On the Rise: Brennan Kelso

Brennan Kelso

Store manager/ag expert | Moore Tires | Victoria, Ill. |Age: 32

What was your first job in the industry?

Service truck driver.

What attracted you to the industry?

At the time it was pay and insurance! But I always grew up around the farm and had a good connection with all the local farmers in our area.

What is the biggest challenge you've faced in your career?

Falling victim to the status quo. Don’t just assume the way we've been doing it forever is the only way to do things!

Who has had the biggest influence on your career?

The whole leadership team here at Moore Tires has had a huge influence in and on my career. Calling capabilities out of me and seeing in me what I couldn't see in myself. 

What is your biggest accomplishment in the industry?

My biggest accomplishment in the Industry has easily been, taking our technology tools in our company and building a very successful ag program for our company that we are implementing across all six of our locations! 

Tell us about your current job and responsibilities. How do you spend your workday?

Currently, I'm a store manager and our southern ag expert in the company. I manage our Monmouth location and I oversee the day-to-day operations of our store. I'm also overseeing all the service calls in our southern region — anything from building the ticket to advising our service truck drivers when they get into a pinch and need a different perspective. I organize our drivers’ days by priority of the call and map out a route for them to maximize efficiency.

Tell us about your family.

I'm a dad of four awesome kiddos — all 6 and under! We stay active in the outdoors. Hunting and Fishing is big in our family! My wife and I have been married for nine amazing years and we serve in our local church and community. We also have the awesome opportunity to be foster parents!

What is the most essential professional skill for someone in your job?

The most essential professional skill for someone in our job to have in my opinion would be just good working knowledge of mechanics. You have to be self-reliant when you’re out on the road. You have to be handy and quick on your feet to figure out how to fix stuff as you go.

What song takes you back to high school? (Include the artist)

Tough question!! I'd say two that come to mind right off the bat would be "We Rode in Trucks" By Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean’s "Dirt Road Anthem.”

If you could start a new career tomorrow, what would you do?

If I could start a new career tomorrow it would likely be as a chef! I love to cook good food and entertain! To be technical, it would be a BBQ pitmaster!

Do you live by inbox zero, or inbox disaster?

Depends on the day, but I try to be inbox zero!

In the next 10 years, what will be the biggest change in the tire industry?

The biggest change in tire industry for me on the ag side will be seeing a new wave of service departments that really have the knowledge and know how to do the job right with the right training. Everyone says the younger generation doesn't want to work. To a degree, I agree, but there are a lot of young guys that will be tech savvy and hard working. Also, just the science and technology of the IF/VF tires will explode!

What moment in life would you like to live over again?

The week before my grandma passed. Or any of the days my kids were born!

What hobby or activity helps you unwind?

Deer hunting and fishing. Barbecuing and grilling. Spending time with my family!

If it was your job to persuade new people to join the tire industry, what would be your best selling point?

This job makes you feel proud. I think of the old school men and women who built this country, from steel mills to farming and everything in between. They worked with their hands and they were proud of it. I'm old school at heart. I'm proud to be an American tire professional who keeps this country rolling down the road. It's as much of a trait as builder, pipefitters, electricians and welders are.

What's one thing you would change about yourself?

Be more patient and slow to speak, and be better at listening.

Pick a celebrity and explain why you think he/she would be a great tire dealer.

Matthew McConaughey. Pretty simple. Alright, alright, alright.