3 Minutes on a Park Bench with Brian Matthews of Cambridge Auto Center

We recently emailed Patch partner Brian Matthews of Cambridge Auto Center. He told us how he got involved in the automotive industry and explained the work that Cambridge Auto Center is doing with the local community.

Patch: How did you get involved with the automotive industry?

Brian Matthews: I attended a local high school with a very strong automotive and vocational program. After graduating, I was lucky enough to find work with some very talented, established older guys who were happy to pass along their knowledge. After a few years at that shop, I applied to work at Wellesley Toyota because dealers are on the cutting edge and I wanted to be exposed to the latest technology. Toyota has the strongest backbone in the business as far as technical education and technician support. I studied hard and became an ASE master technician and Toyota master technician by the time I was twenty-five. I have been with the same organization since 1993. I rounded out my talents by being exposed to the collision business. I am now a licensed auto damage appraiser, as well as a master automotive technician. I have been lucky to be around some really good role models for my whole career.

Patch: What services does Cambridge Auto Center (CAC) offer?

Brian Matthews: CAC is unique in that we offer all automotive services: mechanical repair and maintenance for most every car, collision and painting, cleaning and detailing services, vintage restoration, pre-owned sales, and the list goes on. Our body shop uses environmentally friendly waterborne paint. This enables us to operate in an urban environment with no impact on our neighbors.

Patch: What is your definition of success?

Brian Matthews: Success to me is measured in the number of happy, long-term customers I have turned into friends. I have been really lucky. Work is a lot less like work when you are serving friends all day. Over the long term, kids start to drive and they become customers. They get married and their spouses become customers, too. Word of mouth is a powerful thing. Our longtime customers come to us from as far away as New Hampshire or Rhode Island.

Patch: If you had to recommend a book, what would it be and why?

Brian Matthews: In general, I usually recommend biographies. You can learn a great deal about business and success and what makes people tick. Real life examples are the best education. A good one to start with is “Red and Me” by Bill Russell. It's all about understanding and empathy; two people from different walks of life. It’s a good read for someone who manages people and it can help you understand that every employee has different circumstances in his or her life.

Patch: Can you tell us a little bit about your staff and their background?

Brian Matthews: My staff is comprised of a few guys I have inherited and a bunch more that I hired when I took over about eight years ago. Their ages range from 21 to 72, they speak about seven different languages and hail from no less than eight different countries. The talent and craftsmanship from the older guys is just not something that can be learned in a classroom. It has to be passed on. On the other hand, my head painter is young, technically proficient, cutting edge and overall brilliant at his craft, using all the latest techniques and products available to produce some of the best work out there.

Patch: How are you involved in the local community?

Brian Matthews: Locally, we support a number of causes: some people just walk in and ask for our help, others we have seeked out to help. We have supported The Greater Boston Food Bank, AREA IV Back To School Festival, The Fisher House at the VA, The Lawrence and Lincoln Schools Japanese cultural programs in Brookline, Kulture City for Autism Awareness, Parkway Little League and Toys For Tots, to name a few. We strongly believe in causes that support education and help fight hunger. We are always willing to lend a hand when it comes to education.

This past year we established a new relationship with Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School’s "Rindge School of Technical Arts Program." I reached out to a great, longtime customer named Elaine Schear to ask how I could get involved. She is the director at the "Friends of CRLS,” z charitable support system whose mission is to develop, support, and enrich the academic and social development programs at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. She, in turn, directed me to the "RSTA" program through her connections and we were able to get involved with the co-op program by taking on our first intern for the last semester of the school year. It was a paid position for the intern and he spent four hours a day with us learning the automotive business. We are happy to pay it forward and do our part.

Patch: What three questions should readers ask to find a reputable repair service?

Brian Matthews: That’s a tough question. Three questions are not enough. Do your homework on the services you think you need and seek out as many online references as possible. Personal referrals from friends are the best route.

Patch: What are three easy thing readers can do to improve the longevity of their cars?

Brian Matthews: Regular and thorough maintenance. Drive the speed limit, avoid potholes and take your time. Lastly and always overlooked: keep the car clean and waxed to avoid rust and corrosion. Resale value is always much high when the car has been maintained.

Patch: What makes Cambridge Auto Center standout from the competition?

Brian Matthews: Well, there are some real great places in the neighborhood that have been here for a long time as well. I would not want to take anything away from them. Here at CAC, we try to provide information and education to the customers and allow them to decide what's best for their car and their wallet. It’s a really low pressure situation. We want to let the customer feel that they are in the driver seat with their decision making and we are here to provide an honest, hard working service. If you make an honest mistake, then own up to it and do the right thing. At the end of the day, we have been here for over 30 years and we always have plenty of work. We must be doing something right.

Patch: How can readers contact you or learn more about Cambridge Auto Center?

Brian Matthews: Our website is full of useful info and tips about maintenance and especially helping in dealing with insurance claim questions. And our phone number is (617) 661-1320.