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William E. Johnson

Bill

Johnson

William "Bill" Johnson is a successful leader, business owner, entrepreneur, and financial manager with over 35 years of owning and operating businesses, many of which are in the automotive and towing related industries. He has founded and developed an auto body & repair business (Pleasant Street Auto), a towing company (Hampshire Towing), an accident scene remediation business (Amber Scene Clean), a home heating oil business (Amber Energy, Inc), and a credit card processing company (Simple Merchant Services) into enterprises grossing over 5 million dollars in sales per year.

Bill got his start as a mechanic and transitioned to become an auto body technician, eventually becoming a certified wrecker operator as well. As President and CEO of these companies, he oversees the managers of the divisions of his companies including the mechanical shop, collision center, towing division, and the fuel oil / HVAC portion, as well as the sales and services of all related products. Bill has successfully empowered each of his managers to run a particular division and their associated employees, and assists in guiding them to meet company goals. While the managers are trusted with the day-to-day operations of the divisions and to supervise all recruiting, hiring, and training activities for the 40+ members of his staff, Bill provides counseling and consultation for employee performance and related issues. By relinquishing responsibility to the senior members of his team, he can focus on long-term planning, marketing strategies, and policy development.

 

Bill has personally developed a comprehensive employee handbook and assorted company policies that ensure the smooth daily operation of all the companies and decreases stress for his employees. The policies and procedures Bill has enacted, such as having a containment bay for vehicles emitting fluid, support his environmentally-friendly initiative, comply with EPA and DEP regulations, and are completely law-abiding while also producing additional streams of revenue. He has established a benefits and incentives program to increase employee morale, performance, and job safety, while enacting policies that look out for his employees well-being and interests. Bill has perfected the "4-wins" formula of acknowledging and abiding by laws and regulations, satisfying his employees, caring for his customers, and increasing profits. He is responsible for controlling a combined operating budget of over $5 million, and oversees the purchase of all business capital within budget constraints. He continually monitors and works to reduce all expenses in order to meet budget goals.     

 

An advocate of direct networking, Bill initiates all advertising efforts for his associated companies. He routinely studies the affects of advertising and marketing within the automotive and towing industries, and he directs his efforts towards increasing consumer awareness and to establish brand recognition within the community. Bill is also primary contributor to the establishment of the "Towing Services Rotation National Standard" for the National Towing & Recovery Association. He has been recognized and published in the industry publication, American Towman, and has served as an expert witness with regard to automotive towing and recovery knowledge to testify in court cases. Most recently, Bill was inducted to the International Towing Hall of Fame in 2013. With his wealth of knowledge and experience, Bill and business partner John Borowski created The Towing Consultants to bring their expertise and knowledge to the towing and automotive industry. Together, they are dedicated to the growth and prosperity of entrepreneurs and businesses within these industries.

Areas of Expertise
  • Automotive Repair
  • Auto Body Refinishing

  • Marketing Strategies in the Automotive & Towing Industry

  • Business Planning

  • Towing & Recovery Operations Management

Areas of Expertise
  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Damage Appraiser #008769
  • Department of Public Safety Hoisting Engineer License 1c, 2b, #082312
  • Towing and Recovery Association of America, Nationally Certified Tow Operator, Light Duty Level 1 (ID #3228)
  • Massachusetts Commercial Drivers License. Class A with endorsements for passengers, hazmat, tank, and air brake
  • Osha 40 Hour Hazwoper Training Certificate #12-00341
  • PPG Management Series - Production Management & Maximizing Shop Flow Certification
  • Genesis Electronic Measuring System Training Certification
  • Sheet Metal Workers, Master-Unrestricted License (#6189)
  • National TIM Responder Training Certificate
  • OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Supervisory Training Certificate
  • Hybrid Vehicle Safety Awareness Training Seminar Certificate
  • Motor Vehicle Damage Appraiser License (#008769)
  • Forklift Safety Training Completion
Professional Memberships & Credentials
  • 1981-Pres.        Owner/CEO: Pleasant Street Auto, Hampshire Towing
  • 1985-1989       Chairman, Granby Conservation Commission
  • 1989-2004      Selectman, Town of Granby
  • 1989-Pres.      Owner/CEP: Amber Energy, Inc
  • 1989-Pres.      Founder, Mike Mullen Memorial Scholarship 
  • 1989-2007      Member, Landfill Oversight Committee, Town of Granby
  • 1990-2001      Advisor, Collision Technology Course, Pathfinder Technical High School
  • 1998-2002     Director, Granby/South Hadley Chamber of Commerce
  • 1999-2002     West Director, Statewide Towing Association
  • 2000              Candidate for MA State Representative
  • 2000-Pres.     Chairman, Granby Republican Committee
  • 2002-Pres.     President, Statewide Towing Association of Massachusetts
  • 2003-2004     Member, Towing Services Rotation Committee
  • 2003-2007     Chairman, National Towing & Recovery Association
  • 2003-2008     Member, Commonwealth of MA Real Estate Appraisers Board
  • 2004-Pres.      Member, Police Advisory Board, Town of Granby
  • 2004-Pres.      Director, AICC Self Insurance Workers Comprehensive Group
  • 2004-2007     Contributor, MA Unified Response Manual "Quick Clearance/Incident                                       Management
  • 2004-2011     MA Governers Public Safety Task Force
  • 2005-Pres.    Member, Automotive Wholesalers Association of New England Board
  • 2006-Pres.    Vice Chairman, Western MA Republicans
  • 2006-Pres.    Member, Vernon Masonic Lodge
  • 2007-2012     Alternate Member, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Town of Granby
  • 2008-Pres.    President, Statewide Towing Association of MA
  • 2009-Pres.    Member, School Committee, Pathfinder Technical High School
  • 2010-Pres.    Chief of Police Gold Badge Membership
  • Member of Alliance of Automotive Service Providers in MA
  • Member of Holyoke, South Hadley, Granby, & Quaboag Chambers of Commerce
  • Concerned Auto Repairers for Equality (CARE) Charter Member
  • Chiefs of Police Association, Gold Badge Membership
Awards & Commendations
  • 1999 - Chief Automotive Genesis Electronic Measuring System Training
  • 2001 - American Towman Municipal Award
  • 2005 - National Conference of State Transportation Specialist Award
  • 2006 - "The Towman Commendation" - Courageous Professionalism Under Fire in the Endeavor to Save a Human Life, American Towman Magazine
  • 2009 - Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service & the Road America Motor Club,  Emergency Road Service Heavy Duty Regional Provider of the Year
  • 2010 - EPA National Area Source Rule Certificate of Achievement
  • 2012 - Certification of Appreciation, South Hadley Police Association
  • 2013 - International Hall of Fame Inductee, Class of 2013
  • 2015 - Towman of the Year, American Towman 
Professional Memberships & Credentials
  • 2011 - "Fleet Strategy & Utilization, Wreckers to Lowboys", American Towman Academy, Presentation
  • Published in American Towman Magazine
  • Seminar Presenter, American Towman

  • Expert Witness for Automotive Recovery Knowledge, MA Court Cases

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