Mike Powers has mastered the art of organized chaos inside his garage. On a recent winter afternoon, the parking lot is full, the phone is ringing and customers are coming and going at a rapid pace. On his front desk, Powers has work orders perfectly lined up with keys attached, and when a mechanic comes through the door he knows exactly which one to hand him.

Auto repair, especially in the cold of a Michigan winter, can get quite hectic to say the least, but Powers is able to keep everything running smoothly at Guardian Car Care on West Road in Trenton. A long-running family business founded and owned by the Gardner family, Powers bought the auto repair garage more than five years ago, and has been able to keep his foot on the gas with longtime customers while attracting new ones.

Powers, 34, of Grosse Ile, has been working in the auto repair industry for years.

“Travis Maxson of Downriver Spring gave me an opportunity to work with him 10 years ago at one of his previous shop locations,” Powers said. “I learned how to operate a successful business from him, and shortly after he helped me take over Guardian Car Care.”

The “keys” to his success are based on customer loyalty, trust and using the latest in technology to best identify the problem to help get his customers back on the road.

“It all starts with trust, which is essential in this business,” he said.

“Our customers bring their cars in and rely on us to keep them safe and on the road. Honesty and clear communication keeps trust and builds long-term relationships. We take care of people, not just their cars. We focus on doing the job right the first time, explaining repairs in a way our customers can understand.”

Powers also wants to keep Guardian Car Care on the cutting edge of advances in the field.

“We keep up with the times utilizing technology and can handle any alignment, brake, exhaust and suspension issues,” he said. “Our Guardian Car Care’s excellent customer service is the foundation of its businessmechanics, along with our decades of experience, guarantee our customers the highest quality of work possible with outstanding results at competitive prices.”

Powers hires only the best mechanics and people around him – people he can trust with keeping his customers not only safe but coming back.

“I have built a team who all share the same mindset – to do honest work and take care of the customer,” he said.

“Experience matters just as much as attitude. At the end of the day, I just want people who treat every car like it belongs to their own family. All of our technicians are certified and eager to keep learning the trade. We take pride in our work and one another.”

Guardian Car Care specialties include complete brake repair, suspension work, muffler and exhaust systems, and alignments for foreign and domestic cars and trucks. They also provide diagnostics on auto repairs and light-duty trucks.

“Word of mouth has been huge for us but we know our reputation is built one customer at a time,” Powers said.

“Communication is very important to us. We discuss what work needs to be done, how much it will cost and remain available for any questions or concerns throughout and after the process.

“Our focus is on providing excellent customer service that has been the foundation of our business for many years.”

Guardian Car Care is located at 18720 West Road in Trenton. For more information, call (734) 676-3227 or visit guardianwoodhaven.com.