Elite Top Shop 360 OLD

Joe Marconi

Executive Council Member

With over 36 years of shop owner experience, Joe has accomplished what most others could only dream of. In addition to being a multi-location owner/operator of one of America’s most successful auto repair shops, he is a graduate of the Automotive Management Institute, an ASE Master Tech, and he is a recipient of the coveted CARQUEST Excellence Award and the Putnam County NY Entrepreneurial Award. He has also served on the Car Care Council, the Tech Net Advisory Council and the CARQUEST Advisory Council, he participated in the development of the ASE Engine Performance Certification test, and he is a cofounder of AutoShopOwner.com. Not only is Joe a regular contributor to national industry publications and a monthly columnist for Ratchet & Wrench magazine, but Shop Owner magazine dedicated an entire article to his shop and his success.

In addition to all that he does for our industry, Joe and Osceola Garage are heavily involved in the local community, as Joe supports all local youth sports, is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and donates to several charities (Toys for Tots, Heart Association, The HOPE Foundation, Women’s Resource Center, Friends of Karen, Local Veterans and local Senior Centers, to name a few). Osceola Garage was founded on the principle that the shop will always do what is in the best interest of their customers, employees and the community, so he fit into Elite’s culture perfectly from day one, and we are proud to call him a member of the Elite family. As an Executive Council Member, he also provides his professional insights on the ongoing development of our services, our Quality Assurance Programs, our staff and client training curriculums, and the creation of new services to better serve the growing needs of our industry. We are also pleased to say Joe presents many AMI accredited courses for us, and he plays a leading role in the ongoing development of our services. As one of our Business Development Coaches, he is constantly working with our other coaches for one simple reason: To better ensure the success of each and every Elite client. Joe and his wonderful family live in beautiful Patterson, New York.

Randy Pickering

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

Not only has Randy Pickering run one of the top shops in the country since 1976, but he’s a 4th generation shop owner whose family has been serving their communities for over 100 years! When Randy first took over the family shop, Pickering’s Auto Service, it was a 2-bay operation. Randy soon grew the business to an 8-bay, leased-building operation, and continued its expansion until it became the 15-bay, state of the art, property-owned shop it is today. In 2010 Randy was able to open up a second location, and today his 2 shops have a total of 25 bays, employ 17 superstars, service more than 500 vehicles per month and bring in over $2.7 million in annual sales.

Randy is a past ASA National Mechanical Division Director, a past president and board member of the ASA of Colorado, and today his shops are affiliated with the AAA as AAR’s, are NAPA AutoCare Centers, and he is a 30+ year member of the Better Business Bureau. When asked about his shops, Randy replied, “We’re not in the business of fixing cars, but more in the business of building relationships through honesty and integrity, quality work and superior service”. With an outlook like this, it’s no wonder that his shops have been so successful. As an independent contractor with Elite for over 7 years, Randy lives in Colorado with his wife, Lynette, and his three children, Trent, Brandon, and Taylor, and 2 grandchildren. Trent & Brandon, now own the family business.

Mike Kost

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

Mike Kost began his career as a technician (ASE Master Certified), but soon realized his dream of becoming a shop owner when he purchased his first Precision Tune store. Mike was able to utilize the skillset he picked up from business college to both start up new shops from scratch and make failing shops profitable, and within 5 years of purchasing his first store he found himself running 4 profitable locations. As a franchisee Mike has been awarded Precision Tune’s Top 10 Presidential Award, received an award for creative marketing, and for 15 straight years has received an award for achieving the highest sales volume in his area.

For over 20 years Mike has continued his education by attending numerous industry sales, management and customer service courses, and the knowledge he’s obtained has helped him create systems and processes that have enabled him to run multiple successful shops from over 300 miles away as an absentee owner. In the last 13 years he’s spent as an absentee owner, Mike has enjoyed helping other shop owners understand the importance of customer service and create proven processes to become more successful, so needless to say, we couldn’t be happier to have him as a member of the Elite family. Mike, his wife Tammy and his 4 wonderful kids live in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Jim Butitta

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

Jim Butitta grew up in his family automotive business, a radiator shop and W.D distributor for more than a dozen OEM and aftermarket manufacturers. Over the years his entrepreneurial spirit drove him to add full service automotive repair, and he soon grew the business to six locations that included 56 automotive service bays, a full service radiator shop, a gas tank rebuilding facility and a parts distribution system. Jim now has over 44 years of industry experience, and attributes much of his success to his business philosophy, taught to him by his father, which includes honesty, integrity, respect, great customer service, and running the cleanest, best maintained shops in the country.

