Tony Kiley

Q.  What is your professional background? Where do you work, and what is/was your role there?
A.   As I think back over the years as I write this BIO I reflect on a lifetime of accomplishments. Through the years there have been lots of ups and downs but in the end each profession I was involved in was a stepping stone for the next. 

In the beginning I was a delivery driver for Domino’s Pizza way back in 1981. I put myself through college delivering pizza in rain, shine and snow. Insert first 4WD I Owned, 1985 Toyota SR5. Installed a lift kit, 35″ tires and I was plowing through the neighborhoods delivering pizzas. 

I graduated college at UNC Colorado with a degree in finance but stuck with Domino’s for the next 18 years. I worked my way up to manager of multiple locations in Colorado . Then I got promoted to Area Supervisor in KC. I had 11 stores that I oversaw the business practices of for corporate stores. Eventually the corporate stores in KC were sold to individual franchise stores. I was asked to stay on as a franchise consultant to oversee the new owners. Eventually I ended up having stores in KS, MO and OK as the Franchise Consultant. 45 stores in the Midwest. I won franchise consultant of the year and received a custom ROLEX watch that I have to this day. 

Making, baking and delivering thousands of pizza under my belt and helping many new owners fine tune their businesses it was time for me to build my own. So, after 5 years of consulting I bought my own Domino’s Pizza franchise. I started with one at 3617 Main St KC MO and quickly bought stores in Blue Springs, North KC, Independence and Belton. 

I sold those stores in 1999 and thought I would retire but life changed, threw some wrenches into my world and I began a new career that went a complete different direction. Divorced, living in a small apartment and looking for the next chapter. Enter Gateway Computers. I worked in the Strategic Operations Group. I had corporate customers over the years from California, NY and eventually Australia, Japan and even oversaw the US Olympic team that used Gateway laptops exclusively and they were my customer. Great times, great memories and building a new chapter in my life. As sales continued I won national sales competition and won a vacation in Maui Hawaii. I turned that into a wedding location and honeymoon for my son to be wife Dana. That was 20 years ago. As time went on Gateway went downhill and I jumped ship and went to another company selling computers out of Colorado called Saytek. I was able to bring over many of my previous Gateway customers and continued supporting their needs. Unfortunately, 3 years later, desktops as we knew them and technology changing, Saytek soon followed the others and shutdown. Time for a new career, #3 for me. I had always built things, repaired things and loved working on things. Started my own handyman company. Everything led to where I’m at now. I have over a 1000 houses in the KC area that are owned by investors from all over the world. Hawaii, Australia, Canada, China and England. Some of these owners I’ve done tens of thousands of dollars of business and never met in person. To this day I am proud of my accomplishments and what I have achieved in this world and to all of those that helped me along the way. 

My next venture that I currently working on is managing property for others and moving from Special T Maintenance and adding Special T Management to my BIO. I have 22 doors I manage today and 2026 could be a stellar year. 26 is my all time favorite number. I’m in the process of buying a 12 unit property that will specialize in housing at risk youth in the KCK area. Giving back to the community is something that I’ve always striven for, from free pizza, to shelters, to volunteering at Habitat for Humanity and building homes. The sunset is out there still but at 63 I’ve lived a very blessed life and have more to give. 

Q.  How it began: How long have you been off-roading? What drew you to the sport?
A. So, how did I get here with MWK? My father had a CJ 6 back in the day and works take us wheeling in Colorado all of the time. My grandparents lived in Silverton and I spent all of my summers growing with them. Grandpa had a purple Bronco that we would take over all of the trails out there. As I got older and could drive I found myself owning a 1985 Toyota SR5 PU that I put a small block V8 in, 35″ tires. Then a 1971 Toyota Land cruiser that I also put a 350 small block in. Rolled it above the Continental divide between Winter Park and Rolland Pass above the Moffet tunnel. Drove it home 3 weeks later and it ran better than before. I bit crunched but ran. Fast forward many years later I sold my need for speed Acura  NSX and bought the Jeep I have to this day. Kind of. Many new pieces and parts but still the same soul. 

I joined the KC Jeep club and soon found myself sitting at the same table at the Fox & Hound as 5 others and we were talking about starting our own club. That was 2016. I was the first Club Development Officer that first year and held that for many many years. Forgot how many. So for me being your new president 10 years later is a proud moment for me.

Q. Passions and Interests: What are your passions and interests related to the club’s activities? What motivated you to join the board?
A.  Passion and interests for me have always been surrounded by friends. I once invited some friends to Valentine’s dinner with all of the couples celebrating together. I learned the boundaries of what is friends time and what is quality time for each other. I love traveling and having the Jeep family to be a part of that has been awesome for the last 10 years. Having folks help rebuild my Jeep in an airplane hanger and tear it down to the frame and swap everything over after my Utah accident was the tell tale sign of support that the club has grown to. 

Q.  Vision: What is your vision for the club’s future? How do you hope to contribute to its growth and success during your tenure on the board?
A.  My Vision for this club is to continue to build a club that has roots in wheeling, community and family. At our 10 year mark we should welcome all new comers regardless of rigs and stay to the trails. Pull each other out, help fix and get everyone to stretch their comfort zones to enjoy what we’ve built here in this club. Whether we are at a donut/ice cream event we are a family talking about the last adventure and showing each other what we did it didn’t do. We high five on the trails and in the parades. It’s all part of the club culture. It’s an escape from the day to day stresses and an off roadway to new adventures.

Q.  Community Involvement: Are you involved in any other community organizations or initiatives that align with the club’s values?
A.  Club has so many opportunities to showcase our commitment to our locals. From Snow Squad, to Toys for Tots and many more. I am involved in Habitat for Humanity and Loving Hands community programs.

Just for Fun

Q.  If you had a superpower for a day, what would it be, and how would you use it?
A.  My Superpower would be able to fly. Seeing the world while gliding over the mountains, oceans and rainforests would be epic.

Q.  If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would you be and why?
A.  If I was an ice cream/soda/candy flavor, I would be Oatmeal Raisin ice cream. I love the contrasting flavors and how them blend together to bring out a flavor that is unique, not for everyone but also have a contrast of texture. Be your own. Build your rig your way. Show that personality.

Q. If you were a fruit, what would you be?
A.  I would be a Granny Smith apple. Crisp, full of flavor, tart and solid. Mixes well with others in an  American apple pie.