When Butch Carter left the corporate world after a long career in sales, he took a very different turn as a business owner.
“I didn’t have background in automotive,” said Carter, the owner of the Honest-1 Auto Care repair service in East Cobb. He wanted to run his own business, and worked with a business coach to forge his entrepreneurial path.
When Carter opened in the fall of 2013 at a former Napa store on East Cobb Drive (behind where the Trader Joe’s is now located) Carter sought to fulfill the franchise’s promise “to build long-term relationships and give back to the community.”
Carter was named the 2019 business person of the year last week by the East Cobb Business Association, which honored him during a luncheon (that included an East Cobb cityhood debate) at the Olde Towne Athletic Club.
It’s the second year for the award, whose inaugural winner was Cynthia Rozzo, publisher of the EAST COBBER magazine.
A native of North Carolina, Carter was an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force, then earned an MBA before entering the business world.
Carter had been a pharmaceutical sales representative for Pfizer, Otsuka and Stryker Medical and a sales manager for Axcan/Aptalis Pharma, with a personal business philosophy “that if you treat your customers right, you’re going to be successful.”
While Carter has taken that approach with him as a business owner, he credited his “phenomenal front desk staff. They’re the face of the business.” Those involved in the customer service aspect of Honest-1, he said, “are the driving force behind the success of our business.”
Carter has opened a second Honest-1 location in Johns Creek, and in East Cobb he has plunged into community service work. He’s a member of the Rotary Club of East Cobb, and he’s involved his business in projects that include more than 25 organizations.
Honest-1 has held a cookout for veterans in association with East Cobb-based United Military Care (more here about the work of this organization), has contributed to the food pantry at Brumby Elementary School and benefitted the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Carter also is a big believer in supporting other local businesses in East Cobb, using many of them for vendors for a variety of functions, including marketing, social media and website management.
The other finalists for the ECBA’s business person of the year are Cindy Trow, a health coach with Wellness Now, Ann Lafferty of Rakers Junk Removal, and Tom Gonter, the development director for MUST Ministries.
Righteous Que on the Move
The Righteous Que BBQ restaurant in the Piedmont Commons Shopping Center (1050 E. Piedmont Road) has outgrown its tiny space, and is in the process of moving three doors down, where El Taco Mexican recently closed.
A sign on the Righteous Que door notes it will be closed this week while the move is in progress, and they’re taking applications for the expanded business.
Roll On In Sets Opening Date
The first day of business for Roll On In Sushi Burrito & Bowls at Woodlawn Point (1100 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 365) will be Saturday, Dec. 7. The Asian concept franchise is owned by East Cobb residents Monte and Suzanne Petty Jump. You can track the progress at the store’s Facebook page.
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