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Curt Tambornino earned his first paycheck standing on a pickle pail, washing dishes in his parent’s café. At the tender age of seven he began learning the value of hard work. This work ethic, combined with a supportive family and a strong desire to own his own company, would be the driving forces behind what would someday become Curt Manufacturing in Eau Claire, Wis.

The 40-year-old entrepreneur started the business 15 years ago with his wife, Tammy. The company, then named C & T Distributing (short for Curt and Tammy Distributing), would grow into one of the largest, most successful hitch and towing companies in the RV industry. However, much like young Curt on that pickle pail, the company’s origin grew from humble beginnings — specifically the back seat of an Eagle Talon.

Can you tell readers how you first got started in the towing business?

Curt: I wanted to be self-employed, so I was going to go out and start building trailers. I wanted to make small 4- X 8- (foot) utility trailers and work with my hands. If that took me to larger trailers, I would have gone there. I never started making trailers though. My father-in-law came and asked me how the trailers were coming along, and I said, ‘not very good.’

He had a fabricating business where I was employed for awhile and he was doing some importing of forgings for his agricultural business. He said to me, “I have a guy that forges trailer balls. Is that part of the business you wanted to get into?”

I said, “No, I want to do something more with my hands.”

I had continued discussions with my father-in-law from period to period and he would ask, “Have you got anything going yet?” and I would say, “No.” He would tell me again, “I still have this vendor out there that is willing to sell trailer balls.”

Finally I said, “Okay, fine. Go ahead and get me some prices and we will see where they come in at.” That is how I got started.