Jeremy went to the Maaco Training

Most of his time was some pretty intense business instruction in the classroom. There were five new franchisees in October getting taught how to run their business and manage their employees. One of the new franchisees had a build-to-suit just like us and it's taken just as long as ours!! He's based near Chicago. Jeremy made good friends with the team from Florida and the franchisee from California, too.

They had to learn all the steps from estimating to painting for the work to be done in our shop, too. This is one of the cars they did in class.

On the weekends, they all headed out on the town together! They visited New Jersey and then New York, where they saw the Statue of Liberty and visited Ellis Island. Times Square was the favorite stop, from what I hear. Jeremy got "schooled" by a ticket salesman on the street on the differences between New Yorkers and us West Coateners (he saw a Western and knew how it was out here.) To prove his point, he proposed to a passerby who didn't give him the time of day. You'll have to ask Jeremy the story... it's pretty funny. And what's up with thinking we drive covered wagons out here?!

Right before elections, Jeremy got to visit some of the first political icons of our country including the location of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Liberty Bell. He was ready to come home by then.

Well, almost.

He attended a couple days of the yearly Maaco conference at a 5-star resort in Miami, where he was too busy sipping sodas by the pool and chatting with owners of million dollar centers to snap pictures.

THEN we got our man back. That was a long 4 weeks!

OUR MAACO BUILDING GOES UP!

At the beginning of October, 2008, our building was all laid out flat. Up until the 14th, "progress" was a dream that could change everything if it actually happened!

Less than a month after the big crane arrived and arranged the walls, they are painted and we have a roof. The offices are being framed out, as well as our paint and storage rooms. The garage doors are installed and the electric lines are run with plug-ins everywhere. The sprinkler system is in. The gas lines are run.

There is so much new PROGRESS every day, we have to make sure and get down to Hwy 212 and 135th to catch the latest!!

Woohooo!!!! (Thank You, LORD!!)