When you need advice on car repair or general auto maintenance, this guide has you covered. Whether it’s a quick fix you’re seeking or solutions to a bigger issue, you’ll find everything you need in this guide. 

The Essential Guide to Car Repairs and Maintenance

SEBASTOPOL — What’s the first thing you notice when you’re shopping for a new or used car? Usually, it’s not the engine, brakes or steering column; it’s what the outside looks like. That’s why maintaining the exterior finish of your car is the most important thing you can do to improve its resale value. Maintaining your car doesn’t even have to be an expensive endeavor—you can achieve great results with actions that are both cheap and easy. Here are some helpful tips: Wash your car with the proper products and techniques. The first thing to do is rinse off the entire car with water to remove all the dust and debris that has accumulated from regular driving. Read more

<h1>Mike Ludeman: A Man of His Word</h1>
<h6>By Matt Solis, Editor</h6>
SEBASTOPOL — Mike Ludeman didn&#8217;t always know he would end up in the auto body industry, but his interest in the subject has been with him his whole life. &#8220;I&#8217;ve always been fascinated by cars,&#8221; he says. &#8220;My dad was in the auto parts business, and in high school my older brother and I spent a lot of time working on vehicles.&#8221; However, it wasn&#8217;t until his late teenage years that Mike realized he could turn his passion for cars into an actual career.
&#8220;Graduation was coming up and I knew I wasn&#8217;t going to college, so I thought, &#8216;What am I going to do with myself?'&#8221; he remembers. &#8220;I had some family issues at the time, and it was either go in the right direction or stray off in the wrong direction, so I took it upon myself to come up with some kind of career. There was an auto body program at my high school that I dabbled in, and after I graduated, I went to vocational college in Wyoming to learn the trade. Around 1984, I jumped right into the industry.&#8221;
After working his way through the ranks as a car washer, detailer and prep person at several companies, Mike found himself at Western Auto Body in 1991 as head painter, a job he performed for eight years until the shop came up for sale. &#8220;The previous owner tried to sell it several times and wasn&#8217;t able to get a buyer, and I thought, &#8216;I don&#8217;t want to paint cars forever. What&#8217;s the natural progression of all this?&#8217; The next step was to purchase the business. That was in 1999, and we&#8217;re still going strong more than a decade later.&#8221;
Mike&#8217;s responsibilities as the owner of a successful auto body shop keep him fairly busy, but he always prioritizes spending time with his two young sons. &#8220;Right now, I&#8217;m heavily into baseball season with coaching Little League,&#8221; he says. &#8220;I coach on my 9-year-old&#8217;s team and I help out on my 6-year-old&#8217;s team. My sons and I also do a lot of summer activities like RVing and boating, and I&#8217;m a member of a 4-wheel drive off-road club and a dirt bike club.&#8221;
As the son of an auto worker himself, Mike says he&#8217;d love to eventually teach his boys the intricacies of the trade, but for now, he&#8217;s content to keep them involved with more age-appropriate activities. &#8220;My kids are definitely interested in cars and like watching what I do, but I haven&#8217;t exposed them to it too much because they&#8217;re so young. I&#8217;m not keeping them sheltered from it, but there&#8217;s plenty of time for that.&#8221;
Mike&#8217;s approach to auto body work mirrors his overall approach to life: be honest in everything you do. &#8220;A man doesn&#8217;t have too many things besides his word,&#8221; he says. &#8220;That&#8217;s really important—if you&#8217;re honest and stick to those guidelines, the results might not be immediate, but you&#8217;ll eventually see the benefits of living your life that way. It translates nicely into having a business and dealing with people. I like to build relationships with my customers instead of going the quick route and trying to be transactional, and the only way to do that is through honesty and backing up my word.&#8221;
Ask Me Anything!
Q: If you could drive any car, what would it be? 
A: Probably a Bugatti. I like BMWs, too…the new X6 is pretty nice.
Q: Favorite sports team? 
A: San Francisco Giants. My sons and I go to a couple games a year, and we’re always watching on TV. We’re definitely a baseball family.
Q: Favorite music? 
A: It’s been country lately, but I like a wide variety of music. When we’re out on the boat, we listen to a lot of hip-hop and current stuff. My all-time favorite group is Beastie Boys.
Q: If you had a theme song, what would it be? 
A: “Fight for Your Right” by Beastie Boys. Why not?
Q: What’s one movie that people would be surprised you’ve never seen? 
A: I don’t really watch movies, actually. I’ve never even seen the Lord of the Rings movies, for example. If I have two hours of free time, I’d rather go do something else.
Q: Dogs or cats? 
A: Dogs. We have a Blue Heeler names Buttons who’s almost 17 years old and a Chihuahua named Chili to back that up.

