Sidney, Montana, is an oasis of about 6,300 people, and is less than 10 miles west of the North Dakota border. With oil fields resting all around, the three-bay Quick Change Oil draws from a steady stream of work vehicles and fleet trucks.
In 2023, owner Frank Saalfeld decided it was time to retire from the business he built from the ground up. So, two new co-owners stepped up—a town native and lube tech at Quick Change Oil, Jamie Mayberry—and her boss, the shop’s long-time business manager, Tami Nygaard.
“We’re hometown proud about our small businesses, me and Tami,” says Mayberry. “So, we decided we’d offer to carry on Frank’s legacy so he could retire.”
Better Together
Fresh out of the military, where she served as a medic, Mayberry returned to Sidney and was recruited to work at Quick Change Oil. The original hiring plan was for her to shadow Tami and learn the books. But once she got out into the shop, those plans changed.
“I liked to be dirty and do the work out there in the shop,” Mayberry says. “And while I knew little about vehicle maintenance going in, I learned fresh from somebody who had done it a long time. Being female in the shop, you have to put yourself out there and push yourself, but you also have to stay humble as you move forward.”
As Mayberry trained in the technical aspects of what Quick Change Oil offers—oil changes, mechanical, and tires—Nygaard befriended her. And it didn’t take long for the two to see how well their strengths could work together as co-owners.
“Tami had worked here a long time and brought knowledge of the business and the books, as well as the fleet companies we deal with,” Mayberry says. “Without her, the business wouldn’t run.”
She adds, “I brought strong leadership skills from my time in the military, which help me guide staff and make decisions. We balance each other out.”
The same surrounding oil fields that provide a consistent car count for their business are also a competitor when it comes to hiring technicians with staying power for Quick Change Oil.
“We watched Frank experience terrible turnover in this town because he couldn’t compete with the wages of the local oil fields,” Mayberry notes. “But we’re going on two years with our employees, and we realize they help keep the door open and make the business run.”
The co-owners’ tactic for keeping employees engaged in the business—and instilling the same career mindset that drives them personally—involves showing them the potential that exists.
“Making them a part of this business is important to me,” says Mayberry. “I tell them I want them to franchise one of these days, and I help get them into position to own their own business.”
Nygaard adds that keeping their employees engaged requires strong communication. “Be upfront and honest with your co-workers. We tell them what’s going on, what changes we’re making, and why. They’re not in the dark about anything in this business,” she says.
The Local Angle
The co-owners also keep the business’s visibility front-and-center in the Sidney community. “We have pride in the community, and we help the community,” Nygaard notes.
Quick Change Oil sponsors kids’ sports, baseball, hockey teams, wrestling, the local library, and programs for veterans. In addition, promotional programs are important to the owners of Quick Change Oil. Each November for Veteran’s Week, for example, the business gives free oil changes.
“People in this community are great. You know them and they come regularly, and you make friends,” Mayberry says. “There’s never a day I don’t want to show up at the shop. We have some really cool vehicles around here, too.”
Nygaard adds, “The oil field guys are a different breed to work with. It’s a special dynamic.”
For both women, carrying on the legacy of the small business is paramount, even more so since a big corporation and competitor recently moved to Sidney.
“We want to keep the legacy going and not allow the big corporations to take over. So, I’m big on employees stepping into leadership roles when owners are ready to retire,” Mayberry closes.
It’s a working part of her mindset.
