HOW A NIAGARA COLLISION LEGACY KEEPS ITS FRAME STRAIGHT THROUGH THREE GENERATIONS
“As a child, I was always around cars and the shop,” the 39 year-old owner recalls. “By 14 I’d even work some summer breaks and Christmas holidays, always finding a way to be involved. When I went to Brock, the shop was down the street, so I’d stop in between classes — sometimes even when I should’ve been in class.”
Johnny’s path mirrors the steady, hands-on work ethic that shaped Fix Auto St. Catharines into the operation it is today. Founded in 1976 by his grandfather, Lino D’Ambrosio, a licensed mechanic who immigrated from Italy, the original shop began as a humble garage. His father joined a few years later, after the original partner left.
“My grandfather opened United Motor Collision in 1976,” Johnny explains. “He’d worked as a mechanic when he first came to Canada, then opened a gas station and mechanic shop. After selling his first business he opened UMC, a four bay shop, which has now grown into a 15,000 square-foot building.”
Nearly fifty years later, that same site remains the group’s main hub — still independently owned by the D’Ambrosio family, now operating under the Fix Auto banner — and will celebrate its golden anniversary in 2026.
“There’s a lot of pride involved,” Johnny says. “It’s rare these days for a small business to continue on and not just survive, but thrive. Reaching 50 years means a lot, and we will certainly continue to build on that.”
That spirit of continuity is threaded through every decision Johnny has made since officially joining the business in his early twenties. After leaving university, he traded lecture halls for the shop floor — starting in the wash bay, detailing cars then prepping, eventually working his way into estimating and management.
“In my early years I learned a lot from my dad, John and our general manager Jamie,” he says. “Then I brought in a business consultant through our paint supplier who really helped propel my knowledge forward. That was a turning point — our production, structure and procedures started setting us apart.”
That emphasis on process eventually led to one of the D’Ambrosio’s most defining decisions — joining the Fix Network in 2015. “It was a remain stagnant or evolve further moment,” Johnny reflects. “Either stay as one shop or grow into many. Expansion was always a dream — to take what my grandfather started, what my father built, and scale it.”
The dream became reality in 2021 when D’Ambrosios acquired the Welland location, followed soon after by Fix Auto Niagaraon- the-Lake.
“The foundation of it all is having the right people in place,” he says. “Communication and expectations are huge. You need at least one person in each shop who shares the same vision and goals. From there it’s infectious and turns into more than one — those pillars hold everything up.”
The results speak clearly. Many team members have been with the business for decades. The general managers Jamie Werstroh and Dave Cirone in St. Catharines and Welland are each 40-year veterans in the industry, while others have risen through the ranks to lead new shops and facilities. “Our general manager in Niagara-onthe- Lake, CJ George-McCool, started in St. Catharines and worked his way up to running that location,” Johnny said. “Our painter Josh Boland has been with us for nearly 20 years. Mario Di Tizio and Mike Bowers in Welland are approaching 20 years as well. Building internally has proven to be incredibly valuable.”
That internal development philosophy extends through years of dedication and drive — though Johnny admits, it’s not a quick process. aszzz “It’s not fast. It’s hours in hands-on experience,” he says. “I’ve done a lot of testing, and a lot of things have worked and others haven’t. I try to share that with the guys coming up so they can bypass some of the mistakes I made.” Patience, he said, is essential.
“It takes time and the right people. It’s never perfect, but that slow, steady climb is what builds sustainability.”
Operating three collision centres across the Niagara region — with a fourth on the way — brings its own challenges. With multiple insurance partners, evolving OEM procedures, a growing staff and differing regional demands, keeping operations unified requires discipline and structure.
“The larger you are, the more opportunity there is — but also more potential issues,” Johnny says. “We try to maintain standard operating procedures across all shops, so there’s always something to refer to. Having leaders in place who hold those standards and people accountable keeps us on a strong path.” Each shop maintains ICAR Gold Class recognition and multiple OEM certifications — a point of pride that keeps the group at the forefront.
Beyond certifications and expansions, Johnny’s proudest achievement is personal: purchasing his first shop in Welland four years ago.
“I walked into a thriving family business, which was an incredible opportunity,” he said. “Creating more opportunity for our employees, for my family and for my business partner — my father — was and still is a great feeling. I consider myself blessed to still have the opportunity to work alongside my father and enjoy his mentorship as we continue to grow our network of family-owned facilities.”
That blend of gratitude and ambition defines Johnny’s leadership. The Fix Auto St. Catharines group has earned the Fix Network President’s Award twice — in 2022 and again in 2024 — standing out among nearly 300 facilities nationwide. The award recognizes the partner who best exemplifies Fix Network’s values.
“It was a great feeling,” Johnny says. “Winning two cycles back-to-back means a lot.”
As he balances a growing business with life as a young father, Johnny can’t help but smile when his three-year-old daughter chirps, “Bodyshop!” from the backseat as they pass one of their locations.
“I still remember my dad saying, ‘you don’t want to do this,’ and urging me to pick another career path. But I secretly fell in love with the shop at a young age. I hope one or both my daughters feel the same pull one day.”
And if they do, they won’t just inherit a business — they’ll inherit a legacy five decades in the making, built on patience, precision and pride.
“It was a Remain stagnant or evolve further moment. Either stay as one shop or grow into many. Expansion was always a dream — to take what my grandfather started, what my father built, and scale it.” — Johnny D’Ambrosio
“I walked into a thriving family business, which was an incredible opportunity,” he said. “Creating more opportunity for our employees, for my family and for my business partner — my father — was and still is a great feeling. I consider myself blessed to still have the opportunity to work alongside my father and enjoy his mentorship as we continue to grow our network of family-owned facilities.” — Johnny D’Ambrosio