Owner

Mike Ludeman: A Man of His Word By Matt Solis, Editor SEBASTOPOL — Mike Ludeman didn&#8217;t always know he would end up in the auto body industry, but his interest in the subject has been with him his whole life. &#8220;I&#8217;ve always been fascinated by cars,&#8221; he says. &#8220;My dad was in the auto parts business, and in high school my older brother and I spent a lot of time working on vehicles.&#8221; However, it wasn&#8217;t until his late teenage years that Mike realized he could turn his passion for cars into an actual career. &#8220;Graduation was coming up and I knew I wasn&#8217;t going to college, so I thought, Read more

Mike Ludeman is 24-year industry veteran and owner of <a href="http://www.diamondcertified.org/report/western-auto-body-inc">Western Auto Body, Inc.</a>, a Diamond Certified company since 2005. Mike can be reached at (707) 861-8756 or by <a href="http://www.diamondcertified.org/contact/western-auto-body-inc">email</a>.

Mike Ludeman: A Man of His Word

SAN JOSE — If there’s a scratch on your vehicle’s body, you may assume the area will need to be repainted. However, this may not be the case. Vehicle body scratches often look similar, but their impact can vary substantially depending on how deep they are. So, how can you tell whether a scratch requires repainting? It’s simple: run your fingernail over it. If you can feel a groove as your nail runs over the scratch, this means it has penetrated the paint and needs to be repainted. However, if you don’t feel any change in texture as your nail runs over the scratch, it likely hasn’t penetrated the paint. In this case, Read more

<h1>Alex Rodriguez: A Family Operation</h1>
<h6>By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter</h6>
SAN JOSE — For years, Alex Rodriguez and his family had talked about starting an automotive business. Finally, by aligning their skills and resources, they successfully followed through with their dream. “I come from a big family, and we’ve always worked on each other’s cars,” explains Alex. “A few of my relatives have professional auto body experience and we’d often talk about starting our own business. After working for 34 years as a construction equipment operator, I was getting ready to retire and I had the money to purchase a business, so we all decided it was time to make it happen.”
Since founding A-Rod Auto Collision in San Jose in 2016, Alex says the shop continues to be a family operation. “We have everyone in the family here, including my wife, my brother-in-law and some cousins. My son and my nephew are also involved, learning about the business and growing their knowledge and skills.”
When asked how he likes to spend his free time, Alex replies that he’s usually working. “People think I’m crazy because of how much I work. Even on Sundays, I’ll get up and come into the shop to clean and catch up on things.” However, Alex says he does enjoy spending time with his family outside of the shop. “We get together for parties and holidays, and sometimes for no reason at all. As a matter of fact, I was doing some barbecuing the other night, and before long we had 20 people at the house!”
When asked about a professional philosophy, Alex says he’s all about being available for his customers. “About six years ago, I was in a collision, so I took my truck to a local body shop. I went in and approached the estimator, but he didn’t have time to talk to me. Neither did the manager or the owner. It was a pretty lousy experience. Later, as I was preparing to start my business, I told myself that we would always be available for our customers. That’s the way I want our shop to be—I want customers to feel like they can approach us and get taken care of. Whatever their needs or concerns, we will make time for them.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Alex simply replies that he wouldn’t. “Everyone I know who retires goes downhill pretty quickly. You’ve been active all your life and then you sit there, and before too long you’re gone. So, I don’t have any plans to retire at the moment. I don’t want to get too comfortable; I want to stay active. Plus, I enjoy what I do, so why would I stop?”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What was your first car? 
A: A Volkswagen Beetle.
Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl? 
A: An early bird. I get up at 4am every day, even on the weekend.
Q: Are you a dog person or a cat person? 
A: A dog person. I’ve had dogs all my life.
Q: What’s your favorite holiday? 
A: New Year’s Eve. We get the family together and have a little fiesta.
Q: Do you collect anything? 
A: Classic cars. I have a ’57 Chevy Nova, a ’44 Dodge pickup truck and a ’38 Oldsmobile, to name a few.

