John Palmer
John founded Palmer Collision Experts in September of 1982. His interest in body work started in high school while working on his own vehicles and continued through college. He graduated from St. Xavier University in 1981 with a B.B.A. in Business. After college, he went into sales but was drawn back into his first love - cars. As luck would have it, a body shop was for sale in Oak Lawn and he purchased it. After eight years, he moved to the current location at 10901 S. Central Ave. John believes that the number one priority in the past, present, and future will always be a quality repair. That, he states, will always bring a customer back. He gives much credit to his employees, who he says are just as committed to quality as he is. John currently resides in Palos Heights and has been married to his wife, Donna for over thirty years. He has three children: Jason, Chris, and Taylor. In his free time, John enjoys golfing, skiing, traveling, and spending time with his family.
Caryn
Caryn has worked for Palmer Collision for almost thirty years. She manages most of the office responsibilities, such as customer relations, insurance claims, and accounting. Caryn grew up and went to high school in Oak Lawn and attended college at Moraine Valley. Caryn enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as traveling and outdoor activities.
Mike
Mike has been with Palmer Collision since we opened in 1982. With over thirty years of automotive experience, Mike is one of our most reliable and knowledgeable employees. In addition to holding ATEG, i-CAR, and ASE certifications, Mike is efficient in CCC Estimating and able to assist running the shop when needed. When asked what he enjoys most about working here, Mike commented that he likes having the freedom to utilize his skills without being micromanaged. He also said that it is a relaxed atmosphere, so no one co-worker gets too stressed with their work. In his free time, Mike enjoys hunting, fishing, playing ice hockey, and home projects.
Tom
Tom has been with Palmer Collision since we opened in 1982. In addition to being part of the family, Tom is a vital link in providing our customers with best quality work possible. As both a skilled body man and painter, Tom holds i-CAR, ASE, ATEG, and PPG certifications. He commented that he enjoys working at Palmer Collision because the job feels more like a hobby, as he's a car guy and takes pride in every job he does. When asked what he likes best about working here, Tom immediately said his co-workers. He noted that many of them have worked together for a long time and are eager to help each other at any time for the best end result. In his free time, Tom enjoys spending time with his family, playing hockey, following NASCAR, the Blackhawks, the Sox, and going to car and hot rod shows.
Dave
Dave has been working at Palmer Collision for over twenty five years. He joined our staff around the same time we had moved into our current location. He has over thirty five years of automotive experience and stands as one of our most highly qualified employees. Dave holds i-CAR, ASE, and ATEG certifications. Throughout his automotive career, he has worked in several facets of the collision industry, ranging from domestic/foreign cars to large semi-trucks and buses. In his free time, Dave enjoys spending time with his family and friends, as well as camping and keeping up on Chicago sports.
Rusty
Rusty has been with Palmer Collision for over twenty years and is one of our most experienced painters. He is certified by ASE (Painting and Refinishing as well as Non-Structural Analysis/Damage Repair), I-CAR (Finish Matching, Adhesive Bonding, and Plastic Repair) and PPG (Deltron Blue Level, Deltron Bronze Level, and Gold Level). Rusty commented that working at Palmer Collision is rewarding because it is not only a professional and efficient environment, but a shop where employees are able to collaborate with one another to deliver the best results. In his free time, Rusty enjoys fishing year-round, keeping up on NASCAR, and spending time with his family.
Jurgen
Jurgen has been with Palmer Collision for over fifteen years, and with over twenty years of automotive/painting experience, he has become an essential part of our painting department. He holds certifications in ASE (Painting and Refinishing as well as Non-Structural Analysis/Damage Repair), I-CAR (Finish Matching, Adhesive Bonding, and Plastic Repair) and PPG (Deltron Blue Level, Deltron Bronze Level, and Gold Level). Jurgen said that he likes working at Palmer Collision because it is an environment where hard work is not only rewarded, but where customers truly appreciate the time and effort that has gone into the job. In his free time, Jurgen enjoys spending time with his family, going to concerts, riding his motorcycle, and following the Blackhawks.
Tim
Tim has been with Palmer Collision for almost ten years. Although a new addition to our staff, Tim has already displayed excellent and efficient paint work. He has been certified by ASE (Painting and Refinishing as well as Non-Structural Analysis/Damage Repair), I-CAR (Finish Matching, Adhesive Bonding, and Plastic Repair) and PPG (Deltron Blue Level, Deltron Bronze Level, and Gold Level). Tim takes pride in knowing that every job he does, whether new or old, good or poor condition, is done with the goal to give the customer the best repair possible without any hesitation. In his free time, Tim enjoys spending time with his children, T.J. and Madisin, as well as building and riding Harley's.
Chuck
Chuck has been with Palmer Collision for over ten years. A former firefighter, Chuck now channels his energy into being an excellent body technician. He holds various I-CAR, ATEG, and ASE certifications. Chuck prides himself on being able to handle tasks of any size and difficulty. He enjoys working in an environment where everyone gets along and works collaboratively. Outside of work, Chuck enjoys working on his many antique cars as well as attending car shows and spending time with his family.
Jim
Jim has been working at Palmer Collision for over three years. He is in charge of the parts department and oversees all shop operations. His attention to detail keeps the shop running smoothly. When he's not working, Jim likes spending time with his family and watching his favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs.
Adrian
Adrian is Palmer Collision's most recent addition. He has been with us for just over two years now. Adrian handles the detail shop along with his various other shop responsibilities. Outside of work, Adrian enjoys watching football, (especially the Chicago Bears) and spending time with family.
