Q&A
with Randy Van Horn
By Brandon Walker
One
may not see signs or banners advertising Handy Randy’s Maintenance scattered
around the Big Sky area, and that’s for good reason: there aren’t any. Founder
and owner Randy Van Horn—the only employee in his business—operates his
maintenance services strictly on a word-of-mouth basis and has for nearly 15
years.
Van
Horn has a background in a wide array of industries. Before starting his own
business, he worked construction jobs, with scrap metal, and even ventured into
plumbing.
Born
and primarily raised in Morris, Minnesota, it didn’t take long for Van Horn to
visit Montana for the first time. The first experiences he recalls are his
childhood summers spent at his father’s Wheat Farm in Fort Benton, Montana. After
attending two years at Alexandria Technical College where he focused on production
agriculture, Van Horn was steered down a new path by his grandfather who
advised him it wasn’t an opportune time to start in the agriculture industry. From
there he went on to Southwest Technical School where received a degree as a
machinist.
Van
Horn moved to Livingston and became an avid outdoorsman. He enjoys hiking,
camping and skiing among other activities, and was naturally drawn to the Big
Sky area. Explore Big Sky caught up with Van Horn to discuss how he operates
his small business and what got him started.
Explore Big Sky: How long have you been in the business? When did you originally start?
Randy Van Horn: When I married my wife, Beth,
I was working for Harvey’s [Plumbing] and she said ‘I don’t want you driving
the canyon once we get married,’ and I said ‘OK, what do you want me to do?’
She says, ‘Well you seem pretty handy since I’ve known you. Why don’t you start
your own maintenance business; I know enough people up here.’ The rest is
history.
EBS: What differentiates your
service from any other maintenance service provider in the area?
R.V.H.: Maybe a good work ethic. Since I’ve started my business I’ve never advertised; it’s all been word of mouth and I’ve never been without work. Somehow work always finds me. I never have to look for it. I’m always busy, sometimes a little bit too busy because I have a hard time saying no.
EBS: What is the biggest
obstacle that you face running a business in a Montana ski town?
R.V.H.: From my experience, I don’t
know that there really is any. I always kid that I have three employees: me,
myself, and I. So if I want to take a day off, I have to ask I and I says yes
and me says ok.
EBS: What is something you wish
you had known before starting your own company in Big Sky?
R.V.H.: I mean for me personally I
can’t really think of anything …Throughout my jobs and everything I’ve been in
different positions where I know kind of what to expect. For anybody else
getting into a business I would just say, you know, do your homework, don’t
just jump in with both feet. Find out what you’re getting into so you have a
better outcome.
EBS: What is the best business
advice that you’ve ever received?
R.V.H.: Always
do the best quality work you can for your customers.