In 1988, Mack Nevil founded Nevil Tire Service and grew it into one of the largest auto service centers in the area. Five years ago, Mack passed away leaving his staff and family to run the business. The business continued to grow and serve the needs of Bulloch and surrounding counties.
        Last year, Portal native Trey Baird and his family purchased Nevil Tire at 2900 Northside Drive West in Statesboro. Baird, a Georgia Southern graduate, serves as the managing member of the corporation. He spent his career in banking until this family investment opportunity.
        "Of course we were familiar with Nevil Tire and its great reputation in the community," Baird said. "I was looking to make a change from banking fulltime, when we learned about this opportunity. After we acquired the business and came into the operation day to day, we discovered quickly how well run the business is. Because of this, the transition of ownership has been pretty transparent."
        The Baird family continues to operate the business using the Nevil Tire name and have retained all of the existing employees, including general manager David Shackelford and customer service specialist Ricky Pearson.
        Pearson is most likely the first person you will see when you walk in the front door. With 41 years in the tire and auto repair business, Pearson is Nevil's "go to guy" when you have a tire or repair need.
        If he did not know you when you walked in the door, you certainly will have a new friend by the time your work is complete. I asked Pearson about the transition of ownership and what changes he has seen.
        "Really it is the same people running the show," he said. "The Baird's have been great to all of us and all of the changes they have made have been very positive. They have increased our inventory and given us a larger variety of merchandise. They have also invested in a tire alignment system for 18-wheelers. We have the only shop in town that you can drive an 18-wheeler inside and close the doors of the shop, so 18-wheel tire alignment is a natural area of expansion for us."
        Nevil has a large, child-friendly waiting area and if you need to drop off your vehicle during business hours they will take you where you need to go while your vehicle is being repaired.
        Nevil Tire has a great website at www.neviltire.com that includes a full online list of automotive services and tire brands available. It is a AAA Approved Auto Repair Center and NAPA Car Care Center staffed with ASE-certified technicians.
        "Our goal is to build on the incredible reputation Nevil Tire has in the community," Baird said. "If you have done business with Nevil Tire in the past we want you to know that nothing has changed. We are blessed with a very talented team of employees who are committed to giving each customer the best experience possible."
        As for the future, Baird and the team do not see any significant changes on the horizon. They are committed to continuing to invest in training and technology to stay on top of the changes in the automotive industry. With this commitment, they are positioned to grow with the continued growth in our area.
        Please email DeWayne at dgrice@statesboroherald.com or give him a call at (912) 489-9499.