8 minute read
Two Men and a Truck Move into Flagstaff
from June 2022
Join us for a fun filled summer supporting Flagstaff’s local non-profits.
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
Helping People on the Move
Established moving company opens franchise in Flagstaff
By Betsey Bruner, FBN
The 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
2321 N. Fourth St. Flagstaff, AZ 86004 (928)526-5691 crestins.com
Flagstaff’s
Digital Employee Benefits Consultants
HR Services & Solutions Customized • Online Benefits Platform • Voluntary Benefit Marketplace • New Hire On-Boarding System • On-Line Enrollment Technology • Open Enrollment Solutions
WHY CHOOSE US
Attracting and retaining the best and brightest employees while effectively managing benefit costs is a must in today’s economy. Helping you meet these objectives is our specialty. We combine our exceptional knowledge and industry leading technology to serve you.
One of Arizona’s leading independent agencies
Fee Based Self-Funded (ASO) Partially Self-Funded / Level Funded Industry Pools / Trusts / Captive Insurance Plans
Fully Insured (ACA) Plans Health Savings Account (HSA) Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA)
Ed Gussio Partner Office (928) 526-5691 Mobile (928) 853-1706 Fax (928) 527-8011 egussio@crestins.com
A second co-op agreement for residential solar energy is expected to help lower the cost and make solar power more accessible.Courtesy photo
The cities of Flagstaff and Sedona and Coconino County have partnered with non-profit group Solar United Neighbors (SUN) to launch the second Northern Arizona Co-op. The co-op will help residents go solar.
This co-op follows the launch of the first Northern Arizona Co-op in 2021. That group reached 225 member households and is Solar United Neighbors’ most successful co-op in Arizona to date. The second Northern Arizona Co-op provides a new opportunity for residents to take advantage of the area’s plentiful sunshine.
“The City of Flagstaff is making great strides to uphold our commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, but we know that we can’t do it alone,” said Flagstaff Vice Mayor Miranda Sweet. “The solar co-op represents what’s possible when we work together to create solutions, collectively. I am confident that round two of the Northern Arizona Co-op will be equally, if not more, successful in bringing less expensive residential solar to the region.”
The co-op is free to join and open to all homeowners and business owners in Flagstaff, Sedona and Coconino County. Together, coop members will learn about solar energy and leverage their numbers to purchase individual solar systems at a competitive price and top quality.
“The City of Sedona’s Climate Action Plan sets an ambitious target of reducing community-wide emissions by 50% by the year 2030,” said City of Sedona Sustainability Manager Alicia Peck. “The Northern Arizona Solar Co-op will help us meet that goal by lowering the cost of solar for residents and business owners, ultimately making rooftop solar more accessible for our community.”
After a competitive bidding process facilitated by SUN, which remains vendor neutral, coop members will select a single solar company to complete the installations. Joining the co-op does not obligate members to purchase solar. Instead, members will have the option to individually purchase panels and electric vehicle chargers based on the installer’s group rate.
Proponents say the co-op is a collaboration offering an opportunity for neighbors to come together and reap both individual and collective benefits. These include monthly bill savings, local resiliency and improvements in air quality.
“We’ve wanted to install solar panels to our home for a long time. The Solar United Neighbors Co-op in 2021 was a perfect option for us,” said Kevin Brown, a member of the 2021 Northern Arizona Co-op. “The co-op provided all the education and technical support we needed to make informed decisions about our system. We’re delighted to be saving money on our electric bills and to make a positive ecological difference.”
The federal tax credit for solar is expected to decrease at the end of this year.
“The Northern Arizona co-op will enable homeowners and small businesses to go solar together at a competitive rate,” said Bret Fanshaw, Arizona program director for Solar United Neighbors. “We’re excited to bring another solar co-op to Northern Arizona, where we know lots and lots of people are ready to turn to the power of the sun.”
SUN has hosted 10 solar co-ops in Arizona since 2019. According to the group’s estimates, the 289 homes and businesses that now have solar panels because of co-ops represent more than 2 megawatts of solar power, $6.5 million in local solar spending and more than 40,000 metric tons of lifetime carbon offsets. FBN
SUN will host several free information sessions about solar energy and the co-op. For more information, visit solarunitedneighbors.org/naz2022.
One couple. Two sets of needs.
Countless options for happiness.
Assisted Living and Memory Care together, in one community.
When you and your spouse trade the burden of household responsibilities for an assisted living community like Highgate, you free yourself to simply enjoy each other and the things you love. Wake up each day to a spectacular view from the Mesa with a host of options before you. Our team is wholly devoted to supporting your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Guided by a unique holistic approach, we’ll help with medications and other tasks while you make new friends, eat deliciously well, and pursue your passions. As specialists in couples care, we work with families and physicians to provide the personalized care both of you need for a life of happiness.
Schedule a tour today! Call 928-863-3902
Highgate at Flagsta Email: Flagsta @HighgateSeniorLiving.com Visit: HighgateSeniorLiving.com
ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE
