Mike’s Auto Body is celebrating its 20^th anniversary of giving cars to deserving individuals, families and non-profit organizations with a grand total of 92 vehicles donated since 2000.

On October 21, we collaborated with the Hemophilia Foundation of Northern California, Farmers Insurance® and NABC Recycled Rides to present two refurbished cars to two Bay Area families. Javier Caro Valdez received a 2015 Hyundai Elantra and Nicholas DeFalco was presented with a 2016 Honda Fit, with trunks full of gifts, gas cards and car safety kits.

All local guidelines regarding public gatherings were followed at the event, including social distancing, and the wearing of masks. The presentation also included the Grand Opening of our newest location in Pleasanton, CA.

The Hemophilia Foundation of Northern California (HFNC) serves the needs of people impacted by bleeding disorders through enhancing the quality of life by providing support, education, outreach, advocacy, and research. This marks the fourth time that Mike’s has found worthy recipients from HFNC through our Benevolence program.

Sal Contreras has emceed our car presentations for many years, but he never gets tired of working with local non-profit organizations to help people in need. “We are excited to work with the Hemophilia Foundation of Northern California, NABC Recycled Rides, and Farmers Insurance® as we celebrate our 20^th anniversary,” he said. “It’s always so satisfying to see how the lives of these individuals and organizations change dramatically through the gift of transportation.”

Owner Mike Rose described the program and its value to the community. “We feel very fortunate to be involved with such a wonderful program and are very excited to be able to give back to those communities that have supported us along the way,” he said. “After receiving hundreds of applications over the years and reading the heartbreaking stories, we only wish that we could do more. But hopefully, with increased publicity of our program, other shops will adopt similar programs of their own.”

Director of Marketing Dane Dearlove talked about all of the people that are needed in order to give away 92 cars over the last two decades. “One Team, One Mission says it all,” he said. “Without our business and insurance partners, as well as our managers and employees, we wouldn’t have been able to do this for 20 years at this level. It’s an honor to work with this company and these people.”

After Contreras opened the presentation with an invocation, speakers included Dane Dearlove, Vice Mayor of Pleasanton Kathy Narum, Pete Barbounis from the Hemophilia Foundation of Northern California; Farmers Insurance District Managers Daniel Brown and Rachel Crawford and Farmers Insurance Agent Ruben Herrera.

Local companies that donated products and services included National Auto Parts, PPG Automotive Refinish, Geronimo’s Detail WC, Big O Tires, All-Star Hyundai, Lexus of Concord, Four Corners Union 76, Dan’s Glass, Winter Honda, Glasstek, MAB Towing, Adolph’s Autohaus, West Coast Wheels, Pacific Rim, Vinyl Touch, O’Reilly’s Auto Parts, SRS Extreme Airbag, and AutoNation Hyundai.

Special thanks to our managers at our San Ramon and Walnut Creek North Broadway locations, consisting of Dina Palacios, Joe Drago, Erica Randall, and Sam Arvizu, as well as the technicians who worked on the vehicles including Rob Stafford, Bernil Giron, Noel Valencia. Gerardo Cano, Victor Gil, Jaime Villegas, and Ruben Ramos.

 

 

Q: How Long Have You Been with Mike’s Auto Body?

A:  6 years

Q: How Many Years of Industry Experience Do You Have?

A: 16

Q: Favorite Part of The Job?

A: Seeing the joy in a customer’s face when they come to pick up their vehicle and it looks even better than before the accident.

Q: What Do You Do When You’re Not Working at Mike’s Auto Body?

A: Just relaxing with my wife Kim. We both work plenty of hours during the week and the best way to recharge our batteries is to relax together and spend time with our dogs.

Q: What Sports Teams Do You Follow?

A: Don’t follow sports much any more. However, I grew up going to plenty of A’s games.

Q: Favorite Movies?

A: All of the Star Wars, Pulp fiction, Snatch… The last 2 aren’t the most family-friendly but they’re definitely great!

Q: Pets?

A: 2 dogs, Sage & Pepper

Q: Favorite Outdoor Activities?

A: Autocross, Going for a drive

Q: If You Could Have Any Kind of Car, What Would You Get and Why?

A: Don’t really have a strong desire for anything in particular as I actually bought a 2020 STI Series White and they only made 500 of them. I’d love to go for a ride-along in an F1 car as I’m sure that would be the experience of a lifetime.

Q: If You Could Have Lunch with Anyone Who Would It Be?

A: Stephen Hawking, I find space & physics to be quite fascinating and it would be amazing to be able to sit down and have a conversation with him.

