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"The product you put out is your best advertisement," according to Pat Chovanec, collision center manager for Appel Collision Center. "Our business is built on word-of-mouth and repeat business."
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| Appel's new facility conveniently located on the "loop" in Brenham, Texas |
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| Pat
Chovanec, collision center manager (center), with long-time employees
Ruth Lorenz (left) and her daughter, Beebe Kmiec (right). |
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| Manager Pat Chovanec (second from left) with three up-and-coming body shop technicians. |
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| Stalls in Appel Collision can accommodate a variety of repair jobs. |
Established in 1927 by Robert C. Appel, the automotive company was a downtown landmark in the then sleepy town of Brenham, Texas, located in the Brazos Valley between Houston and Austin.
At a glance
Appel Collision Center
1880 Hwy 290 West
Brenham, Texas 77833
(979) 836-2391
Owners: Gregg and Jeff Appel
Established: 1925
Size: 22-24 stalls
Employees: 2 painters, 1 painter's helper, 2 maintenance men; 2 full-time body men; collision shop manager; estimator; rental
car manager
Paint Department: 2 downdrafts; blow therm; 2 downdraft cut-in areas
Paint: Sherwin-Williams
Frame Racks: 1 25' Star-A-Liner; 1 17' Yellow Jacket
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During the late 1920's, the family's auto dealership sold Durants and Stars and the body shop repaired Model T Fords. Chrysler and Dodge were added in 1933, with Plymouth completing the group. Appel is the oldest Dodge dealership in Texas.
The body shop was run by Robert C. Appel, Jr,. known as Buster. In 1967, Buster and his brother, Arliegh Appel, nicknamed Jack, bought the operation from their father. The business changed hands again in 1985, when grandsons Greg and John Jeff bought out uncle Buster.
Fire!
Misfortune struck in 1987 when a fire damaged the service area, flaming up into the attic and causing water damage to the showroom. Changing lemons into lemonade, the Appels took this opportunity to remodel the dealership. The top was taken off the building and a second story was added to the facility.
Although the body shop was undamaged in the fire, it was moved to an adjacent building that had been rented out to a parts store. In 1988, the 40' x 80' sq.ft. shop was doubled in size to accommodate modern equipment and expanded business.
The latest move came in 2002 when, after three years of planning, Appel Dodge and the collision center moved from downtown into a new facility on the highway "loop." Now the Dodge sales floor, service department and body shop all sit together on an acre of concrete. The family's Ford and Mercury dealership is nearby.
Star-A-Liner fits the bill
Collision Center Manager Chovanec went searching for equipment for the new location, including a 25' frame machine. Chovanec attended NACE in 2001 with money in his pocket to make the purchase. He looked at "what seemed like 50 to 75 frame machines," and every vendor he spoke with tried to tell him that he needed a 17' rack instead of the 25' rack that he wanted. Offers to build a 25' rack were prohibitively expensive.
Then, while looking at compressors, Chovanec came across Star-A-Liner. He approached the booth saying, "I need a frame machine. I need one 25' long. I guess you're going to tell me I don't need one that size."
The Star-A-Liner representative responded that he could build any size. He offered a reasonable price and Chovanec had a frame machine. Chovanec was pleased because "they didn't tell me what I needed. They listened to what I knew I needed. Star-A-Liner delivered it on time, set it up, and warrantied it. They are interested in you and what they can do for you." Chovanec is still working with the same representatives of the family-owned and operated Star-A-Liner.
A family not related by blood
Appel Collision Center is a family business, but not necessarily just by blood. Employees come and stay. "The Appels are a good family to work for. They are concerned about their employees," claims Ruth Lorenz. And she should know! She has been at Appel for over 35 years, and is the unofficial historian. She is the office manager and controller, but functions as the "mom" of the shop as well. She cooks when a meal is needed. She is the doctor when someone gets hurt. And she always has a shoulder to cry on when a staff member has a problem.
Lorenz has been married for 50 years, has three daughters and six grandchildren. One daughter, Beebe, has been the rental car manager for about 9 years, and daughter Janet has been the used car manager for 23 yea
Pat Chovanec has been with the company for 17 years. He started working in the collision industry for an independent, then hooked up with Appel through his brother who was already working there. He came in with his portfolio and Mr. Appel was impressed. He wanted to know what it would cost to employ Chovanec. He worked together with another employee named Wade. They would gang tackle a job and work it through to completion.
Around 1990, he became a manager and hired a few more employees. For the next three years, he managed and worked writing estimates. For the past eight years, he has concentrated solely on management.
Chovanec is married to wife Stephanie and together they are raising four children ages 6 months to 10 years. He is active in Little Dribblers and Little League.
In-house rental car division
The Appel in-house rental car agency has a fleet of 49 vehicles. This is an added convenience to their customers, as they can rent cars right there when they drop vehicles off to be repaired.
Appel Collision Center is a State Farm Service First shop and Chovanec states that it is a great company with which to work. Appel has been a Chrysler Five-Star dealership for over five years earning the facility rewards from Chrysler.
Stresses education, certification
Technicians are I-CAR certified in welding and CR2000 as well as attendees at Chief frame school.
The painters, painter's helpers and Chovanec himself are Sherwin-Williams certified painters. The company stresses training and certification of employees throughout the entire dealership. Education is a very important component of the quality repairs customers receive at Appel.
The Appels run a large shop with a small town attitude. With Brenham being a town of 24,000 people, everyone is woven into the community. The Appels and their employees are all active in community affairs. Members of the local collision repair industry get along well together: "There is no backstabbing," says Chovanec, and people try to work in concert with one another to make everything click.
Chovanec concludes: "We do our work the way our mom's would expect it to be completed. Satisfaction guaranteed!"
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