SCOTT GAREIS
Zimmerman,MN
Summary
I'm a self motivated, goal oriented, team leader with the goal to become a production manager and possibly a GM again. I started my autobody journy by going to school to learn the basics of the autobody filed. After getting a job, I developed into a skilled master paint technician for 17 years. I then switching seamlessly and successfully into estimating due to the love of working with people and being good with computers. After estimating for 8 years, I moved to a production manager position which aloud me to have a better work balance between the office and body shop. Shortly after becoming a production manager, a company reached out and offered me a GM position. Shortly after accepting that position, a business ownership opportunity came to me and I did that for two years. I just sold the business and now looking to get back into the field I've known and loved for almost 30 years.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Owner/Operator
Budget Blinds of Princeton and North Branch
11.2023 - 08.2025
- Managed day-to-day business operations.
- Schedule consultations and installs efficiently.
- Do all administration work, such as order supplies, place customer orders, do financials, work with vendors, set up business advertising and dealt with customer issues.
- Did all sales consultations, including showing and explaining the pros and cons of products and how it can effect them on a daily basis. Do all measuring of windows.
- Did all installs, including programming motorized products and showing the customer how each product works. Making sure to leave the area cleaner than when I started.
- Did service calls when needed.
- Keeping customers updated on their order status and communicate any delays.
Auto Body General Manager
Abra Auto Body & Glass
11.2022 - 04.2023
- As the GM, I am in charge of the overall operation of the shop. This includes:
- Teammate development and coaching
- Working with new and existing venders
- Lead daily production meetings
- Oversee production and workflow
- Repair quality control checks between departments
- Oversee administration and sales
- Observe estimator to customer communication to ensure we are providing the highest quality customer service
- Maintaining the goals and growth of the shop
- Set goals to meet the monthly and yearly budget
- Interview and hire for needed positions
- Monitor the performance of all staff
- Give performance reviews
- Provide leadership and coaching for those who need it
- Ensure that all employees have the required training for their position
- Lead team engagement meetings
- Occasionally review estimates for accuracy and to make sure we are following insurance company guidelines per our contract
- Monitor current and previous financial performances to make sure we are on track to meet the month end budget
- Make sure the shop is in compliance with hazmat regulations and has up to date documentation
- Establish good relationships with insurance adjusters
- Keep shop cleaned and free from hazards
Auto Body Production Manager
Master Collision Group
02.2022 - 11.2022
- As a Production Manager, my duties include:
- Overseeing the daily operations of the body shop and ensuring the timely and efficient completion of all repair work
- Manage and supervise a team of technicians, ensuring that all work is completed in a timely and efficient manner
- Ensure that sublet work is done during key time of the repair
- Develop and implement standard operating procedures to improve efficiency and quality of work
- Coordinate with the parts department to ensure that all necessary parts are ordered and received in a timely manner
- Monitor inventory levels and order supplies as needed
- Ensure compliance with OEM certifications, safety regulations and company policies
- Analyze production inventory with the incoming work schedule including work in progress and work completed
- Communicate effectively with technicians and estimators regarding repair timelines and progress
- Maintain a clean and organized work environment
- Train and develop staff to improve skills and knowledge
- Making sure technicians take and maintain their i-car certifications
Auto Body Senior Estimator
Caliber Collision
12.2018 - 02.2022
- As an estimator with Caliber, my duties include:
- Write estimates for customers
- Explain in detail the process, possible hidden damages, deductibles if required and issues we could face during the repairs.
- Worked directly with techs during the repairs to make sure all needs are met in order to complete the jobs.
- Write supplements after disassembly
- Order parts.
- Received and posted parts if needed.
- Called customers with updates multiple times a week.
- Working with insurance companies and following their guidelines per our contracts.
- Do final billing and close files after jobs are completed
- Quality control of the completed repair.
- Dealing with warranty work and customer returns for backordered parts.
Auto Body Estimator & Production Manager
Luther Collision & Glass
04.2014 - 12.2018
- I was an estimator with Luther Collision for 3 ½ years and was promoted to production manager Nov 2017. As an Estimator, My job duties were:
- Scheduling vehicles in for estimates and repairs.
