An idea, opportunity, and impeccable timing coupled with a lot of courage to make a BIG change formed the foundation of Pit Stop Portables Ltd. (aka Pit Stop). Back in 2005, Rob Mitchell took a leap of faith. With his desire to be an Entrepreneur, and knowing the 2010 Winter Olympics were only 5 years away, there would be a grand opportunity for a great business on the horizon; so he joined forces with his business partner, Barry Glotman, put both feet in and hasn’t looked back since.
Pit Stop is embarking on 15 years and celebrating a wonderful journey that took Pit Stop from a basement and barn run company with 3 employees and 3 trucks to now be an established operation in both BC & Alberta with their head office in Coquitlam. Pit Stop now employs over 70 superheroes and completed 13 acquisitions along the way.
You can imagine growing from 3 to over 70 employees that Pit Stop has conducted an interview or two over the years. We thought this would be a good opportunity to turn the desk around and get the inside scoop from President Rob Mitchell himself with some questions we typically ask our prospective Superhero candidates.
When asked to pick the most memorable moment he’s had in the past 15 years, Rob replied, “Just one?” “The 2010 Vancouver Olympics, 2011 Stanley Cup Riot in Vancouver, and the Bow River flood in Calgary” were some of the most memorable times, but the annual “Chill Out” weekend with the whole Pit Stop Team hosted at the Mitchell’s Cabin and meeting Eminem at the Squamish Music Festival would take the cake.
What is your biggest passion?
“Building a team that is successful in everything they do and find satisfaction both personally and professionally.”
What is your biggest fear?
“World shortage of toilet paper and hand sanitizer.”
What do you feel are your best strengths?
“Slap shots and public speaking.”
If you could give an entrepreneur one piece of advice, what would it be?
“Surround yourself with people much smarter than you. Be the hardest worker in the room but also be aware of the sacrifices along the way.”
Being able to provide opportunities to his employees and family are what make Rob feel the most accomplished. There are always challenges in growing a business and staffing shortages have been the biggest one for our President.
Pit Stop hires the best of the best – that’s why we call ourselves superheroes – “a person who rises to the challenges of the day or situation and exceeds all expectations with personal satisfaction in their accomplishments”. This shapes the Pit Stop workplace culture because it sets the foundational “desire for everyone to be at their best and rise above”.
Behind every successful endeavour, there’s a plan and a brand. Developing Pit Stop’s iconic logo was a crucial aspect of becoming recognizable enough to stand out from your competitors. ”The stretched stop sign shape and colour red allow it to be visible from a great distance regardless if you can read the print. When an individual is searching for our products and services, they will associate what they’ve seen in the field to this logo.”
What does success look like to you?
“Happiness for my team and family.”
If you won the lottery, would you quit your current position?
“No, life is about the journey. Money is a byproduct of that.”
What is one word you would use to describe yourself?
“Persistent”
What is one word you think your wife would use to describe yourself?
“Epic”
Rob Mitchell recently said in an interview for a new Corporate Video, “It was never about the Portable Toilet Business… it was about opportunity… and an opportunity to work along-side people and be able to teach them and learn from them, have a legacy to look back on and have a business you could be proud of. My thinking wasn’t to be the biggest; it was to be the best”.
It is no secret that the success of Pit Stop has been the ambition of Rob Mitchell and support of co-owner Barry Glotman as well as a dedicated Team supporting the vision of “being the best”. There are people that have come, gone, and some that have come back; each one of them have helped build a company that we are all proud of. Through this journey, we have established amazing relationships with Customers who have supported Pit Stop since inception and new ones that are quickly seeing what our remarkable Team at Pit Stop can do for them.
It is with extreme sincerity and appreciation when we say thank you to all those employees; past and present and our loyal Customers who have been on this amazing ride…. Fasten your seatbelts… We are full throttle in staying the course of ensuring that we will continue tp Strive for Excellence.
Starbucks or Tim Hortons? Why?
“McDonald’s coffee. It took them about 50 years to get it right, but they finally figured it out.”
Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently?
“Joined Nickelback and went on tour.”