A glimpse into the life and career of Alex Rodriguez, owner of A-Rod Auto Collision in San Jose.

Alex Rodriguez is owner of A-Rod Auto Collision, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (408) 622-0473 or by email.

Alex Rodriguez: A Family Operation

REDWOOD CITY — You probably know that before buying a used vehicle, you should take it to a professional mechanic to have it checked out. However, an additional step you might not be aware of is having your potential purchase inspected by an auto body professional as well. While a mechanic can assess the condition of a vehicle’s engine and important safety components, they won’t be looking for issues related to the body. Used vehicles frequently have hidden body issues, and it often takes the trained eye of an auto body professional to spot them. In some cases, a technician will pull back a suspicious-looking body panel to find hidden damage that wasn’t properly repaired. Read more

<h1>Tommy Ngai: Exclusive Expertise </h1>
<h6>By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter</h6>
REDWOOD CITY — Few automotive professionals can boast equal expertise in mechanical and body work, but that’s precisely Tommy Ngai’s claim to fame. It all began with an early introduction to the field. “I’ve been working on cars since I was 12 or 13 years old,” he recounts. “Growing up on a farm, my first encounters with auto repair work consisted of fixing tractors. My brother-in-law owned a gas station that had a little repair shop, and I went to work for him as soon as I was old enough.”
During subsequent years, Tommy worked at Honda and Subaru dealerships before opening his own repair shop in 2012. “I had a dream to make an all-in-one auto repair and body facility,” he says. “Eventually, I moved from my 1,800-square-foot shop to an almost 18,000-square-foot shop, which gave me plenty of room to handle both mechanical and body repair work.”
Today, as owner of Exclusive Auto Care and Auto Body, Tommy says his favorite part of his job is serving his customers. “An important part of owning an auto shop is building clientele. When I was working at the dealerships, I had customers who would ask for me specifically when they brought in their cars. Some of those customers followed me when I left to start my own shop, and I’ve since added more. It feels good to have loyal clients who trust me to take care of their vehicles.”
A resident of Daly City, Tommy likes to stay active when he isn’t working. “I don’t think I ever relax—I’m a 24/7 kind of person,” he affirms. “My business takes up most of my time, but when I’m not working, I enjoy cooking and entertaining at my home. I also like going to restaurants in the city and watching basketball, football, and baseball.”
In regard to a career philosophy, Tommy espouses the importance of customer satisfaction. “Return customers are the lifeblood of any automotive business, so it’s really important to me that everyone leaves here satisfied. I always do my best to advise my customers, steer them in the right direction and make them feel that they got their money’s worth. I don’t want anyone leaving my shop unhappy—besides being bad for business, it just doesn’t feel good. I want to sleep well at night knowing my clients are happy with the service and value I provided.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Tommy says he’d take a vacation. “I haven’t traveled much in recent years due to being busy with work, so I’d probably make up for lost time and do some traveling. I’ve always wanted to go to Germany for Oktoberfest—that’s on my bucket list, so I’d probably do that first thing.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Niku Steakhouse in San Francisco.
Q: What are your favorite sports teams?
A: The Golden State Warriors, the Oakland A’s and the Oakland Raiders.
Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: Both. I always say sleep is a waste of time.
Q: What was your first car?
A: A 1984 Ford EXP Turbo. Most people haven’t heard of it. It was like a Ford Escort but a two-seater.
Q: What’s your dream car?
A: Any model of Ferrari.

Tommy Ngai: Exclusive Expertise  By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter REDWOOD CITY — Few automotive professionals can boast equal expertise in mechanical and body work, but that’s precisely Tommy Ngai’s claim to fame. It all began with an early introduction to the field. “I’ve been working on cars since I was 12 or 13 years old,” he recounts. “Growing up on a farm, my first encounters with auto repair work consisted of fixing tractors. My brother-in-law owned a gas station that had a little repair shop, and I went to work for him as soon as I was old enough.” During subsequent years, Tommy worked at Honda and Subaru dealerships before opening his own repair shop in 2012. Read more

Tommy Ngai is owner of Exclusive Auto Care and Auto Body, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (650) 273-5409 or by email.

