New Business Spotlight: ZZ Auto keeps vehicles humming

Name of business: ZZ Auto Service Center LLC

Owner: Wallace W. Parrish

Address: 874 Cheshire Road, Bunker Hill, W.Va.

Opening date: April 2011

Products and services: Service and repair of all vehicle makes and models. The technicians diagnose check-engine lights; do exhaust work; replace engines and transmissions; work on brakes; do tuneups; do major and minor engine repairs; install car audio systems; repair air-conditioning and heating systems; install after-market accessories; work on tires; and perform services recommended by owners’ manuals and required by factories. The business also accepts fleet accounts.

How did you get into your business, and what motivated you to start it? I was a lot attendant 20 years ago for Ourisman Ford in Bethesda, Md., when one of its best technicians had an operation and was only allowed to do light duty upon his return. The service manager asked me to become the technician’s helper. The technician liked my work and asked the service manager if I could be retained as a helper and be trained, to which the manager agreed. I went through Ford Motor Co. training and attended other seminars. Once I became a full technician, I not only focused on repairing cars but on how the shops for which I worked were run. I learned a lot from the good things they did and the mistakes they made. I have two daughters, ages 18 and 21, and hope to leave my business to them someday. I am hoping to expand once I have this shop up to par.

Number of employees: Six

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Phone number: 304-229-9878

Email: zzautosc@gmail.com

Website: ZZ Auto is listed at the International Automotive Technicians Network website at www.iatn.net.