Page 11 - Summer 2018 GMC Vintage RVing

A GMC MotorhomeVendor ProfileBY BYRON SONGER | FULL-TIMER | PREVIOUS OWNER 1978 ROYALEGrace and Jim KanomataDoing What it TakesThere have been more than a few dozen individuals that have come and gone as vendors to the GMC Community. Many have developed a single product that grew outof their experience in owning a GMC Motorhome.Others have worked with equipment manufacturers who specialize in representing a product to owners. Few, however, have had warehouse space and the financial depth to actually stock a specific level and variety of product. This is where Kanomata has uniquely answered the call. Without the Kanomatas, owners who perpetually attend rallies and Conventions, the operation of such a business as Applied GMC would likely not be possible, let alone prosper. More than enthusiasm is required to offer a broad range of products to a niche market.Grace has taught the hula at several GMCMI Conventions.In addition, the Kanomatas have contributed financially to the continued successof GMC Motorhomes International and GMC Western States. The dominant business, under which Applied GMC operates,is the industrial air filter which he started many years ago. The continued success of that venture allows Jim and Grace to give of themselves as active participants and membersof the GMC Community byserving on boards, being a part of committees, interacting with discussion forums,and offering his expertise at technical roundtables.The next time you see the Kanomatas at a GMC event, be sure and speak to them. They will be glad you did and will always give you a warm smile. And, take the time to thank them for their dedication and tenacity to extending the life of the GMC for many owners.SUMMER 2018 GMC MOTORHOMES INTERNATIONAL 11“Master of GMC zen”; that’s what comes to mind when I think ofJim Kanomata. But do you really know Jim and his wife Grace? Read on to learn what makes this genuine American bleed red, white, and blue when not bleeding the original colors of the GMC Motorhome.Getting to know Jim Kanomata and his wife, GraceIn learning about Jim one has to understand the history of the relationship of the USA to Imperial Japan around the time of WorldWar II. Jim’s mother was born in America in the first quarter of the 20th century. As a young woman and a college graduate, she moved back to Japan. While there she met and married a native of Japan prior to the outbreak of the war. To avoid the constant questioning from Japanese intelligence officers, she finally denounced her citizenship. This was the only way to escape the suspicion of being a spy for the United States and stay in her adopted community. Near the end of the conflict, Jim andhis sister were born. After the close of the war, Jim’s mother divorced her husband and moved back to her native United States of America along with her two children.For all intents and purposes, Jim only remembers growing up in the USA. Later, after the US Congress acted with regard to repatriation, Jim’s citizenship was reinstated with a document signed by Dean Rusk who served as Secretary of State from 1961 to 1969.Jim, who was working for Black & Decker at the time, moved to California. Sometime after that move, which was nearly 40 years ago, he met Grace. Of course, Jim is very proud of the fact that they have been together ever since and that Grace has managed to maintain her sanity in spite of his oddities.Jim is a degreed aeronautical engineer and also holds a degree in business administration and marketing. Beyond that, he is also proud of being ASE Certified. That means he has passed rigorous testing with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. By the way, ASE is a professional group that certifies experts and shops in the automotive repair and service industry throughout the US and parts of Canada.Check out Applied GMC at: appliedgmc.com