Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Quast.
Hi Jeff, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I graduated from DeVry University in February of 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems in 1985. I landed my first job at First Data Resources in Omaha and was there from 1985-1987. In 1987 I decided I wanted to back to the Kansas City area and found a job at DST Systems. I would have never thought I would have stayed at that company for 25 years. I had planned on retiring from there but they had different plans. I was laid off in 2012.
Rather than jumping right back into another job, I spent some time with family – making multiple trips to Minnesota to spend time with my father who was ill. I was looking for another IT job but also investigated other options. I had always wanted to be my own boss and realized during this time that if I was going to do something different now is the time.
I had looked at different things then came across a franchise called Speedpro. After I continued to research this franchise, I came up with nothing but good answers. In 2013 I took the plunge and signed the Franchise agreement.
Today I own and operate SpeedPro Shawnee, a business that provides large format printing and graphic solutions for branding and marketing purposes in the Kansas City and Johnson County area. In this position, I am responsible for managing individual jobs and workloads, handling bill payments and payroll, communicating with clients, conducting sales, and visiting prospective clients. I am also a member of the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce and Northeast Johnson County Chamber. In 2023 I was chairman of the Board for Northeast Johnson County Chamber and currently serve on the Foundation board.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been anything but a smooth road especially at first. You worry about money because I had bills to pay and no clients. It definitely took me out of my comfort zone – but you have to expand that zone in order to survive.
I also didn’t realize how you never quit working. It’s always something. Between hiring adequate staff, meeting deadlines, collecting money, getting new clients, paying bills, it just never ends.
Even when you build up an adequate client base, you constantly need to keep acquiring more and more clients because you never know when a large client may go elsewhere, or be acquired, or even buy their own printers.
That being said, it is still better than working for someone else.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
If you want to promote your business using car wraps, trade show displays, or other types of graphics, make SpeedPro your source for large format printing solutions. Located in Shawnee, KS, our experts can assist you in finding the right answer to your visual communication needs. Whether your company is small, midsized, or large, we’ll partner with you to help you successfully market to your client base.
We offer:
Trade show displays, Banner stands,
Car wraps, decals,
Indoor and outdoor signs,
Event and window graphics,
Wall murals, and banners
Basically if you can think it we can ink it.
We don’t want to be another printer. We want have a relationship with our clients so that they can depend on us as an extension of their organization to come up with solutions. We want to be known for our superior quality and customer service.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Please think of us as an extension of your organization to help you advertise and market your message.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.speedpro.com/shawnee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speedpro.imaging.585
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/speedproshawnee/
