Our Team

Over forty years ago, on April 1st, 1975, Gary Mahnke opened the doors of the first Mahnke Auto Body repair and refinishing shop, in Arvada, Colorado. Gary used his experience in repainting large construction equipment, gift for making lasting friendships, innate managerial acumen, and strong ethics to build an extraordinarily successful business. Gary and Judy Mahnke have four children and presently, three of their children work in the company along with a nephew and his son.

Strong precedents led Gary and Judy Mahnke toward becoming entrepreneurs. From early childhood, Gary was encouraged by his father to go into business rather than spending a lifetime as a salaried employee. Judy’s father was one of the co-founders of Owens Brothers Concrete in Arvada. Gary and Judy have placed high expectations on themselves and their family to seek continual improvement, a foundational principal for the entire company.

Gary Mahnke is proud that there have a family member working in each of the four shops, all engaged with and supportive of Mahnke’s uniquely loyal “Family Owned & Operated” culture. Gary Mahnke encourages his employees to accept positions of leadership, within the company and in the community. Mahnke technicians have often volunteered as mentors and judges for the Skills USA competitions sponsored by Warren Tech in Lakewood, Colorado. Gary Mahnke has served on the Board and as President of ASA the Automotive Service Association. Gary was among the first to recommend environmental protection regulations and accountability for auto body shops, while serving on Colorado Governor Roy Romer’s Commission in 1996.

Mahnke Auto Body Arvada was the proud recipient of the Arvada Chamber Business of the Year Award in 2010. Also, in 2010 Gary was awarded the “Champion of Free Enterprise” from Sales Professionals International.