10/09/2026
Feel Good Friday: The Girl Boss in the Paint Shop
This week, we are headed to Nashville where one of our girl bosses absolutely knocks her job out of the park! Liz Zummach is one of our Paint & Body Technicians in Nashville, and I’m told that no one can paint match after a repair like Liz. Her work goes far beyond paint matching, as she absolutely nails the repaint jobs on some very detailed paint designs following repairs. Beyond that, she’s absolutely dominating in what has traditionally been a man’s world, posting more than 300 billed hours for 2 of the last 3 months.
As I reached out to her team for their input, Ray Taylor, one of our Paint & Body Advisors, responded and said, “Liz, you are awesome! You always bring a can-do attitude and consistently demonstrate your talent as a painter. I am so proud of you and truly blessed to have you on our team. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. Keep kicking butt and doing what you do best!”
Following Ray, Catie Nealeigh, our Warranty Administrator, told me, “Meeting Liz and talking with her comes very easily and naturally. She is a great asset to NIRVC, always friendly, motivated, hardworking, and welcoming. As a fairly new employee coming from Florida to Tennessee, Liz has made me feel comfortable and truly part of the team.”
Cheryl Bodin, our GM in Nashville and a total Girl Boss herself, emailed me to say, "I am super excited for Liz to be our Feel Good Friday recipient! She has been a fantastic addition to our NIRVC family here in Nashville. She has overcome many obstacles since her arrival. She wasn't as confident in herself as we all were in her abilities. She has grabbed the bull by the horns and earned the 300-club honor twice with a personal best in September of 347 hours. Way to rock it, Lady! She is a great mom and has a great partner in Tyler. We are so thankful that they took a chance on us. Thank you for all that you do Liz!"
And, y’all already know I love it when the boys show up with the admiration for their teams. This week was no different. Bradley (‘Bama) Petree, one of our Technicians, wrote in to say, “What to say about Liz … 🤔 Well, to be a woman and working in the environment she does, not to mention the oven of a paint booth lol, she’s simply an amazing painter. She’s achieved goals that are very tough to reach. She’s always smiling. She’s fun to hang around. Definitely proud to have her on our team!! Way to go Liz!!”
Then, Frank Hattrem, our Service Advisor, messaged to say, “I'm thinking that smile may be painted on. Seems impossible to have at all times. She always has a positive attitude and always asks how you are doing. Happy to have her as part of the team!”
Hearing from our Paint & Body Manager in Atlanta was not on my radar. But Mike Burns emailed in, and I loved every single word of it. Mike said, “When I first met Liz, I realized right away that she was 110% full of talent, wisdom, and the courage to step in and make things happen. She does not, and will not, back down from a challenge. Her work speaks for itself. It was really great to spend a few weeks in Nashville watching her study the process, learn how everything worked, and then jump right in. She doesn’t just stand back and watch. She gets involved, takes on the challenge, and gets things done.”
“Liz, after 36 years in this business, I rank you right up there at the top. I have worked with a lot of talented people over the years, and I can’t wait to see what you accomplish in the years to come. But one of the most awesome things I saw had nothing to do with work. At the end of the day, Liz turns back into Mom and wife, and you can see how much her family means to her. To be able to give so much professionally and still be so dedicated to a great family says a lot about who she is as a person. Liz, keep doing what you’re doing. You have an incredible future ahead of you here at National Indoor RV, and you’ve earned every bit of it.”
Right after Mike, Jason Douglas, our Paint & Body Manager in Nashville, Liz’s immediate manager said, “You will never meet someone who takes more pride in her work than Liz. She holds herself to incredibly high standards and will not consider a job complete until she is confident that it meets those standards. She also takes the time to make sure she fully understands a job before starting it, because she is committed to doing it right the first time.”
“Liz genuinely cares about the quality of her work, her customers, and her co-workers, and that commitment shows in the numbers she consistently puts up every month. Her dedication, attention to detail, and willingness to hold herself accountable make her an incredible asset to our team. I am truly honored to have Liz on my team and grateful for everything she brings to the shop every day.”
And then came Tyler, one of our Paint & Body Technicians, and Liz’s husband. Spouses don’t typically get to weigh in on these, but since these two work together every single day, he’s earned it. (Side note: serious respect for the husband and wife teams of the world who can work together and not get sick of each other!)
Tyler said, “Not many people know that Liz is my wife, even though we work in the same shop. About a year and a half ago, we were hired on as a team in the paint shop to take care of the work that came through the department. The problem was, there simply wasn’t enough work coming into the paint shop for both of us to make the kind of paycheck we needed. That’s when I made a decision that wasn’t easy. I decided to leave the paint team and the shop entirely and pass the torch to Liz. I knew she had every angle covered. I knew she had the talent. Now it was her turn to carry that torch and show everyone what she could do with it. She was in tears, and I reassured her that she had what it took and that she was going to excel. She cried at home, and she cried at work through that first pay period. But she kept showing up.”
