Article Summary
Kenneth Chavez is a second-generation owner of Chavez Auto Group, operating five CARSTAR locations across southern Ontario. He's focused on elevating the collision repair industry through innovation, leadership, and community engagement while addressing skilled labor shortages and changing misconceptions about the trades.
- Business Operations: Kenneth Chavez oversees Chavez Auto Group with five locations in Waterdown, Hamilton Midtown, Hamilton Lockwood, Cambridge, and Cambridge Appraisal
- Community Impact: His stores raised nearly $20,000 for cystic fibrosis in 2024, becoming one of CARSTAR's top fundraisers
- Industry Recognition: Nominated by CARSTAR corporate for Collision Repair magazine's 30 Under 40 award
- Talent Development: Actively involved in career fairs with local colleges, universities, and Skilled Trades Ontario to promote collision repair careers
- Industry Vision: Advocates for technology advancement and collaboration to elevate collision repair as a high-paying, highly skilled professional industry
Kenneth Chavez stands out as a second-generation shop owner with a clear mission: elevate the industry through leadership, innovation and legacy. He operates the Chavez Auto Group, overseeing five locations across southern Ontario—Waterdown, Hamilton Midtown, Hamilton Lockwood, Cambridge and Cambridge Appraisal.
“Being a second-generation operator, my inspiration is drawn from my father,” said Kenneth. “Having seen how hard he has worked to achieve where we are today has inspired me to continue the legacy and see where I can help take the business in the next 30 years.” While he didn’t initially plan on joining the family business, the early memories Kenneth made in the shop planted seeds for his eventual career. Though he once envisioned a future as an accountant, the idea of hands-on leadership proved more exciting. “I always knew I wanted to do something in the business field.
In high school, my aspiration was to become a CPA and work at a firm,” said Kenneth. “Little did I know I would enjoy the overall operations of the family business—learning it all from my father was a plus. Some of my earliest memories would be running around the shop we used to own in St. Catharines. I would have been around eight years old, and loved to be in the mixing room, looking at all the colours and matching the spray out cards.”
To recognize his contributions in both business and community, Kenneth was nominated by CARSTAR corporate for Collision Repair magazine’s 30 Under 40. Under his leadership, the LC CARSTAR Group has expanded services, partnered with UniglassPlus locations and launched unique hiring campaigns—like sponsoring a racecar at Flamboro Speedway to attract automotive talent.
One initiative that stands out in Kenneth’s career is his team’s charitable work. In 2024, his stores became one of CARSTAR’s top fundraisers for cystic fibrosis, raising nearly $20,000 through a long- standing community carwash event.
“A moment I am particularly proud of would be when our group of stores became one of the top CARSTAR fundraisers for cystic fibrosis in 2024. As business owners, we are only as strong as our community. Having the opportunity to give back whenever we can is something I am very proud of,” said Kenneth. That same community spirit guides his response to one of the industry’s biggest challenges: attracting new talent.
“One challenge the industry is currently facing is a shortage of skilled labour. I have been involved in career fairs hosted by local colleges and universities, as well as Skilled Trades Ontario which is catered to exposing elementary and high school students to the trades,” said Kenneth. “My goal is taking advantage of these fairs to speak to the students and educate them on how necessary the trades are—specifically collision repair.”
“A huge misconception about collision repair is that it is not a ‘professional’ industry... Collision repair is highly demanded, high paying, and deeply skilled.”
“The greatest opportunities for growth and innovation in collision repair lay in technology advancement and collaboration... Through collaboration we learn from each other and elevate the industry together.”
