From Pit Tech to President: Andrew Rumsey builds a new future for his family at Take 5
From technician to leader, Andrew Rumsey reflects on how Take 5’s supportive culture helped him grow his career, uplift his team, and create new opportunities for his family.
When Andrew Rumsey accepted the job as a lube technician at Take 5 Oil Change in 2023, it was the leap of faith that changed everything. Having just gained full custody of his young son, he needed more than a job—Andrew needed someone to see his potential so he could support his family.
Until then, his past had limited his career search.
“I came from a difficult upbringing and made decisions I’m not proud of,” Andrew explained. “But I knew I was capable of building something better for myself and my family.”
Before joining the Take 5 team, Andrew worked as an automotive painter, a job that paid the bills and utilized his artistic talents but offered limited stability and growth opportunities.
Woodrow Padgett, Andrew’s roommate and a manager at Take 5, saw his situation and knew there was a career path for him at the company. With encouragement from Woodrow, Andrew made the decision to take a slight pay cut in hopes of a brighter future.
Andrew began working at Shop 88 in Columbia, South Carolina. Taking that chance exceeded his expectations. From day one, Andrew knew he had made the right choice.
“I immediately loved the work. It was fast-paced and personable, and building relationships with customers every day really spoke to me,” Andrew said. “Woodrow told me to trust the process, and trust that talent and dedication would pay off.”
And it did.
Within six weeks, Andrew was promoted to lead technician.
"That’s when I realized I could make a real career out of this," Andrew recalled.
His growth didn’t stop there—the following month, he accepted the role of assistant manager. Everything was moving upward, personally and professionally, as he now had another baby on the way.
Six months later, he was offered a position as shop manager. Despite his determination for growth, Andrew initially declined due to the demanding hours with a newborn at home. However, Take 5 didn’t falter and reached out again after three months with the same opportunity. This time, he accepted.
Each promotion revealed new layers of Andrew’s potential.
“I learned that leadership has many forms. I thought you had to be stern, but that's not my style. I take pride in being approachable,” Andrew explained. “I attribute my success to the culture that I experienced while developing as a technician—to meet everybody where they’re at in a way that still produces the right results.”
Andrew’s leadership transformed Shop 88 into a hub for professional development. Under his guidance, multiple employees earned promotions and went on to pursue other leadership roles throughout the company. Andrew had become what Take 5 saw in him from the beginning: a natural leader.
“I discovered I was more capable than I gave myself credit for,” Andrew recalls. “Much of my success goes to Woodrow, my shop manager when I was hired,” he said. “And Tiffany Eldreth, my regional director. She set ambitious goals for me that helped me realize I could achieve more than I’d imagined.”
Andrew’s strategic approach to his career path showed the confidence Take 5 helped him build. He had set his sights on becoming a district manager and was willing to take every step necessary to reach that goal.
Less than two years after starting as a lube technician, Andrew achieved that goal. He now serves as district manager in Raleigh, North Carolina—a role that came with a relocation bonus that transformed his family’s life.
“I was able to move my children into a beautiful home in one of the highest-rated school districts in North Carolina,” Andrew said. “Being able to enjoy time with them is the biggest reward of my new position.”
For Andrew, another rewarding aspect of his career is investing in others and witnessing their successes.
“What drives me is watching my team succeed. Seeing part-time technicians eventually get their own homes and vehicles and advance in their careers gives me such a sense of fulfillment. Because if somebody hadn’t invested in me, I wouldn’t be where I am,” he explained.
Now, with four shop managers in his district, Andrew has set another goal that speaks to Take 5's culture, and his innate ability to support others’ success: He wants to see them become “pit tech to president” stories of their own.
Andrew’s journey proves that when companies invest in their employees’ potential and prioritize a supportive culture, transformations are possible and produce dedicated leaders. Take 5 didn’t just provide Andrew with a job–they allowed him to build a better future.