Joel Ramos Diaz: Body Art

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

AMERICAN CANYON — Like his father before him, Joel Ramos Diaz decided to pursue a career in automotive work, but he found himself gravitating toward the more artistic side of the industry. “My dad was a mechanic, and growing up I always wanted to work in an auto shop,” he remembers. “My first job was as a detailer, and from there I jumped into body work, which is where I stayed. What I liked about body work was the visual nature of the finished product. As a mechanic, you can get a car’s engine running again, but when you do body work, you get to see the entire car transformed.”

After gaining further industry experience, Joel made the move to found his own body shop in 2005. Today, as owner of American Canyon Collision Center, he says his favorite part of his job is doing hands-on work. “As the owner, I have to spend a fair amount of time in the office, but I prefer to be in the garage, working on cars and getting my hands dirty.”

Originally from Mexico, Joel came to the United States in 1985 and resides today in American Canyon with his wife, Angelica, and their daughters. “I’ve lived here since I was 15 years old and enjoy being part of the local community,” he says. “I often see my customers when I’m out and about. One time, I had to go to the emergency room, and the doctor said, ‘Hey, I know you, you fixed my car.’ As his patient, I was relieved to hear he had a good experience!”

Outside of work, Joel likes to spend time with family and friends, as well as embark on the occasional road trip. “We have a 32-foot travel trailer that we like to take to the beach and go camping in,” he details. “We’ve taken it everywhere from Canada to Disneyland. I also go to Mexico every Christmas to visit friends and relatives.”

In regard to his professional career, Joel espouses the importance of customer satisfaction. “My main goal is to keep my customers happy,” he affirms. “Like I said, I often see my customers around town, so the last thing I want is to have someone come up and tell me we did a terrible job on their car. That’s why I make sure to provide high-quality work and service for everyone who comes into my shop.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Joel says he’d hitch up the trailer. “I would go on more road trips for longer periods of time—maybe a month or two. We’ve done a lot of traveling on the West Coast, so if we had more time, we’d go further east and see more of that part of the country.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What was your first car?
A: A ’72 Chevrolet Nova.

Q: What’s your favorite TV show?
A: “Overhaulin’.”

Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: An early bird.

Q: Coffee or tea?
A: Coffee.

Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Cattlemens in Dixon.

Harvey Weil: Service Savant

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

PITTSBURG — With a professional background in hotel management, Harvey Weil knows a thing or two about customer service. “I was a general manager for Marriott for 25 years, first in Chicago and then later in San Jose,” he recounts. “At one point, I managed a kitchen that employed 200 people and put out thousands of meals each day. Later, I went to work for Hertz, where I met a lot of professionals in the auto body industry. After retiring from Hertz, the owner of a body shop asked me if I would help him with marketing. I figured it would be a good way to keep busy, so I accepted. After working for a couple of different auto body shops, I ended up at Advanced Auto Body & Collision Repair.”

As a sales and marketing specialist, Harvey says his favorite part of his job is interacting with people. “In this industry, there’s a lot of competition to get into direct repair programs with insurance providers and other companies. In that vein, I enjoy meeting with industry representatives and presenting Advanced Auto Body & Collision Repair to them. I’m a real people person, so I don’t mind putting myself out there—that’s fun for me.”

A resident of American Canyon (where he lives with his wife, Elizabeth), Harvey spends his time outside of work on a variety of pursuits. “My main hobby is golf—I try to get out on the green at least twice a week,” he details. “I also like going to the movies with my wife, visiting with friends and attending special events in the Napa Valley.” Harvey also enjoys spending quality time with his and Elizabeth’s four children and six grandchildren, all of whom reside in California.

In regard to his professional career, Harvey emphasizes the importance of customer service. “Besides doing the work properly, I think the most important aspect of this business is giving the customer good service and keeping them abreast of the process,” he explains. “When you take good care of customers, they have a tendency to return later and refer their friends and family. I’ve seen a lot of auto body shops run very successfully on customer referrals alone, and that’s because they knew how to keep their customers happy.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?

