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Flagstaff Business News // JUNE 2022
flagstaffbusinessnews.com
Steve Bruner and Andrew Potter pick up supplies in Phoenix for the Flagstaff office. Currently, they are looking for drivers for the moving trucks. Photo by Betsey Bruner
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Established moving company opens franchise in Flagstaff
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By Betsey Bruner, FBN
he lively real estate market and lifestyle/ work environment changes resulting from the pandemic may leave some feeling like life is a deck of cards thrown into the air. For those people and anyone else needing support with relocating, Two Men and a Truck (TMT) is ready to help sort out the chaos by making moving easier. With growth and expansion occurring in the professional moving industry, a franchise operation of the moving company opened in East Flagstaff this spring. “We are expanding to meet our customers’ needs,” said Cheryl Ackley, a franchise development specialist with TMT International. “There is a need in Flagstaff to provide Two Men and a Truck services for home and business local moves, intrastate moves and interstate moves, along with packing and unpacking services. Currently, Flagstaff has a 100% referral rating from their customers in 2022. We feel this is very successful.” TMT employees, Steve Bruner, a native of Mesa, and Andrew Potter, originally from Michigan, agreed in early 2021 to be co-owners of the new Flagstaff franchise, along with Chris Willems, who had been working with Bruner at two TMT locations in the Valley, Glendale South and Tempe, where Bruner has been working as general manager at both locations. Bruner and Potter did not know each other until May of 2019 when they talked about the possibility of Potter coming out to Arizona to be an operations manager at the Phoenix stores. Potter was very receptive to the idea of relocating to work for TMT in Arizona and transferred to the state later in 2019. “He was interested in a new opportunity with advancement, because the franchise where he was had no further growth opportunities,” said Bruner, who left a two-decade career in supply chain management when he realized he wanted to start his own business. He was attracted to Two Men and a Truck
because of the company’s values. “I get the opportunity to utilize all of my past experience and to learn how to manage my own business with a team of individuals.” Bruner encourages people to use a professional mover to reduce the physical impacts on themselves and to protect their belongings. “Most people don’t realize how much money they have invested in their household items until they have to inventory and determine a total value. So, why not trust a professional mover to move household items they have invested so much in for many years?” Like Bruner, Potter also left a career. “I was looking through Indeed for something to do to earn a little extra money and thought moving would be a good way to get a workout in and also earn money while doing so,” he said. Ackley calls the two a great team. “We worked closely during the franchise process prior to opening.” She says studies show that about one-third of all franchisees start out as employees. “Movers, drivers and customer service representatives are given every opportunity to expand in their careers with Two Men and A Truck.” “I started as a mover and have worked through almost every position Two Men has to offer, up to my current position of co-owner and general manager,” said Potter. “I’ve been a mover, driver, trainer, team lead, move manager, in-home consultant, training and development manager and operations manager.” “It has been awesome working with Andrew and he has grown into being a key leader for our franchise system,” Bruner said. “In 2022, after Andrew had grown further as a leader, we were able to jump on the opportunity to expand in Northern Arizona and bring on Andrew as a co-owner and general manager of this new location.” “I love the town,” Potter said. “The first time I visited Flagstaff a few years ago, I knew I wanted to be here if we ever had the opportunity to start a location here. I’ve grown up and lived in small Continued on page 39
