Transition From Ford Engineer to Kona Ice Business Owner Allows Franchisee More Family Time

Doug Rehkopf's journey into franchising with Kona Ice began after he resigned from his role as a mechanical joining engineer at Ford Motor Company. Although he enjoyed his career, the extensive travel left him desiring a better work-life balance, so he decided to make a change. A conversation with the owner of Kona Ice of Brighton at his son’s flag football game sparked his interest in the franchise. 

He was drawn to Kona Ice due to its community involvement, quality products and family-oriented approach, which aligned with his personal values and desire for a balanced lifestyle where he can be more present for his four sons. 

Since launching his business in May, Rehkopf has been participating in various community events in his territory, which includes Walled Lake, Commerce, West Bloomfield and Waterford, Michigan and has been enjoying interacting with his community with a brand that provides a fun and family-friendly atmosphere. Looking ahead, Rehkopf plans to add more trucks to his fleet and potentially involve his sons in the business as they get older. 

1851 Franchise spoke with Rehkopf about his journey into franchising with Kona Ice and his plans for the future. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Doug Rehkopf: I was a mechanical joining engineer at Ford Motor Company, working out of Ford headquarters in the vehicle operations department and launching the new car models that came out. I enjoyed my job, but in the last few years, I was driving and traveling a lot more and wasn't able to strike that work-life balance. I didn't like where my attitude was going, and I didn't like the direction I was heading, so I decided to resign from Ford before even considering Kona.

The weekend after my last day, I was at my son’s flag football game, and I was talking to the Kona Ice of Brighton owner about it. That piqued my interest, and I started looking into it. That’s when I decided to dive into the Kona Ice franchise and move forward with it, because I had the vision that it was going to allow me to have that work-life balance. I wanted to make sure I put my kids first and involve them in the business.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Rehkopf: Honestly, I never really looked into franchising before this. I did some research online, and it seemed like one of the better franchises to get into. I talked to some of the other franchisees, and they all had great things to say about it. The risk was minimal compared to others where a brick-and-mortar building is required, which was appealing to me.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Rehkopf: My kids love it. The whole reason I decided to make a change was for my kids because I really want to ensure I get that balance. It’s something I’ve always wanted. The flexibility of controlling my schedule is great. The more I learned about Kona Ice — such as their focus on giving back, working with communities, offering dye-free and sugar-free options, and prioritizing product quality and support — the more excited I became.

After attending Kona College, the family-oriented approach was really ingrained in me. Even though it's a corporate franchise, it still has family roots, which I think is important. It keeps you grounded and focused on delivering a high standard to your customers.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Rehkopf: I'm hoping to achieve that work-life balance and be able to enjoy what I do every day. I think every job has its ups and downs, but right now, I thoroughly enjoy going out there, talking to people, seeing the smiles on kids’ faces and interacting with their parents. It’s just a general vibe of happiness that I enjoy. I think that’s something you need to have in a career, along with being involved with the community.

My goal is to strike that balance between my kids and my life, so I’m not 100% focused on work. I want to make sure I step back and focus on them while also being engaged with the community and making a living.

The plan for next year is to add at least one more truck. I might add a third Kona truck in a few years, depending on whether my kids share the same interest and potentially want to get involved. I’m also planning to get into the Travelin Tom’s coffee truck franchise to offset the winter months.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Rehkopf: I have four boys. My oldest, Jack, is 11. I have twins, Finn and Liam, who are 9, and my youngest son, Miles, is 7.

Ideally, it would be nice for my sons to get involved with the business in the future. Throughout my life, I’ve had a lot of jobs. My dad did road construction when I was growing up, and he was always gone in the summer. I want to be around to see my kids’ games. I want my kids to be able to pave their own way, to learn that they can do anything, and to make sure they prioritize their own families someday.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Rehkopf: The big lesson I learned from it was to take your time and lay out the entire process. When I did it, I overlooked the initial startup phase. I thought I could hire someone right away to give me that balance with the kids, but that wasn't the case. It takes a lot of work and effort to get things established. I've enjoyed it, but it takes the right individual.

ABOUT KONA ICE

Founded in 2007 by Tony Lamb, Kona Ice launched its first Kona Entertainment Vehicle (KEV)

in Florence, Kentucky, offering a unique combination of cleanliness, friendliness and a one-of-a-

kind experience. Today, Kona Ice has grown to more than 1,700 mobile units that serve 49 states across the country. Kona Ice has been named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list for 11 consecutive years, earning a spot on the Franchise 500 Hall of Fame, and most recently being named #1 in the “Frozen Desserts” and “Ice Cream” categories. In addition, Kona was named to the Franchise Business Review Top 200 list in the overall “Top 50” and “Enterprise” categories. Other accolades include being named a “Top 100 Most Innovative Franchise” by Franchise Business Review and a “Top Franchise for Veterans.” With a commitment to giving back, Kona Ice has donated over $180 million to communities nationwide. For more on Kona Ice, visit the brand’s online Newsroom and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news. For more information about booking Kona Ice for a fundraiser or event, visit www.kona-ice.com. To learn more about available franchise opportunities, visit www.ownakona.com or call (800) KONAICE.