Jim has a strong background in financial analysis, budgeting and putting systems in place to insure financial stability, and has shared his expertise with several multi-shop owners to help them become more successful in both their business and personal lives. He has also given back to the industry by authoring articles for a national trade magazine, serving on regional and national boards for over 30 years, serving as President of local ASA group, and serving as National President and Chairman of the National Automotive Radiator Service Association. In addition to working with Elite, Jim gives back to his community by contributing his time and talents to “not for profit” organizations, as he was a past president of a local food bank, and served on finance and building committees for a domestic violence shelter for women and children.

Jim sold his business after 33 years so he could enjoy some of the fruits of his hard work, and spend more time with his wife, Jody, three sons and seven grandchildren. Jim loves to golf, is an instrument-rated pilot, and is a lifelong Harley Davidson rider.

John Francis

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

John L. Francis has over 50 years of industry experience, and has owned and operated Francis Automotive Services Inc. for more than 43 years. John’s most important business philosophy as a shop owner is to “be honest, speak from your heart, and always be authentic”, so it’s no mystery why he’s been so successful. For years Francis Automotive, an industry acclaimed full service auto repair shop in West Chester, PA , has not only supported the YMCA and Toys for Tots, but has lead the industry in developing a child safety brand. John is an Automotive Service Association (ASA) member, and served on the ASA Mechanical Division Operations Committee for a number of years. We are pleased to say that John represented the ASA in Washington, D.C., where he gave demonstrations to members of Congress on the importance of providing repair professionals with open access to service information. These presentations were instrumental in the information availability agreement that was eventually signed between the ASA and the automobile manufacturers.

John is a past National Chairman of the Automotive Management Institute, he has served as the Chairman of ASA CARS, he was on the ASE Board of Directors for 8 years, and served as an AMI trustee for a number of years as well. He’s been featured in Auto Inc. magazine, is a two-time runner up for NAPA Tech of the Year, and is a recipient of the AMI Alpha Award. Not only is John an extraordinary business professional, but his commitment to the industry, and his peers, is second to none. John lives in Atglen PA, he is married and has 3 children, 8 beautiful grandchildren, and 3 wonderful labs. There is no question that he is an asset to the industry, and we are proud to have him working with Elite.

Kevin Vaught

Executive Council Member

After starting his work in the industry at age 15, Kevin had opened his own shop by the time he was 22! His shop, Autotire Car Care Center, was an immediate success, and Kevin was able to open up 4 locations over the next 15 years. One of the reasons Kevin was so successful as a shop owner was because he understood the importance of his people and his processes. He believed that he couldn’t provide great external customer service without first providing great internal customer service (to his employees), and that hiring the right people, giving them the tools, systems and procedures that they needed, and then getting out of their way would be a huge key to his success. This business philosophy certainly paid off, as Kevin’s shop was featured in Modern Tire Dealer, and received an award for being the best shop in Indianapolis (voted on by consumers).

Kevin received ASE certification, as well as an ABA degree in Business Administration while he was running his shops. He served on the Kelly Springfield Dealer Council, the Michelin Dealer Council, and chaired the advisory board that designed the “Tech Prep” curriculum for local high schools. He has 43 years of industry experience, and was a highly profitable multiple location owner-operator for over 30 years until he finally sold his company so he could focus on another one of his passions: Helping other shop owners build more profitable businesses. As an Executive Council Member, he also provides his professional insights on the ongoing development of our services, our Quality Assurance Programs, our staff and client training curriculums, and the creation of new services to better serve the growing needs of our industry.

Before working with Elite, Kevin started his own small consulting company where he helped auto repair shop owners improve their operational processes, customer service, and net profit (among other things). He is truly committed to the betterment of the industry, and was recently published in Ratchet & Wrench. Kevin is also committed to his continuing education (as is evident through his completion of courses on financial management, time management, customer service, sales and marketing) and to helping his community through his work spreading breast cancer awareness. There’s no question that Kevin is an industry leader, and we are honored to call him one of our Elite Business Development Coaches. Kevin is an avid golfer, and lives with his wonderful wife in Bonita Springs, FL.

