Businesses Stay Vigilant Against Scams Amidst Increasing Threats
In an era where the landscape of trust is constantly shifting, businesses are reminded of the importance of remaining vigilant against potential scams. Even the most astute can fall victim to cunning fraudsters.
Last month, two franchises located on the East Coast found themselvestargeted by thesame scammer,identifiedasJerry Powell, who attempted to make purchases using stolen credit cards. Jerry's first stop was at GSC of Annapolis, where he tried to acquire a generator. Undeterred by initial failure, he resurfaced the following week at GSC of Essex, attempting a similar transaction. Fortunately, bothestablishments werequicktoverifyidentificationandthwarthis attempts.
Scams aren't always perpetrated in person. Suzanna Leland, the owner of GSC of Salt Lake City, shared her personal experience involving a fraudulent email exchange with a vendor. Leland's accountant engaged in a legitimate email chain with a vendor regarding an invoice payment. Unbeknownst to them, the vendor's email had been compromised. The new emails were requesting for payment via wire transfer, complete with falsified banking instructions. Leland's accountant fell victim to the ruse and transferred funds into the fake account.
Intensifying the issue, their vendor's insurance lacked adequate coverage for cyber incidents, leaving them financially strained. Leland'scompany, fortunately,possessed suitableinsurance and they were covered. The incident has strained their relationship with their vendor.Similar situationshavebeen reported in other regions, and at our corporate offices as well. It's always important to validate any requestedchangesin paymentinstructionsthroughtrustedchannels, such as verified phone calls, rather than relying solely on email correspondence.
As threats continue to evolve, businesses must prioritize proactive measures to safeguard against potential scams and ensure the integrity of their operations. Generator Supercenter Franchising proactively added a Cyber Security policy to our list of mandatory policies we require to help protect all of our franchise Family from such scams.
In This Issue:
Franchisee Overcomes
Hurdles with Generac's Support
In the face of adversity, business owners often find themselves seeking innovative solutions to overcome challenges. Lisa Littlefield, a franchisee in Central Texas, recently demonstrated this resilience in navigating through various obstacles at her new store.
Lisa's newest venture in Waco has encountered numerous hurdles with permitting and inspections, leaving her at a loss for effective solutions. Determined to find a way forward, she reached out to Generac. After several meetings, Lisa was connected with Mr. Brian King, Generac's Senior Manager of Technical Applications.
Brian and his team extended a lifeline to Lisa by offering to conduct a Generac Code & Compliance Training Class, focusing on proper installation practices. Led by Master Electricians, these sessions aim to ensure safe and reliable installations of Generac products.
The initiative, spearheaded by Lisa, in collaboration with Brian King and his team, streamlined interactions between Generator Supercenter and city officials, who were also in attendance. The event provided a platform for local Generac Dealers to enhance their understanding of NEC coding and compliance. Lisa sponsored the days events by arranging the venue and catering refreshments for the attendees.
The training covered a range of crucial topics, including national codes and standards, transfer switch wiring requirements, NFPA regulations, and electrical connection standards, among others.
Armed with newfound knowledge and insights, Lisa and her team are poised to navigate regulatory challenges more effectively.
This partnership underscores the importance of collaboration and problem-solving in business endeavors. Lisa's resilience and Generac's support serve as a testament to the power of ingenuity and cooperation in overcoming obstacles. Many thanks to Lisa Littlefield and Brian King for their dedication and commitment to overcoming business hurdles.
Oh Oh Oh Little Rock
On April 9th, Austin Partida and his dedicated team proudly unveiled the doors to their fifth Generator Supercenter in Little Rock, AR, marking a significant milestone for the thriving enterprise. The grand opening festivities drew a diverse crowd from the community, including the Mayor.
Amidst the jubilant atmosphere, a local radio station was broadcasting live from the scene, amplifying the excitement surrounding the occasion.
With its launch, Generator Supercenter brings a vital service to the Little Rock area, addressing a pressing need within the community.
The GSC Franchising Team joined in the festivities to celebrate the achievement of Austin and his team.
