Staff
John, President
John is a fourth-generation resident of the Libertyville/Mundelein area and his great grandfather was the Mundelein Sheriff from 1942 to 1948. John’s father bought Gustafson in 1975 and as a young boy, John helped around the Mundelein auto shop and caught the automotive bug. In preparation to follow in his dad’s footsteps, John went to Lake Forest College to earn a B.A. in Business. While growing up, he worked hard to afford sports cars including old Porsches and several BMW and Honda motorcycles. He is an avid traveler by land and sea, logging many miles by motorcycle and over 10,000 ocean miles on various sailboats. He’s often in the collision center after-hours, catching up on paperwork or fixing a part from his sailboat. He is an active volunteer in several local sailing groups.
Shelly, Manager
Shelly is a career automotive industry professional. Her entire career was spent at one automotive company until we were lucky enough to welcome her to Gustafson. She is the shop manager and estimator and keeps the shop humming along and the office buzzing. Her customer service skills and automotive knowledge make her the perfect phone call to make for any vehicle questions you have, big or small. She will make you feel welcome with her bubbly nature and constant kidding.
Jason, Bodyman and Painter
Jason came to Gustafson in 1999 as a porter. He worked hard and apprenticed with fellow techs, working his way up to being a key member of the team for auto repair in Mundelein, IL. His training includes I-Car Platinum Non-Structural Technician and I-Car Steel GMA (MIG) Welding Qualification. Jason is from Grayslake, an avid gardener and home improvement expert.
Don, Bodyman
Don is our senior member of the group and has been in auto body work for 50 years. He came to us from a Libertyville dealership. He is an I-Car Platinum technician and has seen everything in auto body repair at least once. He gets very creative in his work striving to achieve the best repair for the lowest price. Don is the steady temperament in the group and keeps everyone else operating on an even keel.
Scott, Painter
Scott started at Gustafson in 1979 sweeping the floors. Two years of vocational training at the College of Lake County while still in high school and a lot of hard work has made him one of the most experienced painters in the business today. He is Gustafson’s longest-term employee with 40+ years at the shop. His endorsements include I-Car Platinum Refinish Technician and AkzoNobel Waterborne Product Training. He is ahead of the curve as one of the first to switch to more environmentally friendly water-based paints, a practice that will be an industry requirement within the next five years. Scott enjoys skiing with his kids and has volunteered as a Lacrosse assistant coach.
Javier, Detailer/Paint Prep
Javier, a native of Costa Rica, came to the US as a boy. He joined our team in 2002 and has become the glue that holds it all together. Whether he’s keeping everyone organized, cleaning your car, or giving you a lift home in case you’ve been in a Mundelein car accident and your car is in our shop, he has a smile on his face and a story to tell. He enjoys driving and working on cars. He worked as a commercial truck driver before joining Gustafson. In his spare time, he enjoys repairing cars for his friends and relatives.
Certifications