Tommy Ngai: Exclusive Expertise

SUNNYVALE — One mistake many vehicle owners make is overlooking their auto insurance coverage options. A lot of people just go with the most basic coverage, but there are several additional options that can benefit policy holders. One worthwhile option is getting an OEM endorsement: a clause on your policy that ensures aftermarket parts won’t be used to repair your vehicle. This policy clause is key for newer and leased vehicles. For newer cars, OEM parts are recommended to maintain the vehicles’ long-term integrity, and leased vehicles are required to have OEM parts when they’re returned to the dealership. It’s also wise to look at your policy’s deductible and make sure it’s an appropriate amount. Read more

<h1>Savi Singh: Career Cultivation</h1>
<h6>By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter</h6>
SUNNYVALE — Growing up in Punjab, India, Savi Singh was always interested in working on cars. However, it wasn’t until he immigrated to the United States that he cultivated that interest into a full-fledged career. “I immigrated to the U.S. in 2003, just before my 18th birthday,” he remembers. “My father had already immigrated a couple of years prior and applied for my mom, my brothers, and I to come join him. I couldn’t attend college during that first year because I hadn’t yet received my green card. So, I started helping my father, who had just opened an auto body shop in Hayward called ASM Auto Body. I’ve loved cars since I was a little kid and had already gained some body work experience in India, so I enjoyed doing that.”
After securing permanent resident status, Savi began attending college as planned. However, he soon realized he’d already found his professional calling. “I was studying accounting and computer science while continuing to work for my father on the side,” he says. “I realized I preferred working with cars over anything I was studying—it sounded a lot better than being an accountant and sitting in an office all day. So, I decided to quit school and focus on developing my career as an auto body professional. In 2008, my family opened a second shop in Sunnyvale, and I’ve been running things here ever since.”
Today, as general manager of Auto Collision Experts, Savi says his favorite part of his job is the variety. “Every job is different and there’s always an opportunity to learn something new. That’s what I like about this work—it’s never boring.”
A resident of the East Bay (where he lives with his wife, Kavleen, and their two young children) Savi spends his time outside of work on a variety of pastimes. “Our kids are really young, so I enjoy spending as much time with them as I can,” he says. “Outside of family time, I enjoy playing and watching sports, as well as going hiking and boating with my cousins when I get the chance.”
In regard to a professional philosophy, Savi espouses the value of simplicity. “We try to keep things as simple and stress-free as possible for our customers,” he explains. “We’re very straightforward with our quotes—whatever is on the paper is what they’ll get at the end of the day. We treat our customers fairly and honestly, and we’re not obsessed with making a profit. Even if I don’t make any money on a job, if I was able to help someone, I consider it worthwhile.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Savi says he’d take an impromptu trip. “I would pack my bags and go traveling. I wouldn’t plan ahead at all—it’s more exciting to do things last-minute. I would just pick a place, jump on a plane and see what happens when I get there.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What are your favorite sports teams? 
A: The Oakland Raiders and the Oakland A’s.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? 
A: Switzerland. I’d like to see the Alps.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day? 
A: Cook some traditional Indian food.
Q: Have you ever met anyone famous? 
A: I met MC Hammer at an Oakland A’s game.
Q: Do you collect anything? 
A: I collect coins; stamps; and sports memorabilia like jerseys, pins, and bobbleheads.

Savi Singh: Career Cultivation By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter SUNNYVALE — Growing up in Punjab, India, Savi Singh was always interested in working on cars. However, it wasn’t until he immigrated to the United States that he cultivated that interest into a full-fledged career. “I immigrated to the U.S. in 2003, just before my 18th birthday,” he remembers. “My father had already immigrated a couple of years prior and applied for my mom, my brothers, and I to come join him. I couldn’t attend college during that first year because I hadn’t yet received my green card. So, I started helping my father, who had just opened an auto body shop in Hayward called ASM Auto Body. Read more

Savi Singh is general manager of Auto Collision Experts, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (408) 758-5704 or by email.

