Opportunity is everywhere.
You hear that sentiment a lot, but if there is a lesson to be learned in the story of Michael Rucker and LeRoy Holland, that’s it: opportunity is everywhere. You never know what doors might open, simply because of where you go and who you meet.

Rucker and Holland are co-owners of the new Mr. Transmission/Milex franchise in Las Vegas, Nevada, which opened in December. We recently spoke with the new owners about the start of their business and this history of their partnership.

The two first met six years ago when Rucker brought his car in for repair.  He was impressed by Holland’s approach to car care and he quickly became Rucker’s go-to mechanic whenever his car had problems.  They developed a friendship over the years, and Rucker kept Holland in mind when he explored purchasing a Mr. Transmission/Milex franchise.

“One of the main reasons why I wanted to go into business with LeRoy is that I have never seen someone so honest,” Rucker says.  “I’ve never seen anyone take the time to do it right the way LeRoy does.  Those were the things that truly impressed me about him.  I’ve had the opportunity to go into business with a lot of people, but in talking with LeRoy and seeing how he operates, it was a no-brainer for me.”

Rucker and Holland researched various franchise options and they decided to purchase a Mr. Transmission/Milex franchise in a new Las Vegas market for three reasons.

1. It’s a relatively recession-proof business. “People will always need to have their car repaired at some point,” Rucker says.
2. Rucker liked Holland and thought that he’d make a great business partner, and, of course, Holland’s expertise is in cars. So the way they both saw it, Holland could oversee the operations of Mr. Transmission/Milex and run the day-to-day operations in the garage, and Rucker could focus on everything in the office, like payroll and accounting, marketing and all of the functions that go into making a business successful.
3. They were immediately impressed by their opportunity with Moran Family of Brands. “After comparing Moran to other options, I saw they had a better planning process, provided more support and had a wider range of services,” Rucker says. “I also liked that it was new to the Las Vegas market.  Moran offered tremendous support and a proven business plan that works.”

Both men have lived in Las Vegas for years. Rucker has lived in the city for 33 years; Holland, 22 years. They have hired two customer service representatives and two mechanics, with plans to hire an additional mechanic.  They think their business should be a big hit in Vegas. After all, this is a city where people like to gamble, but not with their cars.

Rucker also says that their car repair service is going to reflect what he saw in Rucker when he first started working with Holland. Rucker realized right away that Holland was a great mechanic, extremely honest and not somebody out to make a quick buck. They both want to develop long-term relationships with their customers and are excited to see their business become a permanent fixture in the Las Vegas community.

If Rucker has a business philosophy, he says it’s this: “There are two key components to your success – providing outstanding customer service and having a great team. Your team members can make you successful if they believe in you and the plan for the business.”

Your odds for being successful increase if you just look for opportunity. It may not always knock on the door, but you never know, opportunity may be underneath your car, tinkering with the transmission.