Transmission Repair Specialist This month marks a year since Scott Stillwell became the area's Cottman Man, as owner of the Lancaster, PA Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care center at 419 East Ross St. But he is hardly a newcomer to transmission repair and the Cottman brand. In the early [...]
High aspirations from Garner Cottman Man Daniel Simon, the owner of Cottman of Garner, North Carolina, had a rather eclectic background before taking the reins of his transmission and auto care center. He was educated in ichthyology (the study of fish), he worked as an operations manager for UPS, and he was [...]
Dedicated Customer Service from Austin Cottman Man Customer service is the top priority for Steve Fulton, owner of three Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care centers in Austin and nearby Cedar Park and Round Rock. But the concept of great service was the basis of his success for nearly 30 [...]
New Experiences For Des Moines Cottman Man Daniel Harrington has been the Cottman of Des Moines, Iowa owner since 2003. He came in with experience in transportation, but that experience was pretty far removed from what he’s doing now. “I was the senior engineer for Bandag; a retread truck tire [...]
Unlike so many other center owners, Doug Scott, owner of the Cottman of Gladstone, Missouri, never worked as an auto technician professionally. “I used to be a commercial airline pilot,” he says. Cottman of Gladstone Owner's Humble Beginnings Then what got him into operating a Cottman center? Turns out he was [...]
As a boy, Ron Vinduska would watch his father Francis repair 18-wheelers and other heavy diesel equipment. As he got older, Ron would help his dad with repairs, learning hands-on from a master mechanic. After graduating from high school, where he studied automotive repairs, he went to work at a [...]
Just southeast of Pittsburgh in the borough of West Mifflin, sits a green, stand-alone building with a bright yellow sign. Owned and operated by 52-year old Jay Kapcin, Cottman of West Mifflin, PA boasts a reputation of well-managed, quality transmission service. A gentleman not unbeknownst to the industry, Jay grew [...]
Emmanuel Stoupakis was just 10 years old when he and his family immigrated to the U.S. from Greece. That was 50 years ago, and today “Manny” is a prime example of how hard work and a terrific business model can help someone realize the American Dream. Manny grew up and [...]
A substantial number of center owners got their start fixing cars by learning the business from their fathers; but Greg Dittbrenner, owner of the New Castle Cottman with his wife, Carolyn, came at things from a slightly different perspective. Brothers Scott, Jeff, and Greg learned the business first. Then, once [...]
As a child, Mitch Vicino had a natural curiosity for how things worked. One his favorite toys was an Erector set. He recalls spending countless hours taking apart household items including televisions and radios to see what made them tick, and then putting them back together again. That interest for [...]
