Dynamic Automotive Takes the Driver’s Seat as CO— 100 Top Small Business

“Keep lives moving forward” — that’s the motto of Dynamic Automotive, the Maryland-based company recognized as the 2025 CO—100 Top Small Business. While on the surface Dynamic Automotive may appear to be an ordinary auto repair and maintenance business, the team is driven by a people-first approach that has led to the company’s long-term success over the last 30 years. 

During the 2025 CO— 100 Small Business Forum, CO—'s Vice President and Editor-in-Chief Jeanette Mulvey spoke with Co-Owner and CEO Dwayne Myers. They discussed how the 30-year-old automotive repair company has built a legacy by going beyond fixing cars and focusing on building relationships, growing careers, and investing in its local community.

Building genuine relationships with customers

For some consumers, visiting an auto repair shop can feel like visiting a doctor’s office: intimidating because they’re afraid of the diagnosis and associated costs. Dynamic Automotive sought to change this through honest conversations, turning anxious visits into positive experiences.

“We're dealing with, usually, the second biggest expense [consumers] ever have, which is a vehicle,” Myers said. “There's trust issues, and I figure the best way to build trust is to build a … relationship, and we want our team to do that. We may not be the most efficient because of that, but I think the net outcome of that pays off.’”

To help customers feel confident that their needs come first, team members are trained to make personal connections — like discussing a customer’s soccer team sticker — even if it takes extra time. The approach has been so well-received that a customer even coined a phrase to describe their philosophy: “Where customers become friends.”

[Read more: How Dynamic Automotive Achieved 30 Years of People-First Service] 

Investing in team growth and talent pipelines

Myers started at Dynamic Automotive as a part-time technician after serving in the military. He worked his way up through the company by going outside his comfort zone and developing his leadership skills. Then, he helped those below him do the same by providing a ladder for growth, spearheading two apprenticeship programs — one for high schoolers and one for recent graduates. 

“We started it because people had lost interest in our industry,” Myers said. “We … put a lot of structure in there [so] … they knew their path [and] what they were going to do for the next three years — and they came out exceptionally far ahead. It started filling our pipeline of young talent.”

The program’s success was eye-opening for Myers’ team, who realized structured development shouldn’t stop once the apprenticeship ends. In response, they built a system that aligns employees’ career paths with their individual goals. Each path is customized around one-, three-, and five-year milestones to support long-term growth and retention.

“When you develop…your people, they stay with you,” Myers said. “It's more than money — they feel that they're a part of something.”

[Read More: Simple Ways to Keep Your Employees Happy in 2025]

Leading through service and community connection

Dynamic Automotive’s great service isn’t just for customers and employees; they’re helpful neighbors within their communities, too.

“The fastest way for a small business to be successful is to invest in the community you serve,” Myers explained.

The company strategically places its shops in neighborhoods, rather than on busy highways, allowing it to build lasting relationships with community members throughout its three-decade history.

“We put [our shops] in communities … because that's where customers become friends,” Myers shared. “We get that relationship model because we see the same customers year over year.”

Generations of relationship building have led to customers sharing milestones over the years, even bringing their newborns in to meet the team. These bonds reflect Dynamic Automotive’s true legacy: keeping lives, families, and friendships moving forward together.

[Read More: Quiz: How Good Is Your Customer Service? And How to Improve It]

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