Thrown into the fire: How Bryan Wendt built his own path to ownership
Decades after hitting the ground running in the auto industry, Bryan Wendt still leads from the shop floor—proving that the best leaders never stop getting their hands dirty.
It was 6:30 a.m. when Bryan Wendt’s phone rang.
The president of the Los Angeles-area auto shop chain he was working for at the time was on the other end. Bryan was needed at one of the shops as soon as possible.
The day before, he had been an assistant manager and expected to spend a few weeks preparing for a possible promotion. But shortly after sunrise, he was a general manager.
“I got thrown into the fire,” Bryan recalled. “It was stressful, but I figured it out. I learned how to run a team, build relationships, and make it work.”
That trial-by-fire moment would define his career. Decades later, Bryan is now a multi-shop owner with Fix Auto USA. With adaptability, curiosity, and a steady hand, he’s built something lasting from an at-times chaotic start.
Building from the ground up
Bryan seemed destined for the body shop life from a young age. With a father in the construction industry, he spent his childhood surrounded by sawdust and toolboxes, and quickly became fascinated by mechanics.
“Growing up, I always wanted to use my hands,” he explained. “I would take my bike apart just to see how it worked and then put it back together.”
In high school, he joined the auto-repair program and spent class periods working at a dealership. That early exposure confirmed what he already knew: he loved working on machines.
By August 1994, Bryan had landed his first job as a mechanic in Marco’s Auto Body in California’s San Gabriel Valley. The family-owned shop grew quickly, giving him the chance to learn the business and the confidence to lead. He moved from a mechanic to a production manager to assistant manager. When the memorable call came from the company president, Bryan became general manager and eventually went on to serve as vice president of operations overseeing seven locations.
Striking out solo
After twenty years with Marco’s and five more with Service King following an acquisition, Bryan felt ready to build something of his own.
When choosing a franchise partner, he already knew the Fix Auto name—and, more importantly, the people behind it. Bryan had worked with multi-shop owners Greg Carter and Richard Fish, whose guidance and experience with Fix Auto stood out. In 2019, he started his journey as a Fix Auto owner and opened Fix Auto Kearny Mesa in San Diego.
“I knew the brand, but what really drew me in was the culture,” he said. “It’s like a family. Everyone’s there to help each other out.”
That help was invaluable when COVID-19 nearly upended everything a year after Bryan got started. When Service King vacated a location in Lake Forest, he saw an opportunity in this uncertainty and worked with Fix Auto to bring in accounts and certifications. In June 2020, his Lake Forest location opened with a skeleton crew and Tesla structural certification right out of the gate.
“That was a game-changer,” Bryan recalled. “And all the things I didn’t have to deal with before— liability, compliance, HR — Richard Fish and Fix Auto helped me out.”
Momentum built fast from there. By 2024, Bryan had added Fix Auto Magnolia Riverside and Fix Auto Whittier, bringing his total to four shops in just five years.
Leading with mentorship, not micromanagement
Today, Bryan leads with the same hands-on approach that’s defined his entire career. He still spends time in the back of the shop when he can, side-by-side with the teams he oversees.
“I’m not a micromanager,” he said. “My job is to give my people the tools they need and be there for support. Everyone has my cell number. They know they can call me anytime.”
That leadership philosophy has paid off both in loyalty and results. Many of Bryan’s employees have built their careers inside his shops: detailers have become estimators, and estimators have become managers. And his shops consistently earn five-star Google reviews and top-tier customer satisfaction scores—proof, Bryan said, that a strong culture shows up in business results.
“Take care of your team, and they’ll take care of the customers,” he advised.
Looking ahead
Even with four thriving shops and a solid bench of leadership, Bryan is far from done.
His next goal? Expand to five to eight locations, while continuing to create growth opportunities for his employees. Eventually, he’d love to step back and see his team take the wheel.
“I’ve got people who could run the company,” Bryan said. “Someday I’d love to sell it to them and give them the chance I had.”
Outside the shop, he stays grounded through family, golf, skiing, and travel. A self-described early riser, he’s usually up before dawn—another habit acquired from decades of running busy auto shops.
But whether he’s on the slopes or in the shops, Bryan’s focus is the same: keep building, keep improving, and keep helping others find their lane:
“This industry gave me everything. Now it’s my turn to pass it on.”