Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Ghanem.
Jay, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
From a young age, I was fascinated with cars, how they functioned, what level of engineering went into making such a sophisticated machine that makes a vehicle start and drive with a turn of a key. Inspired by my curiosity to learn each and every aspect of a car, I ended up studying mechanical engineering. During my junior year, I ended up interning at a Mercedes Dealership. During my time, I learned about the value of a repair facility in keeping cars running smoothly and reliably. As I graduated and earned a scholarship to continue my education, I found myself passionate about learning about all the systems that make a car run as a whole. I also was fascinated by the building and designs of cars and robotics. I lead and worked with a wonderful team in college which helped me develop strong leadership skills. After graduation, I was traveling assisting dealerships in opening new locations, training their staff and technicians on the best way to repair cars efficiently, deal with customers to ensure smooth business operation.
This was over 20 years ago and after travelling and opening multiple dealerships’ repair facilities, I requested to open a new repair facility where all the technicians are salary based to avoid working on commission- since commission based service can lead to additional repairs (that may not be needed and are just added to the customer’s bills so it would generate income to the repair facility and thus the service writer and mechanics… After being turned down multiple times, I decided to start my own repair facility- Auto Tech and Body in Pompano Beach. We started with 3 technicians and since we have done what is best for the customer and performed the repairs needed on the car – we ended up getting repeat customers and our reputation grew through word of mouth. This is us now- a team of 15 technicians and support members, assisting our customers with the highest level of service in a green-environmentally friendly facility. Since then, we have been awarded the Small Business Person of the Year, the BOSCH, 3M. AAA top repair facilities and many more accolades.
I am passionate about making a difference and it is through taking good care of our customers and their vehicles, staying true to self and making sure that my staff and I follow through on my commitment to having Auto Tech and Body continue to be the standard in the Automotive Industry.
Our customers are loyal and understand what we stand for. We have customers from North Miami Beach to Okeechobee Blvd drive to our facility in Pompano Beach because they know that they will be taken care of fairly and that the repairs will be performed properly and efficiently. We also are committed to our community and are very involved with the Rotary Club, the Boys & Girls Club and the Exchange Club among others. We volunteer host fundraisers and donate services to many worthy causes in our community. We have been blessed and we like to share the blessings. Please bring your car, van, truck or RV for repairs or refer us a friend for their collision, mechanical, maintenance or other automotive needs.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Patience, perseverance and hard work paid off in the face of adversity have been keys to the evolution of Auto Tech and Body.
Fine craftsmanship and attentive customer service is the base to start any business, what is equally important is the capital. This is what was the most worrisome of it all. I pulled all my savings, borrowed from my credit cards and left a very comfortable secure job to open my own repair facility. Talk about taking the risk that would take ambition, faith and endless work hours. I was the marketer, the rainmaker, the repairer, the consultant, the service advisor, the accountant and the go-to-guy at the shop. Day after day, month after month, year after year, I kept plugging in. I was determined to work for myself and making sure that I was reinvesting in the business and the technicians I hired. Though lacking credit, I kept the faith, encouraged and inspired the staff to give it their all and I knew that we will be successful.
I had many setbacks and many sleepless nights wondering if I keep the lights on- at the shop and in my apartment. Thankfully, the hard work paid off. Auto Tech and Body’s Reputation grew through word of mouth and many of the customers referred their family and friends to get their car/truck repairs at our facility. Yes, the money seemed to slip through holes in my pocket due to the expenses of having a shop, insurance, permits, parts, and of course employee paychecks. That is when I decided to seek investors to get access to capital. This was around 14 years ago when I took a leap of faith and decided to fulfill my long-term goal and open a larger facility- a State of the art facility with the latest technology and a built-in training center which can also be used for community use as a contribution to the community. This is now, Auto Tech and Body with its 22000 square foot facility is a full-service operation repairing car and truck rental fleets and privately owned vehicles. Fifteen employees, including mechanics, painters, body men and tow truck operators, still under my direct supervision- a mechanical engineer.
As I look back, the struggle, the hard work and the challenges to start a business from scratch are well worth it… Many insurance companies bring their appraisers/adjustors to our facility to show them how a proper shop should be built and managed. We also have had many dealerships visit our facility to learn the processes and give me advise on how to run the shop area. I have been blessed to have had this experience.
Don’t get me wrong, I still have a sleepless night because we still have to cover the overhead and keep our team happy to come to work and serve our customers proficiently and profitably. My main concern is taking good care of the customer and everything else will follow. I hope that you- the reader- will have a chance to come and visit. I would love to meet you and give you a tour of our facility and hope to become your shop for all your automotive needs.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Auto Tech and Body – what should we know?
Auto Tech and Body is a family business and an award-winning full-service repair facility with 20 bays. We perform mechanical, maintenance, body, paint, dents and scratch repairs, dent-less repairs, restoration services and customization processes. We work on all makes and models from a Tesla, Aston Martin, all the way to a Mercedes, Ford or Toyota, Kia and 11 other brands. We are certified by over 16 manufacturers and work with all insurance companies, fleet companies, and extended warranty companies.
All our work is warranted and our team of technicians from mechanics, body men, painters, detailers are knowledgeable and are up to date with the latest technology. Our staff in the office area are friendly, and enjoy working with our customers and excel in following up with the customers during the repair service and after a car is picked up to make sure that the customer is satisfied with our service and to answer any questions that they may have.
Auto Tech and Body has been recognized locally, regionally and nationally. The founder and president- Jay Ghanem- sits on multiple boards for Broward County School Board and the Boys and Girls Clubs in Fort Lauderdale. Jay is committed to passing on the knowledge that is crucial to ensuring continuity and to keep with the standards that he believes in- he implemented and encourages continuing education for the technicians and staff and thus, is the second-floor training center/ South Florida Community Service Center within our building. At least twice a year, staff and technicians go learn, practice and use the latest state of the art technology so they stay abreast of the latest vehicle technology.
We invite you to come, visit, tour our facility and give us the privilege to work on your vehicle(s) and be your repair shop for all your automotive needs.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Resilience, patience, understanding, optimism, self-control, and ambition.
Pricing:
- Synthetic Blend Oil Changes $28.00 which includes 27 points visual inspection and a car wash
- Computer Diagnostics $92.00 which includes complete electrical and electronic system scan and a full report
- Computerized wheel alignment $89.95 and laser measurement
Contact Info:
- Address: Facility location:
429 N. Dixie Hwy, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 - Website: www.autotechandbody.com
- Phone: 954-946-9730
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://twitter.com/autotechandbody
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/autotechandbody/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/auto-tech-and-body-pompano-beach-3
- Other: https://www.yellowpages.com/pompano-beach-fl/mip/auto-tech-and-body-6333066
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
