Troy Ross

I've been around vehicles my entire life. As soon as I could walk and talk, my passion for the automotive industry began to develop.

You could say it’s in my blood — my dad has always been a gearhead, too. He owned and managed shops that worked on semi trucks and he had muscle cars as a hobby. I always looked up to him and his friends in the industry, mesmerized by how they could tear a whole car or engine apart and put it back together just like new. On the weekends, I watched them at nearby racetracks.

It should come as no surprise that today, I’m the owner and CEO of CR’s Tire & Automotive in Wamego. My role involves serving as general manager, tire tech, mechanic, lube tech, salesman, human resources manager, payroll manager and more. I actually don't mind this, since it makes every day interesting and keeps them from becoming redundant. I also stay busy looking for ways to grow and improve my business, with the goal of adding additional locations someday.

What I enjoy most, though, is the people. We have a great group at the shop who like working alongside one another and our customers are the best! They’re so loyal when it comes to shopping and supporting local and in turn we treat them fairly and give them the best service possible. I love to see a happy customer after we've successfully completed their vehicle, whether it's a minor repair, new tires or an oil change.

My journey here began in high school. My accounting, English, computer and tech courses were all a helpful start in my career training, along with my part-time job as an auto detailer. I continued to gain hands-on experience in the auto industry while studying business at Emporia State University by working part time at a local body shop. The job market was extremely tough when I graduated, so I stayed on at the body shop full time. I soon took a position as a parts sales and warranty specialist at the New Holland Tractor dealership in Emporia, but after only one year a family friend offered me a position I couldn't refuse — maintenance director for a transportation company in Wichita. I worked there for four or five years before making the move to Wamego to begin the process of purchasing CR’s.

The auto industry offers great careers. I would never discourage young Kansans from studying for a college degree, since I'm a graduate myself, but I urge high school grads to consider that the drastically increasing demand for jobs in the skilled trades makes technical or specialized training a smart, low-cost career move.

Automobiles aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, so don't be afraid to roll up your sleeves and get dirty!