Dreams do come true

Dreams do come true

Ruben Valdez has had a passion for cars since he was a young man and always dreamed of owning his auto mechanic shop. After completing two years of schooling in Mankato and graduating with high honors in the automotive course, he spent 14 years working at a Ford dealership. Finally, Ruben decided to take the leap into business for himself and open his own shop. Along with his wife Wendi, he is now the proud owner of Auto Nation LLC, located at 99 Airport Road in Redwood Falls.

Ruben has always enjoyed working on cars and helping people with their vehicle problems. He spent two years searching for the perfect shop location before finding his current spot. It took six months to work out the details before the soft opening in June of 2023. Ruben takes great pride in the appearance of his building and the high-quality work he does for his clients. He considers being his own boss the best part of the journey.

To help make Ruben's dream come true, he worked with Southwest Minnesota Small Business Development Center (SBDC) consultant Berny Berger. She played a crucial role in Ruben's journey to business ownership by helping to devise a business plan. Ruben worked with SouthPoint Financial Credit Union for the main portion of the business loan. Also partnering with them was the Southwest Initiative Foundation. Berger also recommended contacting the Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC) to provide some gap financing through their Revolving Loan Funds to complete the deal. “The SRDC was the final piece in putting the cookie together,” said Ruben. “Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to open my business.” Ruben commented on how easy the RLF process was and thanked Robin Weis for her expertise in handling all of the paperwork.

Ruben is a certified mechanic with over two decades of experience. He provides exceptional service and expertise to the community of Redwood Falls and the surrounding area. Ruben's ability to communicate in both English and Spanish further enhances the customer experience, allowing him to assist a broad range of clients with ease. “I really want people to trust me with their vehicle. I don’t want a one-time customer, I want a lifetime customer.”

Auto Nation, LLC. offers a wide range of services, including engine and transmission repair, complete brake repair, electrical and computer diagnostics, oil changes, tire services, and more. Ruben also offers custom exhaust systems, lifted and lowered suspension work, lighting, custom wheels, and audio systems.

Give Ruben a call at 507-644-2886 for all your auto mechanic needs. Business hours are Monday and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and by appointment Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to noon.