Jim Murphy

Pro Service Leader

Jim has decades of experience in developing successful independent auto repair facilities, tire operations and dealerships throughout all of North America! In addition to his “hands-on” experience, he has developed a reputation as being an industry-acclaimed facilitator and business-building coach, and is heralded as being second to none, industry-wide. He has a great deal of knowledge about financials, marketing, employee development, and business process, to name a few concentrations.

Jim works with Elite and is the lead coach for the Elite Pro Service Program that was developed exclusively for the most successful shops in North America. Without question, Jim Murphy is an industry Superstar!

Born and raised in Southern CA, today Jim and his wife Sherri live in beautiful Spokane, Washington in the summer, spend winter in sunny, warm Phoenix, Arizona, and have a new hobby of traveling all over America in their Motor Home learning about our great country, and consulting clients.

Jim Piraino

Executive Council Member

For 33 years Jim Piraino was the owner of Camarillo Car Care, a 13-bay facility that was undoubtedly one of the top shops in America. Throughout his career as a shop owner, Jim served as both the president and a board member of the ASC-CA’s Ventura County Chapter, was a member of the ASA’s President’s Club, and was even voted National NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year.

One of the reasons Camarillo Car Care was so successful was that the shop operated under the principle that their customers were the reason they existed, and Jim was a pillar of his community that helped his customers in countless ways. His shop regularly donated to the Boys and Girls Club, sponsored events for the American Red Cross, lead fundraisers for the American Cancer Society, donated to Handicapped Children’s Services of America, served as a training facility for local police K-9 teams, and supported the YMCA and local youth sports teams. As if that wasn’t enough, Jim himself was a member of the Camarillo and US Chamber of Commerce, and was president of the Camarillo Optimists Club (achieving Honor Club Status), which recognizes local students for academic achievement and community involvement.

Jim’s commitment to his customers and his community did not go unnoticed, as Camarillo Car Care was an ASE Blue Seal of Excellence Facility, a NAPA Autocare Center, was a winner of the Chamber of Commerce’s Retailer of the Year Award, and for 12 straight years received the award for the best auto repair shop in Ventura from the Ventura County Star.

Jim served as an Elite coach from 1991-2017, and was able to help countless shop owners take their businesses to amazing levels of success. Jim has since moved on to become an Executive Council Member for Elite, and his responsibilities are to provide Elite’s Executive Staff with his professional insights and recommendations on the ongoing development of our services, our Quality Assurance Programs, our staff and client training curriculums, and the creation of new services to better serve the growing needs of our industry.

There is no doubt about it; Jim Piraino truly is an industry superstar! Born and raised in New York, he spent most of his life in Southern California. Today, he and his wife Lisa live in Loveland, Colorado where he is close by his two daughters and four wonderful grandchildren!

Nick Sallas

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

Nick Sallas brings 38 years of industry experience and 26 years as a shop owner to the Elite team. The first Sallas Auto opened in 1993 as a 2-bay shop, grew to 5 bays within a year, and outgrew the building altogether in just 3 years. To accommodate this rapid growth, they purchased 3 acres nearby and built a 7,000 square foot shop with 10 bays. Sallas 2 opened in 2006, and it too required additions to the building within just 3 years, turning it into a 4-bay shop. Nick currently has 18 employees between the 2 stores, and the average employee has been with him for an impressive 10 years.

Not only does Nick own the property of both of the AAA approved Sallas locations, but he and his shops were the cover story for Ratchet & Wrench magazine in December 2011.  Nick has also served on the NAPA National Auto Care Council, been named Regional NAPA Tech of the Year, was the Automotive Service Association President for 2 years, and even wrote his own book on car care maintenance.

In addition to the above-mentioned accolades, Nick and his shops are also very active in the community through fundraisers and events. They recently organized a car show and raised $2,200 for the Snack Back program for children. This same car show supported the Any Soldiers program the year prior and sent supplies to active troops. Nick and his shop have also held Car Care Clinics for 20 years in a row and continue to go out in the community and perform Lunch & Learns to educate businesses and schools.

