When Eric Jean, Owner of Alabama’s 12 Volt Techs, told his wife, Sonia, he was adding a mobile detailing division to the business, she gave him a look he’d seen more than once.
“She said, ‘Honey, I think you’ve got enough on your plate,’” Eric says, laughing. “But she’s learned that once I get something in my head, that’s it. It’s happening. It’s a blessing and a curse.”
Building a Business From the Ground Up (2018)
For Eric, there’s no halfway—only headfirst. He started 12 Volt Techs in 2018 while working full-time at the Huntsville Fire Department, where he’s held various roles—dispatcher, supervisor, and manager—since 2009.
“The goal was to build a side hustle that could generate some extra money,” Eric says. “I noticed my dad’s home shop—the one he built to tinker with old trucks—was just sitting there. He was still working in insurance, and the space could easily fit a car or two. I told him, ‘Hell, if you’re not using it, mind if I take it over every other weekend?’”
What started as every other weekend quickly turned into every weekend—and before long, weekdays too.
“I can’t do anything halfway,” Eric adds. “As the business grew, I made sure we had the right insurance, launched a new website, and started running marketing campaigns. People joke, ‘More money, more problems’—but I swear to God, that’s the truth. We didn’t have heat or air conditioning, but we had a lot of business.”
Expanding Into Window Tint (2020)
By 2020, the business had grown beyond remote starts, dash cams, and aftermarket electronics to include window tint.
“My dad never expected it to take off like it did,” Eric says. “I think he’s proud when he looks back and sees everything we’ve built. I’m pretty sure I’m the first person on his family’s side to own a business. It started as a way to make some extra money on the side—but it grew fast.”
Eric’s experience with window tinting goes back to 2007.
“I was a shop manager for two car stereo shops,” he says. “I spent nearly a decade in the car audio and aftermarket accessories industry before going full-time as a fire department dispatcher in 2009. That’s where I learned how to install leather kits, heated seats, and window tint.”
A Big Move to Hazel Green (2023)
In November 2023, 12 Volt Techs opened the doors to a brand-new Hazel Green, Alabama facility—a major milestone for the growing business.
“Our shop is in the middle of a cornfield,” Eric says. “And honestly, we have to work three times as hard to pull people from Huntsville—we’re about 20 miles north, and that’s where most of our clientele is based.”
At the fire department, Eric leads with one core principle: servant leadership.
“Putting people first is the real secret to success,” he says. “At the fire department, my job isn’t just to serve citizens. It’s to support my shift supervisors so they can support the dispatchers, who then make sure our first responders stay safe. When I know they’re safe, I know our citizens are safe. It’s about giving my people the tools they need to succeed.”
That same principle carries into the installation bay, where Eric leads a team of four installers: Brandon Hawthorne, Jae Anderson, Will Steely, and Dominic Laqua.
“I think the greatest trait of a leader is realizing you don’t have to be the best at everything,” Eric says. “Delegation is key—trusting others with responsibilities you know they can handle. That approach makes both of my careers easier. I want my people to be so capable that if someone walks into my shop or the dispatch department, they can’t even tell who’s in charge.”
Same Values, Different Uniforms (Present Day)
Eric admits that leading this way may occasionally mean losing team members, but he believes in taking full ownership when that happens.
“You’ve got to treat your team so well they don’t want to leave,” he says. “That’s always on my mind. Sure, you might end up training your replacement—or even your competition. But if you’re having retention problems, maybe your team isn’t the issue. If you’re the constant in the equation and people keep leaving, maybe it’s time to look at the constant.”
He adds that building the right environment is just as important as building skills.
“If my guys don’t enjoy their job, they’re not going to stay,” Eric adds. “We’ve created an environment where no one dreads coming in every day. I’ve had jobs like that, and I never want that for my employees—whether in dispatch or at the shop.”
When the team earns a five-star review, Eric makes a point to share it directly.
“I’ll screenshot it and send it to the installer who made it happen,” Eric shares. “Lifting people up costs nothing. Gratitude and appreciation don’t show up on a balance sheet—but they go a long way in building morale.”