Lee Amaradio Jr.,Murietta
Lee worked as a body man and a painter throughout the 1970's. He started Faith Quality Auto Body Inc in 1979, selling everything he owned including his home to open this facility. This was a giant step of faith so he named his shop "Faith." Thirty years later Faith Quality Auto Body Inc. has grown from the original shop size of 833 sq-ft to over 30,000 sq-ft. Lee employs over 50 people at this single location that produces over $600,000 per month in a single eight-hour shift. Lee believes that God blessed him by surrounding him with good people. He knows his employees are equal to the best our industry has to offer because of their ongoing training and he is confident that they will stay on the leading edge. Understanding the need for some desperate changes, Lee is working to pull our fragmented industry together and continue to make the CRA a force to be reckoned with. Lee believes we can change things one shop at a time and the change starts with individual shop owners each doing their part.
Nathan Simmons, Glendale
Nathan,30, a former painter, has owned C&C Collision for ten years. He's president of the Glendale-Foothill chapter of the California Autobody Association and a CRA member since 2006. He knows he can make a difference in the autobody industry in California because he has already seen some improvements from his actions, however the results, he says, "would be much greater and/or quicker with more involvement from others." He adds, "Even though my company is 100% non-DRP, I do not expect any other person to be like that, but what I do expect is that you run your business like you own it. If you're happy, great! But if you're not join the CRA!"
John Tyczki, San Diego
In 1979 I started in the autobody industry sweeping floors and helping the detail department. After about three months of asking a lot questions, I decided to learn how to become a bodyman. I did bodywork for six years and learned how to paint. After working at a few shops and not being much of a follower, I started repairing cars at my parent's house and would rent paint booths at night or on weekends. I did this until the City of Poway told me it wasn't a good idea that I was working on cars in a residential garage. So I had to go find a job. That's when I went to work for Chapparone Auto Body, which had five or six shops at the time. I worked my way up to the General Manager position in charge of eight locations. I worked there for over 15 years. When the company was being sold, I thought it would be the best thing for the company and the employees . But after about a year staying on with the new owners, I decided I needed to move on and work for myself. In May 2003 I opened J&M Autobody and in June 2005 I bought El Dorado Collision Center.
Kim Andreatta, Bakersfield
To say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree is no understatement for Kim Andreatta.
His family started Bakersfield Auto Body in 1951, so becoming the third generation to be in the collision repair industry was a rite of passage. He has logged 37 years of experience in the industry and his dream of owning the business become a reality 10 years ago when he and wife, Carla, who is also involved in the business, purchased the 20,000 square-foot facility on 2.75 acres. Kim's son David, who has 12 years of experience, marks the fourth generation in the business. Kim and Carla's son-in-law Dave also joined the company five years ago.Bakersfield Auto Body has 32 great employees and also has Enterprise Rent-a-Car on site for customer convenience.
He looks forward to serving on the board and hopes to help the industry he loves so much.
Jim Boyle, Vallejo
Jim started working in the collision trade in 1980 as an apprentice painter for Vallejo's Oliver VW, and later when the Barber auto group purchased the VW dealership in 1984. At this time the body shop manager opened his own shop, Regal Collision, and recruited Jim and a body man from VW to help him. Then in April of 1998 Jim purchased Regal Collision from the owner and he has been going strong ever since. He is a third generation body man in his family with his grandfather and uncles owning and operating a body shop in downtown Vallejo in the 1940's & 1950's. Jim oldest son is also in the body trade and works for Jim, making him the 4th generation to be involved in collision repair (Yes it's genetics). Jim served 4 years as president of the east bay chapter of the California Auto Body Association and serves on an advisory board for Contra Costa College. Jim is politically active in efforts to help save and preserve the collision repair industry and he strives to make the collision repair industry fair to all parties involved and with great emphasis placed on bringing young people into the trade with quality training.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
