacturing plant,” Roper said.“Thatwill probably inDallas.”

Formore information, visit the com-pany’swebsite at republicind.com.

ROCKING REPUBLICREPUBLIC INDUSTRIES


CleanersFrom page 6F

alterations as well, like hemmingpants or skirts or letting out a waistor zipper or button replacement.

“We have long-time customers andrepeat customers. We feel fortunatein that regard, as well as findingmany new customers through ourWeb presence.

“The searching that people do to-day on their smart phones is probablythe most frequent way people findus.”

Since King took over the cleaners,B&Chas taken a turn to bemore envi-ronmentally-minded.

“The major changes have been pri-marily in the area of technology andenvironmentally-sensitive issues,”King said.

“We are aware of these issues andup to date on anything related tothem.”

New technology and smart phoneservices have also sprung up over thepast few years, which B&C Cleanershappily adopted.

“The equipment and presses weuse now are much more efficient andrequire less maintenance,” King said.

“The other major changes are thetechnology and point of sale dedicat-ed to dry cleaners. Our operating soft-ware tracks each garment from thetime it comes in the door, until it ispicked up by the customer. It has beena tremendous enhancement over thepast few years.

“One of the features that comes outof that technology is the ability to letour customers know when their or-der is ready.

“It sends a text through their smartphone telling them that their order iscomplete and they can stop by to pickit up.”

In the past year, B&C Cleaners hascontinued to refine its use of technol-ogy by upgrading computers and em-ploying the use of new equipmentthroughout the operation.

“We keep our operating system up-graded our hardware current tomakesure they function as designed,” Kingsaid.

“Our newest piece of equipment isa ‘sandwich leg press’ dedicated todry cleaned slacks and trousers. It isvery fast and produces excellent re-sults.”

ZumbaFrom page 4F

here.”Johnson teaches classes one to two

classes six days a week. There arealso two other Zumba instructorswho work at the studio.

“The way it works is similar to ahair salon,” she said. “Everyone is inbusiness for themselves. Each in-structor rents out the studio and in-structs the classes.”

Shake & Move Fitness has been inits location on the downtown squaresince 2009. She has been teaching fit-ness classes for 15-plus years and isalso a personal trainer but says Zum-ba is her passion.

“I’ve always loved music,” shesaid. “I have a background in bandand I also loved the idea of being anaerobics instructor and this was aperfect combination.”

Johnson says it’s mainly womenwho attend the classes but anyone iswelcome.

“We’d love to have men come, it’s

not exclusive to women only,” shesaid. “No matter what stage of lifeyou’re in or how old you are, you’realways welcome. Even if you’ve nev-er done anything like this, I’d saycome check it out and ease your wayinto it. My goal is to not only makeworking out fun but when you leave,to make you feel like you just left aparty and not the gym.

“We’ve had all ages and sizes, sofeel free to come and start rightwhere you are.”

She added the most rewarding partabout the business is the relation-ships she builds.

“The instructor/client relation-ship is the most important aspectabout it,” she said. “I’ve built somegreat friendships with these peopleand they know that my goal is to helpthem out and we have a lot of fun.”

The studio is also available to rentfor birthday parties and otherevents. There’s also Zumba forkids.

Story andphoto by

Austin King

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11cable, which is designed for use in con-gested and urban network systems. Itoffers a low-smoke, zero-halogen jack-et, is flexible,makingiteasyforourcus-tomers to install, and is very durable.The other is EmPowr® Link CL medi-

CableFrom page 7F

ChevroletFrom page 3F

um-voltage cable. This new cable is asmaller, lighter weight design for therenewable energy industry.”

Vanpool said one of the tenets of thecompany is meeting customers’ needs.

“At our plant inMarshall, Texas, wemanufacture low- andmedium-voltage

distribution cables and bare overheadhigh-voltage transmission conduc-tors,” he said. “At General Cable Mar-shall, we are dedicated to delivering ahigh-quality product that meets ourcustomers’ exacting specifications,when and where they need it. If this

means responding to rush orders to re-place power lines damaged by highwinds from spring storms, that is ourjob and we will service our customersso they can service their customers.Noone wants to be without power.”

toMarshall as a teen, came to work forMr. Nehls on a temporary basis follow-ing World War II.

“My granddad was a flight instruc-tor at an air field for World War II fly-ers; he trained people how to fly,” saidBrown. “That was his service duringthat time. When he came back, when-ever the war ended and that job ended,he was here working, kind of fillingin.

“He thought he was going to get aflying job down in Houstonwith one ofthe airlines and thenMr. Nehls offeredhim a position in the business,” saidBrown.

The family patriarchhappily accept-ed, considering it an ideal situation, al-lowing him to stay right here at home,instead of moving far away for work.

“It worked out,” said Brown. “So,(he) just worked hard.”

And although product has changed,Brown said the concept of the car-sell-ing business hasn’t.

“Yes, technology has changed, butthe concept of communicating with acustomer — doing things right, beingfriendly, courteous and taking care ofbusiness — the concept hasn’tchanged,” he said.

“You still sell cars the sameway; youhave to figure out how to put a deal to-gether that the customer is happywithand something you can live with, andsomewhere in the middle is a gooddeal,” said Brown. “Then, after thefact, when everything’s great, it’s won-derful. You get the customer back andtry to do it all over again.

“If they need service, you’re rightthere for them,” he said. “You open thedoors up, be there, and take care of anyissues for them.”

Brown said Nehls Chevrolet pridesitself in customer service and a friend-ly atmosphere.

