Meet the Team

Michael Updike – Owner

  • Hometown: Brooklyn, MI
  • Favorite part of the job here? The ability to use my knowledge to implement ideas, helping the customers & our staff, and watching the business succeed.
  • What inspired you to choose this career path? I always had an interest in the family business and the desire to run my own someday. I graduated from Adrian College with a double major in Business Accounting & Economics.
  • How do you like to spend your free time: Hiking, hunting, golfing & house projects.
  • Favorite local restaurant: Artesian Wells
  • Favorite snack or food: BBQ
  • Favorite movie or tv show: Harry Potter / Jeopardy
  • Favorite book or magazine: Woods & Water
  • Favorite sport or activity: Golf
  • Favorite holiday or holiday tradition: Thanksgiving & Easter (we host an adult Easter Egg hunt at our house every year…It’s a BLAST!)
  • Random fact about you: I went to the Jay Leno Show.

 

James Bryja – Auto Body Tech

  • Hometown: Onsted, MI
  • Favorite part of the job here? Lunch
  • What inspired you to choose this career path? I’ve enjoyed working on cars since I was a kid.
  • How do you like to spend your free time: I have kids playing sports…I have no free time.
  • Favorite local restaurant: Tecumseh Brew
  • Favorite snack or food: Coffee
  • Favorite movie or tv show: The Office
  • Favorite holiday or holiday tradition: Thanksgiving
  • Random fact about you: I have 6 siblings

 

Josiah Keller – Apprentice

  • Hometown: Blissfield, MI
  • Favorite part of the job here? Working with people that build me up
    and make me better.
  • What inspired you to choose this career path? I always liked to work on cars and fixing them, so it seemed like a good fit.
  • How do you like to spend your free time: I like to wash my truck and clean it.
  • Favorite local restaurant: Applebee’s
  • Favorite snack or food: Scooby Doo Cheez-its
  • Favorite movie or tv show: Smokey and the Bandit
  • Favorite book or magazine: The Holy Bible
  • Favorite sport or activity: Football
  • Favorite holiday or holiday tradition: Christmas
  • Random fact about you: I like cheese

 

Michael Kozar – Parts Manager

  • Hometown: Brooklyn, MI
  • Favorite part of the job here? Fast paced work environment, fun people to work with.
  • What inspired you to choose this career path? Started as a job, turned into a career.
  • How do you like to spend your free time: Spending time with family, being out doors.
  • Favorite local restaurant: Jerry’s Pub
  • Favorite snack or food: Pistachio
  • Favorite movie or tv show: That 70’s Show
  • Favorite book or magazine: Time
  • Favorite sport or activity: Baseball
  • Favorite holiday tradition: Christmas Eve dinner
  • Random fact about you: Born in Long Beach, CA

 

John Miller – Auto Body Tech

  • Hometown: Adrian, MI
  • Favorite part of the job here? Working with a close knit team.
  • What inspired you to choose this career path? I was encouraged by my father to take the auto body course at Lenawee Tech Center after restoring a motorcycle.
  • How do you like to spend your free time: Traveling with family and friends. Exploring new places.
  • Favorite local restaurant: The Grass Hopper
  • Favorite snack or food: Tacos
  • Favorite movie or tv show: Star Wars
  • Favorite book or magazine: On a Pale Horse
  • Favorite sport or activity: Hockey
  • Favorite holiday or holiday tradition: Halloween
  • Random fact about you: I love cats and I’ve been with my high school sweetheart for 36 years and we have three great sons!

 

Chad Reed – Body Tech

  • Hometown: Morenci, MI
  • Favorite part of the job here: Working with great people
  • What inspired you to choose this career path? I liked working on cars when
    I was younger.
  • How do you like to spend your free time? Sitting at a campfire
  • Favorite local restaurant: Danley’s
  • Favorite snack or food: Pizza
  • Favorite movie or tv show: Christmas Vacation
  • Favorite book or magazine: Motor Trend
  • Favorite sport or activity: Baseball
  • Favorite holiday or holiday tradition: Thanksgiving

 

Becky Richardson – Estimator

  • Hometown: Jerome, MI
  • Favorite part of the job here? The repair process and transformation of “back to new”
  • What inspired you to choose this career path? To learn more about the automotive industry that is constantly changing with new vehicle models.
  • How do you like to spend your free time: Being with family & friends.
  • Favorite local restaurant: Ichiban
  • Favorite snack or food: Sushi
  • Favorite movie or tv show: Stuart Little
  • Favorite book or magazine: Michigan Chillers
  • Favorite sport or activity: Fishing / Hunting
  • Favorite holiday or holiday tradition: Halloween
  • Random fact about you: I’m a triplet

 

Michael Rinsom – Painter

  • Hometown: Tecumseh, MI
  • Favorite part of the job here? When a job comes out great & lunch.
  • What inspired you to choose this career path? VO Tech
  • How do you like to spend your free time: Fishing
  • Favorite local restaurant: Embers
  • Favorite snack or food: Jerky / Meat sticks
  • Favorite movie or tv show: John Wick
  • Favorite book or magazine: I don’t read. (I can) But I like the Cabelas catalog
  • Favorite sport or activity: Working out at home
  • Favorite holiday or holiday tradition: 4th of July and Christmas

 

Brian Turnwald – Body Tech

  • Hometown: Morenci, MI
  • Favorite part of the job here? The Atmosphere
  • What inspired you to choose this career path? The love for cars.
  • How do you like to spend your free time: Hunting and fishing
  • Favorite local restaurant: Peppers
  • Favorite snack or food: Cheeseburgers
  • Favorite movie or tv show: NCIS
  • Favorite book or magazine: Hot Rod Magazine
  • Favorite sport or activity: Hunting
  • Favorite holiday or holiday tradition: Christmas
  • Random fact about you: I’m a family guy

 

Tylan Waltz – Detailer

  • Hometown: Sand Creek, MI
  • Favorite part of the job here? My coworkers were very welcoming and they are fun to work with.
  • What inspired you to choose this career path? My dad and grandpa have always worked on cars, and I’ve grown up to want to do the same thing.
  • How do you like to spend your free time: Playing basketball, golfing  and time with my girlfriend.
  • Favorite local restaurant: Cancun
  • Favorite snack or food: Chicken Tacos
  • Favorite movie or tv show: Creed 1-3
  • Favorite book or magazine: Harry Potter
  • Favorite sport or activity: Basketball & golf
  • Favorite holiday or holiday tradition: Christmas
  • Random fact about you: I know how to build computers from scratch.

 

Brogan Winder – Painter Apprentice

  • Hometown: Adrian, MI
  • Favorite part of the job here? Grilling out with the guys
  • What inspired you to choose this career path? Tech Center
  • How do you like to spend your free time: Golfing
  • Favorite book or magazine: I don’t read, the golf magazines have pictures.
  • Favorite local restaurant: Chipotle
  • Favorite snack or food: Chicken
  • Favorite movie or tv show: Sports
  • Favorite sport or activity: Golf
  • Favorite holiday or holiday tradition: Thanksgiving
  • Random fact about you: I’m way better at golf than Mike!