A: La Strada in American Canyon.

Q: What was your first job?

A: I was a forklift driver for Turtle Wax in Chicago.

Q: What’s your favorite season?

A: Fall. Being from Chicago, I have a soft spot for the fall foliage.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: London, England.

Q: What are your favorite sports teams?

A: The Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears.

Tommy Ngai: Exclusive Expertise 

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

REDWOOD CITY — Few automotive professionals can boast equal expertise in mechanical and body work, but that’s precisely Tommy Ngai’s claim to fame. It all began with an early introduction to the field. “I’ve been working on cars since I was 12 or 13 years old,” he recounts. “Growing up on a farm, my first encounters with auto repair work consisted of fixing tractors. My brother-in-law owned a gas station that had a little repair shop, and I went to work for him as soon as I was old enough.”

During subsequent years, Tommy worked at Honda and Subaru dealerships before opening his own repair shop in 2012. “I had a dream to make an all-in-one auto repair and body facility,” he says. “Eventually, I moved from my 1,800-square-foot shop to an almost 18,000-square-foot shop, which gave me plenty of room to handle both mechanical and body repair work.”

Today, as owner of Exclusive Auto Care and Auto Body, Tommy says his favorite part of his job is serving his customers. “An important part of owning an auto shop is building clientele. When I was working at the dealerships, I had customers who would ask for me specifically when they brought in their cars. Some of those customers followed me when I left to start my own shop, and I’ve since added more. It feels good to have loyal clients who trust me to take care of their vehicles.”

A resident of Daly City, Tommy likes to stay active when he isn’t working. “I don’t think I ever relax—I’m a 24/7 kind of person,” he affirms. “My business takes up most of my time, but when I’m not working, I enjoy cooking and entertaining at my home. I also like going to restaurants in the city and watching basketball, football, and baseball.”

In regard to a career philosophy, Tommy espouses the importance of customer satisfaction. “Return customers are the lifeblood of any automotive business, so it’s really important to me that everyone leaves here satisfied. I always do my best to advise my customers, steer them in the right direction and make them feel that they got their money’s worth. I don’t want anyone leaving my shop unhappy—besides being bad for business, it just doesn’t feel good. I want to sleep well at night knowing my clients are happy with the service and value I provided.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Tommy says he’d take a vacation. “I haven’t traveled much in recent years due to being busy with work, so I’d probably make up for lost time and do some traveling. I’ve always wanted to go to Germany for Oktoberfest—that’s on my bucket list, so I’d probably do that first thing.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?

A: Niku Steakhouse in San Francisco.

Q: What are your favorite sports teams?

A: The Golden State Warriors, the Oakland A’s and the Oakland Raiders.

Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?

A: Both. I always say sleep is a waste of time.

Q: What was your first car?

A: A 1984 Ford EXP Turbo. Most people haven’t heard of it. It was like a Ford Escort but a two-seater.

Q: What’s your dream car?

A: Any model of Ferrari.

Alex Rodriguez: A Family Operation

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN JOSE — For years, Alex Rodriguez and his family had talked about starting an automotive business. Finally, by aligning their skills and resources, they successfully followed through with their dream. “I come from a big family, and we’ve always worked on each other’s cars,” explains Alex. “A few of my relatives have professional auto body experience and we’d often talk about starting our own business. After working for 34 years as a construction equipment operator, I was getting ready to retire and I had the money to purchase a business, so we all decided it was time to make it happen.”

Since founding A-Rod Auto Collision in San Jose in 2016, Alex says the shop continues to be a family operation. “We have everyone in the family here, including my wife, my brother-in-law and some cousins. My son and my nephew are also involved, learning about the business and growing their knowledge and skills.”