Nick served on a local school board for 6 years, served on the Community College Automotive Advisory Council, and continues to support community shelters for women and the homeless. His business and personal philosophies are to always treat others the way you’d want to be treated, to treat every customer and employee as family, and to always help those in need.

Nick currently resides in Lees Summit, MO and enjoys hunting, RV trips, golf, building Hot Rods, and spending time with his wife and two daughters. We couldn’t be happier to have him on the Elite team!

Robert Ohlmann

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

Robert is the proud owner of Tony’s Brake and Alignment, which was founded by his grandfather Tony in 1964.  In its earliest years, the shop employed 3 people and had 6 bays.  It now employs 18 people and has 20 bays, and is located in a 13,800 square foot locale.  Robert started in the shop working summers sweeping floors at the age of 13 years old.  He gradually worked his way up and took over at the age of 26 after his father passed away.  He has since grown Tony’s to one of the largest and oldest independently owned and operated shops in Kentucky.

Robert is the President of the local NAPA BDG group, and has been featured in Ratchet Wrench Magazine multiple times. His shop is a NAPA Care Center, and proudly boasts an average employee tenure of 12 years.  Its customers regularly call it the cleanest shop in town.

Robert and the shop are also active in the community.  They recently participated in the annual Brakes for Breast promotion, the proceeds of which go to the Cleveland Clinic for Breast Cancer Research.

Robert’s business philosophy is to provide each customer with quality service and products, and with integrity and respect.  His motto is “Always be upfront, fair and honest,” so he couldn’t be a better fit with Elite’s culture, and we couldn’t be more proud to call him part of the Elite family.

Robert currently lives in Kentucky, where he was born and raised, with his wife Nicole, and his two beautiful children.

Rudi Rudloff

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

Rudi Rudloff has over 50 years of industry experience, and spent 34 years owning and operating one of the most successful auto repair facilities in North America! Specializing in Mercedes Benz, his AAA affiliated shop developed a base of clients, and a history of success, that would be the envy of any shop owner on earth. Not only is Rudi an ASE Master Tech, but served on the IGO board, the local Automotive College Board of Advisors, has participated in several panels, and won multiple AAA customer satisfaction awards while he was running his shop. Rudi’s shop was also heavily involved in the community through sponsoring child seat events at the Pacific Safety Center, sponsoring the “Impact Teen Drivers” safety event, holding CHP events on distracted driving prevention, and holding yearly food drives for “Mama’s Kitchen”.

Rudi’s main philosophy as a shop owner was to surround himself great people and treat them well, and to surround himself with the top business advisors and resources. This philosophy, along with his methods of marketing and delivering extraordinary customer service have made Rudi’s success the topic of interviews, and given him a reputation that is second to none. In addition to speaking English, Rudi also speaks fluent German and Spanish.

Rudi provides consulting services to our Spanish speaking clients, and is also the friendly voice on many of our MP3 downloads that are in Spanish. Rudi’s industry expertise has become so highly regarded that he has been a key speaker at PAACE Automechanika Mexico; Mexico and Central America’s most important automotive trade show. Rudi and his family live in San Diego, California.

Servando Orozco

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

Servando has decades of experience, and there is no question: he is an industry superstar. Starting his career with a small, struggling two-bay shop in Long Beach, California, today he owns three of the most successful shops in North America. He employs 15 of the industry’s finest technicians and service advisors, and the reputation of his shops is second to none, industry wide. Servando is heavily involved with a number of local charities, he has spoken at industry events, and he has been interviewed by local press as well as a number of industry-acclaimed organizations.

Given that all of his shops are located in extremely competitive areas, Servando is a testimony to what can be done when one has clearly defined goals, a well crafted plan, and the right people on their team. In addition to providing us with business-building content for our audio training downloads in Spanish as an independent contractor, Servando plays a leading role in speaking at many of our Elite events, and in the ongoing development of our products and services. Servando and his wonderful family live in Long Beach, California.

