Fort Collins Coloradoan: Best Family Business

Family business' roots in town run deep

By Joyce Davis — JoyceDavis@coloradoan.com

While Dennis Houska has seen a lot of change in Fort Collins in the 31 years he's run the family automotive repair shop, the people who frequent his business haven't changed much.

Dennis Houska, right, his son, L.J., and his wife, Noreen, run Houska Automotive in Fort Collins. L.J. is holding a photo of his grandfather, Chuck Houska, who started the business in 1952 at the same location.

Those who need mechanical repair trust that Houska and his "family" of mechanics will treat them with the same respect and care Houska's father gave decades ago.

It's one of the reasons Houska Automotive Services Inc. was named Best Family Business in the Coloradoan's 2005 Best in Business contest.

"We try to cure their transportation problems," Houska said. "And we try to look beyond repairing the car to helping fix the other problems, such as getting a car towed, finding a rental car or arranging transportation while the car's in the shop."

We've even picked up kids from school. We have one fella here who does nothing but help people all day long."

Houska took over the business in 1974, in the same shop where his father first opened the doors in 1952.

"We were outside the city limits at one time," Houska said, noting the growth in Fort Collins. "Now we're seeing a lot more people coming in from out of state and a lot less agriculture. Some of our best farmland has gone to housing developments."

Houska's wife, Noreen, keeps the books and "hands out the paychecks — the important part," he joked.

Working alongside him is his son John, called L.J. "At one time we had four Johns in the shop and we were calling them Big John, Little John and anything else we could think of to keep them straight," Houska said. "That's how John — Little John — became L.J."

Houska said his staff of 25 is largely responsible for the respectful service and success of the business. "They're all more like family than employees, and they really make it work," he said.

Giving back to the community is high on Houska's list. To that end, he set up the Houska Houska 5K race 14 years ago to raise funds for a bone marrow registry — its name is a spoof on the Bolder Boulder race. In the summer of 2004, he bicycled from Washington state to Florida to raise awareness about the national registry.

A marrow donor himself — he donated to a 9-year-old boy in California — Houska has seen the miracle of marrow donation firsthand.

"He's 17 now, and he comes here each year to compete in the race," he said of his marrow recipient. "The money helps pay for (marrow) typing so we can get more people on the registry.

"When they're not in the shop, Houska joins his wife in doing charitable work, then heads for the outdoors to bicycle, ski, hike, fish and enjoy the scenery.

Working together all day then going home together at night hasn't been a problem for the couple through the years.

"It's all in the communication," Houska said. "We are respectful of each other and listen to each other's opinions. And we don't talk business at home … we work on our other interests."

Originally published February 3, 2006
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All hail the heroes

Health-care institutions benefit from the people who go above, beyond

Source: Northern Colorado Business Report
Author: Business Report staff

Seventeen-year-old Andrew Christensen of Galt, Calif., who is scheduled to graduate from high school this month, is likely to collect a few gifts for reaching his milestone.

Still, nothing the graduate receives that day will measure up to the gift he received nine years before from Fort Collins businessman Dennis Houska.
When he was eight, Christensen - suffering from leukemia - received a bone marrow transplant with marrow donated by Houska, who owns Houska Automotive Service with his wife Noreen and son LJ.

Dennis Houska's donation is one component of a much larger cause that the Houska family has supported since 1995, when Dennis first placed himself on the National Bone Marrow Registry.

Each year the family orchestrates the Houska Houska 5K run on Memorial Day, turning the proceeds over to the local Poudre Valley Hospital Donor Center. The funds, including $7,000 from last year's race, defray the cost of typing new donors.

"It costs $65 for every new donor we type," said Donor Center Coordinator Joanne Coolman. With Houska Houska proceeds, PVH charges just $30. Coolman estimates the center registers about 300 potential donors each year, but figures the numbers would be as few as 50 without the Houskas' financial support.

In addition to the Houska family's efforts, Houska automotive employees - several of whom have registered as potential donors - are active volunteers for the race. The company also promotes the bone marrow program by offering free oil changes to anyone who registers as a donor at PVH.

Dennis Houska has made cross-country bicycle rides in both the United States and South Africa to raise awareness for the registry, and the Houskas also support a wide range of charitable programs, including managing an annual blood drive.
Originally published May 26, 2006
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