Article Summary
Mike Cherneta, co-owner of MGM Auto Group overseeing nine CARSTAR and four Uniglass Plus locations, transformed the collision repair industry by prioritizing customer trust, team development, and transparency over quick profits, demonstrating that working smarter and keeping customers first reduces rework and builds long-term business success.
- Mike Cherneta co-owns MGM Auto Group, which operates nine CARSTAR and four Uniglass Plus locations alongside partner Kapi Komera
- His people-first approach focuses on team growth through training sessions, developing frontline employees into leaders across all locations
- Core business philosophy centers on customer trust, transparency, and peace of mind rather than cutting corners despite rising OEM complexity and costs
- Strategic vision includes digitizing the customer journey, standardizing quality, and leveraging data to improve cycle times and reduce rework
- Advocates for promoting collision repair as a rewarding career with growth opportunities in engineering, diagnostics, and business management to attract next-generation talent
For Mike Cherneta, collision repair isn’t just a career—it’s a calling rooted in community.
He didn’t fall into the industry by chance. His father introduced him to the business, and like many others in the trade, Mike began in the detail bay. What followed wasn’t just a climb– it was a transformation. Today, he’s the co-owner of MGM Auto Group, overseeing nine CARSTAR and four Uniglass Plus locations alongside partner Kapi Komera.
“What started as a drive to build something sustainable has evolved into a mission to transform how customers experience collision repair,” said Mike. “Early on, I saw a gap—people weren’t just looking for repairs, they were looking for trust, transparency and peace of mind. That realization shaped our entire approach at MGM Auto Group: work harder, move faster and never lose sight of the people behind every key drop-off.”
That people-first mindset has made Mike a standout in his network. He was nominated by CARSTAR Corporate, who pointed to Mike’s dedication to development of both teams and communities.
“[Mike prioritizes] team growth by hosting training sessions, such as estimate training for their estimators across all locations, ensuring consistent high-quality work across [the] business,” said a representative from the company.
Ask Mike what he’s most proud of, and he doesn’t list numbers, square footage or volume. Instead, he talks about the people who make the shops what they are.
“Seeing frontline team members rise through the ranks, taking ownership of their roles and becoming leaders in their own right–that’s the real win,” said Mike. “Every successful shop opening or franchise transition is a result of long hours, relentless problem-solving and a team that refuses to settle for ‘good enough.’ It’s that grit and shared pride that fuels me.”
Still, he’s clear-eyed about the challenges. With rising costs, increased OEM complexity and growing customer expectations, there’s no coasting in collision.
“It’s not just about internal cost control–we’re also educating customers and insurance partners about the value behind the numbers,” he said. “When you focus on doing the job right the first time and building trust throughout the repair process, you reduce rework, improve satisfaction and create long-term efficiency. Rising costs are real, but the answer isn’t cutting corners—it’s working smarter, being more transparent and always keeping customer experience front and centre.”
Looking ahead, Mike sees possibility in smart consolidation and meaningful modernization.
“I see opportunity in digitizing the customer journey, standardizing quality across locations and leveraging data to improve cycle times and outcomes. My role is to keep pushing forward–to build a network that sets the bar higher for what customers and employees should expect in this industry.”
He also believes in sharing that story beyond shop walls. “It’s a highly technical, dynamic and deeply rewarding field,” said Mike. “Modern collision repair combines engineering, diagnostics, customer service and business acumen. There’s room to grow a career here—not just a job—and we need to do a better job telling that story to the next generation.”