Savi Singh: Career Cultivation

SUNNYVALE — An often-overlooked cause of auto paint damage is natural elements like bird droppings and tree sap. If not cleaned off promptly, these corrosive elements can leave permanent marks, especially during summer, when high temperatures can cause them to bake onto your car’s exterior. Since the only way to fix such damage is to repaint your entire car, it’s important to keep an eye out for these elements and remove them as soon as possible. A good cleaning agent for this job is bug and tar remover, which provides a reasonable degree of cleaning power without harming your car’s finish in the process (as other, more abrasive products can). Once the elements are removed, Read more

<h1>Tristin Wurzbach: A Positive Transition</h1>
<h6>By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter</h6>
SUNNYVALE &mdash; Tristin Wurzbach began his professional career working in auto insurance, but he ultimately found greater fulfillment in the auto body field. “Following college, I got a job with GEICO as a claims adjuster, where I learned about estimating, collision damage and other aspects related to auto body,” he explains. “However, as time went on, I became less enthusiastic about the work environment at GEICO. Fortunately, I found an opportunity to get out of the insurance side of things and go to work for an auto body shop, which was much more to my liking.”
Today, as general manager of B2 Perfection Auto Body, Tristin explains why he prefers his current livelihood to his prior career in auto insurance. “The difference between auto body and auto insurance is basically one of positive versus negative. Since the insurance company’s motivation is to spend as little money as possible, their default is to say ‘no’ whenever possible. In contrast, an auto body shop’s goal is to help customers get everything covered, which is why they’re more about saying ‘yes.’ Consequently, auto body provides a more positive work environment, so it has been a really good transition for me.”
A resident of Newark (where he lives with his wife, Amy, and their daughter), Tristin expresses his appreciation for life in the Bay Area. “The best thing about living here is all the opportunity. There’s so much to do, from outdoor activities to different types of food and entertainment. There’s a reason it’s such a hot spot for people to visit and relocate.”
Outside of work, Tristin likes taking advantage of all the opportunities the Bay Area has to offer. “I’m an avid skier and enjoy hitting the slopes at Tahoe with my friends and co-workers,” he says. “During the summer, I like going to the beach and wine tasting in Napa. Other than that, I enjoy spending time with my family, taking my dogs on walks and playing video games.”
In his life and career, Tristin believes in the value of over-performing. “I believe that if you continually outperform your pay, one day, your pay will outperform you,” he says. “In work, this means going above and beyond your job description and pay grade—one day that will reward you. It’s the same with your personal life. My wife and I recently had a baby, and I help as much as I can because I believe it’ll reward our relationship, resulting in a stronger bond and a better marriage.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Tristin says he’d start small. “I would probably take a week off just to relax and regenerate. After that, I’d probably do some light traveling—maybe spend some time in Napa and other somewhat local areas. Eventually, I’d like to go to Europe and other parts of the world, but I think I’d build up to that by doing some smaller stuff first.”
<h8>Ask Me Anything!</h8>
Q: What’s your favorite sports team? 
A: The Golden State Warriors.
Q: Music or talk radio? 
A: Music.
Q: What kinds of music do you like? 
A: Rock and hip-hop.
Q: What’s your favorite movie? 
A: “Ip Man.” It’s based on the life of the martial arts master who trained Bruce Lee.
Q: What’s your favorite type of food? 
A: Ramen.

General Manager

Tristin Wurzbach: A Positive Transition By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter SUNNYVALE &mdash; Tristin Wurzbach began his professional career working in auto insurance, but he ultimately found greater fulfillment in the auto body field. “Following college, I got a job with GEICO as a claims adjuster, where I learned about estimating, collision damage and other aspects related to auto body,” he explains. “However, as time went on, I became less enthusiastic about the work environment at GEICO. Fortunately, I found an opportunity to get out of the insurance side of things and go to work for an auto body shop, which was much more to my liking.” Today, Read more

Tristin Wurzbach is general manager of <a href="http://www.diamondcertified.org/report/b2-perfection-auto-body">B2 Perfection Auto Body</a>, a Diamond Certified company since 2011. He can be reached at (408) 800-1693 or by <a href="http://www.diamondcertified.org/contact/b2-perfection-auto-body">email</a>.

