By FRED KRONER
Getting oriented to a new community has been a step-by-step process for Greg Collins.
The introductions started when Collins and his wife, Barbie, moved to Mahomet in 2007.
It was closer to his job, but there was another motive as well, “for our third-grade daughter, Kelli, and kindergarten son, Brandon, to enroll in the excellent schools in Mahomet,” Collins said.
Next – but several years later – Collins left the job he had held for 17 years to take over an existing business in Mahomet.
He now works where he lives.
Since 2014, Collins has been the owner and president of Mahomet Car Connection, a multi-purpose service and sales business located on East Oak Street.
Under his direction, the business has thrived.
Mahomet Car Connection was chosen by area voters as top service department and used car dealership two consecutive years in The News-Gazette’s People’s Choice Awards (2018 and 2019), as well Tops in the 217 for top service department (2019).
Another feather in the expanding Mahomet Car Connection’s cap was added Thursday night (Feb. 4) when it was selected as the Overall Business of the Year by the Mahomet Area Chamber of Commerce.
The announcement was made during a virtual ceremony.
“We’ve tried to build a local business that offers big-town service with small-town prices, and unbeatable customer service,” Collins said.
“It’s great to be recognized for all the services we offer. We want to support our community the same way they’ve supported us for so many years.”
Collins is a transplant to Central Illinois.
He was born in Augusta, Ga., but was raised in Decatur (Ill.)
“My wife, Barbie, and I were high school sweethearts, where we met and graduated from St Teresa High School,” said Collins, a 1995 graduate.
He served as the General Sales Manager for the O’Brien Auto Team, first in Springfield and later in Champaign-Urbana, for 17 years before, he said, “a serious health tragedy (in 2013) forced me to re-plot my course in life.”
Through a close friend, he learned about a business that was for sale in Mahomet.
“Doug and Cathy Scott were looking to sell their business, Mahomet Car Connection,” Collins said.
It seemed like the perfect way to continue in a profession he knew well, and the chance presented itself at the perfect time.
“Needing a new path, this seemed like a great opportunity, given the company’s great reputation for service and huge opportunity for growth in sales, which happened to be my strength,” Collins said.
When the purchase was completed, in 2014, Mahomet Car Connection had two full-time technicians.
“Since purchasing the business, we’ve grown to three full-time ASE Certified techs, plus a lube and tire tech to meet the high service demand in a more timely fashion,” Collins said.
The shop’s reputation under the Scotts was quickly apparent to the new owner.
“At the beginning, we had so much business in service that customers had to wait five-to-seven days to get in for an appointment,” Collins recalled. “While it’s nice to be in high demand, it was disappointing when we had to turn people away that needed service immediately.
“Adding more techs has allowed us to no longer have to turn people away and now we are scheduling one-to-two days out.”
Their expansion took another direction beyond staffing.
“We were also able to open our doors for service on Saturdays,” Collins said, “which we felt was important since many residents in Mahomet work Monday through Friday in Champaign.”
The extra work day wasn’t immediately beneficial.
“It took off slowly, but now that the word has spread, we are full every Saturday,” Collins said. “As we grow, we’ve identified other areas of need we’ve addressed, like shuttle service.”
The shuttle service started as a pilot program two years ago and quickly became an imperative piece of the business model.
“It has grown into an everyday service we provide for our customers, offering drop-off and pick-up shuttle service in the morning and evening,” Collins said.
“Our customers have expressed a real gratitude to that service. With most working in Champaign, they no longer have to find a way to work in the morning or a way to our shop after work.”
Mahomet Car Connection has two shuttle vans that transport people in the morning and again in the evening, handling the drop-offs and the pick-ups.
The coronavirus pandemic, which started causing massive shutdowns throughout the United States in March 2020, prompted another change for the business.
“During the pandemic, we even offered to pick up people’s vehicles and drop them off, another service that has picked up,” Collins said.
Whether that addition will become a permanent feature is still to be determined.
“I’m not sure if we will keep that around after the pandemic clears up, and just offer the shuttle service,” Collins said. “It’s certainly something we will evaluate and get feedback on from our customers.”
Car maintenance is only one of the services available at Mahomet Car Connection.
“Our sales department is another area we’ve grown,” Collins said. “What started as a one-man band has grown to three qualified vehicle specialists, all trained to provide the kind of experience customers have told me through the years they’re looking for.”
Specifically, customers are never shuffled around from one representative to another.
“At MCC, you work with one person start to finish that is empowered to make all decisions,” Collins said. “No more going to ask a manager, no more being passed off to a finance guy.
“We offer all of the same services the big dealerships offer, just without the games.”
Partnerships have been established with several area banks to provide what Collins said are, “the lowest financing options and extended warranties to protect your investment, if you need it.”
The company doesn’t sell vehicles that they wouldn’t be comfortable owning for their own personal use.
“We specialize in quality pre-owned vehicles that are inspected thoroughly by our service team to make sure they meet our high standard for pre-owned vehicles,” Collins said.
Mahomet Car Connection has jumped on board in another mushrooming car-related endeavor.
“Our newest service includes customer detailing,” Collins said. “For years we’ve only had enough manpower to attend to our own inventory, but as we continued to get requests, we identified it as a need to address.
“At the beginning of last year, we started offering interior and exterior detailing services.”
To meet the demand, two full-time detailers and one part-time detailer, who have been trained in all aspects of detailing, are on staff.
Their expertise, Collins said, “includes buffing and glasscoat application, which is an exterior ceramic coating, or as we like to call it, a force field for your car.”
When Collins took over Mahomet Car Connection, the total staff included five full-time and one part-time employee.
Seven years later, there are 11 full-time employees and two part-timers.
He is not opposed to adding more staff, but Collins said that could come at a cost.
“If we grow much more, we will have to consider expansion, which may include a new building, but we are well-anchored in the town that has become home,” he said.
A prominent component for Collins is the ability to give back to the community he and his family have called home now for 14 years.
“We are very proud of the campaign we put together where we contributed $25 for every car sold and $1 for every oil change for an entire year,” he said, “and were able to present a check (in 2017) for $5,000 to MAYC.
“That jump-started a relationship that has continued every year, including serving the last four years on the MAYC board.”
Another opportunity to volunteer seemed like a natural to Collins.
“We’ve also been very involved in the growing Mahomet Auto Fest, an annual car show (scheduled for July) in downtown Mahomet,” he said.
“My involvement started while serving on the Mahomet Area Chamber of Commerce board and has grown through the years as the show has grown.
“Obviously being in the car business, it made perfect sense to get involved in an event that is car-centric.”
Other finalists for Overall Business of the Year were Advance Deck & Sunroom Co., and P & P Heating and Cooling.
