02/28/2026
As we begin our 13th year in 2026, I would like to personally thank everyone who has supported us over the years. When Sara and I started Southside in 2014 we had no idea where it would go or if it would work out. Thanks to all our great customers, we look forward to serving you for years to come. We could not serve our great customers without our awesome employees. Throughout the past 12 years we have had a few great employees some of the time but haven't had the opportunity to have those great employees ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Today that has changed. Southside, for the first time in 12 years, has finally gotten a full crew out in the shop. John started the first July we were here, way back in 2014 and has been here ever since. John is great with electrical issues and engine work. Matthew came to us a few years ago, he grew up around a body shop and did production welding for many years. Matthew specializes in heavy truck repair and can literally weld anything that he can clamp a ground to. Ryan has been at Southside on and off over the years and did other repair work in the area. We are happy to have him back as his years of experience in l**e service and auto repair were just what we needed to complete the team. Jackson has worked for us throughout his high school years, during the summers and after school. As this chapter closes in his life and he heads out for real world experience in the ag machinery repair field after graduation, we wish him nothing but the best. We will miss him for sure, but I might still call him if we have a truckload of semi tires to flip... Carter just turned 14 this past month. It is crazy to believe that he was just a toddler of two years old when Southside began. He's always been around the shop, sweeping and helping wash tires. He's been practicing his welding and tinkering with small engines in the back corner of the shop which he has claimed as his own. There is nothing in this world more gratifying than working alongside your children every day and truly being a part of their growth both spiritually and physically.
As a sit here with a cup of coffee and staring out the window at a snowy February morning, I realize how blessed I truly am. There has been good times and poor times. Ups and downs for sure, but to everything there is a season. I truly feel that 2026 will be the best season yet. When I started Southside with a small chest of tools and less than a decade of real-world experience, I can see now that I never would have made it without the help of great customers, great neighbors, my wife Sara, and of course the grace and guidance of God the Father through his Holy Spirit. We started with a simple mission statement, "Service you can trust". Over the years, family life, politics, and finances certainly pulled me away from being at my best and there were times that everything seemed to be slipping away. But through faith and perseverance, this morning I feel renewed. Southside now has a crew and the experience to provide you with "Service you can trust" as was the mission when we started 12 years ago. I'll admit we haven't been perfect and if repairs made it out the door that were less than that, I sincerely apologize. I have no excuses for that and the blame rests solely with me. If you feel that your experience at Southside was less than desirable, please give me call and let me know if there is anything I can do to make it better.
Southside has made significant improvements over the years; we stay up to date on technology and training to provide the best diagnostics and repair for your late model vehicles. John, Matt and Ryan are all ASE Certified, as well as myself, to provide you with the peace of mind that we are going to do everything we can to keep your car or truck travelling down the road safely. We recently added Snap-on's newest Zues Plus diagnostic tool to our arsenal to quickly and effectively diagnose, repair and update your vehicle. We also keep heavy truck repair software up to date to quickly diagnose and make the necessary repairs to your heavy trucks. DEF problems, give me a call. Southside has four auto lifts ranging from 9,000 to 15,000 lb capacity and two heavy truck stalls to keep the repairs flowing.
With our full shop staff, latest technology and square footage, our newest goal is same week appointments, no more waiting two weeks or more for an oil change, tire installation or other dire repairs. Our goal is to get you in and out within one week of calling us. I understand how important your vehicle is to you and often is the only one you have, so getting it done quickly and effectively is so important. We receive warehouse parts deliveries daily and still have a tremendous inventory to get your vehicle in and out with repairs completed safely and thoroughly. All parts and repairs come with a minimum 30 day warranty and many OE parts and repairs offer up to a year or longer.
I again, cannot thank everyone enough who has been on the Southside team over the years and all the great customers who have entrusted us for their vehicle maintenance and repair. We plan on being here next week, next month, next year and for the foreseeable future to continue to offer the promise that we began with over a decade ago in offering small town "Service you can trust".
Thank you again and God Bless,
Neil
