SANDPOINT — While the name remains the same, Steve’s Import Auto has a new owner.

Bob Nelson took over ownership of the shop on April 1, after former owners Steve Navarre and Joel Fisher retired from the business. With 33 years experience in the industry, Nelson is an ASE master certified technician, and is a certified emission diagnostician in Washington.

“I was raised around race cars, hot rods and muscle cars,” Nelson said. “In high school I took every automotive class I could get into.”

After high school, the Spokane native went to college in Phoenix, Ariz., where he received an associates degree in auto and diesel technology from Universal Technical Institute. He has since been living and working in the Seattle area. Nelson said he grew up with a passion for the industry because his father was an automotive technician, and the legacy is likely to continue as his youngest son, who is 15 years old, is interested in working on cars as a career as well. Nelson and his wife, who will be married for 24 years in August, have three children.

Nelson said he was looking for a decent-sized shop in the area because he has family in Priest River. He said it was kind of “dumb luck” that he ended up talking to Fisher and found out that the owners were looking at retiring.

“That started the one-year process to get it done,” he said. “... I have always wanted to live in either North Idaho or northwestern Montana, so it was time to make the decision.”

Nelson said he doesn’t intend to change anything at the shop, particularly the staff. Between the five of them, including Nelson, they have a combined 176 years of experience in the automotive industry, he said.

Paul Ewing is a service writer for Steve’s and a “great asset” to the shop, Nelson said. With more than 50 years experience in the automotive industry, Ewing has run large dealership service departments. Ewing is a native to Bonner County and his great-great grandfather, Richard Fry opened up the first trading post in Bonners Ferry, and purchased the ferry from Edwin Bonner.

Per Mattsson is the shop’s Swedish transplant and an “excellent technician,” he said. Mattsson has worked at Steve’s for 28 years, and Nelson said one of the other technicians mentioned that in his 20 years there, he had only seen one car leave the facility where Mattsson could not figure out what the problem was. Mattsson has 43 years experience and is an ASE master certified technician. He has been married for 33 years to his wife Erica.

Doug Millard, also a native to Bonner County, has 30 years in the industry. Millard has worked at Steve’s for 26 years, is an ASE-certified technician and Nelson said he is also a “great asset” to the company. Millard has been married to his wife Carol for 28 years and has two kids. The couple, along with another local couple, own and operate Sandpoint Children’s Learning Center.

Mike Russell is the go-to guy and fabricator when they need to figure out how to get something to come apart, or go together, Nelson said. The staff can always count on Russell to get them out of a bind, he said. Russell has worked at Steve’s for 20 years, starting right out of high school, and is also an ASE certified technician.

Steve’s Import Auto is located at 1111 Michigan St., Sandpoint. For information, call 208-263-4911.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.