Linc Lewis

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

We’re thrilled to be able to call someone like Linc Lewis one of our Business Development Coaches. Linc started his career working in corporate positions as an Accountant, Auditor, and held management positions in sales, marketing, and operations. He transitioned into becoming a successful entrepreneur, and now has 28 years of experience as a shop owner. His 8,000 sq ft shop, Mezzio Auto, was established in 1933, and while the business was well respected, it was limited to basic services using antiquated equipment. With a vision, aggressive goal setting, hard work and a commitment to the ” 20 group”  process, Linc grew Mezzio Auto into the largest, most comprehensive, independent auto repair and service facility in Naugatuck. Today, Mezzio Auto is the only AAA approved auto repairer in the Naugatuck area, and serves as a NAPA Auto Care Center as well.

Today Mezzio Auto’s expanded services provide motorists a nationwide warranty on mechanical repairs, collision repairs, vehicle paint and restorations, tire sales, and the shop serves as the local test center for State of CT emissions compliance.  Most recently,  Linc  has developed and implemented a business succession plan that will reward a key employee’s years of loyalty and dedication to Mezzio Auto’s customers with an ownership opportunity.

Linc enjoys giving back to the industry by chairing the local NAPA Auto Care Council, and helping other shop owners reach their goals as a Business Development Coach for Elite. Over the years Linc has spent his free time volunteering on local Chamber of Commerce committees, helping a H.S. Football team’s coaching staff, presenting programs sponsored by the Future Business Leaders of America for high school students, participating in career day programs, and he even sponsored the start up of a debating club at a local high school.  Learning new concepts, ideas and mentoring others has been a life’s passion for Linc, and it is what drives him today. In fact, we’re pleased to say that Linc recently received the prestigious AMAM degree (Accredited Master Automotive Manager) from the Automotive Management Institute!

Whether in business or his life, Linc believes that the driving force for his success has been honesty and truthfulness. He has used this philosophy to develop a culture of transparency with both customers and employees, and to empower his employees to feel confident and safe in always doing the right thing. With a philosophy like this, his success comes as no surprise, and he couldn’t fit in more perfectly with our culture at Elite.

Linc works with Elite and today lives in Prospect, CT with his lovely wife, Rita. He is the father of two sons, and in his free time Linc has enjoyed racing sport bikes, and playing the guitar in country & western jam sessions.

Kevin Jones

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

With over 28 of his 34 years of industry experience spent as a garage owner, Kevin Jones has established himself as one of the most successful business leaders in the U.K. He is proud to be the first garage owner in the U.K. to be awarded Elite’s Ethics Certification, and was one of the first garages to achieve the British Standards Kitemark award. Kevin serves as a Business Development Coach for garage owners in the European market.

Kevin is a Certified Automotive Engineer (CAE), and an Associate Member of the Institute of the Motor Industry (AMIMI). He spent several years working as a lead technician for a successful private racing team and has studied automotive repair and advanced automotive repair nationwide, receiving multiple certifications. In addition to the two garages, Kevin owns a very successful vehicle specialist air conditioning company that is renowned throughout the county, receiving referrals from not just Independent repairers, but also fast fit chains and main dealers alike. He also regularly studies advanced business management courses, and has not only received 2 diplomas in this field in the U.S., but has successfully completed the Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation on the AMI Masters Program. He is proud to say that his garages are approved AA repair centres and are affiliated with both the Trading Standards and the Trust My Garage Schemes in the U.K.

Kevin believes that his success comes from leading an ethics-based business, and by setting his team up to succeed within their roles in the workplace. This is achieved through development plans for each team member and regular reviews. He ensures that every employee treats his customers in a way that they would expect to be treated themselves, and insists on maintaining high ethical standards in both internal and external relationships at all times. Kevin is enthusiastic in supporting the local community, and hosts ladies evenings and car clinics. His businesses also help raise funds for the Macmillan Cancer Charity and BEN (Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund).

Kevin lives with his family approximately 40 miles East from the centre of London, on the River Thames coastline in Rayleigh, Essex.

James Stephenson

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

With 23 years of industry experience and 14 years as a shop owner, James brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Elite family. He began pumping gas, changing tires, and performing brake jobs and oil changes at just 14 years old, and then went on to become an ASE Master Tech by age 19.  He opened his first shop at 22 years old, and is now the proud owner of Precision Auto Repair. The shop has seven full-time employees, two locations, and is easily the most awarded shop in its area.