When asked how he likes to spend his free time, Alex replies that he’s usually working. “People think I’m crazy because of how much I work. Even on Sundays, I’ll get up and come into the shop to clean and catch up on things.” However, Alex says he does enjoy spending time with his family outside of the shop. “We get together for parties and holidays, and sometimes for no reason at all. As a matter of fact, I was doing some barbecuing the other night, and before long we had 20 people at the house!”

When asked about a professional philosophy, Alex says he’s all about being available for his customers. “About six years ago, I was in a collision, so I took my truck to a local body shop. I went in and approached the estimator, but he didn’t have time to talk to me. Neither did the manager or the owner. It was a pretty lousy experience. Later, as I was preparing to start my business, I told myself that we would always be available for our customers. That’s the way I want our shop to be—I want customers to feel like they can approach us and get taken care of. Whatever their needs or concerns, we will make time for them.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Alex simply replies that he wouldn’t. “Everyone I know who retires goes downhill pretty quickly. You’ve been active all your life and then you sit there, and before too long you’re gone. So, I don’t have any plans to retire at the moment. I don’t want to get too comfortable; I want to stay active. Plus, I enjoy what I do, so why would I stop?”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What was your first car?
A: A Volkswagen Beetle.

Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: An early bird. I get up at 4am every day, even on the weekend.

Q: Are you a dog person or a cat person?
A: A dog person. I’ve had dogs all my life.

Q: What’s your favorite holiday?
A: New Year’s Eve. We get the family together and have a little fiesta.

Q: Do you collect anything?
A: Classic cars. I have a ’57 Chevy Nova, a ’44 Dodge pickup truck and a ’38 Oldsmobile, to name a few.

Tristin Wurzbach: A Positive Transition

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SUNNYVALE — Tristin Wurzbach began his professional career working in auto insurance, but he ultimately found greater fulfillment in the auto body field. “Following college, I got a job with GEICO as a claims adjuster, where I learned about estimating, collision damage and other aspects related to auto body,” he explains. “However, as time went on, I became less enthusiastic about the work environment at GEICO. Fortunately, I found an opportunity to get out of the insurance side of things and go to work for an auto body shop, which was much more to my liking.”

Today, as general manager of B2 Perfection Auto Body, Tristin explains why he prefers his current livelihood to his prior career in auto insurance. “The difference between auto body and auto insurance is basically one of positive versus negative. Since the insurance company’s motivation is to spend as little money as possible, their default is to say ‘no’ whenever possible. In contrast, an auto body shop’s goal is to help customers get everything covered, which is why they’re more about saying ‘yes.’ Consequently, auto body provides a more positive work environment, so it has been a really good transition for me.”

A resident of Newark (where he lives with his wife, Amy, and their daughter), Tristin expresses his appreciation for life in the Bay Area. “The best thing about living here is all the opportunity. There’s so much to do, from outdoor activities to different types of food and entertainment. There’s a reason it’s such a hot spot for people to visit and relocate.”

Outside of work, Tristin likes taking advantage of all the opportunities the Bay Area has to offer. “I’m an avid skier and enjoy hitting the slopes at Tahoe with my friends and co-workers,” he says. “During the summer, I like going to the beach and wine tasting in Napa. Other than that, I enjoy spending time with my family, taking my dogs on walks and playing video games.”

In his life and career, Tristin believes in the value of over-performing. “I believe that if you continually outperform your pay, one day, your pay will outperform you,” he says. “In work, this means going above and beyond your job description and pay grade—one day that will reward you. It’s the same with your personal life. My wife and I recently had a baby, and I help as much as I can because I believe it’ll reward our relationship, resulting in a stronger bond and a better marriage.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Tristin says he’d start small. “I would probably take a week off just to relax and regenerate. After that, I’d probably do some light traveling—maybe spend some time in Napa and other somewhat local areas. Eventually, I’d like to go to Europe and other parts of the world, but I think I’d build up to that by doing some smaller stuff first.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite sports team?
A: The Golden State Warriors.

Q: Music or talk radio?
A: Music.

Q: What kinds of music do you like?
A: Rock and hip-hop.

