[email protected] / April 3, 2025

Spotlight for Winter Auto Repair

Winter Auto Repair: Done Once, Done Right, Guaranteed

When the Great Recession of the late 2000s put a damper on his racecar-building business, Chris Winter noticed something interesting. Not only were people not as interested in having work done on supercars, but the general population was starting to hold onto their cars (of all kinds) longer than they had previously. With a background in general car repair, Chris decided to open Winter Auto Repair in Robbinsville, NJ, a shop driven by integrity that provides customers with high-quality work.

Unlike most other mechanics, Chris and his staff place an emphasis on being forthcoming and open with their customers. They will never prey on the naivety of a customer. Instead, they go out of their way to explain all repairs in great detail. “We will keep the part that needs to be replaced to show the customer. We’ll explain not only why it broke, but what made it break, and why we did the repair the way we did it. Every time we’ll go above and beyond in the explanation to make them comfortable and educated.” In addition, Winter Auto Repair offers a warranty on everything that is double what most other shops offer. They use high quality products that last longer, leading to high customer satisfaction ratings.

When a customer (or potential customer) calls into the shop, they will be thanked first, and then asked if they’ve ever been a customer (so the customer profile can be pulled up quickly if they have). If they have not, the staff will ask for the caller’s license plate number so they can identify all the proper parts for that specific vehicle. This allows them all the specifications of the vehicle in advance of any visit. This also allows the shop to make sure they have the proper parts in stock before the car is brought in, making for an even better customer experience. Upon arrival, regardless of the purpose of the visit (even an oil change), the vehicle will be taken for a test drive, given a computer scan and assessed. A report of all issues the car is having will be created and rated on a scale of 1-to-5 based on importance and safety concerns, then recommendations and an estimate for the work are given to the customer. “It’s sort of like going to your doctor for a physical,” Chris says. “We give the car a physical check-up.” This approach loses money for the shop, but giving the car a full evaluation is part of the customer experience, and it prepares the customer for what to expect in the coming year regarding the vehicle.

If there’s ever an issue with the work that’s been done on a vehicle, the customer is asked to come back in, and Winter Auto Repair bumps them to the top of the line of vehicles waiting for service to get the issue figured out as quickly as possible. If it was a misdiagnosis on their part, they will only charge the customer for the price they should have initially quoted. They also guarantee all parts and labor because they are a NAPA Auto Care Center, meaning NAPA will guarantee all of their services for two years or 24,000 miles at any NAPA Auto Care Center in the country.

Despite a love for automobiles and the various vehicles he sees and gets to work on regularly, Chris says that his favorite part of the work he does is building relationships with his customers and their families. “I like seeing the kids that are now driving. I’ve been working on the parents’ car; now I’m working on the kid’s car. They know they can trust me so I’m getting second and third generations of drivers. I’ve watched them get married. I’ve had customers invite me to their weddings.” This is more than a customer- mechanic relationship. When you bring your vehicle to Winter Auto Repair, you’re not just getting your car fixed, you’re leaving the shop with peace of mind that someone else is looking out for the safety of you and your family. And that feeling is priceless.

Visit their website for more information.
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[email protected] / March 11, 2025

Check Out Community Lifestyle

Community Lifestyle in Hoboken, New Jersey, is an important organization that is committed to breaking down barriers and offering free programs to all youth and teens, regardless of their economic background. Check out this video to learn more and see how you can make a difference!

[email protected] / February 14, 2025

Infinite Composites Continues to Grow

The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement in Science and Technology (OCAST) recently awarded a contract to Infinite Composites to help the company scale its products and production to meet the needs of the growing hydrogen economy. Oklahoma State University – Tulsa students will also benefit from experiential learning opportunities with Infinite Composites. Read more here.

[email protected] / February 13, 2025

Featured Client – Adirondack Thunder

Do you live in or plan on visiting the Glens Falls, NY area this winter? If so, you should try to make it out to an Adirondack Thunder hockey game at Cool Insuring Arena. Whether you’re looking for an awesome excuse to enjoy a few adult beverages with your friends, a unique date night with that special someone, or an affordable night out with your family that everyone will enjoy, the Thunder can provide it for you.

Keana Morrison / February 12, 2025

Schooley Mitchell Spotlight for Harrison Tenney & Associates Inc. Certified Public Accountants

Early in his accounting career, Skip Tenney was working for Peat Marwick International, one of the largest accounting firms in the world at the time.  During his time at the firm, he gained experience in many different parts of the business, from auditing to consulting, tax to business valuation.  As his family grew, Skip wanted less late hours and less time on the road, hence the shifting to different departments within the company.  “That was a great job,” Skip said.  “They treated me like royalty.  Anything I asked for, I got, including changing assignments.”  But this varied background at a major accounting firm also gave Skip a very full understanding of accounting on many levels.  When Pete Marwick and KMG were planning to merge into KPMG, Skip learned that his direct manager was starting to look for other jobs (unsure of what the merger may mean for him).  As a result, Skip decided he would open his own practice, and Harrison Tenney & Associates was born.

