By JESSICA SIEFF
Niles Daily Star

Grand openings can feel routine. The welcoming speeches from local dignitaries, the ribbon cuttings and even the refreshments are often standard for guests who come out to welcome new businesses to organizations like the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce.

But on Thursday, as many turned out to attend Ron Simpson’s grand opening of his newest business Master Certified Auto Techs, located on South 11th St., just up the street from Martin’s Supermarket, the celebration of the new business was a little something more, a little quintessential.

Simpson’s story is homegrown. A graduate of Brandywine High School, he’s stayed in his hometown, opening up his first business, Bertrand Auto Parts in 1992.

“We just kind of outgrew our location,” Simpson said.

That’s something a little refreshing, given the troubled times many a business owner has found him or herself in the midst of a down economy and a recovering auto industry.

But thanks to a surge in frugality and a need to keep cars running longer – and the always coveted trustworthy relationship with one’s auto specialist, businesses like Simpson’s seem to be finding a bit of a reprieve.

So much so, he is now servicing customers out of his second location.

The Niles native created six new jobs with Master Certified Auto Techs.

“We’re hardworking people,” he said. “We’re honest.”

And they’re experienced. With Bertrand Auto, Simpson has built a customer base of an estimated 600.

“We work on just about everything,” he said.

Customers can get service done on their cars, both foreign and domestic and – said plans are underway to expand the capabilities of Master Certified Auto Techs to include bodywork.

“In the future we’re going to have a body shop,” – said. In the meantime customers can come in for service to their engines, transmissions, rear ends and even oil changes to name just a few service options.

Asked what has kept him in business so long and what led him to open up a second shop when many businesses continue to struggle to keep doors open, – said it was a matter of “heart and will.

“Times have been really tough,” he said.

But opportunity knocked and when – was given a good deal on the facility on South 11th Street, he took it.

As members of the community and the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed Simpson’s second business to Niles, chairman of the board John Jarpe couldn’t seem more thrilled with the Brandywine graduate.

“It’s really great that you’re opening this business here,” he said. “Just the service to the area, we all know we have to keep our cars a lot longer than we ever did before and we’re going to depend on you to do that.”

For his part, Simpson seems up to the challenge.

“I think we’re going to make a really great business here,” he said.