After a four-year tour in the U.S. Navy, Frank Brizek had the opportunity to open an automotive repair facility. His military career in aircraft and vehicle maintenance was a perfect stepping stone to the automotive industry. "With the advent of newer technology in the automotive industry, I saw a need for a more professional auto repair facility. So I opened Solar Automotive in Oak Lawn, Ill.," said Brizek. Oak Lawn is a suburb of Chicago, and was a growing community at the time.

Brizek began his automotive career with 3,200 square feet and two employees, one of which was himself. His business performed primarily general automotive repair. Over the next five years, Brizek experienced many growing pains including the need for more education and training to advance his business. In 1975, he was introduced to the Automotive Service Councils (ASC) - now known as ASA - and joined the association.

Solar Automotive has provided quality repairs at fair prices to the community for more than 28 years. Brizek prides himself on this and states it as his business philosophy. "We do whatever it takes to satisfy our customers and always have. We provide pick-up and delivery services of customers and vehicles. If a customer needs to go 30 or 40 miles, we'll take them," said Brizek. Along with this service, Solar Automotive washes every car that the shop services before returning it.

This way of conducting business has increased his customer base over the years. It has also made him very successful, to the point that in November 1996, the business went through a major expansion and move. Brizek moved Solar Automotive one and a half miles from its original location to an abandoned dealership. "The move gave us the opportunity to expand the business but because it was so close to the original location, it made it an even better decision. It allowed us to continue to serve our current customers without having them travel a longer distance," said Brizek. With the sale of the original location, Solar Automotive was able to make improvements to the new location, including increasing the number of lifts from three to eight and enlarging its in-house parts department. The move also increased the square footage to 12,000 and Brizek has the option to purchase the property. Solar Automotive lost only one day of production during the move, due to proper planning by the management and staff.

Solar Automotive has 13 employees, a service manager, six technicians, a service writer, a parts manager and two part-time apprentice technicians. Brizek conducts the day-to-day operations of the business in the capacity of general manager. His son also works in the business. "The advantage of having my son work with me is that he takes an owner's interest in the business," said Brizek. Solar Automotive has approximately 75 repair orders a week.

When asked what one thing he would change in the industry, Brizek responded, increased customer education by the vehicle manufacturers. "People buy cars and don't even read the owner's manual. They are led to believe the vehicle needs no maintenance performed before 100,000 miles, which is not always the case," said Brizek. He also would like dealerships to prepare customers for the cost of vehicle repairs. "Customers don't realize that today's vehicles are more complicated and expensive to repair," said Brizek.

Due to this complication of repairing vehicles, Brizek has relied on the industry to keep himself and his staff up-to-date. One source of education for Brizek has been ASA. "I joined the association to continue my education and will continue my membership because of the many benefits ASA provides. And for the friendships that I have made with fellow shop owners locally and across the country," said Brizek.

Through his continued involvement at the local, state and national levels of the association, he has gained education in all aspects of the automotive industry. Not only has he received from the association, he has also given back. Brizek has served as vice president, treasurer, secretary and mechanical division chairman of the Illinois affiliate. On the local level, he has served as president, vice president and secretary of the ASA-Tri-County chapter. Brizek is a licensed airframe and powerplant (A&P) aircraft mechanic and is a National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified technician. He has also taken advantage of management seminars offered by the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) and received his Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation in 1996. Also, involvement in the community has played a role in the success of Solar Automotive. In September, Solar Automotive, along with 13 other area repair facilities, raised money for a local children's charity. Fund-raising participants conducted oil changes and safety inspections for $15.99 and donated 100 percent of the proceeds to the charity. Local vendors supplied the oil and filters and the repair facilities supplied the manpower and locations. Solar Automotive participated in the program to give back to a community that has given to them.

The future for Solar Automotive is promising, and professionalism in the industry will remain a top priority. After 28 years, Brizek is still as committed to increasing the professionalism in the automotive repair industry as he was the day he opened his business.

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