Every year as the holidays approach, Ted Boyer, who owns and runs the Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care center in St. Peters/St. Charles, gets a call from the local radio station. Together, they offer a free transmission repair or other car repair service for a needy family in the community.
"It's a great feeling to know we've helped make a family's holiday a bit brighter by helping lift what could be a big financial burden," said Boyer. "And it feels good to know that the family now has a car that's reliable and safe."
Boyer gets a sense of satisfaction from every car his shop repairs. "Since I'm the boss, I make the calls on what needs to be done in order to make each car run smoothly and safely," he said. "I won't ever let profit stand in the way of doing the job right the first time. We don't take shortcuts or skimp on anything."
Boyer, 41, grew up in St. Charles and attended Ranken Tech School in St. Louis, where he studied automotive technology. While in the 2-year program he began working at a transmission repair shop, where he worked for two years beyond graduation. He then became a partner in an independent repair shop, staying for ten years until his partner retired.
He enjoyed making the final decisions, so in April of 2008 Boyer opened the Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care center he now owns, located at 3745 Mexico Rd. on the St. Charles/St. Peters border.
"It feels good to be self-employed," said Boyer, who is married with three children. "I ensure that everything we do at the shop is the highest quality work that customers can rely on."
The Cottman center supports local high school sports programs and also offers a $14.99 full-service oil change for any customer who brings in a non-perishable donation for the Food Pantry of St. Charles. It's a savings of at least $10, and it helps hungry families in the area.
The shop has the latest diagnostic systems. Boyer said he is in the process of updating the customer service and waiting area.
Cottman of St. Peters can be reached at 636-916-0222 and online at www.cottmanofstpeters.com. For more information about Cottman, visit www.cottman.com.
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