Tristin Wurzbach: A Positive Transition

PALO ALTO — When buying auto insurance, it’s important to know what you’re getting. Many people have a limited understanding of what’s included in their policies, and as a result, they may miss out on some beneficial perks. Here are a couple of things you should make sure your auto insurance policy includes: OEM parts  In order to minimize costs, insurance companies typically direct auto body shops to use cheaper aftermarket parts when performing repairs. Unfortunately, these parts are usually of inferior quality and in some cases don’t fit correctly, which can complicate and prolong the repair process. To avoid this scenario, make sure your insurance policy specifies the use of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. Read more

<h1>Scott Yeaman: An Educator at Heart</h1>
<h6>By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter</h6>
PALO ALTO — Soon after he started doing auto body work to supplement his day job, Scott Yeaman realized he could make a better living if he made it his main career. “I used to be a math and science teacher in Palo Alto and Los Gatos,” he recounts. “I’ve always enjoyed working on and driving cars—I restored my ’55 Chevy and raced Porsches. My uncle had an auto body shop in Oakland and offered to give me some work to help me make ends meet. After training with him, I started doing auto body jobs on the weekends and during winter and summer breaks. Pretty soon, I realized I was making more money on the side than I was from my day job. When a shop location in Palo Alto became available in 1980, I decided to quit teaching and opened Yeaman Auto Body.”
Although decades have passed since he last taught in a classroom, Scott is still an educator at heart. “I’m very passionate about educating my customers, especially about insurance,” he says. “I explain how the insurance companies operate, what kind of coverage they should have on their policies and other helpful information.”
A resident of Sunnyvale (where he lives with his wife, Doris), Scott spends his time outside of work on a variety of pastimes. “When I was younger, I used to be into extreme sports like racing and whitewater rafting, but I’ve backed off a bit in my later years,” he explains. “However, I still like snow skiing and riding dirt bikes. Doris and I also enjoy live music and often go out dancing on the weekends. Plus, we have seven grandkids between us, so they’re a big part of our lives as well.”
In regard to his professional career, Scott shares his simple formula for success. “My first priority is making my customers happy, because that’s how a business grows,” he says. “If I make a customer happy, they tell their friends and family, and so on down the line. Naturally, a big part of it is performing quality work. We’re so confident in the quality of our workmanship that we offer a lifetime transferable warranty, which no other shop I know of offers. That makes customers feel even more confident about their choice to bring their cars here.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Scott says he’d move to Italy. “Doris and I bought a house in Italy last year, near Tuscany. It’s practically brand-new—it’d been built just three years before we bought it. So, we’re looking forward to spending a lot of time there in our retirement years.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant? 
A: Cook’s Seafood in Menlo Park.
Q: What was your first car?
A: A ’55 Chevy. It didn’t have a transmission when I bought it, so I had to rebuild that before I could drive it.
Q: What’s your dream car?
A: I’ve always been into Porsches and I own a 914/6 that I restored myself. However, I’d love to own a Cayman or 911 because those are basically full-on race cars.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? 
A: Probably to some of the European countries I haven’t visited yet. I’ve been to Germany, Italy, France and Spain, but I still want to see Portugal and the Scandinavian region.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to eat for dessert?
A: Chocolate mousse.

Scott Yeaman: An Educator at Heart By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter PALO ALTO — Soon after he started doing auto body work to supplement his day job, Scott Yeaman realized he could make a better living if he made it his main career. “I used to be a math and science teacher in Palo Alto and Los Gatos,” he recounts. “I’ve always enjoyed working on and driving cars—I restored my ’55 Chevy and raced Porsches. My uncle had an auto body shop in Oakland and offered to give me some work to help me make ends meet. After training with him, I started doing auto body jobs on the weekends and during winter and summer breaks. Read more

Scott Yeaman is president of Yeaman Auto Body Inc., a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (408) 412-9572 or by email.

Scott Yeaman: An Educator at Heart

COLMA — A car accident can be a jolting experience, even if it’s just a minor collision, which is why drivers sometimes forget what to do next. Besides confirming the safety of all passengers involved, there are a couple crucial steps to take following an accident. After making sure all passengers are safe, the first thing you should do is obtain the other driver’s information. While writing down contact and insurance information is standard protocol, the prevalence of smartphones often makes it more efficient to simply take a picture of the other driver’s insurance card and license. Also, be sure to take a few photos of the damage sustained by each vehicle—these pictures can serve as documented evidence for any legal issues that come up in the future. Read more

