PYSK: Lisa Malott-Hulett
Name: Lisa Malott-Hulett
Title and company/organization: President of Autos-2NV Inc.
Age: 45
Job description: I’m the owner/operator of Autos-2NV Inc., a small family body shop. We do all types of collision work and specialize in restorations. We restore cars, gas pumps and most things old.
Years lived in Columbia/Mid-Missouri: 20
Original hometown: West Milton, Ohio
Education: Heritage Christian Academy/Hart Vocational School, 1987; Columbia College Business; DDI Certified, Targeted Selection and Train the Trainer; OSHA 1910 32-Hour Certification; Safe-Con, OSHA 1926 30-Hour Certification
Community involvement: I support and volunteer for funding events and support the Central Missouri Honor Flight and Wounded Warrior Project. I also work with several local car clubs to raise funds for charity.
A favorite recent project: I May we completed a full-body conversion on a 2004 C5 Corvette to make it look like a 1967 Corvette.
A Columbia businessperson I admire and why: I work in a community with such fantastic businesspeople, so this is a tough question for me. I would have to say the Head family of Head Motor Co. They work very hard to be successful and are also willing to give back to the community. Once you have an understanding of running and operating a small business, you develop a great appreciation for the hours and dedication required to be successful.
Why I’m passionate about my job: I grew up around cars and worked with my father and brother in the shop. My dad made us work hard and instilled in us a passion for automobiles and appreciation for all things old. I have always loved cars and antiques and feel honored to bring them back to life. There is no better feeling than seeing the end result and knowing what it took to get there.
If I weren’t doing this for a living, I would: Like to have a shop selling antiques and reproduction automobilia, petroliana and classic cars.
What people should know about this profession: You must have patience; this can be a very physical and dirty job. For those who watch the restoration/hot rod TV shows, you cannot restore a car in a week.
What I do for fun: I enjoy spending time outdoors, working and going to car shows and auctions.
Family: Husband, Kris Hulett; one son; and three stepchildren (the youngest is 24)
Favorite place in Columbia: This really depends on the day. I love the sunset with an adult beverage at Les Bourgeois and a good date night with my Husband at CC’s.
Accomplishment I’m most proud of: In business, I’m most proud of being a female owner/operator of a body shop. Personally, I’m most proud of having a strong marriage.
Most people don’t know that I: Worked a 20-year professional career for Kraft Foods NA and managed the capital equipment purchasing for all of Oscar Mayer. My husband and I started Autos-2NV Inc. in 2005 while continuing to work for Kraft. This has been our retirement plan of working at something we love and working together. Also, I actually work on cars, and I’m very grateful to the guy