Troy and Kori Vaninetti - Business Owners
Troy and Kori Vaninetti are both long time residents of this area and have been offering complete car care to their Graham neighbors since 2006. Troy began serving people of this community back in October of 1988 where he worked as a Texaco service attendant. He worked hard and gained knowledge to become an assistant technician, then full technician, lead technician, and eventually manager. Troy and his wife Kori decided to purchase the business from the previous owners in 2006.
As the area grew, the need for car care excellence did, too. Graham Auto Repair decided to meet the need with the purchase of land and eventual construction of a new state of the art facility. The focus of Troy's business has always been primarily on customer service, comfort, and convenience. The new facility was designed, built, and filled with cutting edge technology and equipment, highly trained technicians, top notch customer service staff, a thoughtful and comfortable waiting area, and a well lit and covered service entrance for weather friendly delivery no matter the season.
Chris - General Manager
Chris joined our team in Graham, WA as our Store Manager in August 2024. He has over two decades of experience in the automotive industry, which he started back in 2002. Chris started his career in car detailing, paint and body, and reconditioning. He also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Project Management. He grew-up in Northern California, then moved to Washington with his wife and daughter. Outside of work, Chris loves to explore the great outdoors with his family. They enjoy camping and hiking trips whenever possible!
Chris enjoys the ever-evolving nature of automobiles and the continuous room to learn. He chose Graham Auto Repair for his career because of our values of integrity and transparency. Our goals align with his passion for genuine car care and service. Already Chris is leading our team with passion to do the right thing. He is committed to fostering an environment that both our team and customers can trust and depend on.
Shannan - Finance Manager
Shannan came to Graham Auto in 2009 after meeting the Vaninetti family at church. Shannan got her start in Bookkeeping when her children were young, helping with the ASB Budgets in 1991. Shannan enjoys making sure that everything is in balance, and making things better for the people around her. She loves adding her creative touch to things by making gift certificates, stickers, forms, and more!
Shannan was born in Bellingham, WA and she has spent most of her life in the Pierce County area. She graduated from our local Bethel High School. Shannan and her husband Danny have two kids and seven grand kids. Their daughter Bonnie & her husband Ben have three daughters, Kyra, Addy, and Willow. Their other daughter Lacie is part of our Team; you can learn more about her below. When Shannan's not keeping everything checked and balanced here at Graham Auto Repair, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, camping, and reading historical fiction.
Amber - Talent & Brand Development Manager
Amber joined our team in May 2022. As a military spouse, she has had the opportunity to work in many different industries. She has always enjoyed learning about the different aspects of each industry. Over the past 15 years while working HR she has found the most joy in recruiting. When recruiting she gets the chance to learn more about each person, and help them to find the perfect position that will meet their career goals.
Amber grew-up in a smaller farming community in Utah. She had the opportunity to work in the shop with her dad. He owned an upholstery business and specialized in custom cars. She and her dad restored her ‘87 Chevy Silverado from the ground up! Amber’s husband Bart started working with our team in 2021. Together, Amber and Bart have two kids, Lilly and McCray. They also have a dog and two cats. Amber’s favorite part about working at Graham Auto Repair is getting to watch her husband’s career as a Technician grow!
Lacie - Marketing & Community Outreach Coordinator
Lacie met Troy and Kori as a teenager in 1996. She watched as their family grew and as they started their journey as the shop owners of Graham Auto Repair. She admired the business they were building, and was excited to join our Team as the Social Media Manager in 2019. Through training in Marketing and Leadership, Lacie's role here has grown into what it is today. Now she manages all aspects of our Marketing and coordinates events & outreach within our community. Her favorite part about her job is getting to know our Team and getting to share them with all of you! She understands that it's not easy to get in front of a camera. She enjoys helping others feel comfortable when they do!
Lacie has lived in Washington all of her life; but loves traveling. She has two adult stepsons, Tristen and Tyler; and two daughters, Shianna and Evangelina. She is on the Steilacoom Tribal Council and has been volunteering with the Steilacoom Tribe since she was a little girl. She enjoys connecting with people through storytelling; whether that's drawing, writing, or filming & editing photos and videos.
Jessica - Administrative Assistant
Jessica has been serving on our team at both locations since March 2022. She is always willing to accomplish the job, plus a little bit more. Whether that means driving our customers home, pick up parts for our Technicians, or calling our customers to say, "Thank you!" Her favorite thing about her career is getting the opportunity to build relationships. She always makes herself available to support our team and our customers in anyway she can.
Jessica was born in Tacoma and grew-up in Morton. In her free time she loves to spend time with her husband, friends, and extended family. She also enjoys reading and camping. Her favorite treat is Reese's peanut butter cups, and she loves to make sure that our office is always stocked with plenty to share. We are thankful to have Jessica on our team!