<h1>Nana Sarkisian: A Drive to Succeed</h1>
<h6>By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter</h6>
COLMA – If you were talking to Cal Auto Body owner Nana Sarkisian, you might be surprised to learn there was a point in her adult life when she wasn’t even legally able to drive a car. Recently married and a new mother, Nana’s first few years living in the United States after leaving her home country of Armenia were, as she describes, a trying time. “For a while I felt like I was going one step forward and two steps backward in my life. As a stay-at-home mom who didn’t speak much English or even have a driver’s license, I felt fairly isolated.” This situation was especially challenging for someone as independent as Nana, who by age 21 had earned her master’s degree in industrial engineering, a field in which she worked for four years prior to coming to America. Fortunately, her circumstances gradually improved. “Eventually, my mom came over to help with things, which gave me a little more freedom to get myself educated in English, get a driver’s license and basically feel human again.”
Nana’s then-husband had spent several years working in the auto repair industry in various capacities until they both decided it was time to shift things into high gear. “In 2001, we bought an existing auto shop and changed the name to Cal Auto Body,” she remembers. Eager to jump back into the work world, Nana took an active role in running the shop. “I was in charge of the customer service, administration and accounting, while my husband handled the estimating and parts ordering.” However, as time went by, Nana became increasingly immersed in the more hands-on aspects of the shop’s business. “I ended up doing a lot more on the repair side, writing estimates and that sort of thing.”
In fact, Nana’s work at Cal Auto Body wasn’t her first exposure to the world of auto repair. “When I was a young girl, my dad used to spend all day in the garage and wouldn’t come out from underneath his car,” she remembers. “I would bring him lunch and he’d hand me a part to clean or have me help him with something. I’d start asking him questions about what he was doing, until he eventually got tired of all the questioning and kicked me out!”
In 2008, Nana took the helm as sole owner and operator of Cal Auto Body. Since that time, she has employed her accumulated experience and professional acumen to improve the business, taking advantage of promotional outlets like social media and consumer-friendly organizations. “Over the last five years, not only have we been able to increase our business, we’ve been able to maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau,” she says. The shop’s Diamond Certified status further indicates its dedication to customer satisfaction.
Outside of work, Nana engages in a variety of hobbies and pastimes. “I do a lot of oil painting,” she says. “I’m always amazed at the things that come out of my head when I’m painting—very abstract stuff.” Nana also says that whenever it’s sunny, she’s likely to be at the beach. “I think in my previous life I was a fish,” she laughs. “The sand, the water, the shells, the smell of the seaweed—I love anything that’s connected to the sea. Even food…seafood is my favorite!” In addition, Nana likes to keep up with her daughter, Maria, a chemistry student at Skyline College in San Bruno. “She’s eventually hoping to transfer to UC Berkeley or UC Davis and study molecular toxicology. She’s a real smart cookie and I’m very proud of her.”
Looking back, Nana says the expression “givers gain” has proven to be true throughout her life and career. “You give, you receive; you don’t give, you don’t receive. It’s actually very interesting how this happens in auto body work. We always take care of customers and try to give them more than they expect. In return, they give us compliments and refer their friends to us. So, I think this philosophy of giving has really been a big part of our success.”
<h8>Ask Me Anything!<h8>
Q: What was your first car? 
A: A ’94 Lincoln Continental. My family expected me to crash whatever car I had, so they gave me one that nobody cared about!
Q: If you could drive any car, what would it be? 
A: A 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang.
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant? 
A: Barracuda Sushi in San Francisco.
Q: Are you a dog or cat person? 
A: I’m totally a dog person, but guess what? We have a cat!
Q: Do you have any nicknames? 
A: Nana is my nickname. My real name is Gayané. Everybody calls me Nana because it’s just easier to pronounce.
Q: If you were doing karaoke, what song would you sing? 
A: I’d sing two songs, both by The Beatles: “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” and “Yesterday.”
Q: If someone was making a movie about your life, which actress would you choose to play you? 
A: Sandra Bullock.

Nana Sarkisian: A Drive to Succeed By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter COLMA – If you were talking to Cal Auto Body owner Nana Sarkisian, you might be surprised to learn there was a point in her adult life when she wasn’t even legally able to drive a car. Recently married and a new mother, Nana’s first few years living in the United States after leaving her home country of Armenia were, as she describes, a trying time. “For a while I felt like I was going one step forward and two steps backward in my life. As a stay-at-home mom who didn’t speak much English or even have a driver’s license, Read more

Nana Sarkisian is owner of <a href="http://www.diamondcertified.org/report/cal-auto-body">Cal Auto Body</a>, a Diamond Certified company since 2011. She can be reached at (650) 273-5401 or by <a href="http://www.diamondcertified.org/contact/cal-auto-body">email</a>.

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