Where We Work: LAVOIE’s auto care center

Mike Lavoie at Lavoie’s Auto Care Center

Confidence is built under the hood, and alongside a mentor like Mike Lavoie.

Mike owns Lavoie’s Auto Care Center in Haverhill, NH, and brings over 40 years of experience to apprentices from The Trade. He teaches more than auto repair—he teaches work ethic, accountability, and small business savvy.

“My father always said you could tell a lot about someone by how they sweep a floor,” he said. “Do they move things around, and do they care about how it looks when it’s done? In our business, you have to be about detail.”

In 1949, Mike’s father started the Lavoie family business, and by the time Mike was 10, he was helping out. But like any good mentor, Mr. Lavoie wanted his son to get more experience, and pushed him to look for other work opportunities. Mike spent a couple of years working a parts shop and truck driving before he was ready to attend vocational school for an associate degree in automotive technology. He returned to Lavoie’s once he graduated, and never looked back.

“We’ve always had a small team and I was probably always a better mechanic than businessman, but I did make it for 45 years so I must have done something right,” he said. “I remembered my father’s advice to work on every car like your mother’s driving it. I listened to customers, and everyone got treated the same.”

Mike’s hard work paid off with a dedicated customer base and national recognition. In 2006, he received the Technician of the Year award from NAPA Auto Parts. His shop has also been honored as the New Hampshire Facility of the Year. In the late 1970s, he met the Wolter family, and they became one of his repeat clients—and personal friends.

Today Moosilauke Visions owns Lavoie’s Auto Care Center and the company is part of the organization’s non-profit mission. Lavoie’s continues to serve the public, as well as Moosilauke Visions’ fleet of vehicles and heavy equipment.

As The Trade’s vision came to life, Jay Wolter asked Mike if he’d serve as a mentor. Mike has consistently given back to his community over the years through his service as volunteer fire chief and countless hours of education for students at nearby technical schools. The partnership is a natural fit.

“A community is only as good as its weakest link, and when everyone is giving back, it just makes a better community,” he said. “I like to pay it forward and give something back. I consider it a lifelong accomplishment to have someone learn from me.”

When apprentices work at Lavoie’s, they’ll get experience in everything from auto diagnostics and maintenance, to shop organization and scheduling. But more importantly, they’ll have work ethic modeled from a mentor who’s accumulated a lifetime of experience.

“That’s just what you do, you lead by example,” Mike said. “When I was a fire chief, I rolled hose, whatever it took. I think you gain respect when you’re not afraid to do the small things.”