Local businesses picked as ‘Best in Northland’

Melissa Homer/The Kearney Courier
Pictured are, front row from left, John Houser of Globe Electric, George Houser of Globe Electric, Liz Mohler of Kent Mohler Exteriors, Tammy Smith of Curves, Tam Springer of Pizza Shoppe, Grace Terry of Gracies Chocolate & Ice Cream Parlor; middle row, Brian Snodderly of Amazing Comfort, Larry Hampton of Hampton Plumbing, Melissa Mohler of Kent Mohler Exteriors, Jim Hess of Hess Style Shop, Ron Springer of Pizza Shoppe, Brian Terry of Gracies Chocolate & Ice Cream Parlor, Dave Hinck of KCB Bank; back row, Dr. David Leighr and staff of Long Veterinary Clinic. All were selected by Sun News readers as among the Best in the Northland for their respective specialties.

Three of Sun News’ Northland newspapers ask readers to vote each year for their favorite

people and establishments north of the river. And each year several winners hail

from Kearney and Excelsior Springs. Here are profiles of two of this year’s top picks.

Kent Mohler Exteriors a family business

By Carrie Alexander

Most customers are surprised when they find out that it is Kent Mohler, the founder and owner of Kent Mohler Exteriors, who will be visiting their homes to give them their estimates for exterior home improvements.

But after 34 years of serving the Northland, that’s exactly what he does. And now, Mohler has made the business a family business.

“Our daughter, Melissa, does all of our marketing,” Mohler’s wife, Elizabeth said. “Our son-in-law (Adam Jardak) does our installation and sales. It’s the four of us running this business not someone else, and I think that’s part of what sets us a part. It’s our family business.”

After several years of winning gold in the Best of the Northland’s Home Exteriors Company category, the Mohlers are flattered and a little surprised to have won again.

“We have always been concerned with providing the best customer service,” Kent Mohler said. “We feel that a lot of our success is due to the fact that our customers give great referrals. What I really find surprising is that the big-box stores come in second when we’re just a mom-and-pop organization.”

Sherri Evans, who lives in Parkville, not only felt she was valued but loved the company and family so much that she had them come out once to install new windows and a second time to put siding on her house without getting bids from any other siding companies.

“The first time I worked with Kent he came out to give me an estimate on new windows,” Evans said. “I priced windows with all of the other big companies and they couldn’t even come close to Kent’s price or service. After that, I’ve referred him to a lot of other people and even had him do the siding on my house.”

Kent Mohler said that he was able to provide his customers with the best prices on quality products because he doesn’t use television advertisements or have a lot of overhead, which means he can pass the savings on to his customers.

Evans said that it was that feeling of trust that sold her on Mohler’s company. She said that he looked her in the eye, shook her hand and gave her his word, which meant more to her than any piece of paper.

Since the Mohlers have been in business for so long, they are now starting to see a second generation come to them for service, something they said was one of the best compliments they could receive.

Dealership helps unite customers, cars

By Carrie Alexander

For Westfall O’Dell General Manager Kent McAfee, winning best dealership in the Northland for new vehicle purchases three years in a row is not only a huge source of pride but also affirmation the business is on the right track.

McAfee said that as a dealership the goal was not to pressure clients into buying just any vehicle, but to match each client’s needs and goals up with the right vehicle.

“We don’t want to sell anybody just a car,” McAfee said. “We want their business for life, and it’s that philosophy that got us voted best three years in a row.”

According to McAfee, taking the time to listen to customers is often all that is needed to seal the deal. McAfee said that shopping for a new car could cause anxiety for some customers and he knows that helping customers feel comfortable about shopping for a car helps them feel more comfortable about purchasing a car.

“We make it easy to buy a car,” McAfee said. “We go into a little more detail because we do hear the horror stories, and we try to be the opposite of that experience for the customer.

“We try to put ourselves in their shoes. People in the car business sometimes forget the anxiety that goes with buying a new car.”

As a dealership that’s been part of the Excelsior Springs and Northland community for more than 60 years, they also strive to give back to the community.

“We’ve been in business for 62 years,” McAfee said. “We are active in our community because giving back has always been at our core. We want to build friendships and develop our customers’ trust. We have one family that just had their fourth generation buy a car from us.”

That family drove from Olathe, Kan.

While it might seem that Westfall O’Dell is prideful of its recognition, it is quite the contrary. McAfee was humbled the community had so much respect for the dealership.

“Now it’s become almost a goal for us. If we can accomplish it three years in a row why not work harder and win another?

“It’s a pat on the back that we don’t always get. We often only hear the things we do wrong. It’s seldom that we hear about all of the happy people, so it’s very reassuring to us.”

WINNERS:

The following is a list of the Kearney and Excelsior Springs winners in Sun News’ 18th annual Best of the Northland contest. It is not the complete list of Best of the Northland 2008 winners.

Gold Medals 

- Jim Hess, Hess Style Shop — Best Barber 

- Westfall O’Dell in Excelsior Springs — Best New Vehicle Dealership 

- Hampton Plumbing — Best Plumbing Co. 

- Globe Electric — Best Electrician 

- Redmond’s in Excelsior Springs — Best Home Accessories Store 

- Hess Style Shop — Best Barber Shop 

- Subway — Best Deli/Sandwich Shop 

- Sonic — Best Fast Food Restaurant

Silver Medals 

- Dr. David Leighr, Long Veterinary Clinic — Best Veterinarian 

- Pour Boys — Best Convenience Store 

- Amazing Comfort — Best Heating & Cooling Company 

- Mr. Goodcents — Best Deli/Sandwich Shop 

- Pizza Shoppe — Best Pizza Place 

- McDonald’s — Best Fast Food Restaurant

Bronze Medals 

- KCB Bank — Best Place to Work 

- Pizza Hut — Best Pizza Place 

- Gracies Chocolate & Ice Cream Parlor — Best Ice Cream Shop 

- Curves — Best Place to Workout