Working in Clark County, a brief profile of interesting Clark County business owners or a worker in the public, private, or nonprofit sector. Send ideas to Mary Ricks: mary.ricks@columbian.com; fax 360-735-4598; phone 360-735-4550.
Phil Auer was raised in a dance family and at age 24 he became the youngest-ever franchise owner of an Arthur Murray Dance Studio. After giving 40 to 45 private lessons per week for a few years, Auer now owns several Arthur Murray studios. “I like to say at the dance studio we give unexpected customer service,” Auer said. “I like to see people open up and become more outgoing when they get involved in dancing.”
Name: Phil Auer.
Job/employer: Franchise owner of Arthur Murray, 808 S.E. Chkalov Drive, Suite 9.
Age: 37.
Education/professional background: I grew up in a dance family. My mom was dating a man who got into dance in the early 1990s. My family moved from Colorado to the Northwest and I started as a training instructor at Arthur Murray in Beaverton, Ore., in 1995. It was the only Arthur Murray studio in the area at the time. I completed my training, eight hours per day for three months, and started teaching. I did well. Soon I was giving 40 to 45 private lessons per week. In 1998 I got promoted to studio manager in Beaverton In 1999, the Vancouver studio opened and I was moved to Vancouver to operate that studio.
My future wife was promoted to take my manager job in Beaverton. We married in 2009.
In 2003 I purchased the Vancouver studio and in 2006 I bought studios in Portland and the Beaverton location. This past January a studio opened in Clackamas, Ore. I am part-owner of that facility, with one of my dance instructors.
Most rewarding part of job: The rewards of my job now are very similar to what they were when I was teaching full time. We see an improvement of life. Many people open up and become more outgoing, relationships seem to be strengthened. I see people grow.
Most challenging part of job: My challenge now is that I’m wearing so many hats and in four locations. We have six instructors in each location and are hiring more now.
Business philosophy: I like to say we give unexpected customer service. I train my staff to give more service than customers expect.
Something you would like to do over: At the time I became an owner, I was only 24, the youngest in the history of Arthur Murray. I made a lot of mistakes. I wish I could have known more about running a business and I would have done things differently.
Residence: Camas.
Best feature of my Vancouver/Clark County community: It is a tight-knit community. We have worked with the Dancing with the (Local) Stars for the Fort Vancouver National Trust for about 10 years and we have worked with a lot of business people. We see many of those same people at other events.
What would make your community a better place: Maybe having more formal events with dancing.
Favorite restaurant/pub/coffee shop/store: Main Event East and Roots Restaurant and Bar.
Hobbies: I am an avid golfer and a little crazy about NFL football.
Volunteer activities: My studios do a lot of different charity events, including Dancing with the Stars and many charity events in Portland. We donate many training/instruction hours to the events.
Favorite travel destination: Walt Disney World.
Most interesting book in last 12 months: “The Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett.
One thing you want to do this year: Play more golf. I would like to take my wife to Europe.
Something you want to do within five years: I would like to expand my business and give my staff more opportunities to become a part-owner or owner.
One word to describe yourself: Considerate.
Person you’d most like to meet: John Elway.