Precision Auto was awarded Best Auto Repair Facility and Best Customer Service by Best of Springfield in 2011, 2012, and 2013, and by Best of West Springfield in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. The shop was also Valley Advocate’s winner of Best Place for Brakes and 2nd place winner for Best Auto Repair Shop in 2008. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, the shop was named one of Google’s Top-Rated Businesses, and in 2019 James was recognized as one of Business West’s Class of 2019 40 Under 40 winners.

James and his shop are also very active in the community. In addition to participating in charitable programs like Tools for School, Coats for Kids, Toys for Tots and Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, each year the shop holds “Repair it Forward,” which gives $3,000 in repairs to two local families in need. The shop also hosts a weekly radio show that raises awareness for local charities. In February of 2019, Precision Auto was recognized for this radio show with a multi-page feature in Ratchet & Wrench magazine.

James has served on the Advisory Board for Putnam Vocational High School since 2012 and served as Board Chairman in 2013. His philosophies for both his business and personal life are to always treat others the way you want to be treated, put family before everything, and to never take employees or customers for granted. With philosophies like these, it’s clear that James is a perfect fit for the Elite family.

James currently resides in Somers, CT and enjoys cycling, CrossFit, and spending time with his wife, two daughters, and dog Sammy.

Greg Skolnik

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

By the time Greg reached his 23rd birthday, he had already completed his degree with Lincoln Technical Institute, become one of the first Master Certified technicians from NIASE (passed all eight tests three hours after his second son was born), become one of the go-to guys on early VW fuel injection systems and created a successful auto service facility that continues to this day. With a career well over 40 years, he now has his A.M.A.M. degree from the Automotive Management Institute, maintains his Master Technician status and has added the L1 to his achievements. Since the early 80’s Greg has participated continuously in training programs and feels he learns something from every experience. “Learning is a life-long process”, he says.

As the owner of one of the more innovative Honda, Toyota & Subaru repair facilities in the Washington DC metropolitan area, Greg has built his business on a solid foundation of core values and common sense. “Putting people before money” is one of Greg’s core values, as evidenced by his decision to change the shop to a four-day only schedule in 1990. The staff has every Friday-Sunday off. The culture he’s created is so ingrained in his business that his crew now handles the daily operations, which has allowed Greg to continue along his path of personal growth by helping other shop owners build more successful businesses. Greg’s success has positioned his shop to be recognized as one of the top shops in North America, and accordingly, his shop was featured in the industry-acclaimed Shop Owner magazine.

As a natural teacher, he still volunteers as a Scout leader for local youths and loves to help people succeed. Greg and his wife, Carol, have two grown sons and enjoy spoiling their four grand kids; all living in or near Silver Spring, Maryland.

Gene Morrill

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

During the 32 years Gene Morrill has spent as a shop owner, he’s been able to establish himself as an industry icon. Not only is his shop a AAA AAR, ASCCA, ASA member and an ASE Blue Seal shop, but it has been a MotorAge Top Shop 5 Times, and won the MotorAge Shop of the Year in 2012. Additionally, Gene’s shop is a 5-time AAA Quality Service Award winner, and has been featured in Ratchet & Wrench, MotorAge and Glendoran Magazine.

Not only does his shop have some impressive accolades, but Gene himself is an ASE Master Technician, the past president and current board member of the local Automotive Service Councils of CA (ASCCA) chapter, and one of the first 49 recipients of the AMI’s Accredited Master Automotive Manager degree (AMAM). Gene is also very involved in his community, as he’s served as an automotive advisor, board member and adjunct professor for Citrus College, is a past president and current board member of the Glendora Rotary Club, is president of the Glendora Community Coordinating Council, and also serves on the Glendora Chamber Government Affairs Committee. Additionally, Gene’s shop regularly collects food and clothes for local children’s homes, so it’s no surprise that his amazing commitment to bettering his community has received recognition – Gene has received both the Glendora Community Council Humanitarian Award and the Citrus College Distinguished Alumni Award.

Beyond being an extraordinarily bright shop owner, one of the greatest keys to his success is his shop’s business philosophy: “Treat your customers like a king, take care of your employees and everything else will work out.” Gene’s focus on taking care of his customers and employees fits in perfectly with our culture at Elite, and we couldn’t be more proud that he works with us.

