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By Donna Thoma donnathoma0@gmail.com
HOUGHTON LAKE- In the forty plus years since he began working in the automobile industry, Mike Jurkovich, owner of Top Tire of Houghton Lake, has seen a host of changes. Tires and cars back in the 1980’s, when he first began, were simpler and straight forward. Vehicles have become more technical along with the equipment needed to work on them. Additionally, “people’s needs have changed, people are different.”
Twenty-eight years ago, when he was beginning his own business, payment methods were cash or check, receipts were handwritten. Now, payments are mostly by credit card, with receipts generated by computers.
Jurkovich grew up in Grayling, graduating from Grayling High School, and attending Kirtland Community College for one year. He went to automotive trade school, Motec, becoming a Certified Automotive Technician Master Mechanic.
Jurkovich’s career began when he got a job at a shop in Traverse City. The company eventually opened a shop in Alma, Michigan. Jurkovich moved to the Alma location, until the company opened a store in Mt. Pleasant, where he and wife Marey settled and began their family.
Chuckling, Jurkovich stated, “An assistant position opened up, and after that, it was out of my control, it just kept going!” He opened his own business at Houghton Lake, Top Tire, in November of 1998.
Mike and Marey have three adult children. Their daughter works for a medical laboratory out of state, one son is a police officer in Alma, their eldest son Joe, is already taking on the day-to-day work at the shop.
Mike is shifting to learning the “paperwork, figuring out taxes and has already learned why it’s good to have an accountant” when you own your own business. He is “sort of retiring,” but not really. He and Marey both enjoy fishing, and love traveling. Goals include going to visit their daughter and family in California and to “go the Bahama’s again.”
Even if he may not be at the shop as much, he will find work to do at home. Marey has some “honey do” jobs lined up for him like painting and fixing. Things that are difficult to get done while working full time.
Mike will still be around to see old friends and help at the shop, however, he is looking forward to a lighter schedule.
