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Fowers Service Center has earned the prestigious ASE Blue Seal of Excellence at both of its locations.

Don Fowers invests in the best products, best people and best service possible to create a winning atmosphere for his customers.Don Fowers likes to compare his role as shop owner to that of a conductor of an orchestra: "There is no greater feeling than walking through the shop having all the bays full, all the techs busy, listening to the noise of impact wrenches going, tire machines running, compressors growling, engines purring and happy customers at the counter," he said.

For Fowers, running an automotive business - like conducting an orchestra - is no easy task. But juggling all of his duties exceptionally, and going the extra mile for his customers, are two of the many reasons Fowers was named CARQUEST's Excellence Award winner last November in Tampa, Fla.

The award was well-deserved for Fowers, who opened his first automotive repair shop after graduating from the Denver Automotive and Diesel College right out of high school 30 years ago. Fowers went from being a one-man operation with two bays to having two businesses with 14 employees in the northern Utah area. His wife of 30 years, Janette, has been by his side since he first got started in the business.

Fowers relies on his family to carry out his standard of quality customer service. Front row l-r: Son, Jeff; Don Fowers; wife, Janette; and daughter, Jessica. Back row 1-r: Sons-in-law Corey Thurman and Mark Mudrow.

Fowers operates Fowers Service Center and a Quick Lube in Clearfield, Utah, with 10 bays. Another service center in nearby Hooper has seven service bays. "Our Quick Lube runs about 30 cars per day, and the service and tire side runs about 10 cars per day. At the Clearfield location, we service about 1,100 cars per month, and about 140 per month at the Hooper location," he said.

Fowers Service Center has earned the prestigious ASE Blue Seal of Excellence at both of its locations. Along with ASE certification, Fowers earned his Accredited Automotive Manager designation (AAM) from the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) in 2000 and is ASE master automotive certified. He is also ASE master medium/ heavy duty certified and holds an L-1 certification.

Youngest son Clayton (left) works as a tire tech after school and on weekends.

Fowers says it is his simple business philosophy that guides his success. "You must do the best job possible and sell the best products available," he said, and adds, "If you don't lie, you don't have to remember what you said. And most important - people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

Assisting him in implementing his sound business philosophy are various family members. Fowers and his wife, Janette, have three daughters and two sons. Their sons-in-law - Mark Mudrow and Corey Thurman - also assist in the family business, with one managing the Quick Lube store and the other working as a service writer. Fowers' eldest son, Jeff, is majoring in automotive service technology at Weber State University and works part-time as a service writer. Youngest son, Clayton, is in high school and works as a tire tech after school and on Saturdays. The Fowers' oldest daughter, Jessica, works part time and assists Fowers with marketing.

Family can be the greatest advantage and disadvantage in running a business, he says.

Lube tech Shane Parent also serves as assistant manager of Fowers' Quick Lube.

"The biggest advantage is they are all great people. They work hard, and they have concern and loyalty to our business. The disadvantage is they are family, and because of that, I am really concerned that everyone get along."

Fowers believes it is his simple, service-oriented philosophy that makes his business unique. He said that Fowers Service Center genuinely cares for its customers. "Although our prices are definitely not the cheapest, we feel like we give our customers real value for their money," he said. "We use the best information systems, the best equipment, sell the best products and have the very best people."

Fowers recognizes that ASA has helped his business to succeed. He joined ASA in 1998 because he wanted to give back to the industry. A graduate of the AAM program, he has found his AMI training to be invaluable. In addition, he says that ASA offers some terrific resources to use when he needs help in the industry.

Part of Fowers giving back involves his service on the advisory boards of school auto programs. He is also the chairman of the EPA Car Care for Clean Air Committee and is a member of the Motorist Assurance Program.

After 30 years in the business, Fowers' staying power can be attributed to the utmost care he gives his customers and his familiarity with all aspects of his company. Referring to his conductor analogy, Fowers works hard in coordinating all aspects of his shop to be in tune, which is always music to his customers' ears.

Shop Stats

Name: Fowers Service Center
Location: Clearfield and Hooper, Utah
No. of years in business: 30
Projected Annual Sales Volume for Quick Lube and Tire and Service Centers: $1,925,000
One change he wishes he could make with his business: “I wish our customers would understand how difficult it is to be an automotive technician, how complex cars are, how fast they change and how expensive tools and diagnostic equipment are.”

Simple Business Philosophy DrivesCARQUEST Excellence Award Winner

Shop Stats

Simple Business Philosophy Drives
CARQUEST Excellence Award Winner