Did Bryan Retire? No! Bryan is working here at Lighthouse. He is serving as a Mentor Mechanic – so he is still personally working on vehicles, as well as coming alongside and teaching younger technicians.
Can I request him to service my vehicle?
Yes! Just call the same phone number – 309-263-7932 – and Bryan's service advisor will schedule you with Bryan.
Are the prices going to be the same?
Our price structure is different than the old shop. Some services are more expensive, and some services are cheaper. What will not change is the quality of service and receiving an accurate estimate before work begins. Labor and parts warrantees are also very similar. Is another automotive shop going to open at 822 N Main Street in Morton?
No. An existing business already in Morton is expanding into the space. For the very first time since its construction in 1969 (by mason contractor, Chris W Knapp), the building will not be an automotive shop.
Where did Bryan’s son, Nick Collett, go?
Nick went back to college!
What about Dually?
Dually is enjoying quality time at home with his pack mate, Bentley. He is also enjoying a lot of walks! You can keep up with Dually on his Instagram page, @smalltownshopdog .
Why on earth did Collett’s sell to a dealership, and Lighthouse in particular? Why not just merge with another local, independent shop?
Bryan is committed to ensuring his existing automotive family is well taken care of. That required finding a company that could absorb a sudden influx of new customers and treat them with the same-or-better level of care. Bryan also already had a working relationship with Lighthouse. For many years, Bryan used Lighthouse as a sub-contractor for some components of his service. As a result, Bryan knew Collett’s and Lighthouse are in ethical alignment in terms of truth-in-invoicing and customer service. Learn more about Lighthouse values here. There is also professional concern for the automotive technician shortage. Stepping into a “mentor mechanic” role at Lighthouse allows Bryan the opportunity to ensure the next generation of technicians has the skill sets they need. Classroom knowledge is good, but many things – like shop awareness, safety, efficiency, and diagnostic problem-solving skills – are best taught by example in the workplace.
So… by letting go of running his own shop, Bryan has positioned himself to address the staffing shortage and make sure there are local, competent auto technicians available to service his customers once he actually does retire?
Yes.
Every place is working short-handed these days – is the automotive technician shortage really that bad?
YES. In fact, it’s worse than the average person realizes! Bryan served on the Automotive and Engine Power Technology Advisory Board of Illinois Central College for many years. In 2018, there were 8-10 Central Illinois technician positions available for every one graduate of the ICC Engine Technology program.
According to the 2022 poll by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median age of an automotive technician is 42.2 . To supply existing demand and cover the techs retiring from the industry, the United States needed 642,000 NEW technicians to enter the industry between 2020 and 2024. News flash: It’s 2023 – and the USA job force is not going to make that quota.