“We’ve had lots of customers overthe years say they have shopped at oth-er dealerships and when they shophere, they feel like they’re at home,” hesaid. “They don’t feel like they’re beingpressured.

“They are being given the attentionthat they’re looking for,” said Brown.

And while their goal is to be a rep-utable business, selling quality auto-mobiles, their overall goal is to be a

positive leader in the community andin service.

“(Wewant tobe) someonepeople cancount on that when things are great,we’re glad to celebrate with you,” hesaid. “If something is not going right,we’re here to try to handle those situa-tions, too.”

Brown said they are excited aboutthe evolution of the Chevrolet brand,and are happy to be a part of it.

“It’s exciting times forChevrolet andfor Nehls Chevrolet,” he said.

The stockMost recently, Nehls added the 2014

Corvette to its stock, which is the newseventh generation.

“We’re looking forward to getting init and driving it and being able to sell itto the customer and getting that deliv-ered to somebody,” said Brown.

Other new products coming out in-clude the new Silverado 1500 or heavyduty series.

“It’ll be an all new body style,” saidBrown.

He said, in fact, the Corvette and thenew 1500 Silverado truck were NorthAmerican car and truck of the yearwinners at the Detroit Auto Show.

“That was the first time it’s been thesame nameplate for the car and thetruck at that auto show,” said Brown.

In addition to the Corvette, and Sil-verado 1500 heavy duty series, NehlsChevrolet is also excited about the fu-ture arrival of the new Tahoe and Sub-urban.

“Those will be all 2015 models,” hesaid. “We’re getting some of those inright now.”

The 2014 Impalas are also new andready to be sold.

“There are five nameplates that areall new right now,” Brown said of theChevrolet stock.

The latest feature onmost of the newbrands is the triple-sealed doors.

“In fact, on the Impala and the Sub-urban andwith the newTahoe and theSilverados, Chevrolet’s really promot-ing their triple-sealed doors to try toreduce wind noise, try to make it asquiet as possible in the cabin,” saidBrown.

Customers have appreciated the fea-ture so far. One hearing-impaired indi-vidual, who took a ride in one of the

store’s Impalas, commended the fea-ture’s ability to block out wind noise.

“He said that was one of the few carshe felt like he could ride in and carryon a conversation because it blockedout all that wind noise so you didn’thave to compete with that kind of likewhite noise, if you will,” said Brown.

Brown said the car lot has a vast se-lection of cars that range in variousprices for shoppers.

“The Chevrolet nameplate has got avery broad spectrum for just about anycustomer to try to keep that family, tryto keep that customer, within underthe roof, if you will,” he said.

Other brands in stock include theChevrolet Spark, a new entry levelcommuter vehicle that’s smaller withgreat fuel mileage; and the ChevroletSonic, which is a little larger.

“(We have) the cruise, the Malibuand Impala, and of course, the Camaroand Corvette,” said Brown.

“Coming up in the truck line, we’regoing to be getting an all-new Col-orado, which will be an all new mid-size truck,” he added. “And we lookforward to the Equinox and the Tra-verse, which is going to come up withsome new body styles within the yearfor the SUV size.”

The rewardsBrown said it’s rewarding to see cus-

tomers drive off the lot in their chosenvehiclewith a smile.One of his happiermoments was when a customer sere-naded him with a gospel song afterfinding the perfect car.

“When we got through signing allthe paperwork, she was really excitedto have that vehicle,” he recalled. “Shesaid, ‘Has anybody ever serenadedyou?’ (I said) no ma’am, but sure, I’lllisten. And, she just sat out there, rightthere in the showroom floor just belt-ing out (a tune)…had a beautiful voice,and I was just like, ‘Wow!’”

“She was so happy and she wantedto share that happiness with me,”Brown said. “I thought that was reallyneat. I really enjoyed that.”

Another exciting moment was thetransaction of a rare trade-in for a fam-ily wanting an electric vehicle.

“We had a volt here on the lot thatdidn’t quite have the features that theywanted,” recounted Brown. “We found

one that they wanted and got it in forthem and delivered it and they werevery happy and ecstatic.”

Coincidentally, he learned that thevolt he gave the other dealership forthat particular trade-in was also soldto another satisfied customer.

“It doesn’t happen too often, but onthe same virtual transaction, theycouldn’t sell theirs; we couldn’t sellours, and just by luck, traded rightthere at the time,” said Brown. “So,those are the moments that really arerewarding.”

“I think that’s part of the businessthat you do enjoy is dealing with peo-ple and helping people out,” saidBrown.

Through the yearsSince its existence, Nehls has had

two locations. The first was downtownon Houston Street. Then, in 1975, thebusiness moved to its current address,4801 E. End Blvd. S. (U.S. Highway59).

“When we moved at this location,there wasn’t’ anybody here,” saidBrown. “It was us and what was thenthe Holiday Inn, one of the hotels onthe Interstate.”

He said the dealership moved outthere for the space. It’s been exciting tosee the growth along the highway overthe years.

“We’re looking to see Marshall ex-pand whatever way we can,” saidBrown.

Things that they are most proud ofas far as the location is that the dealer-ship is easy to find and is visible, saidBrown.

“The layout worked well,” he said ofthe building’s design. “Forus,whenwedesigned it, we liked everything onone-level — no steps.”

The service department was builtwith the customer in mind.

“In the service department, we likeour covered drive-through we call ourbreezeway,” said Brown. “In any kindof weather, you (can) just pull up. Youdon’t have to stand out in the rain.”

Brown invites car shoppers to comeand check them out.

“Give us a shot,” he said. “We inviteyou to do business with us.

“Just a few miles to Nehls; we deliv-er smiles,” he said.

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