Business of the Year

Business of the Year: Dickerson Automotive

Todd Dickerson began working in a local automotive repair shop in Spanish Fork at age 14. That early job led to a lifelong passion and career in the industry where he has emphasized giving back to his customers, his employees and the community.

A few year ago, his business, Dickerson Automotive, started a program called Wheels With Heart. This program offers Dickerson Automotive services to those who need a hand up. Sometimes that means donating labor, parts or even a vehicle.

“There’s nothing better than to be in a place where you’re able to give back to the community,” Dickerson said.

In recognition of his helping hand, the Spanish Fork Salem Area Chamber of Commerce has named Dickerson Automotive its 2021 Business of the Year.

The Business of the Year is chosen through a vote by members of the chamber. During each monthly meeting of the chamber’s board of directors, board members discuss what businesses they feel have made outstanding contributions to the chamber and the community during the past month.

The names of the nominated businesses are then sent out to all chamber members, who vote on which business they feel deserves to be honored. The winner becomes the chamber’s Business of the Month. Dickerson Automotive received this award in April of 2021.

At the end of the year, chamber members are asked to vote for which of the 12 Businesses of the Month they feel should be recognized as Business of the Year.

“I’m just honored. I really had no idea that that was even potentially something that we would be considered for,” Dickerson said. “There’s a lot of wonderful people in our community that are deserving of that, and so I’m very honored that we were chosen.” After finding his passion, Dickerson worked in automotive repair while he attended Spanish Fork High School and went to work for an independent repair shop in Springville after graduating. He’d been there for about four years when a Cadillac came in with problems that had been to a Provo Cadillac dealership several times and confounded the service technician.

Dickerson managed to fix the car, and the Provo Cadillac dealership ended up offering him a job.

The dealership provided him with opportunities for advanced training in car repair, and he took advantage of it. Eventually, he and his father decided to start their own auto repair business, and they opened D&D Service in Springville in 1996.

The business grew to the point where it needed a new facility. In 2000, Dickerson went out on his own and built the structure where his business currently operates at 34 W. 1900 North, Spanish Fork.

Dickerson Automotive offers general automotive repair out of its facility, which includes nine service bays. “We pretty much do bumper to bumper; we want to be your one-stop shop” Dickerson said.

The growth of his business has continued over the years. When the Spanish Fork facility first opened, Dickerson had four employees. The business now has 11 employees, including the members of his management team who have been with him from the beginning.

“It’s been amazing. I’ve had great support from the community,” he said.

One of his keys to success is his approach to management. He meets weekly with employees to discuss their goals and how he and the business can help them attain those goals.

Dickerson has also been highly involved in the chamber, having joined it when he first opened his business in Spanish Fork more than two decades ago.

“The chamber of commerce is where you can take a bunch of individual people who can only do so much on their own, but you combine their forces and they can do amazing things. Strength in numbers,” Dickerson said.