THAT GOLDEN RULE

Hands firmly on the steering wheel of his sporty, battery-powered truck, three-year-old Weller Scherer makes a clean turn into the family’s Barrington driveway. Sitting shotgun, 2-year-old Wilkins rides along, with mom, Kelsie, watching nearby. That the two little guys are fascinated with both cars and road trips makes sense. Their dad is the new Franchise Operator of the Christian Brothers Automotive (CBA) franchise on Northwest Highway in Barrington. The family relocated here from Houston where Cody held a corporate position for the Christian Brother’s organization.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to be in Barrington and lead a CBA franchise,” says Scherer, who worked in operations at the company’s home office for seven years as a Franchise Performance Consultant. “I’m from a family of entrepreneurs and have always had an entrepreneurial spirit,” he says. “My goal became to own my own shop, and CBA was the right fit. It’s core values align with my own. I plan to lead a team here that makes a positive impact on the community.”

With 300 locations across 30 states, Christian Brothers Automotive is ranked number one in customer satisfaction for full-service maintenance and repair in J.D. Power’s U.S. Aftermarket Service Index study. In fact, it’s held the top spot since Power’s started doing the survey five years ago.

And the automotive firm has a unique culture that Scherer is proud to be a part of. The Golden Rule, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” (Matthew 22:39) is right there at the top of the website. “It’s not just empty words,” says Scherer. “It’s about treating people the way you want to be treated. This company really is about helping others, not just fixing cars.”

To stay at the top of the industry, technicians at CBA Barrington are all ASE-Certified or working toward certification. The entire team is continually learning new skills and acquiring the tools it needs to service both old and new generation cars.

“The home office provides a lot of support,” Scherer explains. “We have access to hundreds of online training modules on everything from sales and guest services to technical training. Plus, we attend in-person trainings at the home office in Houston.”

What this means for clients: “We want to be Barrington’s dealer alternative, from an oil change to an engine replacement, and everything in between. Anything you can go to the dealer for, we can often handle at CBA in less time and with a better warranty,” Scherer says.

As it services both new and older cars, CBA Barrington approaches each service encounter with its core values in mind: transparency, being neighborly, excellence, and joy. “All of these are important, but in this industry, transparency is key. And education is our approach” Scherer says. “We complete a digital vehicle inspection for our guests, which allows them to see pictures and videos of their vehicle as we inspect. They see what we see. This helps us educate guests on the overall health of their vehicles and enables them to make informed decisions. Whether they want to keep it for a few months or a few years, we can help them make an educated decision about what to do with their vehicle.”

In addition, CBA Barrington maintains and repairs European cars, including Audis, Mercedes, Porshes and BMWs. “Often times there’s the thought that owners of these cars should go to the dealerships for service,” says Scherer, “but we have the expertise and experience to repair any make and model. And since we’re equipped with the same manufacturer recommended tools as the dealerships, we can perform the same services but often for better prices.”

Staying true to its credo of spreading joy and neighborliness, CBA Barrington goes the extra mile to help those in need. Recently, the shop participated in CBA’s National Service Day which was started by the company in the ‘90s to give free oil changes to single moms in need and has expanded to include other services since then.

“This year we partnered with Fellowship Housing, which offers housing to homeless women, and Stepping Stones, an organization helping women who have been trafficked,” says Scherer. Vendors donated automotive parts and oil. The shop team donated their time and labor. “We set up food and drinks, and a local flower gardener provided floral bouquets for each guest,” says Scherer. “It was a real privilege to help out these women with fun, fellowship, and everything from oil changes to new suspension parts to brake jobs.”

Looking ahead, Scherer says he welcomes new opportunities for Barrington car owners to meet his team. “I’m a firm believer that everything starts with our team. When the team is taken care of, guests are going to have a great experience,” says Scherer. “So, the most important thing I can do is ensure that the high value/great experience circle continues at Christian Brothers Barrington. It’s why I’m here.”

For more information about Christian Brothers Automotive Barrington, please visit cbac.com/barrington.