Frederick L. "Chip" Broemmer, the owner of Broemmer Automotive Technologies in Fair Grove, Mo., has only been in business for two years. But in that short time, his firm has grown from a single-bay shop with only himself to a three-bay shop with a staff of five. Business is good and getting better. If he could afford it, Broemmer said, he would go to eight bays right now. (Pictured: Chip and Megan Broemmer)

Why is Broemmer Automotive Technologies "going gangbusters" in a little town of only about a thousand people in Missouri? Well, part of the reason is, as realtors like to say, "location, location, location." He has moved from a remote area on a gravel road to the corner of a busy intersection of Highways 65 and 215. But Broemmer attributes his business' success mainly to being located in a rural area where many residents have high-mileage vehicles that are out of warranty.

"We're only 22 miles from Springfield," Broemmer said, "and a lot of people enjoy living out here in the country, even though they work in Springfield. They have fairly new cars, but they put a lot of miles on them going to and from their jobs and they get out of warranty quickly. Since they have good jobs, they can afford to maintain their cars and they want to keep them up."

Accommodating that business is the reason Broemmer moved from his little single-bay shop a mile west of his present location to the heavily traveled intersection where he now has his business.

Broemmer Automotive Technologies is now headquartered in what used to be a grocery store. It has grown three times its original size to a 2,100-square-foot facility.

The new location is complete with the three bays, plus a customer waiting room, several bathrooms, an employee break room, an office and a transmission "clean" room where assembly takes place.

The latest equipment
Broemmer Automotive Technologies, which offers a wide range of mechanical and transmission repair services, also has the latest diagnostic and repair equipment. Broemmer said people are amazed to find such a modern, well-equipped shop complete with computers and everything else in a little town "out in the country."

They are also surprised when they learn he has some of the best technicians in the state working for him. "I owe much of the success of my business to the good work of my people," he said.

The firm's staff includes two technicians, a student/apprentice technician, a service writer and Broemmer, who sees his job as "primarily doing whatever is necessary to keep my employees and customers smiling - keeping everybody focused and happy." The service writer is Keith Maddux. The technicians are Scott Reed, a National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified master technician with about 10 years' experience; and Jim Robbins, who also is ASE certified and has 12 years' experience. The student/apprentice technician is Travis Cozad, who is working on an associate's degree in automotive technology at Ozarks Technical College and will begin his certification process through ASE this fall.

Broemmer is also appreciative of the help he got from his banker, David Petiford, of Liberty Bank in Springfield, while making plans for the new facility. In addition to financial assistance, Petiford also gave him "a lot of good advice."

Broemmer also credits his builder, Carl Buckner, of B&R Builders, who came up with the design and floor plan for the facility and did the construction. "All that was left of the grocery store was the walls," Broemmer said. "We completely redid the interior, and I think it's really workable for us."

Even though Broemmer is only 29 years old, he has done remarkably well. Where did this young guy come from, and how did he wind up in the automobile repair business?

His interest in auto repair dates back to his high school days at Parkway Central High School in Chesterfield, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis. He took a course in auto mechanics in high school and his interest in auto repair as a career was sparked by his teacher, Clinton Jerome. He entered Southwest Missouri State University to study biology/animal husbandry, but quit after about two years to return to the automotive service industry.

After leaving the university, he moved to St. Louis where he started working for Sears, changing tires and batteries. But he soon decided that automotive repair would be more lucrative. He then moved to Indianapolis where he started attending Ivy Tech and working for a company called Auto Source as a mechanic and service writer. He then worked as an assistant service manager for a Toyota dealership.

While with the Toyota dealership, he got married and bought 30 acres in the Fair Grove area because he and his wife, Megan, decided that's where they wanted to live. "It's such a beautiful area," he said. "We really enjoy it." After moving back to Missouri and working for a Toyota dealership for about six months, he decided to "go out on his own."

Broemmer Automotive opened its doors March 30, 1996.

That same year, Broemmer joined the Automotive Service Association (ASA). He joined, he said, "because with anything, you can learn things the hard way or listen to other ASA members tell you about stumbling blocks and what helps them succeed."

Broemmer firmly believes in the value of training. Currently he is working on his Accredited Automotive Managers accreditation from the Automotive Management Institute (AMI), and he encourages his technicians to further their education. "I believe that training and dedication toward always improving are what make this industry so challenging," Broemmer said.

He holds an associate's degree from Ivy Tech in Indianapolis and is an ASE automobile master technician with L1. He is AC Delco trained and certified; Missouri state inspector certified; ASE recovery/recycle for A/C certified; and was a recipient of a Fel-Pro and Sears Race for the Future scholarship award at Ivy Tech.

Broemmer is on the board of advisors for Ozarks Technical College, serves as secretary for the Springfield, Mo., chapter of ASA, and is a member of the Fair Grove Chamber of Commerce and Service Technicians Society (STS). His shop is a member of ASA, the Automatic Transmission Service Group (ATSG), the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the International Automotive Technicians Network (iATN).

The Missouri shop is a state inspection station, AAA-approved for automotive repair and offers its customers a 90 days, "same as cash" payment option through ASA's NORWEST program.

Broemmer Automotive Technologies also offers its customers honesty.

"I firmly believe that honesty is the best policy," Broemmer said. "Customers may dislike what you tell them, but if it is the truth, at least they know they can trust you."

Broemmer also believes in taking time to "educate" his customers about the importance and value of maintaining their vehicles.

"A lot of shops don't take the time to do that," Broemmer said, "but we want them to understand why it costs what it does, and we try to be understanding and helpful."

The shop's slogan is "serving the Ozarks with integrity."

Apparently, it's paying off.

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