Thriving in Business: Matt Kuehlhorn of Kooler Garage Doors

In entrepreneurship, insights from others who’ve walked a similar path in business are invaluable.

Recently, our CEO Becky had a lively conversation with Matt Kuehlhorn of Kooler Garage Doors. Located in Colorado, Kooler Garage Doors provides home repair and services to residents of their mountain community. They’ve been a friend of Candor Threads for some time now, and their team wears our custom Hawaiian shirts!  Matt is also an avid podcaster and his Kooler Radio series brings in diverse guests with unique perspectives on community, business, and connection. We can totally get behind those topics! Here are some key takeaways from their chat about small business ownership, family life, and taking on new opportunities.

Adventurous Spirit

The conversation kicked off with a nostalgic journey through Matt’s life. From his Michigan roots (Fun fact: Matt knew our sales lead Katie from back in the day!) to his move to Colorado, Matt has always had a thirst for adventure. His background in outdoor education for at-risk youth and river guiding shaped his entrepreneurial spirit and took him to places such as Alaska, Hawaii, and California. Becky and Matt bonded over the positive impact of outdoor activities, highlighting how time in nature supports children’s personal development.

Journey to Entrepreneurship

Matt’s entrepreneurial journey is anything but conventional. His path included working as a youth mentor, grant writing for an organization, and even a foray into the cannabis industry. Leadership appealed to him but he struggled to find a place that would help him thrive. A pivotal moment came with an unexpected house painting job from a previous landlord. Though he had little knowledge of the challenges of professional house painting, Matt took a leap of faith and went for it! He purchased equipment, hired a subcontractor, and got a logo made. That job was the bedrock that eventually morphed into Kooler Garage Doors!

Bonding Over the Culture Index

Matt and Becky bonded over using the Culture Index, a tool used to profile personal traits within the workplace. They talked about how understanding traits like autonomy, social skills, and patience can enhance team dynamics and support their leadership. This is crucial for placing the right people in the right roles, so they can achieve both personal and team success. The Culture Index is also a great way for people to understand themselves and how they interact with others.

The Evolution of Kooler

Kooler’s story is one of evolution and adaptation. Initially a house painting business, it has grown to include garage doors and other services. Matt candidly shared the challenges he faced, from taking on too many different types of projects to the loss of key personnel. He learned over time to focus his efforts on garage doors, so he rebranded and strategically hired to strengthen team dynamics for Kooler’s growth. Matt and Becky discussed the value of leadership development organizations (shout out to EO Chicago!) in fostering personal growth and building deep connections. Investing in the right people has been pivotal to Kooler’s success, allowing them to reach big goals and also have fun as a team.

Family and Relocation

Personal and family life was also a big part of their candid conversation. They discussed Matt’s family’s upcoming move to Grand Junction, Colorado. This relocation has both challenges and opportunities, including walking away from the profitable market Matt has built. 

The decision to exit his old location and focus on Grand Junction is a strategic move. With ambitious goals for scaling operations, Matt and Becky discussed the planned business growth. Though unexpected, the excitement for new experiences, more space, and business growth is a big plus for Matt’s family. Potentially KGD can expand beyond Colorado’s market, hinting at exciting prospects for the future.

We’re looking forward to keeping up with Matt and the progress of Kooler after the move!