Jannuzzi

Nick Jannuzzi, 28, of Enterprise is the co-owner of D.J.s Repair and U-Haul and Old Hickory Shed Sales in Enterprise. He’s a single guy, working with his dad, and doing what he apparently was born to do.

His parents are D.J. and Diana Jannuzzi and stepmom, Laura Jannuzzi. He graduated from Enterprise high and went on to Lewis-Clark State College where he studied the family business, automotive tech.

Dad, D.J., always welcomed Nick in the family business and made him a partner in 2010.

Nick followed in his father’s footsteps in another way, too, joining the Elks and becoming involved in their charitable works. He and his dad work every year in the Elks Christmas Basket program.

Nick also enjoys acting as referee for local high school football and would like to get into coaching in the future.

He gets his adrenalin rush by acting as crew chief for his dad’s racecar, a 1967 Camaro competing 1995-2011. The car was sold in 2011, but they’ll either get it back or race a similar car soon. They compete in National Hot Rod Racing Association events. The nearest event is in Spokane.

Q. So, obviously the family business was a big draw, but what else about Wallowa County made it the place to come back to?

A. I like it here. It’s everything I’ve known and I wanted to come back and live here. I like the people here. There may be more money elsewhere, but the people here are better (than those I’ve met elsewhere), the scenery is better, there’s more potential here and the schools are better.

Q. What has Wallowa County taught you?

A. I would say that you can bounce back. When we moved from our auto parts store on River Street to here on Golf Course Road in Enterprise, we didn’t lose any mechanical customers and things are only getting better. In this county you can always turn things around.

Q. Can you recall the very first book you ever checked out for yourself, and can you recommend a book you like now?

A. I was four or five, in kindergarten, and I checked out “Go, Dog, Go.” I could read it myself, and I think I checked it out four or five times. Now, although I’m a creative person and like to write, I really mostly read technical and automotive manuals. I do like to read racing magazines like “Super Chevy.”