Santa Monica resident Kevin Emamian, owner of The Haus automotive repair center has been recognized by his alma mater, Arizona State University (ASU), for the second straight year for launching and managing a successful and fast-growing business.
At the event held at the university’s main campus, 135 outstanding alumni were announced as members of the class of 2024 in the annual awards program that recognizes the fastest-growing alumni-owned or -led organizations. They range from individual business owners to leaders of large corporations from dozens of industries, including architecture, construction, information technology, legal, marketing and public relations, nonprofit and real estate.
Emamian was also nominated last year, but this year he was recognized in the next revenue category up, which is only possible if your business has continued to grow, by a specified and significant amount.
"It’s a little like I was competing in the lightweight category last year and now, this year, I’ve been able to qualify for the middleweight category," Emamian said. He ranked #16 in the $250k-$1.99 million tier (last year) and ranked #30 in the $2 million-$9.99 million tier (for 2024) — both out of over 40 other competitors in each category.
Eligible companies are evaluated based on their remarkable percentage increase in gross sales and revenue over the previous three consecutive years, categorized into three financial tiers of $250,000–$1.999 million, $2 million–$9.999 million and $10 million-plus.
"Although, I think it might be a little while before I’m able to compete in the top category," he laughed, adding, "But it is truly an honor to be acknowledged by my university, which takes pride in nurturing both current and future entrepreneurs."
This year there were 52 first time honorees, a total of 34 out-of-state businesses in 17 different states across the country, plus 101 based in the state of Arizona, all bringing in a whopping $17.421 billion in revenue. In addition, each year, up to 10 brave undergraduate students present their innovative business ideas in front of nearly 1000 attendees of which Emamian is one.
"It's incredibly inspiring to witness the drive and motivation of these students, as they showcase their unique and lucrative business plans," he said, adding, "Their enthusiasm gives hope that these future entrepreneurs have the foundation to succeed in their respective industries."
When his best friend was accepted and honored as part of the class of 2022, Emamian said that he was determined to make the cut. "I was absolutely going to make it happen. When my friend walked onto the field at Sun Devil Football Stadium I was both proud and jealous in equal parts," he said.
Emamian had been offered a track and field sports scholarship for long jump and triple jump to Westmont University, but he injured himself not long before the academic year was due to start and the offer was rescinded. Searching for a last minute alternative, he visited and subsequently fell in love with the campus at ASU. And, according to the promotional blurb, ASU "maintains its position as the number one institution for innovation, surpassing MIT, Stanford and USC."
"When I worked at Lexus Santa Monica, that’s when I met my business partner Stephen Adams working in the Service Dept and a gentleman named Matt Unger showed me the ins and outs of the auto industry to prepare me for eventually taking over and starting my own business within this cut throat industry," Emamian said.
The class of 2024 honorees were unveiled at a reception in April at Mullet Arena in Tempe, Arizona, but all recipients of the award will also be celebrated on September 7, once again at the Sun Devil Football Stadium before the home team takes on the Mississippi State Bulldogs. This is the event Emamian is most looking forward to.
"Yeah, I’m really looking forward to this," Emamian beamed. "I’ll get to see and hang out with old friends and meet all the award winners too and hang out with them. Plus of course I get to walk out on our home football field and bask in the glow of all the ASU love. Honestly, there’s just no feeling like it," he said.
The Haus is a certified independent Mini Cooper and BMW repair shop located at 2621 Pico Blvd — with a second location at 14850 Calvert St in Sherman Oaks — and Emamian’s slowly-but-surely expanding empire celebrates its 10 year anniversary this year.
Moreover, if you’re the proud owner of one of those diminutive icons of design, emblematic of English yesteryear, then you’ll no doubt already be familiar with The Haus. In fact, the name means "house" in German, entirely appropriate since BMW bought and rebooted the Mini brand in 2000.