Shop News
 

Winter 2005-2006 Jeff Kleven, lead Master Technician at Ponder Auto Repair, taught automotive studies to nine Boy Scouts on January 21st.  As a part of Merit Badge University, these young men have to complete eight hours of automotive studies to complete their Automotive Badge.  All of these students passed the course sponsored by our shop in just one day.  Jeff has been with us for over nineteen years.

Fall 2005 In case you didn't know it, Ponder Auto Repair is the only shop in Johnson City to have earned the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence. In family news, the Ponder's oldest daughter, Autumn, is planning a wedding with a gentleman from England.  Brian, Jr., has completed his Associates Degree at Northeast State Technical Community College in Automotive Engineering.   He is now growing into the position of service manager at the shop.   Their daughter April is a student at the University of Tennessee, and ten year old Austin is, in the words of Brian, "All boy and all sports."

November 2004 For the past few weeks, there's been a new face at Ponder Auto Repair!  Shelyne Ponder is now working at the service desk on Tuesdays and Thursdays!  Shelyne is also an aerobics instructor and is enjoying working side by side with her husband, Brian Ponder. Brian Ponder, Jr., is continuing his education in Automotive Technology at Northeast State Technical Community College and will change to full-time after graduation in May 2005. Former Ponder Auto service writer Gary Lykins has recently taken a position with an auto service organization in Greeneville, Tennessee.  While Gary will be missed, we wish him the best in his new position.

May 2004 On Saturday, May 8, 2004, Brian Ponder rolled out the red carpet for the ladies and hosted his signature "Women on Wheels Seminar".  During the workshop, Ponder taught attendees many car care tips and provided food and drinks for the class. One attendee, Connie, wrote, "Thank you for all of the time that you spent to provide the Women on Wheels Seminar.  My 16 year old daughter came with me (reluctantly) but said she learned a lot.  I think that men would learn a lot too if they would admit that they don't already know everything!"

February 2004 A new radio program, "Points to Ponder," features Ponder Auto Repair owner Brian Ponder joining the Quantance and Taylor morning show on AM 910 (WCJW).  Ponder will share car care tips originating from over twenty years of experience in the auto repair field.  The program airs on Tuesday mornings between 9:30 and 10:00 a.m.

December 2003 Ponder Auto Repair announces that Gary Lykins is now ASE certified as a Parts Specialist, making him certified in two fields.  William Stettner also added to his credentials the Automotive Gasoline Engine Repair ASE certification as well.

October 2003 Brian Ponder writes, "We have just completed a renovation and installation of a new climate controlled customer restroom here at Ponder Auto Repair.  This has been a dream and goal of mine for over 21 years, and now it is here.  This is the second phase of our renovations.  You wouldn’t think that a customer waiting room and bathroom would bring us so much joy, but this little milestone has been planted in my brain since we opened more than 21 years ago.  I’m so proud of this that I just had to let you know." Ponder Auto Repair is proud to introduce to you Troy O’Laughlin as our new ASE certified master technician.  Troy hales from California and has been employed at an area Chrysler dealership for the past three years.  Troy's presence makes three ASE master technicians at Ponder’s, which is very rare for the size of our facility and for this area.  We welcome him to our place of business and feel that God lead him here.   We have been blessed by this move!  Troy is married, his wife’s name is Kathy, and they have two children, son Cody and daughter Cassie.  They are active at Tri-City Church of God in Piney Flats.

September 2003 Be sure to look at our worksheets page.  We've posted forms there to download, including a Service Form that you can use to speed up the service writing process.

July 2003 Ponder Auto Repair is now online at www.ponderautorepair.com.  While we hope this site provides customers with the usual information, such as ways to contact us, our location, and a description of our services, it is also our goal to enhance this site with customer awareness and education information to help you better understand your modern automobile. We provide customers with two E-mail addresses with which to contact us: info@ponderautorepair.com for general questions and service status reports  feedback@ponderautorepair.com for comments, suggestions, and customer feedback Ponder Auto Repair has applied the use of computer technology for many years for diagnostics, shop automation, and online repair databases.  We now take that a step further by providing an electronic means to network with our customers.  Tell us what you think!

June 2003 Ponder Auto Repair announces its newly renovated customer waiting lounge, service desk and central office!  Now you can arrange your auto service in air conditioned comfort, have a cup of coffee while you wait, and kick back with a magazine or engage in a little local conversation. The addition of the service desk is another great improvement.  This change introduces an even greater degree of customer care as it enables us to streamline the service writing process, better control the flow of work in the shop, and best of all, communicate with our customers in a quiet area. If you're looking for Brian Ponder, his office is now opposite the service desk. The renovation is not quite complete.  A handicap accessible restroom will be added to the waiting lounge during July. Ponder Auto Repair also congratulates Gary Lykins on his recent certification.  Lykins is now an ASE Certified Service Writer.  He is the service manager and has been with Ponder for seven years.