Q: What’s your favorite movie?
A: “Ip Man.” It’s based on the life of the martial arts master who trained Bruce Lee.

Q: What’s your favorite type of food?
A: Ramen.

Snehal Shah: High Gear

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Program Reporter

FREMONT — Even though Snehal Shah’s first career was in the high-tech industry, his passion has always been cars, so when an opportunity arose for him to get involved in the automotive field, he shifted things into high gear. “I was working with Fortune 500 companies in the technology sector, doing everything from product development to marketing,” he explains. “I’d always had a desire to work in auto repair, and I was keeping an eye out for an opportunity to purchase a business. When I came across Auto Techies, it just seemed like a great fit, so I decided to go for it.”

Today, Snehal says he enjoys the freedom that comes from running his own business. “I like having control over the entire operation. In my previous career, I had to navigate a lot of politics just to get anything done, so it’s nice being able to manage every aspect myself.”

Born in India, Snehal came to the United States at an early age and was raised in Southern California before making his way to the Bay Area. Today, as a resident of San Ramon, he says he appreciates the comparative lack of traffic. “In Southern California, there’s traffic pretty much 20 hours a day due to the constant growth and freeway construction. We have our share of traffic here, but overall, it’s a lot easier to get around.” While Snehal says his business accounts for the bulk of his schedule, when he’s able to get away, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Bhavna, and their son, Abinash, who is currently attending college.

In regard to his professional career, Snehal emphasizes the importance of customer education. “Obviously, few customers have a working knowledge of auto repair, so we try to be sensitive to that and clearly explain things to them,” he says. “To us, automotive work isn’t rocket science, it’s our everyday job, so it’s just a matter of breaking things down in such a way that the customer can understand.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he could retire tomorrow, Snehal says he’d take up a new hobby. “These days, I don’t have time for much besides my business, so I’d probably cultivate some of my interests. I love travelling and wildlife photography, so maybe I’d go to Africa and take pictures of the animals.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite season?
A: Summer—I enjoy the long days and cool evenings.

Q: What’s your favorite holiday?
A: The 4th of July, because of the outdoor activities like barbequing and watching fireworks.

Q: What was your first car?
A: A 1970 Buick LeSabre, which was a family hand-me-down.

Q: What’s your dream car?
A: Any kind of Ferrari.

Q: Who’s the best James Bond?
A: It’s a toss-up between Roger Moore and Sean Connery. However, I would say the best Bond movie is “Casino Royale.”

Pete Hurwicz: From Dealership to Ownership

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SUNNYVALE — While many automotive professionals start out by working for a family-owned or independent business, Pete Hurwicz received a more formal industry education…but not before working his way up from the ground level. “While in college, I got a summer job parking cars at a local dealership,” he explains. “Over time, I gradually moved up through the ranks, learning about new aspects of the industry as I went. After 12 years working for multiple dealerships, I had been everything from a warranty clerk to an assistant service manager. Finally, I became a body shop manager, which is how I ended up in this field.”

Today, 30 years after founding Silicon Valley Auto Body & Tow, Pete credits much of his company’s success to the comprehensive instruction he received in the dealership setting. “From the hands-on work to the business and customer service side, working for various dealerships allowed me to develop a well-rounded set of skills, which ultimately gave me the confidence to step up and open my own shop.”

Originally from Boston, Pete moved to Los Angeles as a teenager before later relocating to the Bay Area, where he currently resides with his wife, Linda. Between working in Sunnyvale and living in Morgan Hill, Pete says he enjoys the best of both worlds. “I appreciate Sunnyvale for its business climate, whereas the Morgan Hill area is still somewhat rural, so you get more of a country feel. The only issue is having to commute between the two!”

Outside of work, Pete enjoys a variety of hobbies, from riding his Harley-Davidson to attending sporting events. “I’m a season ticket holder for the San Francisco Giants and the San Jose Sharks, and I recently became a 49ers season ticket holder as well, so you might say I’m somewhat of a sports fan,” he laughs. In addition to his active interests, Pete enjoys simple things like working in his yard and hanging out with his French Bulldog, Louie.

