Our People

Shawn Mead

When Bob Rogers retired in 1993 and sold his Amoco station and carwash to Mike Najjar, Shawn Mead had already worked there for several years. The new company saw Shawn’s leadership potential and promoted him to manager. Shawn Mead has stood side-by-side with Mike Najjar through busy times and slow, through battles with Amoco, through closing the carwash and moving to the new shop on Hampton, and even through a completely unfounded lawsuit attempt by a former employee (It was thrown out before ever getting close to going to trial).

Those of you who know Shawn are familiar with how much he loves his job. When asked what he likes best about working for Master Auto Repair the answer doesn’t take any time to think. “I love to spend time with my customers. I really enjoy it when we have time to just sit down and talk.”

When you ask someone what they like the best about their job, the natural follow-up question is what they like the least. Shawn answered this way: “Any kind of unhappy customer upsets me. And the worst is those cases when they are unhappy because of something we did to upset them.”

(Editor’s Note: Fortunately, the large number of positive letters received over the years compared to the very small amount of complaints received tells us that there aren’t many times when Shawn has to get upset.)

But his favorite activity of all, even more than his job, is babysitting his grandchildren.

Scott Ramsey

I can remember it like it was yesterday. In the fall of 1992 Reavis Amoco only had one mechanic, and he was good at exhaust and brakes, but knew nothing about the computer systems on the newer vehicles. We needed someone knowledgeable about the onboard computers and the new fuel injection systems and pollution controls.

Scott Ramsey answered a newspaper ad and we decided to hire him. Scott had a college degree in automotive technology and several years of experience at both service stations and new car dealerships. I had a very good feeling about Scott from the start. He showed up the first day in a big four-wheel drive truck with huge off-road tires, and a gigantic toolbox in the back. I thought to myself, “This guy is a real mechanic!” That day was October 5, 1992.

Scott has always done everything an employer could ever ask. Back when we still sold gasoline, he helped out on the pumps when we were busy. When we had nobody to run the front office, Scott assumed the role of service advisor.

Many of our customers know Scott as the “Ace,” the guy who can fix any kind of problem. Automobile technicians don’t often get recognition for their skills and abilities, but they should. Scott has passed all the ASE tests and earned the rank of Master Automobile Technician, with the L1 (advanced diagnostic) certification. He is a State of Missouri Recognized Emission Repair Technician. In November of 2001 Scott was on the winning team at the Missouri State Diagnostic Challenge.

Scott and his wife Sandy have been very happily married since 1986. They have two children, Sabrina and Brendan. Sabrina learned how to change the oil on her car before she even got a driver’s license.

Scott says: “I have always loved cars and fixing things. But when I worked at the dealer it was only about money. I was just a number to them. I came to work for Mike and Leslie because they care about doing the jobs right for their customers. Our shop has the best equipment around. Mike spends money to make the shop better every year. My friends that work for other places can’t believe how much training our company sends us to each year. Every year new cars get more complicated. I want to continue to learn new technologies, and Mike is committed to invest in the equipment and training that I need to maintain my Master Technician status. I’m looking forward to what the future will bring.”

Ed Starns

Ed Starns has been the general manager of our Collinsville location since we purchased it in June of 2005. Ed came to us from the Collinsville BP-Amoco, which had to close because of the new shopping center development. Prior to that Ed spent fifteen years with Midas. He started as a mechanic and later became manager and area supervisor.

But Ed’s automotive career actually started in St. Louis. His first job was at Meyer Texaco on South Broadway. Ed started like many of us “old-timers”, by pumping gas and fixing tires.

He left his family, his job at Texaco and his high school sweetheart behind when he enlisted in the Army. He was only 16 years old at the time, and his parents had to give him special permission to enlist. He actually obtained his high school diploma while in the Army. Ed became a Combat Engineer in the service, and learned a lot about machinery and heavy equipment.

After six years in the service, Ed came back to St. Louis and began his automotive career. In 1998 Ed and Karen, his high school sweetheart were reunited and became husband and wife. How they became engaged is quite a story. Karen wanted Ed to get away from cars for a few days, so they planned a vacation on Mackinaw Island in Michigan. While Karen planned the trip, Ed was making plans of his own to propose to her.

They stopped on the way, and Ed couldn’t wait to get to the island. He proposed to her on the beach at Lake Michigan. Between them they have three sons and one grandson.

Ed’s employees love working for him. His concern for his customers is contagious, and all the guys really want to please the customers. John Jackson says, “Ed is such a class guy. He has been so helpful to me, teaching me, and encouraging me to advance myself.”

And two of Ed’s former co-workers at his old job decided to follow Ed and work at Najjar Car Care in Collinsville.

Ed loves people and he loves cars, which has helped make him both a successful mechanic and service manager. He also loves sports. For many years Ed played competitive softball on a traveling team. Now he limits himself to following sports and not playing. He is an avid baseball and hockey fan, and has season tickets to both the Blues and the Cardinals.

John Jackson

Master Sergeant Ted Jackson and his pregnant wife Nancy were watching a John Wayne movie when Nancy went into labor. They hurried to the hospital at Scott Air Force base, where their son, John Wayne Jackson, was born. Being in a military family, John spent parts of his childhood in California and Illinois. He attended Collinsville High School, where he played football.

John’s automotive career began in the year 2000 when he was hired as a technician at Wells Harrison Tire in his hometown of Collinsville, Illinois. When Mike Najjar purchased Wells Harrison Tire in 2005 John continued working as a technician. From 2007 - 2009 Master Auto Repair supported John in furthering his education in the automotive field, In 2009 John completed his automotive technician degree from Rankin Technical College and later completed the Dale Carnegie course in Sales. John has attended many automotive seminars to earn certifications in brakes, suspension, and tires.

While working at the Collinsville location John learned both by book and by example. John learned many valuable lessons about the automotive field from Kevin Stroud. Kevin has worked at the Collinsville location for more than 30 years and worked side by side with John for 14 years. John says: “Kevin taught me about cars and people. Kevin has extensive knowledge and is a big part of the Collinsville community. I enjoyed working with him over the years and am appreciative of what he has taught me about being a manager in a small community.”

John also worked with Ed Starns, the general manager of the Collinsville location for 9 years. Ed’s expertise and experience has also influenced John in his career. John says “Ed Starns has been very supportive and helpful in my advancement throughout my career with Master Auto Repair”

John met his wife Amanda while working at the Master Auto Repair in Collinsville. She worked at a store next door to the shop, walking across the Master Auto parking lot every day. She forced John to ask her on their first date. John and Amanda married in 2013 and continue to reside in Collinsville. John, Amanda and his daughter Keeley, look forward to growing their family.

John is now Master Auto Repair’s newest General Manager at our new shop located at 6501 Fyler Avenue in St. Louis. John looks forward to working with the new staff and is very excited about the opportunity to service new customers in the south St. Louis area.