- Worked with multiple insurance companies and following their guidelines per our contract.
- Distribute work to my team
- Wrote supplements
- Ordered parts
- Final billed the insurance company and closed out job files
- Inspected completed vehicles prior to delivery
- As a Production manager, my job duties were:
- Overseeing the daily operations of the body shop and ensuring the timely and efficient completion of all repair work
- Manage and supervise a team of technicians, ensuring that all work is completed in a timely and efficient manner
- Ensure that sublet work is done during key time of the repair
- Implement the operating procedures that are in place to ensure safety and efficient work flow
- Coordinate with the parts department to ensure that all necessary parts are ordered and received in a timely manner
- Order body repair and paint supplies as needed
- Ensure compliance with OEM certifications, safety regulations and company policies
- Communicate with technicians and estimators regarding any delays, parts issues and completion timeline
- Maintain a clean and organized work environment
Manager
P&A Liquor
04.2010 - 04.2014
- As the manager at our family owned business, my duties include:
- Sales, both customer and distributors
- Customer relations
- Liquor and beer orders
- Inventory
- Liquor order pickup (pick up liquor from distributors)
- Working with sales reps
- Trade shows
- Bringing in new product
- Payroll
- Scheduling employees
Auto Body Master Paint Technician
Master Collision Group
11.2006 - 04.2012
- As a master paint technician, my job duties include:
- Check quality of body repairs
- Prime and block body repairs
- Do minor body repairs
- Sand and mask vehicle for paint
- Color matching
- Paint the vehicles
- Wet sand and buff imperfections in finished product
- Solving paint issues that occur in the booth
- Read work orders
- Write supplements
- Work with 3M and paint representatives, discussing current and new products to improve productivity and eliminate issues.
- Order paint supplies
- Keep track of inventory and supply usage to ensure maximum efficiency.
Education
Auto Body Degree - Auto Body
Anoka Hennepin Technical College
Ramsey, MN01.1995
High School Diploma - undefined
Elk River Senior High School
Elk River, MN06.1993
Skills
- Leadership skills
- Team player
- Fast learner
- Excellent customer service skills
- Sales
- Great at multitasking
- Time management
- Problem solving abilities
- Organizational skills
- Creative
- Problem solver
- Hard worker
- Self motivated
- Meeting deadline
- Great computer skills
- Negotiating skills
- An eye for quality
- Dependable
- De-escalating bad situations
Timeline
Owner/Operator
Budget Blinds of Princeton and North Branch
11.2023 - 08.2025
Auto Body General Manager
Abra Auto Body & Glass
11.2022 - 04.2023
Auto Body Production Manager
Master Collision Group
02.2022 - 11.2022
Auto Body Senior Estimator
Caliber Collision
12.2018 - 02.2022
Auto Body Estimator & Production Manager
Luther Collision & Glass
04.2014 - 12.2018
Manager
P&A Liquor
04.2010 - 04.2014
Auto Body Master Paint Technician
Master Collision Group
11.2006 - 04.2012
High School Diploma - undefined
Elk River Senior High School
Auto Body Degree - Auto Body
Anoka Hennepin Technical College
Similar Profiles
Brandon BjorakerBrandon Bjoraker
Sales Manager at North Iowa Interiors DBA Budget BlindsSales Manager at North Iowa Interiors DBA Budget Blinds
Emily BjorakerEmily Bjoraker
Administrative Assistant at North Iowa Interiors, Budget BlindsAdministrative Assistant at North Iowa Interiors, Budget Blinds
Toni GuzzardoToni Guzzardo
Sales and Design Representative at Budget BlindsSales and Design Representative at Budget Blinds
Micah SchoeneckerMicah Schoenecker
Chrysler Fleet Technician at Cornerstone Auto ResourceChrysler Fleet Technician at Cornerstone Auto Resource
Anthony MorseAnthony Morse
Maintenance Crew Member at Mills Fleet FarmMaintenance Crew Member at Mills Fleet Farm