Christian - Graham Location: Service Advisor
Christian's foundation in the automotive industry is as robust as it is personal. As the son of Troy and Kori Vaninetti, owners of Graham Auto Repair, he grew up immersed in the family business. He began learning the ropes from a very young age. He officially joined our team in June 2022, eager to contribute to both our Graham and Yelm locations. Starting as a Customer Service Representative, Christian quickly demonstrated his capabilities, advancing to the role of Service Advisor within a year. His journey reflects a deep commitment to learning and excellence, inspired by his father’s ascent from the ground up.
Outside of the shop, Christian is deeply family-oriented and an avid outdoorsman. He thrives in the natural environment, whether he's hunting, fishing, or camping, along with his wife. These activities not only reflect his love for adventure but also his commitment to family traditions. Christian's blend of professional and family dedication makes him a valued member of our Graham Auto Repair team, embodying our core values of integrity and service.
Ralph - Graham Location: Production Manager & Master Automotive Technician
Ralph has been serving at our Graham location since March 2023. Ralph enjoys helping and teaching others in the industry, and it shows! He is one of the Mentors in our Apprentice Program; and in September 2023 he took on the added responsibility of Production Manager. He comes to us with over 30 years of experience working in the Automotive Industry. He got started by working on his own cars while he was in high school and then while serving in the military. His favorite thing about his career is getting to see our customers satisfied!
Ralph was born in Seattle but grew up in Montana. He has two daughters and a son. When he isn’t working on cars, Ralph also enjoys doing home repairs. He is an excellent dart player, loves riding bikes and spending time with his family.
Nick - Graham Location: Master Automotive Technician
Nick joined our Team in October 2023. He came to us with over ten years of experience in the Automotive Industry. Nick's journey in building things began at a young age. He started with Legos and backyard forts, moving into a construction career at the age of 19. For Nick, Auto Repair seemed like the next natural progression. He recognizes this as the grown-up version of his early building techniques with Legos. Nick finds joy in the hands-on problem-solving aspect of his career. He is a Master Technician and has already earned one of his ASE Certifications.
Outside of the garage, Nick shares his life with his wife Brandy and their two daughters, Serenity and Hazel. As well as a lively crew of 5 dogs. When we asked about his hobbies and free time, he humorously quipped, "What is free time?!" Their family's property now hosts an expanding collection of farm animals to tend to. Including goats and chickens; with future plans to add meat chickens and pigs, very soon!
Patrick - Graham Location: ASE Certified Journeyman Technician
Patrick has been serving at our Graham location since April 2023. He is one of our Automotive Technicians and has been working in the industry since 2019. Patrick had an interest in learning about working on cars at a very young age. For that reason he decided to complete his AA degree in Automotive Technology. He is a Journeyman Level Technician and has already earned five of his ASE Certifications!
Patrick was born and raised in Seattle, WA. His favorite thing about his career is getting to meet new people. Not only does he enjoy learning new things all the time; but he also enjoys teaching others what he has learned. He is always striving to learn and grow; he takes accountability for the things he wants to learn and goes after it. In his free time Patrick enjoys hiking and spending time in the outdoors.
Sean - Graham Location: ASE Certified Apprentice Technician
Sean joined our Team at our Graham Location in April 2022. Since day one he hit the ground running! He applied to complete the Washington State Certified Apprentice Program. He has already shown so much potential and we are excited to see all the new things that he will accomplish through the training in our Apprentice program. Sean has always loved working on cars. He likes to take things apart and put them back together again. He loves the feeling of accomplishment that he gets once he has repaired something that was broken. He has found a lot of passion in repairing cars, and in learning as many new things as possible!
Sean has a dog named Koda and a cat named Ernie. He was born on JBLM (Join Base Lewis McChord) and was raised in the area. When he graduated from High School he also earned a technician certificate in preventative maintenance. He has already started earning his ASE Certifications during his apprentice program with us! When he has free time, Sean enjoys playing video games, traveling, and working on cars (more!).
Rob - Yelm Location: Lead Service Advisor
We are pleased to welcome back Rob, a seasoned member of our team, now serving at our Yelm location. Rob began his journey in the automotive industry in 2010 and initially joined Graham Auto Repair as a Service Advisor in 2016. With a strong background in commercial sales management for auto parts, Rob has a passion for working on vehicles and building fun cars. He's known for his dedication to helping customers maintain their vehicles and is committed to positively changing the perception of independent repair shops and facilities.
Rob has completed numerous courses with the Automotive Training Institute (ATI) and has received extensive training, making him highly proficient in his role. Born and raised in Washington state, Rob served in the Army before settling down with his wife Michaelann. Together they have a son Greyson, and a daughter Emilia. Their family enjoys the companionship of a couple cats and they look forward to adding a dog to their home! When not at work, Rob loves spending time with his family. They enjoy spending time at the beach, and going on walks and hikes together. We are thrilled to have him back on our team, continuing our mission to provide exceptional service with integrity and dedication.
