MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — Doug’s Custom Paint and Body is celebrating 40 years in business.

Owner Doug Voelzke admits the date actually hit in March, but an open house is planned for Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Voelzke gives advice to those just starting out as business owners, namely to lean on those who have come before you.

He says, “Find a mentor. Find someone that can lead you and guide you that have already made a lot of the mistakes you’re probably going to make.” He adds that sometimes experience is the best teacher. “If you haven’t…been tested and actually made some mistakes, you won’t get better either. For me, it’s what they say, the quality of the question is the quality of the answer. So, if you ask yourself really good questions, you’re going to get some pretty good answers.”

Voelzke admits he is lucky in that the auto industry because there is constant change, and that brings with it new challenges that keep him engaged. He points to the advancements in technology in vehicles in just the past five years as an example, and expresses excitement over the potential for driverless features going forward. But, in the end, Voelzke points to the constant of dealing with people, helping them in a stressful time and putting a smile back on their face.

Another key to Doug’s Custom Paint and Body’s success is trying new things. Voelzke says adding a mower component to the business in 2007 created unexpected synergies that paid off handsomely for what he had already built. “It’s really brought in a lot of customers that we never would have seen, and…then they become body shop customers too.”

Doug’s will be starting up a calibration center soon. Voelzke is also proud of the new utility room at the facility. Set up with a top-of-the-line compressor, it ensures medical grade air quality. He believes the additions will lead to longer lasting equipment and fewer hold ups during the repair process.