BASF announced that the Fitzgerald Auto Group, started by Jim and Jean Fitzgerald in 1966, has celebrated its golden anniversary with the paint manufacturer. Now with two locations – Monroeville and Willard, Ohio, and run by Jim Fitzgerald Jr. – the Group has expanded its offerings over the years from just collision repairs to include mechanical repairs, car and van rentals, and also pre-owned auto sales.
BASF has partnered with Fitzgerald’s Collision Repair Center, supplying R-M paint and other services, since they first opened.
“BASF is proud to continue our partnership with Fitzgerald’s through their golden anniversary,” said Marvin Gillfillan, BASF vice president, Automotive Refinish Solutions, North America. “We look forward to working with them for the next 50 years.”
Fitzgerald Auto Group is a BASF Advanced Process Solutions (APS)-certified shop and also participates in a BASF Performance Group. These two business services focus heavily on company culture and improving overall shop practices to improve efficiency and profitability.
“BASF has changed the way we do business,” said Fitzgerald. “It’s more than just paint, it’s what BASF brings to the table with their value-added services that really makes a difference. The APS program has changed the shop culture in a way that I didn’t think was possible – we’re fixing cars faster and better than ever. They have been instrumental in spring-boarding Fitzgerald Auto Group and allowing us to have multiple locations. We’ve never deviated and never had any desire to switch.”
This milestone was celebrated by Fitzgerald’s with a year-long charity raffle that concluded at the Monroeville location on Oct. 8th with food, music and a car show. The proceeds of the raffle will be donated to three local charities: Victory Soup Kitchen, Piggyback Foundation and the Hope Center. The grand prize is a tropical vacation for two.
