The C & C Automotive team is (from left) Johnathan Atkinson, Marty Morris, David Hair, Tim Carr, John Ryan Mooney, Mark Woodard,
Al Wildes, Grady Knight, Velda Coleman, Drew Cohn, John Clements, Adam Smelts, Amanda Clements-Mooney, Jim Burdeshaw, Aaron
Clements and Tony Shepherd.
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It's a dream of many a father and son to launch a successful family business. For Aaron Clements, this dream started in 1977,
when he and his father opened C&C Automotive in Augusta, Ga.
Now, the 35-bay repair shop is an exemplary independent business, and was recently named Motor Age magazine's Top Shop for 2008. The award also features nine other winners. Clements took the cash equivalent of an all-expenses
paid trip for two to Las Vegas.
With seven ASE certified techs, C&C became the first local AAA-approved shop, along with one of only a few local Automotive
Service Excellence (ASE) Blue Seal shops.
Shop Manager Jim Burdeshaw helps service advisors assist customers.
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Clements, whose shop has garnered many local and national accolades, modestly attributes his success to his team.
"One of the many items that makes this award so special is that it honors our entire team," he says. What makes his shop stand
out, he adds, "is the people that make up our team. Each one of them has areas that they truly excel in. But working as a
team, they all excel in many areas. Our team also has one main item in common. We truly care about our customers and think
of them as friends and, in some cases, family members."
Marty Morris, Aaron Clements, Al Wildes and Drew Cohn discuss Webinar information.
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In fact, at the time of the interview, Clements was just checking on a customer who was in the hospital.
Clements also recognizes other repair shops as being influential in his accomplishments.
Marty Morris conducts a 28-point courtesy inspection.
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"There are many 'Top Shops' out there, and we were very fortunate to be recognized," he adds. "The reason I know they are
out there is because many of these shop leaders are my friends and have had a very positive influence on my business and personal
life."
He says one of the biggest obstacles of starting a repair shop was not having the managerial knowledge and training he needed.
This was overcome after he joined the Automotive Service Association (ASA), which gave him the proper training and networking
to achieve the success he's experienced.
SHOP AT A GLANCE
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Clements also recently stepped down as ASA chairman.
C&C Automotive has a 90-percent ASE certified staff, 50 percent of whom are Master certified, which is an exemplary model
of how successful our industry's independent repair shops can be.
