Struhar is passionate about helping young technicians, working with three local vocational schools and promoting from within. He provides entry-level shadowing for students, tours of the shop for classes and product demonstrations with partners like 3M. He hires the majority of his new employees from the local schools and takes pride in mentoring them as they continue to grow as technicians. In fact, he is still great friends with his vocational teacher from high school and considers him a second father.
CARSTAR Centerline is also a family business. His son, Paul Jr., is the shops production manager and his daughter handles the accounting. But Struhar treats everyone as if they are part of the family business.
“I’ve been in the shoes of our employees and appreciate what they do,” said Struhar. “I know the importance of rewarding them for the work that they do and providing them with a spotless and top-notch work environment. You can’t have a good business without good employees. You can’t be afraid to spend money on them; it helps you build an experienced and cohesive team of employees. We are like one big family here.”
Struhar has expanded CARSTAR Centerline several times since 1992, including a 9,400 square foot addition in December of 2014. The current location is now a sprawling 18,000 square feet with 24 employees and a high retention rate. The shop is I-CAR Gold and ASE certified, on programs with several manufacturers like Honda, Infinity, Chrysler, Jeep and GM, and a preferred shop for most major insurance partners like State Farm, Nationwide and Allstate to name a few.
Struhar and his employees are also active in the community. They support local youth sports, are part of the Chamber of Commerce and host local food events.
“At the end of the day, I enjoy working in the shop as much today as I did in high school,” said Struhar. “I love training and mentoring the next generation of technicians and leaving a legacy for my kids and family.”
About CARSTAR
CARSTAR North America -- a part of the Driven Brands, Inc. family of automotive aftermarket franchise brands -- is North America’s largest Multi-Shop Operator Network of independently owned collision repair facilities with more than 500 locations in 31 states and 10 Canadian provinces. CARSTAR delivers national scale, consistently high-quality vehicle repairs, repeatable outcomes and the industry’s highest customer satisfaction ratings; all repairs are backed by a national warranty and service guarantee. CARSTAR was named the No. 1 largest MSO in North America by The Romans Group LLC, named 470 on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500® list and ranked 106th on Franchise Times® annual Top 200™ listing of the largest franchise systems in North America. For more information visit www.carstar.com and follow us on Facebook and twitter. CARSTAR is actively seeking new franchisees. Interested parties should contact Sam Freeman at [email protected] or 888.505.6815.
Paul Struhar of CARSTAR Centerline in Strongsville, Ohio celebrated his 25th anniversary as a bodyshop owner in April. Struhar, who began his career in the collision industry while in high school, credits his longevity in the business to great technicians and the support of CARSTAR.
