Tabitha Beneke is the current President of Keys Plus Locksmiths Inc. She inherited the business from her father, Russ Rak, in 2012 when he passed away. Born and raised in Longview, Tabitha attended Kelso High School and then married her high school sweetheart. Currently she lives in Bloomington, Illinois with her husband and two daughters, but makes frequent trips during the year to Cowlitz County. Her hobbies include writing, reading and traveling. “Taking over the business has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It supports an amazing dedicated staff, serves the community of Cowlitz County like no other locksmith in town can, and continues the legacy my father had worked over half his life for.” {check out this interview in WSU News}
Email: tb@keyspluslocksmiths.com

 

Tim Brown, Master Locksmith and Shop Manager, has been working for Keys Plus for almost twenty years. Native to Longview, Tim attended Kelso High School and then joined the U.S. Army Ordinance Corp where he served as a Specialist. He has certifications as a Machinist and PC Hardware Repair. Tim currently resides in Kelso, has two boys, and for his hobbies he enjoys working on cars and locksmithing. When asked what he likes about working for Keys Plus, he says, “I get to work with my hands, small reliable staff, regular loyal customers and I love the ability to bring professional work to the customer when they can’t make it to us.”
Email: tim@keyspluslocksmiths.com

Corey Strand is Keys Plus’s longest time employee and is the shop’s Senior Master Locksmith. Beginning work with the original owner in 1980 when he was just 19 years old, Corey has seen the company grow first hand and has come to be the face our clients recognize the most. A Longview native, Corey now has 4 children and 4 grandchildren. On his time off he enjoys fishing, hunting, recreational shooting and sports. Corey says the best thing about living in Cowlitz County is that the beach, the rivers, the mountains and the big city are all within 45 minutes away. He also appreciates the brilliant colors during the change of the seasons. When asked what the best thing about working for Keys Plus is, Corey lists ‘a great work environment’ and ‘interaction with many Longview residents’.
Email: cs@keyspluslocksmiths.com

 

Ariel Curtis-Gates, Locksmith Technician, is a Washington state native and has been living in Longview for 12 years. She is the oldest girl of 11 children. Since graduating from Kelso High School she is currently enrolled at LCC where she is working on her Associates in the Arts. In her spare time she enjoys volunteering with the local Girl Scouts, camping, and creating art. She finds it satisfying to figure out solutions to challenging problems which is what she enjoys most about working at Keys Plus.
Mailto: ariel@keyspluslocksmiths.com

 

Zakary Stevens, Locksmith Apprentice, migrated to the Pacific Northwest from the state of Texas after he visited this area and fell in love with the beauty here. He comes to us with a background in carpentry, has a tinker-oriented brain and likes to problem solve, all skills that make locksmithing a good fit. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports as well as playing and performing in a band. Zakary has this to say about working at Keys Plus: “Providing a specialized service to customers is something I find very satisfying. There's nothing better than the appreciation people have when you've helped them out of a tight spot or provided to them a product they had previously thought would be impossible to find for a reasonable price, or at all.”
Email: zakary@keyspluslocksmiths.com

 

Carmella Gill is our Assistant Manager. Born in Longview but raised in Castle Rock, Carmella is the third oldest of 6. She spends her free time rock hunting, fishing, or hiking as she loves the outdoors. She feels lucky to live in such a beautiful area as the PNW. Since working at Keys Plus, Carmella had this to say, "I like to challenge myself and learn new things, and that is why I enjoy learning this trade."
Email: carmella@keyspluslocksmiths.com

 

(Left to Right) Zakary Stevens, Ariel Curtis-Gates, Tabitha Beneke, Tim Brown, Carmella Gill, Corey Strand