‘This recognition a testament to hard work and dedication’
Oconto Falls development is on the rise
May 18, 2026
FOND DU LAC – For more than 80 years, Steven Hankwitz said vehicle owners have trusted their auto collision repairs to Gerber Collision & Glass.
He said quality workmanship, a national lifetime guarantee and strong customer service keep customers returning.
Hankwitz said that same level of care is now available in Fond du Lac at 635 N. Rolling Meadows Drive.
“We have an actual acquisition team at Gerber,” he said. “Sometimes, Gerber will buy other shops in the area and then change them over to the Gerber Collision. This specific Fond du Lac location is a brand-new build. There wasn’t a whole lot in this specific market, so that’s why we chose Fond du Lac.”
Hankwitz, the general manager of the Fond du Lac location, said much of Gerber’s work is located near Madison, with the Fox Valley and the Northwoods also having a few locations.
Of the more than 1,300 Gerber locations in the United States and Canada, the company’s website (gerbercollision.com) shows that 38 of those are located within the Badger State.
“If one of our shops can’t handle something, or one shop is really busy, and we can get a customer in sooner, we’ll bring their vehicle to another location to get repairs done as soon as possible,” Hankwitz said. “Fond du Lac is a nice central location for what we have in this area right now.”
Hankwitz said the Fond du Lac building has all new, state-of-the-art equipment.
“I have the fanciest, nicest welders, a brand-new paint shop, etc.,” he said. “It’s also air-conditioned, which is not very common in this area either. We have the best of the best here. A good working environment helps our employees do their best work.”
More than eight decades of service
Hankwitz said Gerber Collision & Glass provides full auto body repair services, with most work handled through insurance.
He said Gerber relies on several sister companies, including Glass America, for its glass work.
“We do all of our glass work, and it’s all in-house,” he said. “We can buy the glass, order it and do all the removals and installs. Having your own inside glass company versus having to rely on an outside vendor is a huge thing for the auto body business.”
Hankwitz said Gerber’s in-house partners help speed up the repair process, getting customers back into their vehicles sooner while saving both time and money.
He said the strong long-term relationships Gerber has created over the years reduce downtime by limiting the need for outside vendors.
“Everything is right at your fingertips,” he said. “I can send an email or make a call, and they’re here the same day or the next day. The vehicle needing repair isn’t sitting in a garage for days at a time, not being worked on.”
Hankwitz said the vast majority of Gerber locations do not perform general auto repair, though some Canadian shops offer maintenance services.
That, he said, is not the company’s primary focus.
“Most of what we’re doing here is bodywork stuff,” he said. “We do mechanical work in-house, if it’s part of that insurance job, but we don’t specifically do anything like maintenance, repairs, oil changes, tires, etc.”
Because painting is a big part of collision repair, Hankwitz said the Fond du Lac location has a paint shop on-site.
“We have two paint booths,” he said. “We order it through our local suppliers, so they keep us supplied with whatever we need.”
Hankwitz said Gerber also offers peace of mind through its lifetime guarantee, which covers paint and body repairs.
“As far as anything we touch, if we paint it, we fix it and there is an issue, we stand behind the guarantee – as long as we can determine it wasn’t caused by you or an outside source,” he said. “Obviously, if a part fails, the manufacturers of that part have their own warranties.”
Hankwitz said Gerber is “fantastic” in regard to investing in ongoing training and technology for employees, noting that continuous improvement reflects its goal of being the best.
“We like staying on top of everything, because this industry is always changing,” he said. “There are always new tools, certifications, types of repairs and metals coming out that we need to know about.”
Teaching the next generation
Hankwitz said Gerber is addressing the shortage of skilled workers through its technician development program (TDP), which is open to students in repair programs or those with mechanical knowledge.
“They’ll do an interview to see if they have the mechanical aptitude to work at a place like Gerber,” he said. “If it’s a good fit, candidates are placed with seasoned technicians at Gerber who can help teach them the ropes.”
Hankwitz said the company supplies $2,500 worth of tools and toolboxes to TDP candidates.
“The students will work with the seasoned technicians for a year or two through the program, and once they graduate, they slowly go off on their own and work with Gerber for a couple of years, and then you acquire those tools,” he said. “You own [the tools] free outright from there.”
Hankwitz said it’s “literally on-the-job training” to get young people into the business.
“We do this because there aren’t a lot of kids who are coming into this type of work,” he said. “It’s really a good business that’s struggling to find good help, and it pays very well. You don’t have to spend a bunch of money on colleges or schools. You can learn right here on the job and make a really good career for yourself.”
