Gebhart Creating Family Work Environment with Kitchen Tune-Up Abilene-San Angelo
A pandemic-driven layoff sparked Jason Gebhart’s interest in being his own boss. Now he’s the proud owner of Kitchen Tune-Up Abilene-San Angelo, TX and one of the new class of Tunies.
When Gebhart’s employer laid him off in April 2020, he found the silver lining in what could have been crushing news. “I was distraught for about five hours,” recalls Gebhart. Then he realized that he “didn’t have the burden that I’d been carrying with my last job.”
That job, in the telecom industry, had changed—not for the better—even before the pandemic spurred layoffs. “We were purchased by an international company and many of the things that we did around customer service and doing the right thing had gone out the window” as the company downsized, he says.
The layoff prompted Gebhart to reassess his career. “I realized that I had been given an opportunity that I probably would not have taken on my own without a push out of the nest,” he says.
Why Choose Kitchen Tune-Up?
With two kids in high school, Gebhart didn’t want to take a job that might uproot them. “Even with a lot of ‘work from home’ options, I could not find a fit that I felt put us in a good position financially or emotionally,” he says.
Why did owning a franchise appeal to him? “It goes back to finding something local that paid, or would pay in the future, similar to my previous position, as well as give me the flexibility to meet our family needs,” Gebhart says. He also wanted to be his own boss: “I have been working for someone else for a long time. I wanted to work for me and my family.”
Gebhart’s past experience translated well to his new endeavor. Over his 20 years in telecom, he had “a leader that entrusted us to run our divisions like they were our own company, and I feel that served me well to run my own business,” he says.
His research led him to Kitchen Tune-Up. “Kitchens are a staple for every house and most of them need updating,” plus Kitchen Tune-Up offers a large selection of products, so the company looked like a good bet, he says.
Staying Active in the Community
As a company, Kitchen Tune-Up encourages franchise owners to take time for family and neighbors. The Gebharts already have strong ties to their community, where they’ve lived since 2007.
Both Jason and wife Amy, who works for United Supermarkets, stay involved in school and community causes. Jason serves on the board for the West Texas Rehabilitation Center. He and Amy are co-chairs of the 2021 Cattle Baron’s Ball. They’re proud of their two teenagers, whose extracurricular activities keep the family busy.
Gebhart is proud he’s creating a “family work environment” that fosters good relationships among his team and with customers. “Our mission is to help our neighbors create the living space of their dreams, without the inconvenience of typical remodeling experiences,” says the Kitchen Tune-Up Abilene-San Angelo mission statement. “Give us your trust and we will give you the kitchen you have always wanted.”
To find out more about how Kitchen Tune-Up can be your next adventure, check out our website, ktufranchise.com, or call 1-888-890-5210, to speak to a licensed franchise advisor.
