Bringing Home (and Frying) the Bacon Lady Rebuilders Remain a Novelty By Traci Matt Associate Editor Recently a customer entered Detroit- area Knapp Auto Electric and handed the shop owner an alternator for testing. Knapp’s owner confirmed it was not defective, but the customer was unsatis- fied with the diagnosis. “He then insisted on speaking to the “guy,” said Anna Knapp. “I called my husband up front and went into the back without saying a word. My husband tested the alternator, told him it was not defective, then asked him why he didn’t believe me because I was the boss. We got a good laugh out of that one.” Indeed, Anna is well qualified to be the boss, although she uses a team man- agement philosophy with her husband, Larry Knapp, daughter, Josie Lenning, and their friend and employee Michelle (Chelle) Lopes. “When decisions are made, every- one’s thoughts and opinions are taken into consideration and we usually vote on major decisions. Not one of us can really stand alone,” said Anna. Her career began at age 16 when her uncle introduced her to rebuilding. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business and was working as leader of The Knapp gang (L to R) Larry, Anna, Josie and Chelle give Detroit rebuilders a run for their money. the mill department in a Detroit machine shop when her husband opened their rebuilding business in 1994. “He needed my help and that is how we became business partners,” she said. “Larry’s health started taking a bit of a decline several years ago and I had to step up to the plate.” This has included changes in daily responsibilities and advertising strate- gies—including her efforts at cold sales calls. “Am I nervous, oh, yes. But after speaking with a few of the supplier reps, especially our J & N rep, I am con- vinced that we can never get comfort- able. If we always act like the new kid on the block and constantly seek expo- sure with excitement about what we do “STARTERS Ke”ALTERNATORS WESBUYSSTARTER & ALTERWATOR CORES — — lOREIGN® DOM ESTIC » MARIRE 339472 47260 WE Buy Knapp Auto Electric has the corner on the market in Hazel Park, Mich., as well as the market on the corner. we’ll be fine. It’s when one gets too comfortable and puts all sales efforts aside that the next guy comes in and gets the business,” she said. Anna said her biggest challenge is avoiding “tunnel vision” —fighting to always be aware of what is going on around her. “Tt is very easy to slip into this mode and just focus on the day-to-day busi- ness of taking care of what comes in our door. But when we do this, we lose track of what is going on in the rest of the world,” she said. “Are there times when I would just love to come into the shop and grab a cup of coffee and sit at my desk and totally focus on my paperwork and nothing else? Yes. Are there days when I would just like to stand at my bench and do production building and not stop to troubleshoot or answer the phone or help solve a problem? Yes. But that is not our reality.” In reality, her day begins before dawn. She supervises the planning, scheduling, production and shipment of products. She works with customers, provides technical support, and has cross-trained employees in all aspects of the business, which is primarily auto- motive and industrial. Larry maintains a specialized position in the company working with customers who have unique needs, such as genera- tors or antique starters. He manages their extensive core inventory, comprised of vintage and late model products.