Gene and his wife Robin of 32 years live in Glendora, California and enjoy working together to provide safe & reliable transportation to all of their customers.

Ed Cushman

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

After working as a service manager, Ed founded C&H Foreign Auto Repair at the ripe age of 22.  He now has over 45 years of experience in the industry, with multiple accolades and accreditations to show for it.

Ed’s commitment to the industry is demonstrated by his participation on multiple boards, including his experience as Boardmember of the ASA National Board of Directors, ASA President (state), ASA President and Board member (Spokane), Chairman of the ASA Scholarship Committee, and Chairman of the AMI board.

He is the winner of several awards, including ASE Technician of the Year (state), ASA Member of the Year (state), and ASA National Chairman’s Humanitarian of the Year award. His shop, too, is a winner of various accolades, including the Spokane Chamber of Commerce’s AGORA Award for Small Business of the Year and the AAA’s Top Shop Award.  He also boasts several certifications, including ASE Master Tech, AMI-Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM), and AMI-Automotive Master in Automotive Management (AMAM).

Ed enjoys volunteering for various community projects, including acting as Chairman of the Northwest BBB Board of Directors, Chairman of the Inland Empire Landlord Association, and various high school vocational programs.  His business participates in the Washington State Employment Workforce training program, which promotes training programs for high school students, veterans, and others.

Ed’s business philosophy is based on building relationships through superior service, communication, fairness and caring.  He believes that by taking care of his customers, everything else will take care of itself.

Ed is married to his grade-school sweetheart, Cindy, and together they have three sons, two daughter-in-laws, and two grandchildren.

Douglass Kirchdorfer

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

Douglass Kirchdorfer is an industry leader who ran one of the most successful auto repair shops in America. In 1998, he and his wife Rebecca purchased what was to become Downing Street Garage, a six-bay facility that won numerous industry and business awards during the 14+ years they owned and operated the business. DSG has been voted among the top five AAA Approved Repair Shops in Colorado, has won the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics from the Denver/Boulder Better Business Bureau, has won the International BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, and was also a winner of the coveted Colorado Ethics in Business Alliance Award. Additionally, Downing Street garage has been named as one of the top 10 shops in America by Motor Age Magazine in 4 times.

Douglass also served on the board of directors for the Colorado Automobile Service Association (ASA) for 10 years and was board president, was one of the founding members of the Denver chapter of the Napa Auto Care advisory board, the Delphi Tool Advisory Board, the Denver BBB Torch Award Selection Committee and served 4 years on the Mechanical Operations Committee of the national Automobile Service Association. Douglass also served on the Grievance and Standards Committee of the Denver/Boulder Better Business Bureau, on the Editorial Advisory Board of Ratchet and Wrench Magazine, and currently serves as an advisor for the Rocky Mountain Finance Institute, where he’s counseling a graduate who runs a small auto repair shop.

Douglass also was an ASE Master Technician with L-1, has his A.A.M. degree from the Automotive Management Institute (AMI), is a licensed A&P mechanic and enjoys restoring old cars; motorcycling; sailing; and helping shop owners improve their businesses.

Dean Kuhn

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

There is no question that Dean is the perfect example of what can be accomplished with clearly defined goals, and a commitment to ethics. Starting off as a technician, he’s spent over 25 years as the owner of one of America’s most successful transmission shops, which he has now expanded into satellite facilities.

Before joining Elite, Dean mastered the art of recruiting the superstars, and developed an outside sales program that is second to none, industry wide. Dean has been a guest speaker at national conventions, has sat on the ATRA What’s Working advisory panel (among others), and has been featured in Ratchet & Wrench, Gears magazine and Parts & People. In addition to operating his industry acclaimed AAA approved shop that has won multiple awards for 100% customer satisfaction, Dean has a successful torque converter company, and has created educational videos on torque converters and transmissions that now have nearly a million YouTube views!

Beyond his success in business, what makes us most proud is his most important business philosophy: “The culture of your company must be number one in order to have true success”. He continually adheres to this principle with his work with Wounded Warriors, Navy Relief, and putting on classes at local high schools and colleges. A native of Carlsbad, CA, Dean is also a competitive race car driver, and currently lives with his wonderful family in Vista, CA.

