Town Center Automotive – My Why

People often ask, “Why do you do what you do?”
Why do Heather and I pour our lives into Town Center Automotive?
For years, I carried the answer quietly. Recently, I realized it was time to say it out loud.

It Started With My Grandmother

When I came home from Iraq in the mid-2000s, my grandfather passed away shortly after my return. My grandmother, Helen, suddenly had to handle everything on her own—including taking care of the car.

While I was in town one day, I checked her fluids and belts to make sure she was safe. Everything looked good.

A week later, she called me in tears.

She had gone to a quick-lube shop for a simple oil change. She told them her husband had just died. They took advantage of her grief, fear, and vulnerability—and sold her $1,400 worth of work she did not need.

I called the shop. They admitted their business model was upselling every car that came through. I told them I had personally inspected the vehicle and that she only needed an oil change. They dismissed my concern and hung up on me.

That moment changed me.

It became the foundation of my personal mission:
No customer—especially someone’s grandmother—should ever be taken advantage of in the automotive industry.

At Town Center Automotive, every recommendation must be something we would confidently give to our own family. If a service is needed for safety or maintenance, we stand behind it. If it isn’t critical, we create a plan and schedule that respects the customer’s time, money, and priorities.

Honesty by transparency—always.

The Second Part of My Why: Employees First

A few years later, I was working in a fleet shop that I truly enjoyed—except the benefits were poor. Still, the work was fun and fulfilling.

Then everything changed when a new manager arrived. Overnight, the culture became toxic. Employees were treated like objects rather than people. The shop ran on fear, frustration, and anger. And every day, it got worse.

I promised myself that if I ever owned a shop, it would be different.

I would build a place where employees come first—
where they feel valued, respected, and supported,
where they can grow, learn, and enjoy coming to work,
and where we take care of them so they can take care of our customers.

Because when employees thrive, customers feel it. Their car is fixed right. Their concerns are heard. They feel cared for. And they’re proud to trust us with their vehicles.

Why We Do What We Do

Heather and I bought Town Center Automotive because we always wanted to build a truly great shop—a place that reflects our values, our experiences, and our commitment to doing things the right way.

Our Why is simple and powerful:

• To protect people—from being taken advantage of, from unsafe repairs, and from uncertainty.

• To serve our community with honesty and transparency.

• To create a workplace where employees are supported, respected, and given every opportunity to grow.

• To deliver service that we would be proud to offer to our own families.

Town Center Automotive exists because we believe the automotive industry can—and should—do better.

And every day, we work to prove it.