The goals include earning the public’s trust, price transparency, quality and timely work, and top-notch customer service.

Manager Justin Metheringham, a master mechanic, took over operations at the shop late last year and has changed the direction of the business.

He said he handpicked and hired his own staff — employees he knew were capable of doing quality work on today’s advanced vehicles, and are quality people who are good at interacting with customers.

Minor cosmetic improvements have been done to the building, with more on the way, and his focus now is on providing high-quality work that is affordable and done quickly, but accurately.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Muffler Man employee Chris Ruehle works on the brake system on a customer’s vehicle onThursday. Ruehle is part of the new staff at the garage trying to improve its business.

He said to do that, he depends on the employees to be professional in every aspect of the business.

“You have to have quality staff, and we do,” Metheringham said. “It is my name going out the doors along with theirs, so we take everything pretty seriously.”

Although the name Muffler Man implies that exhaust work is the business’ speciality, repairs go well beyond mufflers and tail-pipes.

Metheringham said the garage works on breaks, steering , suspension, electrical work, and much more.

“We do everything other than transmission and tires,”he said.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Justin Kamyszek installs a new thermostat housing into a customer’s vehicle while at work at Muffler Man in Alpena Thursday. The shop does a lot more than exhaust repair and promises price transparency and quality work.

Because auto repair quotes and bills can often catch customers off guard, Metheringham said when asked, staff will escort customers into the service area and show them the issue with their vehicle and explain the work needed, and the risks associated with not making the needed fixes.

He said more often than not, the people understand because they have seen for themselves the damage or faulty equipment in their car or truck.

“We take them back and snow them, so they can see with their own two eyes and that way they trust us,” he said. “We don’t just tell them they need something because it is bad. Trusting your auto mechanic is sort of like trusting your doctor, you have to have trust in them and believe in them.”

Muffler Man, along with Pepsi, Perch’s IGA, Fat Freddie’s food truck, and private donors held a fundraiser last week for a Hillman girl who was seriously injured in an automobile accident recently.

Metheringham said events like that, and giving back to the community is another way to help people, and earn trust in the community.

“Doing things in the community and helping those in the community who need help shows we are not just here to take their money, but to also give back,” he said. “Simple things like that go a long way to earning trust and bringing people back in to see the good things that are now going on here.”