About Us

Brody Simpson

General Manager

Brody Simpson has spent thirty-two years in the collision repair industry, growing from a teenager sweeping shop floors to a respected leader, mentor, and co-founder of his own collision repair venture. At 46, he brings a rare combination of deep technical experience, proven operational leadership, and an unwavering commitment to OEM-correct, safety-first repairs. In November 2025, Brody left his role as Collision Center Director at Randy Curnow Buick GMC to join partners Chris Vail, Brian Quakenbush, and Carlos Renteria in launching Body Shop Near Me, LLC—an independent collision repair company built on everything he has learned over three decades in the trade. Brody’s career began at age 14, working after school and on weekends in a body shop. Those early days were spent doing whatever the shop needed—cleaning, teardown, reassembly, and assisting experienced technicians. That hands-on education gave him a ground-level understanding of how vehicles are constructed and how proper repairs are performed. It also instilled a work ethic and respect for craftsmanship that have shaped every step of his career. At 19, he took the leap into ownership and opened his first body shop in Fort Scott, Kansas. For five years, he learned what it really means to run a collision business: managing technicians, working with insurance companies, earning customer trust, and balancing quality with cycle time and profitability. That experience as a young owner taught him to see the shop as a complete system—from front office to frame rack—and gave him a practical foundation in leadership, operations, and customer service.

Chris Vail

Parts Department Manager

Chris Vail, over his nearly 15-year career in automotive, has served in a nearly all- encompassing range of parts-centric roles within the automotive field. His career began during his time studying at KU in 2011, to pay his way through college, but quickly became his main focus. He started with one of the country’s largest automotive franchise owners, Hendrick Automotive, in a shipping and receiving position. Learning quickly, he was able to move from shipping & receiving, to delivery, back parts counter, front parts counter, and finally on to Collision parts manager. There, he was tasked with replacing the combined efforts of their existing 3-person parts team, on his own. After nearly 8 years with Hendrick Automotive, he moved to Thoroughbred Ford to further his career, serving over 3 years as their assistant parts and service manager. There he was able to spearhead increasing their wholesale parts sales, growing their wholesale gross profit margin by 89% from $97k/month, to $184k/month. Shortly after the large Covid outbreak of 2020, he parted ways with Thoroughbred Ford in 2021 to pursue a life of entrepreneurship, working nights and weekends as private driver and event coordinator to fund an online sales business over the next couple of years. Ultimately, he found his way back into the automotive field in 2023 where he was hired as Randy Curnow Collision’s newest Collision Parts and Production Manager.

Brian Quakenbush

Paint Specialist

Brian is an experienced automotive refinish technician with a career spanning more than two decades in the collision repair industry. His interest in the field began early, completing a body shop work-study program during his senior year of high school in 1999. That same passion led him to Northwest Kansas Technical College, where he studied from 1999 to 2001 and built a strong foundation in automotive collision and refinishing principles. In 2001, Brian began his professional career as a production painter at Conklin Cars. Over the next 14 years, he became a key contributor to the shop’s refinishing operations, known for consistent quality, efficiency, and a strong work ethic. From 2015 to 2017, Brian continued to expand his skills as a painter at Barbossa Kustom Color, gaining additional experience in custom refinishing and specialized paint processes. A committed professional who values ongoing training and industry standards, Brian achieved I-CAR Platinum certification—reflecting his dedication to craftsmanship, safety, and continuous education. He has also completed Rivian factory-authorized training, gaining advanced knowledge in EV-specific repair procedures and next-generation refinishing standards. Brian later joined Curnow Buick GMC, where he served as a production painter and advanced to Paint Shop Team Leader, guiding workflow, quality control, and shop efficiency from 2018–2025. His leadership and technical expertise helped strengthen both team performance and overall shop productivity. With a long history of hands-on experience, professional training, leadership, and personal integrity, Brian brings deep technical knowledge, disciplined craftsmanship, and a commitment to high-quality results in every refinishing project he takes on.

Jeff Rasmussen

Carlos Renteria

Certified Automotive Body Technician

Carlos is an Automotive Body Technician with 30 + years of experience in the industry. He started working at a young age in the automotive industry at a family-owned shop. His tasks in the beginning included being a porter, car washing, and polishing. Over time, he became a prepper and second painter, a position he held for 10 years. Eager to learn more about vehicles while performing paint jobs, he also did bodywork repairs. He attended I-CAR classes on numerous occasions to further his knowledge, becoming a body technician and eventually earning certification from the prestigious BMW company. All of this took place in California at companies like Prestige Too and Elite Group. Life took him to Kansas, where he worked for companies such as Caliber, Crash Champion, and Carstar, before joining Randy Curnow, where he remained for the last 7 years. He continued his professional development with more I-CAR classes and obtained his Rivian certification. He then parted ways with Randy Curnow to start his own business. Fate would bring him together with people who shared a common goal. Being part of a company that shared his work and family values; to grow as a person, to provide the executive with a better solution to the community through our service, and to give fair and honest treatment with professional ethics. Carlos has also had a strong sense of discipline from a very young age. Including being involved at a high level of semi-pro soccer. Even after retiring from the sport, Calros would continue to be involved in the

Jerome Schoel

Certified Master Technician

Jerome Schoel is a seasoned automotive repair professional with 47 years of experience specializing in body shop operations, structural repair, and high-precision craftsmanship. His dedication to the automotive field began in high school, where he first developed a strong aptitude for mechanical and body repair work. He later strengthened his technical foundation by earning an associate’s degree in Automotive and Diesel Technology from Denver Automotive & Diesel College. Throughout his career, Jerome continually advanced his skills through professional certifications. He is an ASE Certified Master Technician and holds additional credentials including Easy Liner Frame Machine Certification, Aluminum Welding Certification, MIG Welding Certification, and Oxy-Acetylene Welding Certification. These certifications reflect his commitment to maintaining the highest technical standards and staying current with industry best practices. Jerome spent 23 years as a key leader in the body shop at Conklin Cars in Salina, Kansas, where he oversaw repair quality, guided workflow, and contributed to the dealership’s reputation for exceptional service. His leadership, dependability, and precision have made him a respected figure in the automotive repair community.

Thomas Thawngbik

Business Development

Thomas Thawngbik is the friendly face behind the customer experience at Body Shop Near Me. As our Community Concierge, Thomas is dedicated to making every customer feel welcomed, informed, and supported throughout the repair process. Originally from Burma and proudly bilingual in Burmese and Chin , he brings a unique ability to connect with and assist a diverse range of customers in our community. From answering questions and coordinating updates to helping families navigate the repair process with confidence, Thomas takes pride in delivering exceptional service with a personal touch. He is passionate about building lasting relationships and ensuring every customer has a smooth, stress-free experience from start to finish.

Avery Vail

Parts Department

Avery is the official Shop Dog and proud Head of the Parts Department here at Certified Body Shop Near Me. While he may not run the estimating software, he takes his responsibilities very seriously—especially greeting customers, supervising deliveries, and ensuring every repair leaves with his tail of approval. When Avery isn’t inspecting incoming parts, you’ll find him making his rounds through the shop, boosting morale, and reminding the team to take a quick break. He specializes in customer comfort, stress reduction after accidents, and keeping the energy positive around the shop. His favorite things include: Morning roll calls Belly rubs from customers Monitoring the parts counter Making sure no snack goes unaccounted for At Certified Body Shop Near Me, we believe collision repair should feel less stressful—and Avery is a big part of that mission.