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Isn't it refreshing to hear about people who are passionate and excited about what they do? Along the same lines, I always enjoy hearing stories about people who take a hobby and turn it into a successful company. Such is the case for Bill Davis.
Bill has been an off-road enthusiast for many years. He developed a passion for British Land Rovers, which served him well in his off-road exploits. Land Rovers remained a hobby while Bill spent his days as a banker for a local financial institution for eight years. In his free time, he also developed a knack for purchasing, restoring and selling cars, which eventually became his full-time profession.
Although Bill enjoyed both banking and restoring cars, he realized neither represented his passion. Land Rovers were his true interest. He began taking evening classes to learn the ins and outs of servicing Land Rovers. This became the basis for Great Basin Rovers, which he established in 1992.
The company started off as a vintage Land Rover service, restoration and parts business but evolved into primarily a specialty parts business that provides heavy duty, high-performance parts specifically for Land Rover vehicles.
About two years ago, as a result of the economic situation and business being slower than usual, Bill received funding, through a Small Business Association loan, to not only remodel his Salt Lake City facility but also to add a service department. The company works on all models, offering a viable alternative to the dealership and non-specialized independent shops. He now employs a silver certified Land Rover technician and feels Great Basin Rovers can offer high-quality service at competitive pricing.
In the next few years, Bill has plans to expand the service facility of Great Basin Rovers, so he can more than the amount of available space. This will allow him to provide faster service to help further his goal of becoming the premiere independent Land Rover facility in the valley.
For Zions Bank, I'm Rob Brough. I'm speaking on business.
