John Voulgarakis

Co-founder and CEO, John Voulgarakis built his career in the collision field overseeing multiple mergers with large corporations. Later in his career, he supervised 160+ Collision centers for North America's Largest OEM.

John likes to spend his free time serving his community in the Chew's Landing Fire Department. He also loves to spend time with his family, especially his son.

An interview with John

Tell us about yourself outside of work.

I'm a father to a 4-year-old and a stepfather to another 4-year-old.

Outside of work, I enjoy fishing, golfing, and serving my community as a Firefighter/EMT.

What first drew you into automotive industry, and what made you decide to start Lightning Auto Service?

In 2016, when pre- and post-scans became standard, I thought they were just another step that wasted time.

That changed after a Honda Accord came in with front-end damage. I didn't properly check the vehicle in, and at the end of the repair the SRS light was on. Scanning the system revealed a driver-side deployment issue, which caused delays. That experience changed my perspective, and now I always tell our team: slow down to speed up.

What do you believe sets Lightning Auto Service apart from everyone else?

We believe in true partnership.

With more than 15 years of collision repair experience, we understand that most sublet vendors are treated like vendors—not partners. We go above and beyond by starting earlier, staying later, providing ADAS education, and offering resources that no other provider can.

Our mission is to exceed the industry standard and rewrite what's considered normal.

What's one lesson you've learned throughout your career that still influences how you approach your work today?

My collision repair background and diverse experience have taught me the value of teamwork and building a strong team.

One thing I always look for is attitude. I can't teach attitude, but I can teach skills.

When someone has the right attitude, the skills can be developed, and the entire team works together to achieve great results.

If you could leave every collision repair shop with one message, what would it be?

The collision repair industry is changing rapidly.

What we did yesterday isn't what we're doing today. ADAS isn't just a safety feature—it's also a significant revenue opportunity.

Stay informed, keep learning, and follow industry publications like Autobody News and FenderBender, where ADAS continues to be one of the biggest topics shaping the future of our industry.