Double Amputee Owned Mobile Rust Removal Business

2024 - Volume #48, Issue #4, Page #08

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Mitch Wittmer, the owner of Profleetcare Central Southwest Minnesota, has undergone an unconventional journey to manage his own business.
    “I was born with bilateral fibular hemimelia, meaning I’m missing the fibula bone,” he says. “At 8 mos. old, my right foot was amputated, so I grew up with a prosthetic leg. But my left leg was never quite right, either. At 9, it was intentionally broken to reset the alignment and prevent my foot from turning in.”
    Still, Wittmer refused to slow down. “I had a great childhood and played hockey, tennis, gymnastics, swimming, and wrestling. And when I entered the workforce, I was blessed to be a leader and an example of perseverance.”
    Unfortunately, his medical complications weren’t over. “When I was approaching 40, I joined my oldest downhill skiing and broke my only ankle. I managed to push through the pain for 2 years but was advised by my doctor to consider amputation, so I did. This recovery proved much harder at 40. It was like trying to walk on two stilts.”
    In June 2022, Wittmer started the journey of becoming a business owner of Profleetcare. “I previously managed a large manufacturing workshop with a global footprint,” he says. “Still, Bob, founder of Profleetcare, and his son, Greg, had many doubts and questions about my physical abilities. But they gave me a chance. They’ve been amazing to work with and have a great business model to get someone up and running their own business.”
    Profleetcare is a 100 percent mobile rust prevention business. After 40 years in the industry, they’ve set the standard for rust-proofing. Tar and wax were popular options until founder Bob Lawrie developed a light chemical that migrates into seams and crevices for better protection. The company sprays specialty products annually to prevent corrosion, covering vehicles from the undercarriage to the roofline. “Think about a cast iron skillet,” says Wittmer. “If you keep the right oil protection on it, it’ll last forever. Your vehicle has multiple metal pieces, and we aim to protect them all through our process.”
    The company aims to lower maintenance costs by protecting equipment from harsh elements that cause corrosion and servicing equipment right at the customer’s location during non-peak business hours. A unique two-step application process allows spraying exterior trim, door handles, mirrors, bumper rails, and high-traffic areas that need extra protection. “My customers range from dairy farmers, co-ops, lawn and snow companies, salt distributors, horse farm services, concrete companies, utility contractors, auto body shops, and residential,” says Wittmer.
    There are many challenges with running a mobile business when personal mobility is limited. “The biggest impact my amputations have on my life is that I use so much more energy than a person with two normal legs,” explains Wittmer. “A good example would be a blister on your stump. The sore has to be cleaned, bandaged, and walked on. The prosthetics have titanium rods holding fixtures on the bottom. When temperatures drop below freezing and the rods get cold, it transfers the cold to my stumps. I use hand warmers and attach them to my prosthetics to overcome this. This way, I can maintain my busy fall schedule.”
    “I’m driven to help people protect their equipment and to be a partner in proactive preventative maintenance. Most importantly, to give people hope. I hope to be an encouragement to others. Follow a dream once you’ve made a plan. It’s not how you get knocked down but how you get back up. Be kind, have faith, and do your best.”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mitch Wittmer (Mitch.wittmer@profleetcare.com).

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Double Amputee Owned Mobile Rust Removal Business SPECIALTY/SERVICES Mitch Wittmer the owner of Profleetcare Central Southwest Minnesota has undergone an unconventional journey to manage his own business “I was born with bilateral fibular hemimelia meaning I’m missing the fibula bone ” he says “At 8 mos old my right foot was amputated so I grew up with a prosthetic leg But my left leg was never quite right either At 9 it was intentionally broken to reset the alignment and prevent my foot from turning in ” Still Wittmer refused to slow down “I had a great childhood and played hockey tennis gymnastics swimming and wrestling And when I entered the workforce I was blessed to be a leader and an example of perseverance ” Unfortunately his medical complications weren’t over “When I was approaching 40 I joined my oldest downhill skiing and broke my only ankle I managed to push through the pain for 2 years but was advised by my doctor to consider amputation so I did This recovery proved much harder at 40 It was like trying to walk on two stilts ” In June 2022 Wittmer started the journey of becoming a business owner of Profleetcare “I previously managed a large manufacturing workshop with a global footprint ” he says “Still Bob founder of Profleetcare and his son Greg had many doubts and questions about my physical abilities But they gave me a chance They’ve been amazing to work with and have a great business model to get someone up and running their own business ” Profleetcare is a 100 percent mobile rust prevention business After 40 years in the industry they’ve set the standard for rust-proofing Tar and wax were popular options until founder Bob Lawrie developed a light chemical that migrates into seams and crevices for better protection The company sprays specialty products annually to prevent corrosion covering vehicles from the undercarriage to the roofline “Think about a cast iron skillet ” says Wittmer “If you keep the right oil protection on it it’ll last forever Your vehicle has multiple metal pieces and we aim to protect them all through our process ” The company aims to lower maintenance costs by protecting equipment from harsh elements that cause corrosion and servicing equipment right at the customer’s location during non-peak business hours A unique two-step application process allows spraying exterior trim door handles mirrors bumper rails and high-traffic areas that need extra protection “My customers range from dairy farmers co-ops lawn and snow companies salt distributors horse farm services concrete companies utility contractors auto body shops and residential ” says Wittmer There are many challenges with running a mobile business when personal mobility is limited “The biggest impact my amputations have on my life is that I use so much more energy than a person with two normal legs ” explains Wittmer “A good example would be a blister on your stump The sore has to be cleaned bandaged and walked on The prosthetics have titanium rods holding fixtures on the bottom When temperatures drop below freezing and the rods get cold it transfers the cold to my stumps I use hand warmers and attach them to my prosthetics to overcome this This way I can maintain my busy fall schedule ” “I’m driven to help people protect their equipment and to be a partner in proactive preventative maintenance Most importantly to give people hope I hope to be an encouragement to others Follow a dream once you’ve made a plan It’s not how you get knocked down but how you get back up Be kind have faith and do your best ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Mitch Wittmer Mitch wittmer@profleetcare com

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