Q: What Are Some of The Customer Service Things You’re Proud of At Mike’s Auto Body and Describe Your View of What Exceptional Customer Service Is?

A: Working here is so satisfying. I really enjoy seeing customers super excited to get their cars back. It really feels good to see them happy.

Q: What Are Some of The Changes You’ve Seen in This Industry Over the Years and How Has Mike’s Auto Body Reacted To These?

A: Today’s cars have become even more complex than before. Mike’s has purchased scanners and invested heavily into getting the correct equipment. That allows the customer to have that extra layer of confidence that their vehicle will be repaired correctly and returned to them with a clean bill of health.”

Q: How long have you been with Mike’s Auto Body?

A: 6 weeks

 

Q: How many years of industry experience do you have?

A: 5 years

 

Q: Favorite part of the job?

A: I love the fast-paced work environment. I have always loved cars and every job is different. Each job provides its own challenges whether it be with the car, customer, or insurance. I enjoy overcoming challenges and providing the best customer service experience.

 

Q: What do you do when you’re not working at Mike’s Auto Body?

A: Spend time with family and work on my home.

 

Q: What sports teams do you follow?

A: Sharks, A’s, and Warriors

 

Q: Favorite movies?

A: Anchorman

 

Q: Favorite TV Shows?

A: Animal Kingdom, Queen of the South

 

Q: Favorite outdoor activities?

A: Sports with my kid (Hockey, Baseball, Football), Biking, Beach trips

 

Q: If you could have any kind of car, what would you get and why?

A: 2020 Chevy Silverado 2500HD AT4

 

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone who would it be?

A: Thomas Jefferson

 

Q: What are some of the customer service things you’re proud of at Mike’s Auto Body and describe your view of what exceptional customer service is?

A: Mike’s has a phenomenal reputation and a foothold in Northern California. That success is built off of quality and exceptional customer service. As a new manager to the company, the training has also been focused on the customer service portion of the repair process. Mike’s Auto Body knows that it cannot just hang its hat and the quality that it produces, but needs to excel at the customer experience in the repair process. Exceptional service to me is a combination of attitude, follow-through, communication, and delivering on your promises. Each one of my customers has a different accident and repair experience, and it is my job to cater to their individual needs.

 

Q: What are some of the changes you’ve seen in this industry over the years and how has Mike’s Auto Body reacted to these?

A: The only constant in this industry is change. From electric and hybrid vehicles to major Multi-shop Organizations, to advanced safety systems, and advanced materials, the repair process is not getting easier. Mikes and all of its upper management are well versed in these areas. Always learning and keeping up with new training is essential to providing efficient and proper repairs.

On August 11, we presented a refurbished vehicle to Kristina Crawford, a military veteran and single mother with two children when she received a 2018 Chevy Malibu as part of our 20-year-old Benevolence Program. Since 2000, Mike’s has been giving cars to deserving people and this presentation put the total number at 90.

The Malibu was donated by Hertz Rent-A-Car as part of the NABC Recycled Rides Program and sponsored by High Mountain Heroes, a non-profit organization that provides outdoor adventures to disabled military veterans who have returned from deployment with physical or emotional scars.

Every year, the collision repair industry comes across cars that are “written off” by either the owner or the insurance company. Often, these are older vehicles that just need some mechanical and bodywork to get them back on the road and perfectly safe to drive. Two decades ago, we saw that there were a lot of vehicles out there that were going to waste while many people desperately needed reliable transportation. So, we decided to do something about it.

The nationally recognized Mike’s Auto Body Benevolence Program is a community relations program designed to generate goodwill at the local level while improving and promoting the image of the collision repair industry who’s mission is to present refurbished “new” used cars to deserving individuals or organizations. Local companies working together to help make life a little easier for those less fortunate”.

“It has really been so rewarding over the last 20 years presenting cars to deserving individuals and organizations who are working to improve their skills and become independent,” Sal Contreras said. “One of the best parts of our program is that everything is donated—and that means the cars, parts, paint, mechanical inspections, tires, as well as one year of insurance. Our body and paint technicians donate their time and talents and work off the clock or weekends to get it done.”

We love giving cars to veterans, they put their lives on hold to keep us safe. So, the least we can do, is to say ‘Thank You’ by helping them when they need it. Receiving a car makes a big difference in their lives to continue to move forward in providing for their family. Holding the presentation in our hometown of Clayton made it an even more exciting event.”

 “We feel very fortunate to be involved with such a wonderful program and are very excited to be able to give back to the area communities that have supported us for the past 48 years.” Owner Mike Rose said. “After receiving hundreds of applications over the years and reading the heartbreaking stores, we only wish that we could do more.  But hopefully with increased publicity of our Benevolence Program other shops will adopt a similar program of their own.”

