In this month’s REDNetwork Member Spotlight, we spoke to Brendan Brown from Cohuna Auto-Electrical and Air Conditioning based in Cohuna, Victoria.
How long have you been an auto electrician?
I’ve been an auto-Elec for over 17 years now. I started my apprenticeship in Koondrook, Victoria and spent several years in the Pilbara, before returning to Victoria with my family. I am the business owner and director with my wife Katie. We have two children who are aged 5 and 7 years old.
Tell us about your business?
Cohuna Auto-Electrical and Air Conditioning has been running for 7 years. Katie is the business manager and administrator, and we have three additional team members. Cohen and Nathan our 2nd year apprentices, and Sam our 4th year apprentice. We chose to build our own team of auto-elects and apprentices can be moulded. We like to provide young people with opportunities for school-based apprenticeships and work experience opportunities. Sam is also a mature age apprentice, who is due to finish very soon.
Katie likes to make sure we do our part for the community, and we regularly support local sports club and sporting events. The Cohuna community consists of the agricultural, farming and forestry industries. We also get seasonal caravanners and tourers and have several earth and civil customers.
How long have you been installing REDARC products?
When I worked in Karratha, at Jolly Goods (who is also a REDNetwork member), REDARC was a prominent brand and a reliable one. When we took on our business, there was no doubt in what products would be the first to go on our shelves.
What is your favourite REDARC product?
My personal favourite product to use and install is the REDARC Tow-Pro Electric Brake Controller. It’s simple, tried and tested and its operation is simple for the customer. We absolutely recommend the Tow-Pro and BCDC Units above anything else on the market.
What is your favourite thing about being a part of the REDNetwork?
I’d have to say being a part of a network that benefits the customer, when “shit hits the fan”. Through having the Pilbara and travelling in remote locations, there’s nothing worse than having no one to reach out to when something goes wrong. The REDNetwork allows customers to seek assistance in any location and get a resolution ASAP.
What has been your greatest business achievement to date?
We started Cohuna Auto-Electrical and Air Conditioning in 2017 not expecting too much. In 2019, were a finalist in the VACC Best Auto Electrical Small Business category. In 2022, we purchased a new premises, with three times the space we had before. After having a large show room built, as well as DIY renovations and concreting, we’ve upgraded our facilities, our equipment and it really was a tick in the box for us, especially after facing challenges like COVID-19. Some days we forget how far we’ve come!
What is the best thing about coming to work every day?
Banter with the boys and having a win on a tricky diagnosis.
Out of your staff who is…
1. The practical joker? Me
2. The all-rounder? Webby
3. The calm under pressure? The wife!
4. The diehard 4x4 adventurer? Me
5. The life of the party? Sam
6. The perfectionist? Sam
Auto electrical is a broad field these days, do you focus on a specific area?
There are two types of auto-elects. Fitters and fixers. I think it’s important to be able to provide both services. We pride ourselves on being able to supply and fit the best products and help our customers resolves issues in an array of machinery, vehicles, and equipment. We don’t limit ourselves.
If you could share a meal with four famous people, who would they be and why?
Oh gee… Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Tom Hardy, Anna Kendrick – be good to have a beer with them.
Learn more or get in contact with Cohuna Auto-Electrical and Air Conditioning at www.cohunaautoelect.com.au.