Featured Franchise:
Generator Supercenter of East Denver
This month, our spotlight shines on Generator Supercenter of East Denver. Owned by Derrick Stevens and his wife, Neide Fehrenbacher, GSC of East Denver is celebrating its official Grand Opening this month. If you attended the GSC Gala in January, you might have spotted their storefront just across from the venue. Their presence is already making waves, and we're thrilled to share more about Derrick and Neide in the interview below.
Q. Derrick, How did you originally hear about Generator Supercenter?
A. Short story long, I really wanted to get out of law enforcement and have always had a strong interest in entrepreneurship. Neide and I were looking into businesses for sale in the Denver area, but none of them really spoke to us or made sense. One of them was actually a Nothing Bunt Cakes store. Neide still laughs at the thought of me making cakes. I would have been the only one with a tactical spatula and holster to match. A close friend had heard a GSC franchising advert on the radio and told Neide about it. After a few phone calls with the franchise team, I was hooked on the idea and the people making it all happen. Thus, the whirlwind from discovery day to opener began.
Q. What was the main factor that influenced you to Franchise with GSC?
A. Our biggest deciding factor to move forward with GSC had to be the people. Knowing we would have a support team who has literally been in the trenches help us navigate starting our own business and their willingness to mentor me along the way.
Q. What elements of you past professional experiances do you think will be most helpful in operating a Generator Supercenter?
A. Having been a sergeant for many years, I learned how to lead large teams, meet expectations from both employees and command staff, and managed some challenging personalities. It also turns out I’ve been in customer service this whole time, I just had to change my vocabulary and tone. I’m now seeing the added value in networking by building and fostering strong relationships with other businesses, vendors and community partners.
Neide still works full-time as an ER physician and does a lot for our business behind the scenes. I’ve unofficially provided her with a title of support services! Not sure how that’s perceived yet. She has also spent many years in leadership roles to include chief of staff with a larger hospital system. She is very task oriented, organized, deadline driven and great with people. I’d say we both share a cause-and-effect outlook as it pertains to a longterm or global perspective for our franchise.
Q. In your opinion, what are the top three qualities that a good leader should exhibit?
A. Be genuine and honest with your communication and remember the most important part of communicating is listening. Create an environment where your team truly feels valued and can see their part in creating something bigger. (Continued)
Inspecting your expectations is great and all, but if you hire and train correctly and provide the right resources, your people should be able to function with improved/varying degrees of autonomy. I believe most people want to be trusted in their abilities, job performance and not work under the perceived micromanagement styles of many. This doesn’t mean I don’t have oversight with my team but lets them see they have my trust.
Q. What is the best advice you would give to a Franchisee who is just starting their opening process?
A. Let’s not forget, I’m still the new kid on the block so my views may have a touch of naivete in comparison to the seasoned owners. I’m very much guilty of having a mindset of changing things up and/or trying to make them “better”. Basically, I look at something and think I can perfect it or do it better. With some gentle persuading, I’ve since extricated my head from my hindquarters. We’ve all invested time, energy and capital into a proven business model. You owe it to yourself to follow said model. Take the help and resources provided!!! And it’s okay to drink the Kool-Aid, just this once.
I would imagine I’m not alone in this one, but it’s easy to look at a store opener task list and instantly become overwhelmed. It’s also easy to think you will be more productive to jump ahead with certain tasks. Eat the elephant one bite at a time, follow the list as outlined and before you know it, you’re at the grand opening
“IT’S OKAY TO DRINK THE KOOLAID, JUST THIS ONCE.”
Q. What is the biggest obstacle you faced getting your business off the ground? And, how did you overcome it?
A. The biggest obstacle for us was actually finding the “right” location in a challenging market space. Felt like it took forever and then came the almost six month permitting process. Persistence and patience won that battle. I have to say I was slightly apprehensive about the attention our showroom would receive in this market. The aggravation was worth it as the store is receiving its due attention. My only regret during the
process was not hiring sooner to begin sales and installations. Oh, and although Wells Fargo is well worth it, the process for us was difficult. If anybody else runs into an issue with needing an ILOC, I’m happy to assist.
Q. Acknowledging the vital role of human resources in any enterprise, please tell us a little bit about your team in Denver.
