Owner likes creative side of his businesses

Mike Cmelik, 46, likes to improve on things – whether it drives, flies or sits there like a rock.

With a background in metal fabrication, including 22 years in the auto body repair business and “tons of technical training courses,” he used his education and experiences to develop unique tools for removing dents from vehicles without requiring repainting. Going on-site to the customer’s car, truck or sometimes even an airplane, his process saves time and money over conventional body repairs. Cmelik expanded that business into selling his tools and training others.

Designing a water feature above his fireplace in his own home, people began asking him to do the same for them and a new business took off. In contrast to the metals he repairs on vehicles, stone is probably the oldest building material known to man. Used in the garden or in the home in tandem with water, the rocks combine antiquity, quality and peacefulness that is impossible to achieve with any other building material.

Cmelik now sells his unique rocks, which are drilled for the water feature as required for each project, from his store on Highway 95 in Coeur d’Alene. He also provides Bobcat services, designs custom waterfall fireplaces, and continues to remove dents and conduct training seminars.

What is your job title? “Owner and operator of Dent Craft Inc.”

How long have you been doing this? “Twelve years designing and working on indoor and outdoor water features, along with running my paintless dent removal company and Bobcat services.”

How did you choose this line of work? “I did choose the paintless dent removal part, but the water feature business was by accident. I built my own feature above my fireplace and the next thing you know, I start getting requests.”

Are you paid: (a) well; (b) more than you are worth; (c) slave wages, (d) could be better? “A.”

What is the best thing about your job? “It allows me to be creative. I have been a metal fabricator for 30 years. I like to blend rock and steel and create new looks. I love to bring the outdoors indoors and create soothing atmospheres.”

What is the worst thing about your job? “Winter – no more working outside.”

Do you plan on doing this job (a) until retirement; (b) until something better comes along? “Until retirement.”

Do you have any on-the-job funny stories? “Working as the lead painter in an auto body shop which specialized in painting big Peterbilt trucks, I had put aside six gallons of very expensive Imron paint. Leaving for the day, I told a worker that there was just enough activator to mix with the paint to complete the painting. The worker failed to mix the activator in the paint and painted anyway. I came in the next day and the paint was a mess, much like bubblegum, and didn’t set up. The boss was not a nice person, so I suggested to the worker that he should pack his tools and get out before the came in. He refused, saying he wanted to make it right. The boss yelled, but then agreed to let him strip the mess from the truck, sand, prepare it and repaint it – all on his own time. It took two weeks, but he did a good job this time. Then the boss fired him anyway.”

Any bad experiences (please elaborate)? “Most people are great, but every now and then I have to chase them down to get paid.”

If there was a movie made about you and your job, what actor should play you and why? “Arnold Swarzenegger – then I wouldn’t have to chase anyone down.”