KENT BODIN’S PATH FROM THE PAINT BOOTH TO OWNERSHIP
PHOTOS BY MATT PIOTROWSKI
“I really kind of had no idea what I was getting into,” he says. “I just started at the bottom.”
There was no formal collision repair program at his school. A shop teacher with bodyman experience had introduced him to the trade, but most of Bodin’s education would happen on the shop floor. He cleaned cars, emptied garbage cans and handled whatever tasks were needed, gradually learning how a repair facility actually runs.
“You’ve got to pay attention to detail and take pride in your work,” he says. “It doesn’t matter if you’re emptying the garbage or writing an estimate — it’s all important.”
That philosophy carried him from detailing into prep work and, within months, into the paint booth. Painting became the first role where he saw a long term path for himself. The precision, the pace and the visible end result made the work tangible.
“I liked painting,” he says. “That finished product is always kind of rewarding. You can actually see what you accomplished.” Bodin earned his journeyman certification in prep and paint and spent more than a decade refining his skills. He built confidence in the booth, but he did not stop there. When the shop’s longtime pre appraiser retired in 2015 and 2016, ownership asked whether he would consider learning estimating. The move meant stepping away from the tools and into customer conversations, supplements and scheduling pressures.
“You learn one part of it, and then it’s like, what can I do next?” he says. “You’ve done the cleaning, you’ve painted for years, you’ve worked in the office — you kind of want to push yourself a little further.”
By the time the opportunity to purchase the business came forward in 2022, Bodin had worked in nearly every role in the shop. The operation now runs as Simplicity Car Care Medicine Hat, after joining the Simplicity banner the year prior. The shop itself carries a long legacy in the community, having operated for more than six decades as Ted’s Autobody LTD.
“I feel really fortunate to have had the opportunity to buy such a reputable shop,” Bodin says. “Ted’s Autobody has been serving our city and surrounding area for over 60 years. The previous owners did a great job building that trust and reputation, and I’m proud to carry it on.”
Ownership brought a different kind of challenge. Many of the technicians had been there for years, some longer than him. The dynamic shifted overnight.
“Going from being just one of the employees to overseeing the team was a challenge,” he says. “All of a sudden you’re being asked, ‘What do you want me to do now?’ And you think, why are you asking me? But now it’s my decision.”
Rather than overhaul the culture, Bodin leaned into what he had learned over time — steady leadership and mutual respect. In a city of roughly 64,000 residents with about 10 bodyshops, reputation matters and turnover can be costly.
“Treat people fair, and they’ll be fair to you,” he says. “It’s not complicated. You respect them, you care about what they’re doing, and they’ll take pride in the place too.”
He offers similar advice to young technicians entering the trade, especially those discouraged by starting wages or slow early progress. He understands the temptation to move on.
“I was tempted when I first started to go find a different job too,” he says. “But if you stick with it and absorb everything you can, the more you learn, the more valuable you become.”
That steady accumulation of knowledge continues to shape the business. Bodin has invested in updated equipment, including a glue pulling system, to align with modern OEM procedures that emphasize repair over replacement. While electric vehicle volume remains limited in southeastern Alberta, advanced driver assistance systems and recalibration requirements are increasingly part of the estimating process.
“You’ve got to keep up with learning and technology,” he says. “If you don’t adapt to it, you’re going to get left behind.”
For him, growth has never been about sudden leaps. It has come from learning each role thoroughly, building confidence step by step and moving forward only when he is ready for the next challenge.
“Kent exemplifies exactly what we look for in a franchisee,” says Domenic Ieraci. “His leadership in Medicine Hat reflects a deep commitment to operational excellence, community engagement and delivering an outstanding customer experience. We’re proud to have him representing our brand in the market.”
For Bodin, the goal remains simple — continue building on the foundation that was laid decades before he arrived, ensuring the shop remains a trusted fixture in Medicine Hat for years to come.
“While the history of this shop is built on decades of hard work, transitioning from a painter to an owner meant I needed more than just technical skill — I needed a proven system,” says Bodin. “Joining the Simplicity Car Care banner was the turning point that allowed me to focus on the shop floor while they handled the heavy lifting of the business backend. The value of being part of the network is the immediate access to advanced data analytics, streamlined insurance relations, and a peer group of owners who have already navigated the challenges I face daily.
It took the guesswork out of the transition. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, I could lean on a national brand that prioritizes efficiency and growth. Simplicity gave us a roadmap to ensure the shop remains a fixture in Medicine Hat for another 60 years.”