A. We value our team and strongly believe the people make the business. I knew I had the right master electrician (Efrain) when I was interviewing him inside the core & shell of our undeveloped building. He took a long pause, deep in thought and said, I can see your vision and the potential. I may be slightly bias, but feel we have the best electrician. He takes the utmost pride in his work, runs circles around the young guys (with a smile on his face) and has knack for teaching. His work ethic and character was definitely passed on to his son, so we hired him as an apprentice. He is also named Efrain, or known to us as Little E. I won’t hold his age against him, but it is great to see a young person (22) who is married, has strong family values, owns a home and driven for his new career. It’s always fun to watch the confusion on customers’ faces when the two Efrain’s introduce themselves. It’s awesome to have a team equally invested in our success.
Q. Are there any lessons or valuable insights you would like to share with aspiring franchises, along with any specialized tools that have contributed to your success?
A. Don’t give up when times are time hard. Keep it front of mind that this business requires a long-term and volumebased approach. (continued)
Also, self-sacrifice and perseverance from myself, my wife, and team members has been key. I try to uplift the people around me, embody joy, and inspire our team; as I know they are invaluable
Q. How do you and your team plan on fulfilling the mission statement of Generator Supercenter?
A. We’re happy to say Little E is registered/licensed in Colorado as an apprentice. We’re in a position to help sponsor his schooling which starts in a few months. While still in the early stages, our intent is to build a program to help with education, training and retention of the younger generations.
We’re also trying to coordinate a team volunteer day at Wilderness on Wheels (WOW). My cousin and his wife have a son with spinal bifida who is primarily in a wheelchair. They moved to Colorado specifically to take over the nonprofit WOW. It’s a really awesome location in the mountains which provides camping, fishing and over a mile long boardwalk, allowing wheelchair reliant people the opportunity to enjoy these activities with easy accessibility.
Q. What are your thoughts on your upcoming Grand Opening?
A. We are excited for the grand opening of our first store. Mainly for the opportunity to share it with our community, family, friends and the team from GSC. It will be very rewarding to have completed this opener and be able to focus more attention on the next. If you made it this far, thanks for reading my ramblings. We wish you all great success in the rest of 2024 and look forward to seeing everybody at next years gala.
Travel REMINDER IF YOU HAVE OUT OF COUNTRY TRAVEL PLANS PLEASE NOTIFY CENTRE TECHNOLOGIES AT LEAST 72 HOURS BEFORE YOU LEAVE. THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT COUNTRY(S) YOU WILL BE IN AND THE DATES OF ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE TO MAKE SURE THE PROPER PERMISSIONS ARE SET TO YOUR GSC EMAIL. THIS WILL ENSURE YOU DO NOT MISS ANY PERTINANT INFORMATION WHILE YOU ARE AWAY. CENTRE TECHNOLOGIES CONTACT INFORMATION IS: 866-649-7571 HELP@CENTRETECHNOLOGIES .COM
Generator Supercenter of Tomball Enhances Builder Relations
To strengthen ties with builders in the community, Generator Supercenter of Tomball, led by Cody Wente and Rodney Fruge of our Builders Division, hosted a Luncheon at our corporate office. The event catered to current and veteran builder partners.
The meeting also served as a forum for new builders to gain insights into the operations of GSC’s program. It offered them a rare chance to engage directly with representatives from Generac, who were present to answer queries and discuss newtrendsindustry.
Veteran partners who have previously collaborated withGSCfoundtheluncheonavaluableoccasionto rekindle their interest in partnership. The informal setting allowed for open and constructive dialogues, reinforcing relationships between the buildersandtheSupercenterteam.
This initiative by Cody and Rodney reflects Generator Supercenter’s commitment to building and sustaining robust partnerships within the buildingsector,ensuringongoingcollaborationand mutualgrowth.
Important Service Announcemnt:
Hinge Assemblies from Generac are no longer available. They have been replaced by individual Male & Female pieces. The new part numbers for your orders are listed in the table below.
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Do you have something you would like included in our monthy newsletter? Please send all submissions to Stephanie Lundy: Slundy@genertorsupercenter.com .
