Blog

When Jeff Bretsnyder was a teenager, he dreamed of one day owning a business. He filled notebooks with business plans—ideas that never quite made it off the page. But years later, the dream that once felt distant became a reality as he opened his hardwood floor business and began acquiring commercial properties. His path to entrepreneurship is one built on hard work, mentorship and a commitment to his beloved Potwin community.

A Craft That Became a Calling

Jeff’s professional journey began while working for Jim Russell of Russell Hardwood Floors, a boss he still describes as “one of the best I ever had.” With no prior experience, Jeff quickly fell in love with the craft.

“When I saw the reaction from customers—how we could transform old, worn-out floors into something beautiful—I knew this was what I wanted to do on my own someday,” Jeff said.

With Jim’s leadership and encouragement, Jeff gradually built up his tools and equipment until he was ready to step out on his own. In 2009, he officially launched Hardwood Floor Refinishing Co. The first year brought modest, slow but steady work, but by year two, word-of-mouth referrals had him booked solid. Over time, he grew from a one-man operation to managing up to seven employees.

What set his business apart, Jeff said, was a focus on details and customer care: “I made sure the customer was completely satisfied with the job. We showed up on time and did what we said we would do.”

A Potwin Childhood

Those values—honesty, hard work, and keeping your word—were ones Jeff had carried with him since childhood. Growing up in Topeka’s Potwin neighborhood meant being surrounded by one of the city’s most historic districts. Red-brick roads with stone curbs wove past landscaped traffic circles and 19th-century homes, offering both beauty and a deep sense of tradition.

Jeff’s earliest memories are filled with the simple joys of the late 1970s: riding bikes along the brick streets, splashing through creeks and pooling together pocket change with friends at the corner grocer to buy candy, gum and trading cards. Even then, Potwin was more than a collection of homes—it was a community where neighbors looked out for one another and celebrated holidays in spectacular fashion, from Halloween to the Fourth of July.

Decades later, Jeff still lives right next door to the house where he grew up, surrounded by the same century-old homes—Queen Annes with wrap-around porches, Colonial revivals, and cottages shaded by mature trees. It’s this combination of architectural charm and neighborly connection that has kept Jeff deeply rooted in the place that shaped him.

Expanding Into Property Ownership

As his business grew, Jeff needed more space to store equipment and supplies. That’s when the property at 515 SW Washburn Avenue, became the perfect fit. Every so often, he would call to see if it was for sale. Finally, the timing was right. With the help of a realtor, he was able to purchase the building he’d admired for so long, a place he had often reimagined in his head, dreaming of how it could serve the neighborhood again.

With Envista’s financing support, he remodeled the building for multiple uses. One storefront became E & J’s Barbershop, run by his longtime friend Ed Thomas and wife Joyce. Ed had worked as a barber at the VA, but when the pandemic shutdown forced him out of work, Jeff stepped in to help. “I wanted to give him a space where he never had to have that problem again,” Jeff said. The barbershop has now been thriving for over a year.

The second storefront is set to open soon as a small eatery. Nothing fancy, but exactly the kind of neighborhood gathering place the area has been waiting for.

“I’ve always believed real estate is a solid investment,” Jeff said. “It generates income into my retirement years and allows me to help other businesses thrive. If their business does well, then I do well.”

A Love for Historic Homes

Over the years, Jeff has finished countless homes across the area, but Potwin projects remain his favorites—and often his most challenging.

“Some of these homes haven’t been touched in decades, and others have mismatched flooring updates over the years. My challenge is to make everything flow… room to room, door to door, different woods, different eras. Old stuff is what I enjoy. I love the opportunity to take something that people wonder, ‘Is it even salvageable?’ and turn it into something really beautiful.”

A Partnership That Grows With Him

Jeff’s relationship with Envista Federal Credit Union started early. “Envista was my first choice. Ever since I was a kid, I even got my first car loan when I was 17. I’ve just always had someone I can count on there.”

Since then, the relationship has only deepened as Envista supported financing two work vans, purchasing his commercial property, and remodeling the space to meet the needs of the barbershop.

“Envista has always come through whenever I’ve needed a loan to help me or my business grow,” Jeff said. “They’ve been consistent, even while other banks have come and gone.”

Resilience Through Challenges

The path of a business owner is never without hardship. Jeff’s story hasn’t been without setbacks. In 2024, he suffered a serious table saw accident that left him with significant injuries and months of recovery. Unsure if he would ever return to the work he loved, Jeff faced one of the hardest seasons of his life.

Though the future felt uncertain, the support of his community and his own resilience helped him find a new path forward. In April 2025, he joined Murray’s Flooring as a flooring estimator, where he now uses his expertise to help the business expand its hardwood division while also expanding his expertise into new flooring options.

“I’m excited to see the growth of this business and hope to be a big part of it,” Jeff said.

Building for the Future

Looking ahead, Jeff plans to continue investing in ventures that strengthen the community. Whether through his Washburn property, his flooring expertise, or new business ideas, his focus remains on creating opportunities for others while building long-term stability for himself and his family. He knows that whenever he needs support, Envista will be there.

For Jeff, being a business owner is about more than profits. “It means I’m being a productive community member,” he said. “You are needed and in demand. The satisfaction of doing a good job is much better when it’s your business.”

At Envista, we’re proud to stand beside entrepreneurs like Jeff who bring vision and vitality to our community. Whether you’re just getting started or ready to expand, our commercial services team is here to help you take the next step. Because at Envista, Your Story is Our Passion.

More About Commercial Services