Investing in the North
- Jun 29
- 3 min read
The Legacy of Lonetech
Lonetech Enterprises | Grimshaw, AB
Growing up, Darren Kuester was a Dixonville-area farm kid occasionally looking for ways to earn an honest dollar. Yet, as a young heavy-duty mechanic in the late 1980s, he passed on the immediate payoff of an urban career path in favour of building a family and a future close to home with Lonetech Enterprises.
“I knew I could find more job opportunities in the city, but moving was never an option,” said Darren. “I felt strongly about staying here to raise my own family.”
Early in his career, Darren worked for the local Kenworth dealership in Peace River. During his final year there, he was promoted and began spending half his time being a service manager. The shift from shop floor to front office was enough to give him pause.
“As a kid, I was always looking for ways to make a few extra bucks, but I hadn’t given much thought to being a business owner,” said Darren. “My hours in the Kenworth office lit a spark for me. I was surprised to be so interested in the numbers and the business aspect of the industry.”
When Kenworth closed its local operations 1989, Darren declined a transfer. He realized successful northern businesses require an approach not popular in larger cities.
“In a small rural place,
80 percent of your business comes from 20 percent of your clients,” said Darren. “Here, it is crucial to run a model based on trusted customer relationships.”
Opening his own shop in Grimshaw in 1991, Darren came to rely on the mentorship of local business leaders like John Woodburn, Neil Buker and Floyd Stromstedt.
“They really encouraged me to look at Grimshaw for solid economic reasons I hadn’t considered,” said Darren. “I probably had breakfast with those guys 90 percent of the time in the first couple of years.”
Building Lonetech has been a collective family endeavour.
“My wife, Annette, was—and has been—integral to the success of Lonetech,” said Darren. “If it hadn’t been for her support raising our kids and helping with the books, nothing would have worked out.”
Demand for the operation was immediate, requiring significant personal sacrifice.
“There would often be several days he wouldn’t see the kids because he was working late,” said Annette. “My in-laws were close, so that helped. It was hard, but it felt good because we were building something.”
The relentless workload left little room for downtime.
“I only took two days off a year, Christmas and Easter,” said Darren. “Even when we would go camping, I would put in a full day at work first.”
Today, 35 years later, Lonetech is a respected regional staple. With the business stable, Darren established a succession plan to keep it locally owned.
“The time is coming to pass the torch,” said Darren. “I have a partner now, who is at 50 percent ownership. I would like the remainder of the ownership to go to the employees. That’s the legacy I would love to leave.”
Darren credits Lonetech’s sustainability to his employees, believing the success of a business is closely tied to the quality of its team members.
“People ask me how to succeed in business, and I always tell them to surround themselves with really good people,” said Darren.
Lonetech’s success parallels its involvement in the community. This commitment is literally displayed with their 4-H Wall of Fame, which serves as a timeline of local support, showcasing steers purchased from kids every year since the shop opened in 1991.
“The community has always been a strong supporter of us, and I’m proud to support them in any way we can,” said Darren.
For future entrepreneurs, Annette has some words of advice.
“You just have to take the leap. Work hard and lean on each other,” said Annette. “Dig your heels in and push through the grinding days.”
While stepping back from Lonetech, their entrepreneurial drive is still alive and well. In fact, the Kuesters recently purchased Dixonville General Store.
“My only regret with buying the store is that I didn’t do it sooner,” said Darren. “I have lived in Dixonville my whole life, and I know what will work and the value it holds as a community hub.”
With an unwavering dedication to the North, Darren and Annette Kuester are true community and business leaders who will surely continue to support and inspire.
To learn more visit lonetech.com connect via social media or call 780-332-1026.
By Kelly Pippin
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