Design Your Door
Where To Buy/Service
Welcome to Clopay's Dealer Spotlight Series, where we shine a light on the outstanding dealers who play a pivotal role in our success. At Clopay, we recognize that our dealers are more than just partners; they’re the backbone of our business, bringing our high-quality garage doors to homes and businesses across the nation. Through this series, we celebrate their dedication, innovation, and the unique stories that make each dealership an important part of the Clopay family.
Today, the spotlight is on Dan’s Overhead Doors & More. Founded by Dan Bernacki in 1984, the company has grown from humble beginnings in North Liberty, Iowa, to a 74-employee, multi-location enterprise servicing Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and more. In 2017, Dan retired, and the company was sold, becoming Cedar Investment Group.
Dan’s Overhead Doors & More has received Clopay’s Presidential Award multiple times over the years, a testament to their hard work. We spoke with Dan’s son and the company Vice President, Dustin Bernacki, who has been with the company for 26 years.
A Leader in Overhead Door Solutions
While some may associate Dan's Overhead Doors & More with residential garage doors, around 80% of their work is with commercial and industrial entities. The company prides itself on selecting and installing industrial-grade doors to withstand the harshest of conditions. Their commercial projects have taken them across the globe, from consulting in Canada to teaching door installation in Dubai.
One of their most unique projects was installing seven blast doors 5,000 feet underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. “It was the old Homestake gold mine,” Dustin says, which was the deepest and largest gold mine in the Western Hemisphere until it closed in 2002. “Now it's a physics neutrino research laboratory. They were expanding the underground lab area, so we had to install doors to protect the operational lab and the scientists from the blasting. We've always liked doing oddball stuff that most 'normal' garage door companies don't get into.”
When it comes to choosing a favorite door, Dustin doesn’t hesitate. "I would love to sell coiling doors every single day," he says, highlighting their partnership with Cornell. “As far as Clopay doors, we’ve done some decent sized coiling jobs in Fargo. We like doing fire doors. We like trying to find customers who have a unique problem and working with Clopay’s engineering department to come up with a solution that works for them.”
Putting Customers First: A Commitment to Excellence
Customer service is at the heart of their operations, but Dustin admits it can sometimes be like walking a fine line. “Thanks to Amazon, some people’s expectations can be unrealistic. They don’t want to hear that it takes X number of weeks to get a door. And during COVID, tensions were really high. I would’ve walked away from residential at the time, but there’s a good market for it.
Dustin says customer service is the most important thing to him and his team. “We don’t always do everything right the first time, but we try our best,” he says. “I’m the one who gets all those calls when a customer isn’t happy. But as long as they’re reasonable, I’ll do everything I can to make the job successful whether it means we’re profitable or not. I’d rather they have a story of how things didn't go well, but we stuck with it and made sure that everything was perfect. In the end, those stories are better than ‘yeah, I bought a door, and it was fine.’”
Looking Ahead: Embracing What’s New
With an eye on the future, Dan's Overhead Doors & More is set to push Clopay's diverse range of residential doors this year. After recently ordering some new displays, Dustin is excited about featuring the faux wood look in their refreshed showroom. "We’re not real big on social media, but we’re focusing more on using it to make sure people are aware of what's out there," he says. “We want the new products to be front of mind for everybody.”
Advice for Homeowners and Business Owners
For those in the market for a garage door, Dustin's advice is simple: "Ask questions. Make sure that the product is right." He emphasizes the importance of selecting a dealer you trust, as customer service will always be key to a successful experience. He also warns against choosing the cheapest option, as it often leads to higher maintenance costs down the road. Speaking highly of Clopay and Cornell, he says, "There’s a lot of really talented people on staff, a lot of good people. I’ve made a lot of friends, and those relationships mean a lot."
Dan's Overhead Doors & More shows us how diligence, innovation, and exceptional customer service leads to success. With Dustin Bernacki, the company continues to uphold its legacy while embracing new opportunities. Whether you're a homeowner or a business looking for the perfect garage door solution, visit Dan's Overhead Doors & More or request a quote.
