Automotive Excellence SUMMER 2025_01_09-22-2025_DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 15
wrenches for $12 an hour. With
no formal education in the trade,
he learned everything on the
job—watching, asking, doing, and
reading. And this was before the
days of YouTube tutorials and
online forums—Fred was checking out shop manuals by the
armload, poring over page after
page of dense technical material
to level up his knowledge the oldschool way.
Over the next several years, Fred
climbed the ranks, transitioning
from quick lube bays to dealership service departments. The
Mazda dealership he worked for
purchased a Hyundai Franchise—
setting the stage for the master-level certifications and national accolades.
Over time, Fred worked at Mitsubishi, Toyota, Subaru and Suzuki
dealerships. When he returned
to Ohio, he joined a local Honda
dealer and quickly climbed the
ranks. Under Honda’s platinum-level certification system, he scored
the highest in his region on a twoday master-level exam, earning
him a spot in the 2008 National
Skills Olympics, where he took first
place in the U.S. The following year,
he represented America in Seoul,
Korea, at the World Skills Olympics, earning third place globally
among the world’s best factory-trained mechanics.
Despite these accolades, the dealership where he worked downplayed his success, fearing they
would lose him to a competitor.
They even reassigned him away
from Hyundai service just after he
won the competition, prompting
him to study for Mitsubishi master certification while continuing
Hyundai training on his own time.
At the time, Fred was already doing
side work from home three days a
week, taking on more complex repairs than he was getting paid for
at the dealership. It was clear—he
needed a bigger challenge.
Fred’s exceptional skill began to
outpace the routine work and
politics of the dealer world. He
explored a potential career as a
field service engineer—the “angel” techs flown in when no one
else could solve a problem—but
was blocked due to lacking a
four-year degree. That’s when a
coworker gave him life-changing
advice: “Why spend ten grand on
a degree? Open your own shop.”
And so, begins the story of Fix-It
with Fred.
A TEAM BUILT ON TRUST
AND TRANSPARENCY
Fix-It with Fred now includes four
technicians, two service advisors,
and part-time support staff. But
quantity doesn’t determine growth.
Fred hand-picks people who
believe in respect, teamwork, and
honest communication. “Transpar‑
ency is everything,” he says.
Every customer receives digital inspections with photos and videos
to explain what’s going on under
the hood. It’s all about empowering—not pressuring—customers
to make smart decisions.
PAY-IT-FORWARD CULTURE
AND COMMUNITY IMPACT
What truly makes this shop unique
is its generous spirit. Fred’s pay-itforward program helps struggling
customers cover unexpected repair costs. “If it’s on my heart, we
do it,” he says. That spirit extends
to supporting local nonprofits like
Perry Helping Perry, school teams,
food drives, and holiday events.
BUILDING A SHOP CULTURE
THAT WORKS
Inside the shop, Fred promotes
a workplace culture of respect,
flexibility, and growth. Team lunches, professional development, and
PHOTO: JOE KLEON
PAGE 15