In his life and career, Pete lives by a quote passed down from his father. “My dad used to say, ‘Be big in little ways,’ which is something I apply daily in my professional life,” he says. “When it comes to long-term customer satisfaction, it’s often the little details that make the biggest difference. You don’t always have to be a hero, you just have to take care of your customers’ needs, and that’s what I always strive to do.”

When asked what his future retirement might look like, Pete says he would set sail for an extended trip. “I have a fantasy of getting on a sailboat and sailing around the world. However, given my age and lack of qualifications, that’s probably not going to happen, so instead I’d do the next best thing and go on a cruise!”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s the best movie of all time?
A: The Godfather.

Q: What’s your favorite snack?
A: Chips and salsa.

Q: Did you play any sports in high school?
A: I was a wrestler.

Q: What was your first concert?
A: When I was in high school, I saw Jimi Hendrix play at The Forum in Los Angeles.

Q: How do you like your eggs?
A: Over easy.

Manuel Garcia: Once Upon a Time in Portugal

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN LORENZO — Growing up in Portugal, Manuel Garcia got an especially early start in the auto body repair industry. “I got my first automotive job 53 years ago, at the age of 12,” he says. “My family didn’t even own a car—few people did in those days—but I wanted to get into a profession and thought automotive repair would be a good career to pursue.” According to Manuel, his adolescent employment wasn’t anything out of the ordinary in his particular setting. “Back then, it wasn’t unusual for a 12-year-old to have a full-time job…it was just a different time and place.”

Later, Manuel came to the United States, where he continued to work in the auto body industry. Eventually, he joined the team at George McGill’s Body Shop, Inc., and in 2000, he took over ownership of the business with his partner, Luis Toste. Today, after all his years in the industry, Manuel says the most valuable thing he’s learned is the importance of honesty. “When you’re honest and deliver what you promise, that creates a bond between you and your customers. Plus, as a member of the San Leandro community, I see my customers all over town, so it feels good knowing I can go anywhere and not have to worry about running into a disgruntled former client.”

Outside of work, Manuel spends the bulk of his time with his family, which consists of his wife, Maria, and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. “Pretty much all of my free time is dedicated to my family,” he affirms. “I enjoy going fishing, camping, and just getting together with my kids and grandkids. I also like to travel. In addition to going to Europe every year, I own a place in the Azores Islands, where Maria and I like to go to relax when we get a chance.”

When asked what his future retirement might look like, Manuel says he’ll spend more time pursuing the pastimes he currently enjoys. “I probably won’t do anything much different from what I do now—just more fishing, camping, traveling and, of course, relaxing.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: A night owl.

Q: What’s your favorite sports team?
A: S.L. Benfica, Portugal’s premiere football [soccer] team. Here in the U.S., I like the Golden State Warriors.

Q: What was your first car?
A: A ’74 Ford Pinto station wagon.

Q: What’s your favorite holiday?
A: Thanksgiving—the whole family gets together, but it’s not a commercial holiday like Christmas.

Q: What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
A: My health.

Savi Singh: Career Cultivation

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SUNNYVALE — Growing up in Punjab, India, Savi Singh was always interested in working on cars. However, it wasn’t until he immigrated to the United States that he cultivated that interest into a full-fledged career. “I immigrated to the U.S. in 2003, just before my 18th birthday,” he remembers. “My father had already immigrated a couple of years prior and applied for my mom, my brothers, and I to come join him. I couldn’t attend college during that first year because I hadn’t yet received my green card. So, I started helping my father, who had just opened an auto body shop in Hayward called ASM Auto Body. I’ve loved cars since I was a little kid and had already gained some body work experience in India, so I enjoyed doing that.”

