A Story No Other Shop Can Tell
Dabler Auto Body was founded in 1967 by Chuck Dabler, a man who graduated from OTI with degrees in collision repair and business and opened his first shop inside Eyerly Volkswagen on Lancaster Drive. A decade later, in 1977, he moved to the current Sunnyview Road location. In 1999 Chuck expanded the building to the 16,000-square-foot facility that stands today — one of the largest independently owned collision repair facilities in the Salem area.
But the story of how Dabler became what it is today starts with a 23-year-old painter named Mike Brockway.
How Mike Brockway Came to Own Dabler
Mike was hired as Dabler’s Head Painter by Dennis Dabler — Chuck’s son — when Mike was just 23 years old. Dennis took a chance on a young painter who was eager to learn and grow, and Mike spent five years building his craft under his mentorship.
After leaving Dabler, Mike worked as a Technical Representative for Industrial Finishes and later as a Business Development Manager for BASF, traveling the Pacific Northwest working inside hundreds of collision repair shops — helping owners improve profitability, repair processes, operations, and overall business performance. Those years gave Mike something most shop owners never have: an inside view of what separates average shops from truly exceptional ones.
When Mike decided he wanted to own a shop of his own, there was only one person he wanted as a partner. He called Dennis Dabler and asked if he’d ever consider selling. Together, they purchased Dabler Auto Body from Chuck — and they’ve been partners ever since. More than business partners, they’ve become close friends who still work side by side every day.
“When people ask why Dabler has remained successful for nearly 60 years, I think this story says it all,” Mike says. “It’s never just been about fixing cars — it’s been about relationships, trust, mentorship, and treating people like family.”
Our Building and History
Dabler Auto Body has operated from its Sunnyview Road location since 1977 — nearly 50 years at the same trusted address. The original shop was approximately 8,000 square feet. Chuck expanded it to 16,000 square feet in 1999, and the facility has been continuously upgraded with advanced equipment, computerized measuring systems, and ADAS repair capabilities ever since.
The address: 1465 Sunnyview Rd NE, Salem, OR 97301. Open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Team Behind Every Repair
One of the things Mike is most proud of is the longevity of the Dabler team. Between the management group alone, there are well over 100 years of combined collision repair experience. Many of them have worked together for decades — some since before Dabler was the name on the door.
Jenny Davis has been with Dabler for 28 years. She started as secretary and worked in nearly every administrative position in the company. Today she manages Accounts Receivable and is one of the cornerstones of the business.
Pete Saldana has been with Dabler for 17 years. Pete started as Mike’s paint prepper when Mike was still Head Painter and worked his way up to Lead Body Technician. He handles many of the shop’s most complex structural repairs.
Scott Nash has been Office Manager since 2016 — and he literally grew up in the collision repair industry. His father owned North Salem Auto Body from 1976 to 1993. Scott also worked for Chuck Dabler as a body technician years before returning to run the office. His institutional knowledge and leadership have been central to the shop’s success.
Sean Snyder joined as Production Manager in 2016 after working in the industry since he was 18. Mike and Sean actually worked together as teenagers at Pacific Auto Body in Albany, painting motorhomes for Country Coach — long before either of them knew they’d end up running Dabler together. Sean developed much of the shop’s production systems, SOPs, and operational structure.
Nathan Sanchez has been Head Painter since 2011 — 15 years with Dabler. Nathan and Mike go back even further. At Kahuna Collision Repair, Nathan was Mike’s painter and taught him how to paint. Later, Nathan, Sean, and Mike all worked together at Country Coach while Mike attended college. When Mike left Dabler to work for Industrial Finishes, he knew exactly who should replace him. He convinced Nathan to leave a large corporate shop and come to Dabler — and Nathan has led the paint department ever since. “Nathan isn’t just one of the best painters I’ve ever known,” Mike says. “He’s one of my best friends. I honestly wouldn’t be in this business today without everything he taught me early in my career.”
Certifications and Industry Standing
Dabler Auto Body holds the highest levels of certification available in the collision repair industry:
I-CAR Gold Class Collision Repair Facility — the industry’s highest recognition for training and ongoing technician education.
ASE Certified Technicians — standardized competency certification across the repair team.
Subaru Certified Collision Repair Facility — required for proper repair of Subaru vehicles including EyeSight ADAS systems.
TruePoint ADAS Trained and Certified — ensuring proper calibration of advanced driver assistance systems after every repair that requires it.
Certified Collision Group (CCG) Partner — membership in one of the most selective independent shop networks in the country.
Dabler also participates in national collision repair 20 Groups alongside some of the top-performing collision repair businesses in North America — a continuous investment in learning and raising the standard of every repair.
Insurance Relationships
Dabler works with every major insurance carrier and has built strong relationships over nearly six decades. Direct Repair Program partners include USAA, Farmers Insurance, Nationwide, Country Financial, Acuity Insurance, Wheels Fleet Management, and PIMCO.
That said, Dabler’s loyalty is always to the customer — not the insurance company. Manufacturer repair procedures are followed on every vehicle, and proper, safe repairs are advocated for regardless of who is paying the bill. Under Oregon law, you have the right to choose your own repair shop. Dabler will always tell you that.
What Dabler Means to Salem
“To me, Dabler represents trust,” Mike says. “For nearly 60 years, Salem families have trusted us during one of the most stressful events they’ll ever experience — being involved in an accident. We’ve built our reputation by treating people honestly, repairing vehicles the right way, and standing behind our work.”
Dabler remains locally owned and independent at a time when much of the collision repair industry has been purchased by large corporate chains and private equity firms. Customers aren’t repair orders — they’re neighbors, friends, and families who have trusted the Dabler name across generations.