Community Highlights: Meet Darren Kiesler of The Big Door Company

Today we’d like to introduce you to Darren Kiesler.

Hi Darren, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, I’m Darren Kiesler, and I think big doors are the coolest thing since sliced bread. Originally, I was from Washington State, but in 2009 I worked in Virginia as a project manager building the new Children’s Hospital at the University of Virginia. They had put me in charge of managing the complex door and window systems I would install throughout the building. I knew very little about this at the time, so it was a bit overwhelming to get going. At that time, I met an individual who essentially was the expert on these complicated door systems that we were installing, and who would fly all over the world consulting clients during the installation of the doors. I found the challenges of the job exciting, and the idea of traveling around the country to install large door systems was fascinating.

In 2009, after much research and consideration, I moved back to the Seattle area to start The Big Door Company. At first, we were very small, with just myself and another installer I hired as we slowly expanded in our new market. Since then, I’ve partnered with my friend from college to help grow the company and expand our small workforce. We are now working with Summit Automation out of Mesa to bring door automation to our friends and neighbors throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada. We love representing Summit and the innovative technologies they are developing in Mesa up here in our neck of the woods. I now frequent trips to the Phoenix area for training and consultation, so you might find me out and about in the area!

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been challenges along the way. From not enough work to too much work we were not immediately equipped to handle,  and everything in-between. The obstacles I faced as an individual striking out on my own to create this company and that we faced as a small organization trying to expand have been countless. Creating a niche in a new market for an emerging product is generally not easy for any small business, and we were no different. But I would not have it any other way. In my mind, these challenging experiences are a rite of passage and the spice of life as you grow a small business.

Eventually, we hit our stride. After plenty of hard knocks and ups and downs, the company turned a corner a few years in, and we began to truly live up to our original vision of being the experts on large, complicated door systems for residential and commercial projects in the region.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a one-stop shop for big doors. We specialize in large, complicated door system installation, service, and maintenance. These large units often benefit from automation due to the size and weight of the panels. This has become a significant focus for our organization moving forward. We aim to provide a gold standard for anything and everything doors, including design, consultation, installation, automation, screening, and maintenance.

I started in 2009 installing mid-size door and window packages and have expanded since then to specialize in installing huge doors for most of the leading manufacturers on the market. Our focus is now on educating clients about the benefits of door automation. There is an increasing need for the ease of operation of these continually expanding door panels homeowners are looking for. We are seeing clients asking for doors that offer the convenience and elegance of the touchless operation of 20-foot-tall, massive panels of glass that open the entire side of the home. This is an extreme example but offers a glimpse into where the market is going. But day-to-day, it’s the look of pure joy that automation of large, scenic doors provides to homeowners that is what I love about the path I chose. The views we get to see are not bad either!

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Like most small business owners, I’ve had to come to terms with mastering my emotions. To some degree, you have to get to a place where you understand your fear of the unknown and become comfortable letting it ride anyways. Deep down, you know the struggle of striking out on your own is part of the process and that you will come out stronger on the other side when all is said and done, but finding peace in that daily mental joust you have with yourself can be tricky to get ahead of for anybody building their business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thebigdoorcompany.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigdoorcompany/