After gaining technical expertise and knowledge in every facet of his industry, Shane Steele has decided to make that knowledge available to Covington and Newton County.

Steele, owner of Elite Auto Collision, has worked in the industry for more than 20 years, and opened his new body shop Feb. 20 on Hazelbrand Road.

Working with DuPont, Steele spent many years developing expertise in automotive paint technology. Not only does Steele understand the science behind automotive paint and the painting process; he also has taught hundreds of other painters how to perform their jobs.

He has worked in shops as an employee, as a trainer, as a adviser and as a business coach helping other shop owners. All the while, he kept as his goal to own a collision shop one day and create a business that would stand apart from all the others. He started with one shop in Georgia and quickly added new locations throughout northeast Georgia.

Steele said he chose Covington because he saw a strong business climate in Newton County that will continue to grow with the arrival of Baxter International and the continued growth of the film and television industries. He also cited the area’s strong technical education resources, as well as "a huge need for our services.’’

And, Steele said, Covington is the type and size of community where a business owner can build lasting relationships with customers while at the same time making a difference in the community. He said Covington has a small-town feel, but its business and government leaders work together to foster positive growth in the community.

Elite Auto Collision has a combination of highly-trained technicians and new, state-of-the-art equipment.

Steele and Elite Auto Collision stand by their work, offering a lifetime warranty. The company started as a family owned business in Bogart, before opening other locations throughout the area. Since 1994 Elite Auto Collision has maintained a history of leadership in providing quality collision repairs. Any defects in workmanship will be corrected free of charge unless caused by unreasonable use, lack of maintenance or care of the vehicle.

Its mission remains to be the most referred and most trusted resource for customers’ collision repairs.