River City Six: Todd Thompson

A new standalone division of Dingman’s Collision Center (www.dingmans.com), Dingman’s Mechanical Repair is a full-service automotive repair facility serving the Omaha metro. The team of experts at Dingman’s are committed to honest, appropriate, timely repairs, and treat every vehicle as if it were our own. Todd Thompson is the General Manager of Dingman’s Mechanical Repair.

How did you get started in the business?

Although my career began out of necessity, I’ve always had an interest in cars. I took a part-time job detailing cars for a premium line and I was hooked. I was offered a full-time position in their parts department and to this day am grateful for that opportunity. Since then I managed an independent garage, was a service advisor at a local dealership, and managed a boat repair facility. I’ve had the pleasure of working with so many great people in the Omaha community over the years and look forward to connecting with them again in my new role at Dingman’s.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally?

As many can relate, for me it’s been finding a good balance between my personal and professional life.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

My most meaningful achievement professionally to date is the validation by the Dingman family to launch a mechanical division, and looking forward, I feel it will also be the most important. This experience has truly been an honor.

Tell us a little about your family.

My wife Jennifer and I have been married for 24 years. Together we are raising Conner, Colby, Wyatt and Samuel, our four boys. There are also two dogs that round out the chaos.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?

While there is really no such thing as a complete day off for me, I do enjoy working in my own garage when I have the time. There is always something to do in the garage, even if that something is nothing.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

My father would always say, ‘Slow…down, let’s think about this.’ When I was young it was very frustrating, but now that I’m older I finally see the value. I should have listened more.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be?

None, really. I simply cannot imagine working in any other field. The customers, culture and cars seem to be a perfect fit for me. The job is not very glamorous, but exceeding customers’ expectations is addictive and there is just something rewarding about repairing a car.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read?

I usually don’t read anything longer than a magazine article. The last good book I read was a shop service manual. Spoiler alert…the technician did it.

If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be?

There are so many interesting people, but Jesse James would be my choice. He is a television personality, fabricator, welder, blacksmith and gunsmith who has made no excuses or concessions. He is absolutely not perfect or angelic by any means, but his ‘get it done’ attitude, work ethic and support of skilled trades make him an appealing choice for me. Maybe dinner would be too much.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?

Phone: (402) 991-2848; Email: toddt@dingmans.com; Website: www.dingmans.com.