RW Keys and Son - Resource Bank

FEATURE
20
20
RUSS’S
PRIDE AND JOY—
A HARLEY DRAG RACER
opportunities, and we ran with them. Lower prices for
land and construction, as well as tremendous support from
Kevin McArtor and Resource Bank, allowed us to build our
own facility. Our focus on service, rather than sales of new
equipment, was a perfect fi t for a market that was looking
to cut costs anywhere it could. “
Russ credits his success to a strong work ethic, instilled
in him by his parents, but he also acknowledges the
encouragement given to him by his father-in-law. “Kim’s
dad calmed me down and pushed me at the same time.
He was always very positive in everything he said and did,
and he gave us confi dence that we could succeed.”
Kim’s dad passed away recently, but it’s clear that she
inherited her father’s positive attitude. “Kim handles the
RUSS’S DAUGHTER MALLORY,
WHO HAS A BFA FROM NIU,
DECORATED THE SERVICE
CONCEPTS HUSKIE. HIS OTHER
DAUGHTER, COURTNEY, IS PRE-
MED AT U OF I.
bookkeeping and invoicing for the company,” says Russ,
“but her most valuable role is as a source of perspective on
the business. Kim is really the exception to the rule that you
shouldn’t work with your spouse.”
“We’re not the type of people that have to take off on
vacation every few weeks to enjoy ourselves,” says Kim.
“We both understand the sacrifi ces that you have to
make to succeed, and we both make those sacrifi ces.
Beyond that, if you have a good life at home, the good
things just follow.”
To relax, the Harrelsons take what they call “instant
vacations.” Russ explains: “When we take off for a ride on
the Harley, that’s a vacation for us, even though we end up
back at home by the end of the day.” But country roads
aren’t the couple’s only form of fun. Kim enjoys sports and
plays softball in a league in Elgin. “Sports always kept me
out trouble when I was growing up,” she smiles. “I guess
they still do.”
Russ says his sports have to involve a motor or he’s not
interested. Fast cars, fast motorcycles, and fast snowmobiles
are his hobby. His pride and joy is a Harley drag-racing
motorcycle capable of doing a quarter mile in less than 9
seconds. He lets someone else ride the bike competitively.
“I don’t race,” he confesses. “I tend to break things.” Ironic
for a guy who spends most of his time fi xing stuff.
However, Service Concepts is not just about repair
work. More and more often, Russ fi nds himself in the role
of consultant, an aspect of his business he is eager to
grow. “We have expertise not only in the heating and
air-conditioning fi eld, but also refrigeration, insulation, and
other systems that affect the size of our customers’ carbon
footprint. I might be called in to work on a client’s heating
system, but the reality is that I often see a lot of other items
that need attention. “