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EXPERIENCE 144 | Dennis & LJ Houska of Houska Automotive Services - Reflections on a Family and Community-Centric Business Over Three Generations
Houska Automotive in Fort Collins was started in 1952, by Dennis’s father - Charles “Chuck” Houska, and still operates from the original location at 899 Riverside Avenue in Fort Collins. Chuck had been a B-17 Mechanic in WWII, and opened the business not long after moving to Northern Colorado. Dennis was crawling around the shop before he could walk, and never really worked anywhere else. He took over the business in 1974, and Chuck continued to work there nearly until his death in 1985.
LJ became “Little John” when he started working at the shop in his high school days, there being three other Johns already on the team, and the nickname is the one he’s known by in nearly every circle today. Houska has been growing ever since it started with two bays and only Chuck as the mechanic, and now includes a Tire & Lube Center, a Fleet Maintenance Division, and a Heavy Truck Center and a team of over 50 - all on one big campus near the intersection of Riverside and Lemay in Fort Collins. LJ has been overseeing day-to-day operations for several years, and though Dennis still carries the President title - he’s not spotted around the shop too often. Dennis’s wife Noreen, and LJ wife Jen both play key roles within the business too, and have for many years. Service and Community are core values at Houska, and they treat their team like family - resulting in many long-term employees and customers over their 70+ years in business. Please enjoy my conversation with Dennis and LJ Houska of Houska Automotive.
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Music By: A Brother's Fountain
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By Curt Bear
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Houska Automotive in Fort Collins was started in 1952, by Dennis’s father - Charles “Chuck” Houska, and still operates from the original location at 899 Riverside Avenue in Fort Collins. Chuck had been a B-17 Mechanic in WWII, and opened the business not long after moving to Northern Colorado. Dennis was crawling around the shop before he could walk, and never really worked anywhere else. He took over the business in 1974, and Chuck continued to work there nearly until his death in 1985.
LJ became “Little John” when he started working at the shop in his high school days, there being three other Johns already on the team, and the nickname is the one he’s known by in nearly every circle today. Houska has been growing ever since it started with two bays and only Chuck as the mechanic, and now includes a Tire & Lube Center, a Fleet Maintenance Division, and a Heavy Truck Center and a team of over 50 - all on one big campus near the intersection of Riverside and Lemay in Fort Collins. LJ has been overseeing day-to-day operations for several years, and though Dennis still carries the President title - he’s not spotted around the shop too often. Dennis’s wife Noreen, and LJ wife Jen both play key roles within the business too, and have for many years. Service and Community are core values at Houska, and they treat their team like family - resulting in many long-term employees and customers over their 70+ years in business. Please enjoy my conversation with Dennis and LJ Houska of Houska Automotive.
The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more
💡Learn about LoCo Think Tank
Follow us to see what we're up to:
Facebook
Music By: A Brother's Fountain