Bart - Yelm Location: Production Manager & Master Automotive Technician
Bart joined our Team at our Graham Location in February 2022. He is now leading the way as the Production Manager in Yelm, and one of the Mentors in our Apprentice Program. He started his career in the Automotive Industry in 2018 after retiring from 20 years in the US Army. He decided to attend Bates Technical College to complete their Automotive Mechanic and Diesel Technology programs. Bart grew up working on cars with his dad and grandfather. After the military he was looking for something that could challenge him and keep him on his feet! He really enjoys the process of figuring out what is wrong with a vehicle and then being able to fix it. Bart has a thirst to learn and grow that is evident in his work, every day. Within his first year with us he completed his first five ASE Certifications. He was also our first Technician to complete the iTAC Apprentice Program, earning his Master Technician certification.
Besides being a very skilled Technician, Bart is very performance driven. He demonstrates passion for our mission, taking care of our team and our customers. Bart and his wife Amber have two children, Lilly and McCray. Bart's favorite part of his day is spending time with his family. They have a dog named Rose and two cats, Doodles and Daphne. In his free time Bart enjoys hunting, fishing, and gardening.
Kevin - Yelm Location: ASE Certified Master Technician
Kevin joined our Team at our Yelm Location in January 2023. Kevin loves working on diesel engines the most. He also enjoys teaching other Technicians, as one of the Mentors in our Apprentice Program. He has been in the automotive industry since 2011. He has earned all of his ASE Certifications, including for Engine Repair, Brakes and Electrical, to name a few. Kevin had an interest to work on cars at a young age. He started out with small engines and continued to grow his knowledge from there. In fact, the thing he enjoys the most about his career is the challenge it brings him; especially with ever-changing services. He built his first vehicle at 15 years old, a 1978 Jeep CJ-7.
Kevin and his wife Ashley have three children and two German Shepherds. He was born and raised locally, in Rainier, WA. When he's not at work, Kevin may be found building and restoring older vehicles at home. He also enjoys hunting and fishing, whenever he can get the chance.
Shane - Yelm Location: ASE Certified Journeyman Automotive Technician
Shane joined our Team at our Yelm Location, shortly after we opened our doors in June 2022. He has been in the automotive industry since the early 1990s. Growing up Shane found his love for fixing things by living on a ranch. He worked hard and learned everything that he could on his own. This drove him to his passion, for the challenge of fixing cars. It is always his mission to learn something new every day. Shane is thankful for the opportunity to support his family by doing something that he loves, while getting to make customers happy at the same time.
Shane and his wife Margo have three children; Nick, Gabe, and Nikol. They also have two dogs named Lady and Buck. When he's not at work, you can find Shane at home working on his property, or spending time with his family. He enjoys camping, hunting, and BBQs with family and friends.
Colby - Yelm Location: ASE Certified Journeyman Automotive Technician
Colby started his journey in the automotive industry in 2013 and joined our team in August 2024. His passion for cars began in his teenage years when he started working on his own vehicle to save money. Under the guidance of his uncle, his first mentor, Colby quickly developed a deep understanding and skill set in auto repair.
Colby is married to Charlei and is a devoted father to their daughter, Charlena. Outside of the garage, he loves spending quality time with his family. They especially enjoy taking trips to the park! Colby dreams of building a house for his family, a goal he is determined to achieve through hard work and dedication. His expertise and family-focused values make him a great fit for our team. We look forward to seeing him achieve great things with us!
Daniel - Yelm Location: ASE Certified Apprentice Technician
Daniel joined our team in August 2021 at our Graham Location. When we opened our second shop, Daniel was one of our first two Technicians to serve at our Yelm Location. Daniel served in the Army from 1991-2014 as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Specialist. In 2014 he decided to complete automotive training at Clover Park. He completed his AAT in Automotive; as well as multiple Certificates, including Ford MLR. His favorite thing about working in the automotive industry is learning as much as he can! He has already started earning his ASE Certifications during his Apprentice Program.
Daniel’s 1992 Mitsubishi Eclipse first got him interested in automotive. He started out with DIY projects, worked in an auto parts store during college, and eventually got out in the shop doing what he really loves: working on cars! Daniel and his wife Ann have three children, Rebecca, Cameron, and their Husky Namida. When he has time, Daniel enjoys gaming, building computers, grilling, and collecting. He is most proud of his Star Wars collection!
Isaiah - Yelm Location: Apprentice Technician
Isaiah joined our Team at our Yelm location in January 2023. As a current High School student here in Yelm, Isaiah has been excited for the opportunity to start his career in Automotive at an early age. He loves every opportunity to work on cars. He has been working on cars with his step-dad for years. His family has always had a love for cars!
Isaiah was born in Olympia and has grown-up in Yelm, WA. Besides spending time with his dog, Isaiah can be found doing anything to do with cars in his free time. Most of his time these days is spent focused on either school or work. But any opportunity that he gets, he spends working on his own car.
You! - Automotive Technician
Are you an Automotive Technician looking for a career where your Mechanic skills are appreciated, your personal time is valued, and continued paid training is expected? Graham Auto Repair is growing! We are looking for experienced Technicians to partner with our Team. Join us in our mission to change the face of automotive in a positive way! Click HERE to learn more about building your career at Graham Auto Repair. We will always accept applications for future opportunities with our Team.