As always, Marketing Director Dane Dearlove capsulized the day’s events beautifully. “The Benevolence event in Clayton was a near-perfect event and the combination of several groups efforts,” he said. “I don’t think it would have been possible to choose a better charity or recipient. When Kristina stated that ‘with all I’ve been through, I would serve my country again and again,’ it made us all feel proud to be American. To get the green light from the Rose family without hesitation, and to be able to put this together with Hertz, our supply partners, and the fantastic charity High Mountain Heroes, we created the perfect storm. And to be able to do it in Clayton, in the parking lot of Moresi’s Chophouse, it all became a magical day.”

The afternoon’s ceremonies kicked off with an invocation by Sal Contreras followed by remarks from Dane Dearlove, CEO Brennan Rose, HUD-VASH Case Manager Kristine Nishi, Executive Director of High Mountain Heroes Christen Rogelstad, and Senior Director of Sales for Hertz Rent-A-Car Gim Dissanayake. Then Kristina Crawford thanked the crowd as Dissanayake handed her the keys with her daughter and her brother watching.

Thank you to all our sponsoring vendor partners, including John L. Sullivan Chevrolet, Big-O Tires of Pittsburg, Winter Chevrolet, Pacific Rims, PPG, MAB Towing, and Finish Master. Also, thanks to Claycord News, Concord Clayton Pioneer, and Bay Area News Group for covering the event and to Moresi’s Chophouse for hosting the event.

Under the direction of ADAC Manager Lupe Algood, the technicians who refurbished Kristina Crawford’s 2018 Chevy Malibu include Ronnie Algood, Arnold Cuevas, Cason Johnston, Lorenzo Algood, Hector Arcos, Danielle Knowles, and Lupe Algood, Jr.

 

In the world of marketing, public relations and advertising, staying ahead of the game at Mike’s Auto Body is paramount. With 17 locations, we need to spread a fairly wide net in order to get our message of Quality Counts to car owners and our insurance partners throughout the East Bay.

To succeed when it comes to getting out the word and communicating with the public digitally in an effective and cost-conscious manner, Mike’s has been working with WSI Connect in, CA since 2014.

Led by its Managing Director Luke Middendorf, WSI Connect helps Mike’s with its digital marketing, including email newsletters that cater to insurance partners as well as providing social media consulting and branding services.

Known as a leading expert on digital marketing, Middendorf teaches a workshop titled, “Effective Web Design & Online Lead Generation” designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs gain a basic understanding of digital marketing so that they can leverage it to help grow their business.

A Bay Area native, Luke founded WSI Connect in 2012 and is passionate about helping his clients increase their lead generation and conversion rates. At WSI Connect Luke oversees sales, marketing, and business development, as well as client strategy. He holds a degree in Business Economics from the University of San Diego and possesses a wide range of digital marketing certifications. WSI Connect is a family business, with Luke’s wife Tabitha also working for the company as their Creative Director.

“One of the first things we did was to re-do Mike’s web site and then we did it again recently,” Luke said. “We’ve helped them to improve their online reputation and have worked with them on their social media. Whenever Mike’s acquires a new location, we need to build a new page and make certain they are set up correctly with Google and GPS sites. Our email newsletters get a response rate almost three times the national average and the company’s website gets better and better traffic all the time.”

To keep the Mike’s marketing machine running along, Middendorf and his team meet quarterly with our team to discuss what is working and how to change if needed. “We sit down and look at our monthly reports and make sure we are aligned with Mike’s business needs and then make certain that we are on the right path.”

“Working with Luke and his team have made us a better company,” Mike’s Director of Marketing Dane Dearlove said. “From database management to Internet solutions, he has been an invaluable resource. “Based on results and its ongoing success, Mike’s Auto Body is headed in the right direction when it comes to marketing and much of that is owed to Luke Middendorf at WSI Connect!

Luke and his team helped the Mike’s Auto Body team bring consistency across the internet.  Before we engaged with WSI Connect, I felt I was constantly trying to update one website or another with our correct location addresses, phone numbers, etc.  Luke and his team helped us change that.

“Up until we hired Luke, we had a homemade website,” Mike’s IT Director Rick Rehm said. “It worked well with a PC browser but not so much with a smartphone browser.  Luke taught us the importance of have a responsive website and helped us build a modern page.  Luke and his team took the time to help us build our webpage and starting us down a path of increasing our organic pages with his unique approach to SEO. Luke and his team are a valuable part of our online presence.  He is up to date with current trends and brings to the table a different set of eyes to help us focus on our core business while assuring our brand is relevant in today’s market.”