Meet Billy Black | CEO Blacks Auto and diesel service.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Billy Black and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Billy, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The people I have. My team, these guys and ladies are amazing and I have fostered an 0pen environment where they have learned and grown in a, on the job training, environment below two senior master technicians. Gene Hook and My self are both L 1 Master Certified and together just over 60 years of experience. Christopher Desselle is my very first employee, he started five years ago with n0 tools, no former training, and a passion for machines. This young man started as a $400,00 a week helper and now, last year, he bought his young wife and two boys their first home. Jonathan Woodall is the closest thing to a super hero the world will ever see. He is as funny as the day is long. This young man stated in his interview that he could change a flat and has done brakes before. That was a year and five months ag0. Currently he is working out of this third tool box, a beautiful Snap-on, and is the hardest working and quickest leaning induvial I have ever witnessed. Gene Hook and Ryan Wilkerson are the Glue. These men work together and make impossible things happen with the highest emphasis on communication with the customer, clarity, and a transparent repair experience. These men spend a more time together then they do home at times. In the beginning Chris and rarely saw less than 18 hr. days. In simple terms nearly every employee I’ve had, I still have. I made bold prediction to Christopher when I hired him, I was embarrassed and scared to only offer $400.00 a week. This will December of ’19, the very beginning of Covid. I told him if he could give me two years I could give him the knowledge to go anywhere and pull a handsome salary. He does, and I couldn’t do it without him or the rest of the team. From the very bringing I’ve been in the trenches side by side. The last year, the guys have really blossomed and picked up the load they make me proud every day. I’m Proud to be able tell my customers something and I am able to know its true. I say we are the best all the time, by that I mean my team will try harder, stay longer, go further, and do more than any shop in the state and probably more than one.

Thanks
Billy Black

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My transition from an employee to a business owner was swift. From the day I spotted the opportunity until I had a commercial lease in my name, a DBA, a Commercial account, and made my first dollar was 3 weeks. I found out almost immediately what Location, Location, Location actually meant. Instantly, I was over run, I would take calls and talk to folks all day and work all night. After three months, I hired Christopher and the rest is history. I made good living as a master auto/diesel tech. As such I had just enough money in savings to purchase the equipment in the building. (two lifts and an air compressor). I was also able to sign a 5 year lease paying the first three months up front (no business credit). It was all or nothing, I hade to make it work and the only way was to give up my safety net. I grabbed my boot straps and never considered failure an option. There were difficult times when I came home and told my then wife, a full time student, that I quit my job and withdrew all of the savings. Of course, I have a stellar resume and could of gotten my job back but i never once though I couldn’t make it work. Curranty were working on our Five Rear Re-Grand opening and rebranding. We are the best rated Automotive and Diesel repair and upgrade shop in Montgomery County. Additionally we are one of only a hand full of recommended Sh0ps for Houston Diesels a 501c3 non-profit who raises and donates a tremendous amount of funding for special causes.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We love the bike scene in Houston, We meet at Market Square Park or Discovery green reguarlly with other large facebooks associated with Houston Bike Scene.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Big SHOUT OUT to Scratch by Sarah! She has taken our digital presence and turned it into a truly effective and quite funny page with tons of activity and amazing follows. Mrs. Linda, she’s the most awesome office manager a shop could ever hope to have. A excellent and efficient, quick witted, friend. Her processes are exacting in a way that likely makes NASA jealous. My son, River Black. He is my primary motivator and my reason.

Website: Http://Blacksautomotivediesel.com

Linkedin: https://www.instagram.com/chf_diesel?igsh=NXFjMXYzbjFvdTdi&utm_source=qr

Facebook: Black’s Auto @ Diesel Service

Other: TicTok @billy.black15