Rick Larsen wholesales parts manager (in black) says he owes the success of his department to the hard work of his warehouse staff and counter parts sales representatives surrounding him.
On the road, building relationships
Laguna Niguel, Calif.—Mercedes-Benz of Laguna Niguel, which covers 22 acres, has been part a of the seaside community’s landscape for 45 years and has become one the largest Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Southern California.
This vehicle needed only a fender replaced and a blend on the A-pillar, but to restore it to pre-loss condition, this aperture was refinished by GSR Quality Collision Repair.
Aperture refinishing embraced to restore pre-loss condition
Before Marc Gabbard, owner of GSR Quality Collision Repair in Yakima, Wash., turned his focus to collision repair, his main business was restorations and building high-end street rods and customs.
Terri and Andrew Otto bought Otto Service from Andrew’s father, founder Alan Otto, in January 2017, and added Toyota and Lexus in July.
Toyota and Lexus fuel new revenue
Kansas City, Mo.—With their expansion last July into servicing Toyota and Lexus vehicles, Andrew and Terri Otto, owners of longtime Honda/Acura specialist Otto Service, grew their customer list while also making for a slightly less harried lifesty
Owner Michael Benét took over the shop in 2002 after being a loyal customer to the previous owners. Benét had previously controlled other business ventures and was a professional racecar driver.
The inside track on import service
Peoria, Ill.— Having been a loyal customer and frequent visitor to Kauth and Mayeur over the years, Michael Benét was honored to be offered the opportunity to purchase ownership rights of one of Peoria’s top import repair facilities.
David Huntley (left) and Mike Millsap say Greg’s has multiple service and repair locations in the greater Seattle area with 56 employees.
Strength in numbers — from shops to car counts
Kent, Wash.—Brothers Greg and David Huntley were no strangers to the business world when they opened their first Greg’s Japanese Auto shop in Renton in January 1987.
Parts Tony Guardian (right) and Wholesale Parts Consultants John Southwell (left) and Steven Totta are the cornerstones of the wholesale parts operation at Mercedes-Benz of Denver.
Leveraging data to boost service
Denver metro—As the Denver-metro area continues its economic and population boom, its rapid growth isn’t just noticeable in new construction dotting the skyline, but also in the region’s automotive repair business.
Parts Director AJ Killian (left) and Audi Service Manager Jeff McDougall have been working together for more than a decade at Elk Grove Audi.
‘Quality, accuracy and delivery’ reign day
Elk Grove, Calif.— Elk Grove Volkswagen’s Parts Manager AJ Killian, who has a total of 40 years experience with VW and Audi, started out as a parts consultant and then was promoted to management.  
Rick Larsen wholesales parts manager (in black) says he owes the success of his department to the hard work of his warehouse staff and counter parts sales representatives surrounding him.
This vehicle needed only a fender replaced and a blend on the A-pillar, but to restore it to pre-loss condition, this aperture was refinished by GSR Quality Collision Repair.
Terri and Andrew Otto bought Otto Service from Andrew’s father, founder Alan Otto, in January 2017, and added Toyota and Lexus in July.
Owner Michael Benét took over the shop in 2002 after being a loyal customer to the previous owners. Benét had previously controlled other business ventures and was a professional racecar driver.
David Huntley (left) and Mike Millsap say Greg’s has multiple service and repair locations in the greater Seattle area with 56 employees.
Parts Tony Guardian (right) and Wholesale Parts Consultants John Southwell (left) and Steven Totta are the cornerstones of the wholesale parts operation at Mercedes-Benz of Denver.
Parts Director AJ Killian (left) and Audi Service Manager Jeff McDougall have been working together for more than a decade at Elk Grove Audi.

ASA-Midwest Declares Independence, Becomes Midwest Auto Care Alliance™

Gladstone, Missouri - In the interest of better serving their members, the ASA-Midwest Board of Directors announced a significant change to the organization. On Thursday, June 14, the ASA-Midwest Board and House of Delegates voted unanimously to disaffiliate with ASA National and become an...
Parts Director AJ Killian (left) and Audi Service Manager Jeff McDougall have been working together for more than a decade at Elk Grove Audi.

‘Quality, accuracy and delivery’ reign day

Elk Grove, Calif.— Elk Grove Volkswagen’s Parts Manager AJ Killian, who has a total of 40 years experience with VW and Audi, started out as a parts consultant and then was promoted to management.   “I wanted to get into the management side of the industry and run a department,” he said. “The timing...
David Huntley (left) and Mike Millsap say Greg’s has multiple service and repair locations in the greater Seattle area with 56 employees.

Strength in numbers — from shops to car counts

Kent, Wash.—Brothers Greg and David Huntley were no strangers to the business world when they opened their first Greg’s Japanese Auto shop in Renton in January 1987. They had been involved in various ventures in Anchorage, Alaska, since they were teenagers, including operating an auto repair...
Terri and Andrew Otto bought Otto Service from Andrew’s father, founder Alan Otto, in January 2017, and added Toyota and Lexus in July.

Toyota and Lexus fuel new revenue

Kansas City, Mo.—With their expansion last July into servicing Toyota and Lexus vehicles, Andrew and Terri Otto, owners of longtime Honda/Acura specialist Otto Service, grew their customer list while also making for a slightly less harried lifestyle. There was pent-up demand for the two marques for...
Jake Rodenroth of Collision Diagnostic Services says ADAS technicians in body shops will need both collision and mechanical knowledge and skills.

Growing need for new type of collision industry technician

Westminster, Colo.—The Automotive Service Association’s “Collision Division Operations Committee” has defined a new category of technicians increasingly needed at body shops. Speaking at the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) held in Denver in mid-April, Roy Schnepper of Butler’s Collision in...
Rick Larsen wholesales parts manager (in black) says he owes the success of his department to the hard work of his warehouse staff and counter parts sales representatives surrounding him.

On the road, building relationships

Laguna Niguel, Calif.—Mercedes-Benz of Laguna Niguel, which covers 22 acres, has been part a of the seaside community’s landscape for 45 years and has become one the largest Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Southern California. It is also back-to-back winners of the prestigious Best of the Best dealer...
Parts Tony Guardian (right) and Wholesale Parts Consultants John Southwell (left) and Steven Totta are the cornerstones of the wholesale parts operation at Mercedes-Benz of Denver.

Leveraging data to boost service

Denver metro—As the Denver-metro area continues its economic and population boom, its rapid growth isn’t just noticeable in new construction dotting the skyline, but also in the region’s automotive repair business. As independent service providers (ISP) proliferate, it’s becoming increasingly...
Owner Michael Benét took over the shop in 2002 after being a loyal customer to the previous owners. Benét had previously controlled other business ventures and was a professional racecar driver.

The inside track on import service

Peoria, Ill.— Having been a loyal customer and frequent visitor to Kauth and Mayeur over the years, Michael Benét was honored to be offered the opportunity to purchase ownership rights of one of Peoria’s top import repair facilities. “I was approached by Peter Kauth and Brad Mayeur in 2002 as they...
 
 

Parts & People

Parts & People is published monthly by Automotive Counseling and Publishing Company, Inc., a Colorado corporation, P.O. Box 18731 Denver, CO 80203, 303-765-4664. President-Lance Buchner. Founded by Lance Buchner and Dave Lucia.

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