Oddly enough, Skip’s manager ended up staying with KPMG for several years, and when Skip’s former clients would call into their office asking for Skip, the manager would let them know that he had started his own firm.  This greatly helped Skip build his client base early on.  And not surprisingly, as the practice continued to grow, acquisition through referrals consistently remained their best form of growth.

Skip realizes that his practice (and the way he works with clients) may not work for everyone.  The first step he takes when speaking to a prospective client is to have them come to his office for a free consultation.  During this meeting, Skip goes through the prospective client’s tax documents, gives recommendations of what he would do (that the previous CPA may have done differently), and determines the type of work required to service this client.  This meeting also helps him estimate the fee structure.  But before everything is contractually agreed to, Skip offers the prospective client a trial month to get a better idea of the full scope of the work, create a more finalized quote, and determine if this will be a good fit for both sides.

When looking at the services provided by Harrison Tenney & Associates, clients will often find out how knowledgeable Skip is in the field of accounting very quickly.  His extensive background equipped him with the skills to handle virtually any situation a client may face.  This includes working with clients in different countries, learning/understanding the different tax rules/codes that apply in those countries, and knowing how to then file it all accurately in the United States.  Regardless of the client’s particular situation, Skip prides himself on finding the best solution for them, which sometimes involves negotiating with the IRS.

The interesting thing about the field of accounting is that most clients do not understand all of the services a good accountant can provide.  For example, when a client’s family member passes away, Harrison Tenney & Associates can provide a final income tax return.  What most people don’t realize is that the deceased family member’s estate needs to continue to have income tax returns filed for it until the estate is distributed.  Skip can help a client in this situation determine the best way to proceed to limit their tax liability.  He also has relationships with professionals in other fields that he can direct his clients to if they need help with something he can’t handle.

As evidenced by the strong referral base of clients, as much as Skip loves accounting, what he really enjoys the most is interacting with his clients and knowing that he’s helping them.  Many people at this stage of their careers are contemplating retirement, but Skip has relationships with his clients that go beyond just merchant-to-customer.  “I like our clients and I feel like I have to continue on for them so they don’t have to find someone else.”  This is how you grow a client base worldwide.

Ian Nairn / January 16, 2025

Blue Boxer Plumbing, Loyal as your best friend

Blue Boxer Plumbing is a family-owned business that started with founder Keith Owens’ service-industry background. Working in different contracting fields from the age of 16, Keith gravitated towards plumbing because of the joy it brings him. The company has grown to include several highly-skilled plumbers with a combined experience of over 70 years. Aside from the great workmanship and skill, what differentiates Blue Boxer from other companies, is their customer service.

In plumbing, a high-quality job doesn’t just come down to the skill of the worker, but also the quality of the materials, and Blue Boxer carefully choses the best materials and tools and for each client and job. However, as in all trades, sometimes an issue may arise, and this is where the team at Blue Boxer truly proves their commitment to their customers’ satisfaction. “When somebody calls, it’s addressed immediately,” says Keith. “Every concern is a major concern. We don’t categorize them into minor problems and larger problems. If it’s a customer’s issue, it’s going to be addressed.”
Because of this mindset, Blue Boxer often gets compliments from customers about how courteous their staff members are. From putting down drop-cloths in homes to removing shoes or wearing booties, they take pride in the way they treat their customers with respect. And no job is done until the work area has been thoroughly cleaned.

This high-level of customer service starts with the very first interaction the customer has with Blue Boxer. Keith’s wife Kathleen, the Office Manager and co-owner, is the first person a customer speaks to when they call the office. She enjoys getting to know their customers, identifying their issue, and assigning the project to a staff member in the field. Even if a call or email comes in after hours, the request is addressed promptly. Keith’s cell phone number is listed on the Blue Boxer website so that customers can contact him directly in emergency situations.

Emergencies tend to occur pretty frequently in the world of plumbing. The way Blue Boxer handles those situations, especially when something goes wrong (even if it’s out of their control) is what really sets them apart. Keith told a story about a brand-new water heater that went out on New Year’s Eve, one day after it was installed “the supplier and distributor were giving me a hard time about the unit, so I went out and purchased another water heater and installed it. Any other company would have just left it and let the customer just not have hot water. Whatever it takes, we make it right.”

Keith and Kathleen enjoy their work because they get to interact with people, learn about their backgrounds, share common interests, and hear stories. With that kind of desire to develop relationships with their customers, coupled with impeccable work and customer service, it’s no wonder that Blue Boxer Plumbing is one of the most sought-after plumbing companies in Central New Jersey and continues to grow.

Blue Boxer Plumbing Website

Blue Boxer Plumbing Facebook

[email protected] / January 7, 2025

Check out the Wichita Thunder

As we approach Valentine’s Day next month, and you’re trying to think of a different kind of gift idea for that special someone, consider bringing them to an ice hockey game! The Wichita Thunder are hosting Suite Heart Date Night with suite tickets, dinner, and drinks to their game on February 14. Give it a try.