After securing permanent resident status, Savi began attending college as planned. However, he soon realized he’d already found his professional calling. “I was studying accounting and computer science while continuing to work for my father on the side,” he says. “I realized I preferred working with cars over anything I was studying—it sounded a lot better than being an accountant and sitting in an office all day. So, I decided to quit school and focus on developing my career as an auto body professional. In 2008, my family opened a second shop in Sunnyvale, and I’ve been running things here ever since.”

Today, as general manager of Auto Collision Experts, Savi says his favorite part of his job is the variety. “Every job is different and there’s always an opportunity to learn something new. That’s what I like about this work—it’s never boring.”

A resident of the East Bay (where he lives with his wife, Kavleen, and their two young children) Savi spends his time outside of work on a variety of pastimes. “Our kids are really young, so I enjoy spending as much time with them as I can,” he says. “Outside of family time, I enjoy playing and watching sports, as well as going hiking and boating with my cousins when I get the chance.”

In regard to a professional philosophy, Savi espouses the value of simplicity. “We try to keep things as simple and stress-free as possible for our customers,” he explains. “We’re very straightforward with our quotes—whatever is on the paper is what they’ll get at the end of the day. We treat our customers fairly and honestly, and we’re not obsessed with making a profit. Even if I don’t make any money on a job, if I was able to help someone, I consider it worthwhile.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Savi says he’d take an impromptu trip. “I would pack my bags and go traveling. I wouldn’t plan ahead at all—it’s more exciting to do things last-minute. I would just pick a place, jump on a plane and see what happens when I get there.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What are your favorite sports teams?

A: The Oakland Raiders and the Oakland A’s.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: Switzerland. I’d like to see the Alps.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

A: Cook some traditional Indian food.

Q: Have you ever met anyone famous?

A: I met MC Hammer at an Oakland A’s game.

Q: Do you collect anything?

A: I collect coins; stamps; and sports memorabilia like jerseys, pins, and bobbleheads.

Scott Yeaman: An Educator at Heart

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

PALO ALTO — Soon after he started doing auto body work to supplement his day job, Scott Yeaman realized he could make a better living if he made it his main career. “I used to be a math and science teacher in Palo Alto and Los Gatos,” he recounts. “I’ve always enjoyed working on and driving cars—I restored my ’55 Chevy and raced Porsches. My uncle had an auto body shop in Oakland and offered to give me some work to help me make ends meet. After training with him, I started doing auto body jobs on the weekends and during winter and summer breaks. Pretty soon, I realized I was making more money on the side than I was from my day job. When a shop location in Palo Alto became available in 1980, I decided to quit teaching and opened Yeaman Auto Body.”

Although decades have passed since he last taught in a classroom, Scott is still an educator at heart. “I’m very passionate about educating my customers, especially about insurance,” he says. “I explain how the insurance companies operate, what kind of coverage they should have on their policies and other helpful information.”

A resident of Sunnyvale (where he lives with his wife, Doris), Scott spends his time outside of work on a variety of pastimes. “When I was younger, I used to be into extreme sports like racing and whitewater rafting, but I’ve backed off a bit in my later years,” he explains. “However, I still like snow skiing and riding dirt bikes. Doris and I also enjoy live music and often go out dancing on the weekends. Plus, we have seven grandkids between us, so they’re a big part of our lives as well.”

In regard to his professional career, Scott shares his simple formula for success. “My first priority is making my customers happy, because that’s how a business grows,” he says. “If I make a customer happy, they tell their friends and family, and so on down the line. Naturally, a big part of it is performing quality work. We’re so confident in the quality of our workmanship that we offer a lifetime transferable warranty, which no other shop I know of offers. That makes customers feel even more confident about their choice to bring their cars here.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Scott says he’d move to Italy. “Doris and I bought a house in Italy last year, near Tuscany. It’s practically brand-new—it’d been built just three years before we bought it. So, we’re looking forward to spending a lot of time there in our retirement years.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant? 

A: Cook’s Seafood in Menlo Park.

