Meet Doug Reber of Quality Vans & Specialty Vehicles in Tempe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Doug Reber.

Quality Vans & Specialty Vehicles (QVSV) began in 1974 as a local van upfitter in Mesa, AZ. The company expanded as van conversions gained popularity through the 70’s and 80’s. QVSV quickly grew to be the #1 van conversion company in Arizona. Previous owner Bob Becker began supplying a popular line of van conversions to the dealer networks after acquiring bailment pool status for Dodge and GM products. He branched out into truck and SUV conversions as their popularity exploded in the 90’s. In April of 1999, Bob was ready to retire; he sold QVSV to Ed and Kathy Steele.

They took the opportunity to add several key employees to expand and establish their capabilities as a specialty vehicle manufacturer. Ed and Kathy Steele saw the potential of the industry to go far beyond van conversions. In 2004, Quality Vans & Specialty Vehicles changed locations to a spacious 12,000 square foot building in Tempe, Arizona. This new building gave the space needed to expand services and dive head first into manufacturing more involved specialty vehicles.

Since that time Quality Vans & Specialty Vehicles has designed and built many medical, municipal, police, and emergency related vehicles. These vehicles have ranged from health screening, maternity testing, and recycling education to public safety vehicles such as prisoner transport, SWAT Team, Explosive Ordinance Device trucks, DUI enforcement, Mobile Command, and Surveillance vehicles. The Company is known for its attention to detail and custom solution and can design and build almost anything that is on a vehicle chassis with wheels.

In 2012, Ed and Kathy Steele decided to retire and Doug, Vicki and Gary Reber saw an opportunity to apply the skills gained in 25+ years of small business operations, wholesale distribution, engineering and technology to QVSV. With the combined efforts of the staff assembled by the Steele’s and the Reber’s experience, Quality Vans & Specialty Vehicles will continue to provide a superior quality product and service for years to come.

In 2016, Quality Vans & Specialty Vehicles relocated closer to Sky Harbor Airport since many of their clients are from around the nation and fly in to inspect their projects. Their new facilities are comprised of 3,000 square feet of office suites and approximately 27,000 square feet of production space all under one roof and with nearly 2 acres of outdoor vehicle staging area they are set to take on most all sizes of projects whether it is one vehicle or a fleet. The additional space has allowed expanded manufacturing space to accommodate the more than 17 staff.

In early February of 2017, QVSV was awarded an GSA 23V MAS contract and in Q3 of 2017 the company was awarded a 5-year BPA (Blanket Purchase Agreement) with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) under the Department of Justice. QVSV is in the prototype stage of this project and will be producing 15-20 vehicles per year for the agency over the term of the contract.

QVSV since 2012 has more than doubled its’ business volume, increased staff by more than double and their production capacity has increased by almost 4 times since the Reber’s took over control and management of the operations. They currently have “immediate” needs for 4-5 more production staff in all areas of the specialty vehicle build process, as well, in calendar year 2018 will be looking to add additional office staff to various departments.

Reber stated “the business is currently underway with business alignment and strategic planning to take QVSV to the next level and with the help of well-qualified business coaches and mentors, AZ-SBDC (AZ-Small Business Development Center) and AZ-PTAC services we are well established to reach that goal. Additionally, with the company’s effort to increase its international export segment with their specialty vehicle design build capabilities, they are working hand in hand with the ACA (Arizona Commerce Authority) through their STEP Grant program as well as the U.S. Department of Commerce”.

“The future looks very bright at Quality Vans & Specialty Vehicles not only for the enterprise and stability in long-term employment opportunities for the staff but, being a good community partner and to be a job creator in the Phoenix Valley of the Sun”.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The largest impediment to our success and growth is finding qualified and willing employees for all areas from shop helps to skilled labor in Basic Construction/Component Installation, A/C-D/C electricians, Fabricators/Welders and Cabinet makers to office staff.

Second, was production space which we believe we have cured that requirement with our new modern/state of the art location at 2113 W. 7th Street in Tempe, AZ.

Lastly, but to a lesser degree and with the new Federal Banking Laws and Regulation (Dodd-Frank) and how that has impacted Small Business, finding willing banking partners to aid in Capital needs to grow operations. Not always is it prudent to facilitate 100% of capital needs to grow operations from within.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Quality Vans &Specialty Vehicles story. Tell us more about the business.
QVSV is a CUSTOM Specialty Vehicle manufacture with skills and abilities to not only build “one off” requirements in a specialty vehicle but also have the expertise and capabilities in fleet-multi unit requirements.

QVSV can take a client napkin sketch all the way to a full spec’d full drawing project to its completion and meet and almost always exceed customer expectations with a highly efficient vehicle need.

QVSV is known for its high level of meeting and fulfilling a client’s needs and requests with a Quality and highly efficient vocational use vehicle.

What makes QVSV stand out above the completion is our attention to detail, quality product and fulfilling the customer need/requests. We do whatever it takes to ensure customer satisfaction!

Contact Info:

• Address: 2113 W. 7th Street Tempe, AZ 85281
• Website: www.qualityvans.com
• Phone: (480) 464-7007
• Email: sales@qualityvans.com

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