Getting to Know Kyle Stringham at Stones Kia - East Idaho News
Getting to Know

Getting to Know Kyle Stringham at Stones Kia

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EastIdahoNews.com is highlighting hardworking people who make our local businesses a success. Every Sunday, we’re Getting to Know YOU!

1. Name and Job Title: Kyle Stringham, General Manager of Stones Kia

2. What do you do in your position? I oversee the daily tasks and processes in all aspects of an auto dealership, includes good and bad situations.

3. Where were you born and when is your birthday? I was born in Fontana California. Almost a New Years’ baby but just missed it – January 3.

4. How long have you lived in eastern Idaho and what city do you live in now? I have lived here 41 years and I live outside Iona.

5. Tell us about your first job after high school or college. My first job was during high school. I repaired and assembled bikes for Coast to Coast hardware. I still remember the owner – he worked with all of us on customer service.

6. What is the best business decision you’ve ever made? The best business decision I have made was going to work for Stones and the Loveland family. It is great to work for a company that puts so much emphasis on its customers while making sure to provide an environment for its employees to advance and succeed.

7. Tell us about your family. I grew up in the car business. My parents were owners and operators of Ken’s Auto Sales in Rigby for many years before they retired. They taught me the values of hard work and doing the best I can for everyone. I met the love of my life at one of my jobs where she was my boss then and still my boss to this day. We have two great dogs – Tilly and Junior.

8. Tell us about a movie or book that has inspired you the most in life. ‘The Dark Tower’ book series by Stephen King – not the movie because it was not like the book. In the book series, Roland was so focused on the task to be completed that he often missed out on helping others and relationships that could improve his ability to accomplish his task and give him a reason to continue.

9. Tell us about a lesson you learned from a mistake you made in your career. I have to give Kevin Call of Farr Candy for this. This was many years ago before I had started to manage any employees. One day in the winter, I watched Kevin Call drive a forklift down the road with no cab in the snow and cold. He had his employee in his new truck behind him following him. When he stopped at the service department to drop off the forklift, he was soaking wet and cold. I still remember laughing at him and saying how crazy he was to do that. This is the mistake and something I’ll never forget. I laughed at him and pointed out that he should have had his employee drive the forklift so he could be in the warm, dry truck. I will never forget Kevin explaining to me, “Never ask someone to do something you would not do yourself”. A good leader will lead by example. I give support to everyone when I can.

10. What is the goal you hope to accomplish in the next 12 months? In the next 12 months I would like to get more people to follow and add more to my Living208 Facebook page – to help people learn about all the great areas in Idaho and things to do outdoors.

11. What is one piece of advice you have for someone who wants to do what you’re doing? Make sure to understand when dealing with customers or employees that there are two sides to every story and take the time to listen to each.

12. If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently? If I could do anything differently, I would ask my wife to marry me instead of her asking me.

13. Where is your favorite place to eat in eastern Idaho? This is very hard due to so many great places. I would have to say Smokin Fins has been our go-to lately.

14. Tell us something surprising about yourself. I hate snow unless I’m on a Timbersled.

15. How do you like your potatoes? I like them baked with butter and sour cream. Make sure to wash the skin good because I like it as well.

If you have an employee or co-worker who we should get to know, email neaton@eastidahonews.com.

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