Q: What was your first car?

A: A ’55 Chevy. It didn’t have a transmission when I bought it, so I had to rebuild that before I could drive it.

Q: What’s your dream car?

A: I’ve always been into Porsches and I own a 914/6 that I restored myself. However, I’d love to own a Cayman or 911 because those are basically full-on race cars.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? 

A: Probably to some of the European countries I haven’t visited yet. I’ve been to Germany, Italy, France and Spain, but I still want to see Portugal and the Scandinavian region.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to eat for dessert?

A: Chocolate mousse.

Mike Ludeman: A Man of His Word

By Matt Solis, Editor

SEBASTOPOL — Mike Ludeman didn’t always know he would end up in the auto body industry, but his interest in the subject has been with him his whole life. “I’ve always been fascinated by cars,” he says. “My dad was in the auto parts business, and in high school my older brother and I spent a lot of time working on vehicles.” However, it wasn’t until his late teenage years that Mike realized he could turn his passion for cars into an actual career.

“Graduation was coming up and I knew I wasn’t going to college, so I thought, ‘What am I going to do with myself?'” he remembers. “I had some family issues at the time, and it was either go in the right direction or stray off in the wrong direction, so I took it upon myself to come up with some kind of career. There was an auto body program at my high school that I dabbled in, and after I graduated, I went to vocational college in Wyoming to learn the trade. Around 1984, I jumped right into the industry.”

After working his way through the ranks as a car washer, detailer and prep person at several companies, Mike found himself at Western Auto Body in 1991 as head painter, a job he performed for eight years until the shop came up for sale. “The previous owner tried to sell it several times and wasn’t able to get a buyer, and I thought, ‘I don’t want to paint cars forever. What’s the natural progression of all this?’ The next step was to purchase the business. That was in 1999, and we’re still going strong more than a decade later.”

Mike’s responsibilities as the owner of a successful auto body shop keep him fairly busy, but he always prioritizes spending time with his two young sons. “Right now, I’m heavily into baseball season with coaching Little League,” he says. “I coach on my 9-year-old’s team and I help out on my 6-year-old’s team. My sons and I also do a lot of summer activities like RVing and boating, and I’m a member of a 4-wheel drive off-road club and a dirt bike club.”

As the son of an auto worker himself, Mike says he’d love to eventually teach his boys the intricacies of the trade, but for now, he’s content to keep them involved with more age-appropriate activities. “My kids are definitely interested in cars and like watching what I do, but I haven’t exposed them to it too much because they’re so young. I’m not keeping them sheltered from it, but there’s plenty of time for that.”

Mike’s approach to auto body work mirrors his overall approach to life: be honest in everything you do. “A man doesn’t have too many things besides his word,” he says. “That’s really important—if you’re honest and stick to those guidelines, the results might not be immediate, but you’ll eventually see the benefits of living your life that way. It translates nicely into having a business and dealing with people. I like to build relationships with my customers instead of going the quick route and trying to be transactional, and the only way to do that is through honesty and backing up my word.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: If you could drive any car, what would it be?
A: Probably a Bugatti. I like BMWs, too…the new X6 is pretty nice.

Q: Favorite sports team?
A: San Francisco Giants. My sons and I go to a couple games a year, and we’re always watching on TV. We’re definitely a baseball family.

Q: Favorite music?
A: It’s been country lately, but I like a wide variety of music. When we’re out on the boat, we listen to a lot of hip-hop and current stuff. My all-time favorite group is Beastie Boys.

Q: If you had a theme song, what would it be?
A: “Fight for Your Right” by Beastie Boys. Why not?

Q: What’s one movie that people would be surprised you’ve never seen?
A: I don’t really watch movies, actually. I’ve never even seen the Lord of the Rings movies, for example. If I have two hours of free time, I’d rather go do something else.

Q: Dogs or cats?
A: Dogs. We have a Blue Heeler names Buttons who’s almost 17 years old and a Chihuahua named Chili to back that up.

