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By Jennifer Pauly
President, Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce
The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will honor businesses and individuals at its annual Chamber Awards Gala from 6-11 p.m. Friday, April 28, at The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls.
The evening is one of the highlights of the year, held to celebrate the business community and the citizens who help contribute to the success of the region.
The annual awards gala begins with a cocktail hour and hors d'oeuvres, followed by a sit-down dinner and awards program. A silent auction will take place throughout the evening. Tickets are available through the Chamber of Commerce office (895 Center St., Lewiston) at $100 per person (valet parking included).
The chamber's series of profiles on the 2017 gala honorees continues in today's Sentinel.
The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Willco Auto Care as the recipient of the Sanborn Business of the Year Award. The Sanborn Business and Professional Association assists the chamber in providing a business nomination that has shown dedication and service to the Sanborn community. The association recognizes the unmatched customer service that is provided by Willco Auto Care and its involvement in making the community a better place to live.
As soon as you step into Willco Auto Care, you can tell customers are treated like family. That feeling resonates in that customers drive in from places such as South Buffalo and North Collins just to be serviced by the friendly staff and technicians at Willco.
It has become a meeting place where customers enjoy coming in to look at old car and racing pictures on the wall, or just to chat.
Having worked in the automotive industry for more than 25 years, owner Jim Coble knows what it takes to have a successful business. He has made it a goal for his staff members to treat everyone like they would a family member. That goal has resulted in a business that has no shortage of work coming in. Referrals are the main form of advertisement that has proven to work.
Willco Auto Care specializes in all phases of auto care, including inspections, tires and brakes to suspension work, to name a few.
Willco Auto Care is located at the corner of Niagara and Ward roads (5882 Ward Road), next to the railroad tracks in Sanborn. Coble has owned this location since 2010. It was previously owned by Dennis Mielke (Mielke's Auto Center) for 30 years. He employs five other technicians in Sanborn and four at his Lockport location.
Coble opened on Park Avenue in Lockport in 2015. His technicians are ASE-certified and spend time attending manufacturers training to stay on top of the latest in research, repair and programming technology. Current automotive technology updates often, and Willco has the re-flash capabilities to service vehicles that used to only be serviced at the dealership where purchased. Advising clients on extended warranties and rebates is something his staff is able to do - service which used to be only limited to dealerships.
Willco Auto Care has supported several teams throughout the region, including Wheatfield Blades hockey and Wheatfield baseball and softball teams. Several cars are also sponsored by Willco at Ransomville Speedway.
Jim and his wife, Denise, have two children: William and Caroline. The office fixture is Thor, the face of Willco, a friendly black lab who loves coming to work. "Willco" is named after their son, William. Denise joked the Auto CARE part is named after daughter Caroline. Caroline often helps out with paperwork in the office.
Willco Auto Care is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.
The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce and the Sanborn Business and Professional Association proudly congratulate Willco Auto Care, the 2017 Sanborn Business of the Year.