Relocation to FC was good move for family business

A local business specializing in making dinged, dented and damaged automobiles look like new has found itself growing by leaps and bounds with every satisfied customer.

Kevin and Tracey Dwyer’s Precision Pro Body Shop and Auto Sales opened at 61 Second Street West — nestled on the hill between Sullivan’s Kitchen and Produce and the Wade Creekmore C Spire Operations Center in downtown Meadville — in January, 2020, and has been a success story since its doors rolled open to welcome what has been an almost endless stream of patrons.

“We’ve really been blessed in everything we’ve done here so far,” Kevin Dwyer said recently between meeting customers walking in and then getting hands-on with a vehicle that had been bonded and taped for a new coat of paint.

“It’s unreal the number of people we’ve met and been able to help since we opened, and it just keep growing. We are thankful for all those who’ve brought their cars and trucks to us and we’ve enjoyed every minute of it. We’re happiest when our customers are happy.”

Dwyer has been in the automotive repair business for at least four decades, having grown up in and around a body shop operation.
He and his parents moved from Metairie, La., to Liberty roughly 25 years ago.

The family’s auto body business had been in rural Amite County, and as the years went by, Dwyer’s mother passed away and his father felt like he could not do the labor-intensive work for too much longer after that.

Those circumstances led to the current incarnation of Precision Pro, which actually got it start in June, 2019, before the Dwyers opted to relocate to a higher-profile location in Franklin County in January of the next year.

“We wanted to go where we felt we could grow and prosper, put in a lot of research and found Meadville was the place to be to do just that,” Tracey Dwyer said.

“Being from Brandon and when we first moved here, my first thought was ‘no way.’ Now, when I look back on that, it turned out to be the best decision we’ve made in our whole lives.”

She noted both she and Kevin have made life-long friendships during their time here, and their business has grown abundantly thanks to the support they have received from the community.

“Kevin’s reputation — as an artist — when it comes to making a car look like it just came off the assembly line has been one of the foundation’s of this business,” she continued.

“We’ve had people post (on social media) and send us thank you notes, and our customers have been so kind to help this grow through word of mouth. As a result, we’re bursting at the seams.”

The growing workload prompted the Dwyers to expand their facilities to a spacious office and two state-of-the-art shop buildings to stay on top of the business they have been blessed with along with hiring another experienced employee.

“The grandchildren aren’t old enough to bring into the business or train to do the work,” Tracey Dwyer said with a laugh. “Kevin remembered someone he had worked with previously for 10 years — Lynn Coleman — and knew his quality of work and integrity would make him a good fit for Precision Pro. (Lynn) wanted to be part of a hometown, family business and prayed about his situation and God put this right in his lap. We are so grateful for that and to have him with us.”
The Dwyers and Coleman have an assembly line approach to their assignments in keeping things humming with Kevin ordering parts, Tracey overseeing the office and both Kevin and Coleman making the magic happen daily in repairing and renewing the looks of all kinds of vehicles brought in for work.

Precision Pro’s main business focus is being a premiere paint and body shop that can provide professional estimates on everything from minor dents to major collision damage involving cars and trucks — with a goal of getting people back in their vehicles with a peace of mind knowing one of their biggest investments is in capable hands.

“People take pride in what they’re driving around in … especially in this community,” Tracey Dwyer said. “Something else we might go into later is auto sales to give people in this area an option for their next vehicle. But, for right now, we’re only dealing with body shop work because we have so much of that.

“We know God directed us here and we’re going to grow the business because we have the room to do that. When we found this property was for sale, we jumped on it and that was a blessing, too. Neither one of us are worrywarts and take things as they come one day at a time.”

The Dwyers, who were married in 2016, have dealt with their share of medical issues during their time together — with Kevin having successfully overcome a heart bypass procedure and Tracey currently dealing with the impacts of lupus.

Still, their laser-sharp focus is on God and others as they additionally work to help those seeking recovery from substance abuse issues.

“We’re both in recovery — I have 10 years and Kevin has 19 years — and we work to help men and women get into treatment, attend conferences and meetings, and share our stories and experiences,” Tracey Dwyer said.

“This type of involvement where others are concerned is what we live for. I used to travel all over taking people to treatment, but since I got sick this past year, it has limited what I’ve been able to do, but both of us are still working with people in Franklin and Pike counties and other nearby communities to get them the help they need.”

The Dwyers said they fully recognize all the things they’ve been able to do, accomplish or overcome together have come from that portion of God’s faithfulness they have been blessed with.

“God has shown us so much grace and still does every single day,” she said in looking outside her office toward the parking lot of the family business.

“I have to believe there’s a bigger reason that I am dealing with lupus now and why we’ve come through the road we’ve traveled — with a few scars along the way, but not losing sight of the blessings we’ve received.”

The couple said their business success has also allowed them to be active in supporting the local community, especially activities with Franklin County schools, and they greatly enjoy calling this area their home as they said they have found their little piece of paradise and would not consider living and working anywhere else.

“We so grateful to our customers from throughout Franklin County and neighboring areas for all they have done for us and treating us like neighbors and friends,” Kevin Dwyer said. “It means a lot to our family and staff to earn their trust, which is something we work to do every day.”

For information on Precision Pro Body Shop and Auto Sales, contact the Dwyers by calling 985-520-2544 or 601-600-1145 or visit during business hours.