“And then she showed out.”
“Today, Liz runs the paint shop at our dealership by herself. Her hours are normally higher than everyone else’s, and the quality and quantity of work she produces speak for itself. As her husband, and as someone who has had the privilege of working alongside her for the past 10 years, I couldn’t be more proud of her. I’ve watched her push through the hard days, build her confidence, and prove what she’s capable of. She didn’t just take the torch. She lit the damn thing up. These aren’t just cars anymore. They’re billboards. Every vehicle that rolls out of that shop is a reflection of her talent, dedication, and pride in what she does. Liz, watching you take that torch and run with it has made me one damn proud husband.”
Tyler failed to finish his story and mention the part that he came back to NIRVC, so I’ll just state the obvious. He’s also a 300 Club recipient, posting 300+ hours in Paint & Body for July.
Daniel Henderson, one of our RV Lifestyle Specialists, told me he “came to NIRVC with a background of 35+ years in the auto wholesale business. I’ve been in and out of body shops throughout those years and have done business with many talented painters. Liz’s talent is unmistakable and incredible. Liz is definitely at the top of the mountain in the paint world. But in addition to her talent, she is also, quite simply, a wonderful person. She has gone above and beyond to help make a coach look incredible and contribute her part to get that coach delivered to a satisfied customer. In my experience she’s been eager to help and always with a smile. It’s an absolute pleasure to have her on the team.”
And speaking of delivering coaches, Brandon Boisvert, our Walkthrough Specialist, said, “What stands out to me about Liz isn’t just the quality of her work; it’s the attitude she brings with it. She’s a great painter, a hard worker, and someone you can count on in the body shop. No matter how much she already has on her plate, she’s always willing to stop and help someone else when they need it. And somehow, through all of it, she’s still smiling and bringing a positive attitude every day. That kind of work ethic and willingness to help doesn’t go unnoticed. Liz is definitely one of those people who makes the team better just by being part of it. Keep doing what you do, Liz. It’s appreciated more than you realize.”
McKenna Johnson, our Assistant Service Advisor, wrote in to say, “I was so excited when I found out Liz is the Feel Good Friday this week! Liz is the kind of person you instantly love when you meet her. Like the rest have said, she has a passion for her work, and it shows. I usually only get to see her in passing, and when I do, she is usually complaining (in a good way) about how she is having to wait on something before starting her next project. As much as I love getting to see her in her downtime, it's obvious she would rather be working. It is hard to find people with a good work ethic, let alone one with the talent and personality she brings with it. This is her 2nd time hitting 300hrs! We are so proud of you, Liz!!”
And then came our Paint & Body Director, Rich Krause. Rich said, “Liz has been a critical part of the progress and turnaround we’ve seen in our Nashville Paint & Body shop. She stepped up, took on the paint work for the location, and has continued to deliver an outstanding level of quality, craftsmanship, and pride in everything she does.”
“What makes Liz stand out is not only her talent, but the attitude she brings with it every day. She holds herself to an incredibly high standard, takes the time to understand each job, and is committed to doing things the right way. At the same time, no matter how much she has on her plate, she is always willing to help someone else, support the team, and contribute to a positive work environment.”
“Her impact has helped raise the standard within our Paint & Body operation and has played an important role in building a strong reputation for NIRVC Nashville. Liz’s work ethic, attention to detail, willingness to help, and positive attitude make the people around her better and help create the kind of shop culture we are proud of. Thank you, Liz, for your hard work, dedication, talent, and the difference you continue to make every day. We are grateful to have you on the team!”
I was able to catch up with Brett earlier today while he was at the airport (shocker) heading back from the Balloon Festival Rally. Brett was short on time, but heavy on his praise for Liz. As we talked, he reiterated his own hiring preferences (which he is not at all shy about). Brett told me, “As you are well aware, I have a couple demographics that I love to see in an employee. One is former military because I know the military has already taught them not to watch the clock and to complete the mission. The second is women because there are no better problem solvers and multi-taskers than mothers. Women also bring a unique presence to business that helps foster a family within the workplace and builds trust with our customers. I heard that Liz has been a heavy hitter with billed hours these last few months, posting over 300 hours, more than once during that same timeframe. It is not lost on me that as a wife and mother, she has a lot on her mind because her roles at home demand a lot from her; yet, here she is completely holding her own in an industry that is dominated by men. It just makes me grateful and proud that she found and made her home at NIRVC. Just in the last few months, I’ve heard from a number of customers whose coaches she’s done paint work on, and all of them have commented that with Liz’s work, you can’t even tell that anything was ever repaired. That is music to my ears because if we are going to guarantee our paint and body work for life, then I only want the best in our shop. Liz, thank you for being the best!”
