The motto at All Pro Tune Up is “air conditioning to water pumps and hybrids, too,” according to the owner, Gerry Gillis. He and his shop at 6216 Highway 90 in Milton have weathered natural disasters and sweeping changes in automotive technology since the shop’s opening in 2002.
“I love what I do and I constantly go back to school,” Gillis said, due to the ever-changing nature of automotive technology. While keeping up with changes such as onboard computers, direct fuel injection motors, and hybrid technology, Gillis has stayed up to date in his own shop. He said his technicians use iPads to quickly communicate between their work and the front office as well as take pictures and gather information for customers. Gillis said he implemented this after noticing how much walking his technicians were doing.
As a NAPAAutoCareCenter, Gillis said he’s had significant support from the company. He said he is also a Jasper preferred engine installer because of their three-year nationwide warranties.
Gillis himself has 43 years in the business since he took an opening in the automotive department at a Kmart on Mobile Highway in the 1970s. With moves to Savannah, Georgia and Plano, Texas, Gillis remained in auto care moving to larger shops and working for Firestone and Midas. Currently, he’s self-employed at the big blue building across from Beall’s Department Store.
In more recent history, Gillis took advantage of Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis. He said the shop used to have only four bays, but after Ivan threw his large, roll-up bay doors to the four corners of the neighborhood and Dennis blew out his front window and back wall, he added 40 feet to his shop, more bays, and a motor home lift. He also had the shop repainted from the pale blue to a more vivid hue. He said business change overnight from the paint job alone.
Working next to American Lube Fast, Gillis said he has helped them and they have helped his business. “There are no competitors, just customers that need service. We’re just trying to take care of the customer.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: All Pro serves all automotive needs