Jewish Deaf Business
by Karen Rothschild
Sloatsburg, NY
Jeff Buxbaum Cottman Transmission Center 2600 Huntington Aveue Alexandria, VA 22303
Voice: 703/329-2300 FAX:703/329-1922 Sternbux@aol.com
TRANSMISSION CENTER
Q: How And Why Did You Decide To Start Your Business?
A: Owning a business of my own has been a life-long dream. I met with an SBA
(Small Business Administration) consultant to see what kind of business would best suit
me. Cottman Transmission franchise was strongly recommended and most of the Cottman
franchisees had positive experiences. I was an assistant General Manager at California
Pizza Kitchen in Bethesda, MD for three years so I was able to apply my management skills
at Cottman.
Q: How Long Have You Operated This Business?
A: I have been in this business since June of 1998.
Q: What Are Your Key Accomplishment In Your Business?
A: Since my center opened last June, I have had a steady number of customers come in every
week for repairs. I also joined a great network group where we meet every other Thursdays
for breakfast and exchange referrals.
Q: Do You Deal With New and/or Rebuilt Transmissions?
A: There is no such thing as buying new transmissions, they can only be rebuilt or
repaired. We rebuild or repair transmissions on all kinds of auto, American and foreign. I
have a mechanic responsible for taking down and putting back transmissions in the cars and
another mechanic responsible for repairing or rebuilding transmissions. I have a manager
responsible for taking care of customers, phone calls, marketing, coordinate work flow as
well as road tests. I also have an employee do the telemarketing, making contacts with all
the corporations that have large number of cars and mailing out brochures about our
company.
Q: What Was Your Most Embarrassing or Funniest Experience?
A: My most funniest experience happened in my training class at Cottman's
headquarters. Whenever the teacher would tell a joke, the whole class would laugh and then
watch for my reaction after the interpreter translated the joke to me. The class would
erupt into laughter again.
Q: How Do You Communicate With Your Clients?
A: I communicate with my customers orally. If I have a difficult time understanding a
customer, I would ask one of my employees to help out. When I go out on the road to meet
prospective customers, I bring brochures with me.
Q: What Is Your Present and Future Goals?
A: My present goal is to continue break even every month during the first year. My future
goal is to own more Centers in the metro D.C. area.
Q: Can You Share How You Became Deaf and Your Jewish Upbringing?
A: I have been deaf since 2 years old. I went to Model Secondary School for the Deaf in
MD, graduated at National Technical Institute of the Deaf with an A.A.S. degree in Data
Processing and Gallaudet with a B.S. degree.
I have fond memories of growing up in Montreal observing the Sabbath
every Friday night and most major Jewish holidays. I had a bar mitzvah in 1974. Recently,
my wife, Marcie, and I attended the High Holy days services at the Congregation B'nai
Jeshrun in Manhattan with Naomi Brunnlehrman as one of the interpreters. it was an
eye-opening experience for me watching Naomi translate from Hebrew to ASL after so many
years of not knowing what is going on in a service.
Q: Would You Like To Say Something?
A: If a deaf person wishes to succeed in the business world, that person must work twice
as hard as their hearing peers. Most hearing people lack patience when dealing with a deaf
manager. Be proactive, not reactive. And MAKE IT HAPPEN.