Nana Sarkisian: A Drive to Succeed

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

COLMA – If you were talking to Cal Auto Body owner Nana Sarkisian, you might be surprised to learn there was a point in her adult life when she wasn’t even legally able to drive a car. Recently married and a new mother, Nana’s first few years living in the United States after leaving her home country of Armenia were, as she describes, a trying time. “For a while I felt like I was going one step forward and two steps backward in my life. As a stay-at-home mom who didn’t speak much English or even have a driver’s license, I felt fairly isolated.” This situation was especially challenging for someone as independent as Nana, who by age 21 had earned her master’s degree in industrial engineering, a field in which she worked for four years prior to coming to America. Fortunately, her circumstances gradually improved. “Eventually, my mom came over to help with things, which gave me a little more freedom to get myself educated in English, get a driver’s license and basically feel human again.”

Nana’s then-husband had spent several years working in the auto repair industry in various capacities until they both decided it was time to shift things into high gear. “In 2001, we bought an existing auto shop and changed the name to Cal Auto Body,” she remembers. Eager to jump back into the work world, Nana took an active role in running the shop. “I was in charge of the customer service, administration and accounting, while my husband handled the estimating and parts ordering.” However, as time went by, Nana became increasingly immersed in the more hands-on aspects of the shop’s business. “I ended up doing a lot more on the repair side, writing estimates and that sort of thing.”

In fact, Nana’s work at Cal Auto Body wasn’t her first exposure to the world of auto repair. “When I was a young girl, my dad used to spend all day in the garage and wouldn’t come out from underneath his car,” she remembers. “I would bring him lunch and he’d hand me a part to clean or have me help him with something. I’d start asking him questions about what he was doing, until he eventually got tired of all the questioning and kicked me out!”

In 2008, Nana took the helm as sole owner and operator of Cal Auto Body. Since that time, she has employed her accumulated experience and professional acumen to improve the business, taking advantage of promotional outlets like social media and consumer-friendly organizations. “Over the last five years, not only have we been able to increase our business, we’ve been able to maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau,” she says. The shop’s Diamond Certified status further indicates its dedication to customer satisfaction.

Outside of work, Nana engages in a variety of hobbies and pastimes. “I do a lot of oil painting,” she says. “I’m always amazed at the things that come out of my head when I’m painting—very abstract stuff.” Nana also says that whenever it’s sunny, she’s likely to be at the beach. “I think in my previous life I was a fish,” she laughs. “The sand, the water, the shells, the smell of the seaweed—I love anything that’s connected to the sea. Even food…seafood is my favorite!” In addition, Nana likes to keep up with her daughter, Maria, a chemistry student at Skyline College in San Bruno. “She’s eventually hoping to transfer to UC Berkeley or UC Davis and study molecular toxicology. She’s a real smart cookie and I’m very proud of her.”

Looking back, Nana says the expression “givers gain” has proven to be true throughout her life and career. “You give, you receive; you don’t give, you don’t receive. It’s actually very interesting how this happens in auto body work. We always take care of customers and try to give them more than they expect. In return, they give us compliments and refer their friends to us. So, I think this philosophy of giving has really been a big part of our success.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What was your first car?
A: A ’94 Lincoln Continental. My family expected me to crash whatever car I had, so they gave me one that nobody cared about!

Q: If you could drive any car, what would it be?
A: A 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang.

Q: What’s your favorite restaurant?
A: Barracuda Sushi in San Francisco.

Q: Are you a dog or cat person?
A: I’m totally a dog person, but guess what? We have a cat!

Q: Do you have any nicknames?
A: Nana is my nickname. My real name is Gayané. Everybody calls me Nana because it’s just easier to pronounce.

Q: If you were doing karaoke, what song would you sing?
A: I’d sing two songs, both by The Beatles: “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” and “Yesterday.”

Q: If someone was making a movie about your life, which actress would you choose to play you?
A: Sandra Bullock.