mom & pop business owners day: Interview with The Boss

Today is Mom & Pop Business Owner’s Day, so I decided to catch one of the owners off-guard with an interview. Thankfully, she’s amazing and humored my questions. It also helps that her desk is approximately 5 feet away from mine, with mine between her and the door. Introducing park owner, customer service extraordinaire, super mom and complete goofball, local breakfast burrito expert, friend and boss, Jennifer Ballenger.

Jennifer poses for the 2020 Jim & Mary’s RV Park Yearbook.

She’s a delight to be around, and you’ll see her working out and about in the park or in the office, no matter the season. So be sure to say hello!

Sarah: What's it like owning a small business?

Jennifer: It's very overwhelming at times, yet somehow rewarding. It can be all-consuming. But, I don't think I can ever go back to working for "the man".

S: And to add to that, what's it like owning & running a small, private RV Park? What challenges do you face?

J: I like that I can make it my own. I love customer service, especially in the tourism industry. Everyone's on vacation and happy, and it's fun to have a quick chat with guests, get to know them.

 As for challenges… getting it all done!

S: Talk about a moment when you knew buying the park was worth it all?

J: I feel like there's a lot of little moments instead of one big moment… like being able to be a mom when the kids were young and having my parents close by… just knowing that my family was here when I needed them. 

S: What's your absolutely favorite part of the job?

J: People. The customers, the staff, my family. The people make the job.

S: Did you ever think you would end up in the travel industry? Were you or your parents specifically looking for RV parks for sale at the time?

J: No, not at all. But, when we first sat down and started talking about what we wanted to do, we brainstormed what type of business we'd like running together and we all ultimately agreed on an RV Park or campground, so travel industry. Then, we had to figure out where we'd all like living. After we had a good idea for what we were looking for, Walt went on the hunt. After about a year of searching, we found Jim & Mary's for sale in Missoula.

S: I've heard you talk pretty highly about Missoula and how happy you are that your family ended up here. What is it about the Missoula community that lets you know you're in a good place?

J: The people in this town, the community. It's small enough, but not too small, if you know what I mean. You feel like you know almost everyone, but you don't at the same time. Honestly, the Frenchtown School District experience for my family will always be something I'm grateful for. It was a great place to raise my boys.

S: How has the RV park evolved since you purchased it in 2000?

J: Oh, completely. We expanded our site capacity by almost 50%, added gardens and buildings and did some major upgrades…. It's almost unrecognizable from when we first bought the park. So different. But, we were able to make it our own then too.

S: Is it easy working with family 24/7, 365 days a year? What's the greatest part about having family involved in most aspects of the park? What's the hardest?

J: 100% NO, not easy. Is it worth it? YES. The greatest part is the time spent together, I wouldn't trade it for anything. But, the hardest part is separating work and family.

S: There's a lot that goes into running a business that people don't always get to see. What's the hardest part of your job?

J: The pressure I think... That feeling that everyone, the staff, your family, all the guests, is depending on you.

S: We all know seasonal changes in this area affects everything, but what are the best parts of each season?

J: OOOHH, ok. So, Spring, definitely the flowers and people start traveling and we start getting busy here. For Summer, it's the whole Missoula vibe! The music, the art shows, the festivals and events, the farmer's market. There's just this whole air of excitement flowing through the city. Fall is my favorite season. You get the cooler days and nights, the smell of bonfires, wearing hoodies, watching football, eating chili… and we start to transition into winter, which slows down a bit and gives us a little break from the hectic feeling of summer. I love all the Winter things. Going to the cabin, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing. We really enjoy the downtime and being able to chill, take a breather.

S: Personal touches really make a small business like this one stand out. What little things do you like to see in a small business, and what do you try to apply to your job here?

J: Making people feel special… just being able to take the time to actually talk to someone, get to know a bit about them. I feel like so many of Missoula's small businesses are really great at being more personal, you can tell they genuinely care about you. That's the kind of feeling I try to get across in my business, because we do care. We want you to be happy and enjoy your visit. 

 There are customers that return here year after year that I like to stay in touch with. And if I haven't heard from them in a while, I'm emailing or calling. After seeing them so much and getting to know them, it's hard not to check in with them!

S: Having seasonal staff must be a blessing in the summer. What do they mean to you?

J: They are family. We still keep in touch with the very first workamper couple that ever worked for us. We've made so many friends out of our staff over the years. This business is our home, and our workampers all treat it with care, and I love them for that.

S: Would you do it all over again?

J: YES. I never thought this would be my career. I wish I could tell the younger me that this would be my career, to make the absolute best of it. Sometimes it's easy to get lost in the struggles and kind of go into survival mode and run the business, but the amount of support I have from friends and family and even customers… I couldn't ask for better. Being here every day when the kids got on the bus to go to school and then every afternoon when they got home was a major goal for me. It was hectic and busy, but so rewarding.