HAMPTON — Lance Studer, owner of Lance Studer Custom Automotive in Hampton, has been named the August 2026 Entrepreneur of the Month by the NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and the North Iowa Area Small Business Development Center.
Studer built his automotive business from the ground up after deciding to leave a stable career in the HVAC industry and pursue something of his own.
“I had a great job but I have to really challenge myself,” Studer said. “I was getting comfortable and I didn’t like it. Plus, at the end of the day I wanted to build something to leave for my kids.”
He began taking on automotive and mechanical work while still employed full time. As the side business expanded, Studer eventually left his job, purchased his first building and committed to the business full time.
Today, Lance Studer Custom Automotive operates as what Studer describes as a “one stop shop,” offering auto body work, mechanical service and custom automotive work under one roof.
Studer said persistence has been central to his growth as an entrepreneur.
“There’s no ten simple steps to success. 80% of success is just showing up,” he said. “It’s hard work but going through the grind is how you do it.”
Studer first connected with the NIACC Pappajohn Center and the North Iowa Area SBDC while working to secure financing for his first building.
His bank recommended that he work with the organizations to strengthen his business plan and financial projections.
That led Studer to enroll in Venture School, the University of Iowa’s statewide entrepreneurship program offered locally through the NIACC Pappajohn Center.
“I started Venture School mainly because I wanted the banker to be happy with me, but as I went through the classes I realized just how beneficial it was,” Studer said.
Through the program, Studer said he gained experience in marketing, planning, strategy and managing the business beyond the day-to-day work inside the shop.
“In Venture School, I got the chance to see how other people are running their business,” he said. “I learned from them and I was able to help a couple of them too.”
Studer said one of the lessons he took from the program was that many of the same business principles used by much larger companies can also be applied to small businesses.
His next major growth opportunity came when he pursued the purchase of Butch Gruelke Auto in Hampton.
The acquisition allowed Studer to expand while giving longtime owner Butch Gruelke a path toward retirement and a way for the business to continue serving the community.
Studer worked closely with Brook Boehmler, regional director of the North Iowa SBDC, during the succession and acquisition process.
“Brook definitely kept me levelheaded,” Studer said. “If I had any question or worry at all, he was always there to get me through it. The SBDC and the Pappajohn Center have been the biggest resource for me.”
Studer said entrepreneurship, for him, has also meant investing back into Hampton and the surrounding area.
His business supports local youth sports and school activities, something Studer said he considers one of the most rewarding parts of owning a business.
“I feel if I can give back into the community and supporting kids, that’s where I put the money,” he said.
Studer said his own experience has also shaped the advice he gives other entrepreneurs.
He encourages business owners to keep working through difficult stretches and to surround themselves with people who can challenge them and help them improve.
“At this moment in my career, I’ve learned to surround myself with smarter and more successful people than I am,” Studer said.
The NIACC Pappajohn Center and North Iowa Area SBDC said Studer’s growth from a startup operation into an expanded automotive business, along with his involvement in the Hampton community, helped make him their August 2026 Entrepreneur of the Month.
(TOP PHOTO via NIACC.)