Thu, March 28, 2024

For collision repair director, success is no accident

Classic Collision on Washington Road has been open in Augusta for about three years, but the company has been around since 1983. (Photo by Josh Heath)

Being busy is nothing new for Tracy Bryant, but he’s about to add even more to his plate.

Bryant, regional director of Classic Collision – a collision repair company – currently oversees three shops in the CSRA: a 70,000 square foot facility on Washington Road, as well as locations in both Aiken and Grovetown. He says Classic Collision has recently bought another company called Performance Collision Center, which will expand his territory to include four additional locations in South Carolina: Greenwood, Sumter, Orangeburg, and Myrtle Beach. “I’m super excited about making those shops successful and part of the Classic family,” Bryant says.

Bryant will be responsible for seven shops, but he will do most of the work from his office here at the Augusta location. (Photo by Josh Heath)

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That may sound like a challenging role, but his schedule is much less hectic than it used to be. For about a year, the married father of three sons commuted from his home in Augusta to Atlanta, where he served as regional director for the company’s Sandy Springs and Chamblee shops. “There were days I wanted to give up, but I persevered,” says Bryant, a 43-year-old graduate of the Academy of Richmond County. At that time, his work schedule and commute were grueling, requiring him to leave home at 4 a.m. and get home at 8:30 p.m. His wife Andrea, prior to going back to work as a real estate agent with Blanchard and Calhoun— took care of their children and other responsibilities while Tracy was on the road.

Before Bryant began working for the company in 2017, he spent nine years as chief operating officer of Kendrick Paint & Body – a job that he says didn’t end well. After that, Bryant searched for a position in the same line of work and accepted the job in Atlanta. He helped to open the Augusta shop about three years ago and the Grovetown and Aiken shops about two years ago. Bryant says he will be required to travel to each of the seven shops periodically, but he will do most of the work from his office in Augusta.

Tracy Bryant, regional director of Classic Collision, shown with one of his employees, Joel Broom. Bryant will take over the operations for four additional shops in South Carolina. (Photo by Josh Heath)

While Bryant likes both the company and his job, “The thing I enjoy the most is working with the employees,” he says. Bryant also likes the challenge of running a business in which no two days are the same, but in this type of company, there are also some sad days. One example is when “A car comes in with a fatality involved,” and the family members visit the shop, he says. “It doesn’t happen often.”

Most of Classic Collisions 70,000 square foot facility is located in their body shop where technicians work on dozens of cars at a time. (Photo by Melissa Gordon)

Classic Collision works with insurance companies to repair various types of vehicle damage, including everything from minor dents to serious car accidents. According to the company’s website, they provide several services, including glass repair and replacement, wheel repair, alignment, and painting. “We have certifications most shops don’t have, including “Mercedes and Tesla,” Bryant states.

Founded in Atlanta in 1983, the company currently owns and operates 70 repair centers in five states, including Florida, Alabama, and California.

Technicians at Classic Collision work on minor dents and serious accidents in all facets like glass repair and replacement, wheel repair, alignment, and painting (Photo by Melissa Gordon)

“Classic is truly a family,” he adds.

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