Title: Owner
Company: Reliable R.V. Repair
Location: Brunswick, GA
Education: Coursework
Career History: Owner, Reliable RV Repair (2022-Present); Operations Director, Service Director, Service Manager, Service Rider, Technician, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (12 Years); Police Officer (5 Years)
Christopher Ford, Owner at Reliable R.V. Repair, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the fields of repair and maintenance.
Attributing his career success to his upbringing and natural perseverance, Mr. Ford grew up predominantly raised by his grandparents. As a teenager, he aspired to join the military and become a police officer; despite doubt from his grandfather that he did not have what it took to handle both roles, he strived to prove him and any other doubters wrong. With nothing given to him, he worked extremely hard along with his brother. Upon graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1998 and ultimately worked as a police officer for five years.
Subsequently, Mr. Ford shifted his focus to automotive service, working as a technician at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. He excelled here for 12 years, advancing from service rider to service manager to service director and operations director. In addition, during this time, he grew as a company leader who put priority on care for employees and customers; he attended the National Automobile Dealers Association school to better understand automotive financial statements and learn how to compensate technicians and charge customers effectively. As a testament to his success, he was recognized by the company with a President’s Award.
After more than a decade, Mr. Ford relocated to Georgia and wanted to do something different and on his own. During this time, he also needed to be home more; one night, he visited a restaurant in front of a recreational vehicle park, having lunch and thinking about what he could do. Looking out, he saw a beautiful but dirty RV, so he took it upon himself to wash and restore it. Afterward, he went to Walmart, created a name—Reliable R.V. Repair—made an RV business card, and began distributing cards. He immediately started receiving calls and inquiries about repairs, and ultimately started building a staff. Launching the company in 2022, he deals with customers, dispatches technicians, takes calls, sets appointments, goes to the location of the broken RVs, and makes sure all repairs are completed, which can include engines, gas, and generators.
In addition, Mr. Ford has been active in masonry work and construction. Over the course of his career, he has valued his ability to train young men, equipping them with skills they could use throughout their lives, regardless of their circumstances. The skills they learned from him enabled them to build a house without needing to hire anyone. He also helped them secure employment and provided them with trades that could lead to lifelong success; his employees share his passion for caring for others. He has been invited as a speaker on career paths at a high school STEM event.
Looking toward the future, Mr. Ford plans to expand Reliable RV Repair and establish more concrete strategies for the business. He will eventually pass the management responsibilities off to an employee. He also intends to purchase a sailboat and travel to various destinations, such as Cuba and Southeast America. During these travels, he will continue to promote the company while exploring new locations.