Darrin Barney

President

Darrin’s automotive journey began working with his father on repairing and maintaining cars, while at the same time (and being as goal-driven as he is), he was working toward becoming an Eagle Scout. In 2003, he started his own auto repair and 4X4 business with a core business philosophy of treating every customer like a personal friend, and creating the best customer experience possible.

By having a dedication to the success of his employees that is unlike any other, as well as to the care and safety of his customers, Darrin’s shop has grown to be one of the largest independently owned auto repair facilities in North America, and they have customers, literally around the world.  His unparalleled success quickly caught the attention of the industry, and it’s brought about his being featured in countless podcasts and nationally published articles, he’s been on the cover of Auto Inc. magazine, and he’s spoken at number of the industry’s largest events.

You’ll find Darrin also has a passion for ongoing education, whereas he’s read hundreds of books, and in 2017 he was one of the first classes to graduate with his AMAM (Accredited Master Automotive Management) Degree from the AMI. Darrin’s also a Certified High Performance Coach, and before becoming our Vice President of Operations, he’s filled the role of the lead trainer for our industry-acclaimed Masters Program, he’s coached a number of our clients to incredible heights, and he’s helped Elite grow into the remarkable brand it is today.

Darrin lives in Grand Junction Colorado with his wonderful wife Ginger, and they have three beautiful children who embody the same principles that Darrin and Ginger do. You’ll also find he’s heavily involved with his church, and to round out his passion for life, he’s an accomplished musician who enjoys writing and recording music, and he loves exploring the backcountry, four wheeling, camping and traveling.

Now that you have a better understanding of who Darrin Barney is, you can hopefully understand why we are so proud to have him as a part of our family, and his playing such an important role at Elite. Without question, all of us at Elite love Darrin, and now you know why.

Chris Monroe

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

Chris Monroe got on the track to becoming an industry superstar at the early age of 10, as his father started Monroe Tire & Service in 1974. He took over as the shop owner in 1987 and has been able to increase company sales for the last four decades despite a high volume of competition and a population of less than 27,000 in his community.

Chris’s success in business hasn’t gone unnoticed. He was recognized as a Tire Review Magazine Platinum Performer in 2014, a Demandforce Top 20 Rated Repair Shop in 2015, the Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year in 2015, North Carolina Tire Dealer of the Year in 2018, and a Tire Review Top Shop Finalist in 2017 as well as 2019!

One reason for Chris’s success is his commitment to training and self-improvement. He has received multiple manufacturer training certifications, has taken multiple management courses and seminars, and is an ASE-certified service advisor. All the training isn’t solely for his benefit, as he’s committed to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others to elevate our industry.

Chris has written several articles for the North Carolina Tire Dealers Association and featured in Ratchet & Wrench, Modern Tire Dealer, and Tire Review Magazine. In addition, Chris is a past board member of the North Carolina Tire Dealer Association and the Tire Industry Association and has been a SEMA panelist.

Chris dedicates his time to improving our industry and making a difference in his community. He is the past president of the Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce Board and Trustee of Cleveland Community College. In addition, he serves on the Cleveland County Small Business Advisory Council and regularly speaks at high school and college classes about small business ownership and the trades.

While his accomplishments are impressive, his shop’s transparency, honesty, and integrity philosophy make us proud to call him a member of the Elite family. Today, Chris lives with Traci in Shelby, NC, and enjoys adventure motorcycling, bicycling, hiking, RV camping, and racquet and paddle sports.

Brian Bowersock

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360

With over two decades of industry experience, Brian has accomplished what others in our industry could only dream to. He has built four of America’s most successful auto repair shops, and has done so never using any form of price advertising. Through his brand-awareness marketing campaigns, Brian’s name, and the name of his shops, are household names throughout San Diego County. In addition to working with Elite, he is the Fox News Auto Expert on the local Fox television channel.

Brian is an ASE Master Certified technician. He is also a Board Director for the AAIA’s Car Care Professionals Network, and there is no question that he lives by the principle of never putting money ahead of people. A native of Ohio, today Brian lives in sunny and beautiful Escondido, CA.

Bill Edwards

Business Development Coach - Elite Top Shop 360