Christian Brothers Automotive

Mark Carr opened the first Christian Brothers Automotive service facility in 1982. Although he had limited exposure to automotive repair, customers reacted positively to the owner being on site at all times. Customers also responded positively to being treated in a professional manner with honesty and integrity. Mark observed that this was not standard practice in the automotive service industry; therefore customers were attracted to doing business at a facility that incorporated strong ethical principles.

 In the mid-nineties, Mark was approached on several occasions to assist friends in opening automotive repair facilities. While assisting his friends in the opening of their own stores Mark realized that helping other Christian families open their own businesses was personally rewarding. Mark structured these stores in such a way that it allowed him to control the quality of service. The lessons Mark learned allowed him to implement controls that resulted in levels of success in one or two years that took the original location almost 10 years to accomplish. From that point forward Mark incorporated these lessons into the new franchisee training program.

Christian Brothers Automotive Corporation (“CBAC”) began selling franchises in 1997. Mark, in order to secure capital for the growth of CBAC, sold a minority interest of the company to Falcon Seaboard Investment Company, L.P. (“FSIC”). The partnership between FSIC and CBAC allowed Mark to spearhead the construction and opening of 14 new locations by the end of 2002. The new stores gave CBAC a solid foundation for growth and allowed it to buy back the minority interest from FSIC. In the same transaction CBAC sold a minority interest to John Freeman. This transaction allowed CBAC greater control of its expansion to the current 35 locations.

Mark’s vision today is to continue to build a network of successful franchises that provide quality service based on honesty and integrity.