Our Expert Technicians & Friendly Staff Are Here To Help.
Tom Kilmer
Owner
Tom was born and raised in Fairmont, WV where he spent most of his time inside his father's machine shop. He eventually learned how to operate every machine, signaling a promising future in the auto repair industry. After mastering crank grinding and balancing, he quickly added fuel injector repairs and boring to his auto service skill set. Tom graduated from Fairmont Senior HS in 1970, and then went on to Northwood University where he earned an AAS in Automotive Marketing Management and a BAAS in Business Management. He was Detroit Diesel-trained and certified in 71 and 53 series diesel engines as part of his diesel repair training and expertise. After college, Tom was hired by Hastings Manufacturing as a product engineer and then went on to become the General Manager of the Tool and Accessory Division. Tom has always had an interest in vehicle repair, so he went on to successful careers with local Grand Rapids dealerships. As General Manager, he built lifelong relationships with his customers and employees, which sharpened his skills as a business leader.
Kathy Martin
Office Manager
Kathy was born in Wichita, Kansas and moved to Belmont, Michigan when she was very young. She graduated from Rockford High School in Rockford, MI. Kathy spent the majority of her career in the medical and management fields before joining Grand Rapids Motorcar in 2013. Everywhere Kathy has worked, she has been a valuable asset and has become the same as the Office Manager. Kathy enjoys gardening, home improvement projects, and spending time with her family. She has twins; a son and a daughter.
Rob Sperring
Service Manager
Rob is an ASE and State of Michigan certified technician who’s been in the Auto Repair industry for over 20 years. Born and raised in Southern California until age 14, he spent his high school years in Pennsylvania. After graduating from Bishop Egan High School in 1993, he moved to West Michigan and enrolled at GRCC Tech Center. After receiving Auto Repair training and licensing, he started changing oil and working his way up in local car dealerships. Rob continued to earn certifications and build his career. He came to work for Tom and GRMC in 2007 as an Auto Technician and was offered the Service Manager position a few months later. He married his best friend Becky; they have four sons and a daughter and live in Grandville. Outside the shop, Rob enjoys spending time with his family, working on house projects, and watching his kids play Soccer.
Christina Rutherford
Service Advisor
Christina has worked as a Service Advisor for over 5 years; therefore, she has a deep understanding of automotive repair and maintenance. Before working as a Service Advisor, she worked for several years in jewelry sales and has extensive customer service expertise as well. She graduated from Forest Hills Northern in 2002. Christina and her husband, Rob, reside in Lowell. They have three children, Kayla, Austin, and Kolton, as well as two rescue dogs, Nova and Bo. Christina enjoys spending time with her family and riding the dunes at Silver Lake in the summer.
Cody Anderson
Service Advisor
Cody grew up in Northeast Michigan and graduated from Whittemore-Prescott High School with a graduating class of only 53 students. He then went on to Delta College and earned a degree in Automotive Services. After college, he started his career as an ASE Certified technician before transitioning to Service Advisor/Customer Service over 10 years ago. Cody and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Lowell. Cody & Jennifer were foster parents for several years. They adopted two young boys who are siblings; Justin and Jayden. They also have a biological son, Walter. Cody enjoys spending time with his family, camping, and doing outdoor activities. He also enjoys hunting and fishing and looks forward to his boys participating as they get a little older. Cody joined GRMC in October 2020.
Sam Sandoval
Shop Foreman
Sam is an ASE Master and State of Michigan certified technician who’s been in the automotive industry for over 20 years. He was raised in Peoria AZ, where he worked on cars at a very young age in his father's shop. After graduating from Peoria High School in 1998, Sam took his four years of Automotive training to an apprenticeship with an independent repair shop, where he sharpened his skills. In 2000, Sam and his loving wife Kimberly moved to MI. He came to work for GRMC in 2008 and has become our shop foreman and lead diagnostic tech. Sam enjoys spending time with his wife and three children when he is not working. He also enjoys spending time with his congregation taking part in spiritual activities.
Scott Kipfmueller
Technician
Scott is an ASE Master and State of Michigan certified technician with over 30 years of experience in the auto repair industry. He grew up in Frankenmuth, MI, and graduated from Frankenmuth High School in 1987. After graduation, he went to work right away in a GM dealership. In 2005, Scott and his wife, Cathy, moved to West Michigan, and Scott began working for another GM dealership. He came to work for GRMC in 2009. Scott recently moved to our other building adjacent to the main building, where this new venture will allow him to fully showcase his skills and passion for classic car repairs. Scott enjoys snowmobiling, fishing, camping, and traveling during his time off.
Nate Jennings
Technician
Nate is an ASE Master and State of Michigan certified technician with over 20 years of experience in the automobile repair industry. Nate mostly grew up on the south side of the state before moving to West Michigan. He joined GRMC in October 2020 and has been a valuable asset to our team of technicians. Nate and his wife Beth have four children. Nate enjoys spending time with his family camping. He also loves hunting and fishing.
Tom Friskey
Technician
Tom is an ASE Master and State of Michigan certified technician who’s worked in the automotive industry for over 25 years. Tom grew up in Walker, MI, and graduated from the University of Northwestern Ohio with a bachelor’s degree in High-Performance Automotive. Tom joined GRMC in August 2019 and has quickly become a very valuable asset. He is a top-notch diagnostic tech and European repair expert. Tom and his wife, Amanda, have a son, Logan, and a daughter, Blakelyn. Tom loves participating in outdoor activities. He and his family enjoy running, hiking, mountain biking, and camping. He is also an avid hunter and fisherman.
Jake Vath
Technician
Jake is an ASE and State of Michigan certified apprentice technician. Jake graduated from Kenowa Hills High School in 2015. After graduation, he attended the Automotive Program at Grand Rapids Community College. Jake joined GRMC in September 2019 and has been a great addition to our team. He and his wife, Lexi, were married in 2021 and reside in Grand Rapids. He enjoys doing anything outdoors, especially fishing.