1-12-26 – During their Annual Meeting in October, the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) recognized Jacki Skillender of Skillender’s Service Center (Howell, NJ) as the 2025 Mechanical Shop of the Year.
This award honors an exceptional mechanical shop for their skillful work and dedication. AASP/NJ Mechanical Executive Director Joe Ocello described the honor: “It’s giving back something to the shop owners to show them that they are appreciated. Not just by our industry, but also by the consumers. They don’t usually get the opportunity to get the spotlight. And it’s nice to see someone being put in the spotlight who totally deserves to be put there.”
Ocello commented on Skillender’s win, saying, “Jacki is an outstanding individual. She treats people the way she wants to be treated and goes out of her way to help people that are in a tough spot.” He described Skillender as a generous and inspiring innovator. “She’s always coming up with new ideas. And I think that’s a big part of [her impact] too. Sharing notes on what’s making her shop so successful that she’s risen to the spot of being Mechanical Shop of the Year.”
Skillender’s Service Center is a female-owned, family-owned business that prides itself on its history and community based roots. Owner and recipient, Jacki Skillender commented, “I love what I do.” She took over the shop from her father, Terry, who began the business after transforming an old gas station in 1994. Skillender recalled her origins with the company stating, “…once I started answering [the phone], I never stopped. My father did all the business work, but I was the face of the business, working directly with customers every day to make sure we met their needs.”
Skillender believes in combining the local shop model with looking to the future of repair work. “We need to be investing in training the next generation. This is key to the future of all shops, but it’s especially vital for small mom-and-pop shops like ours. Without training and specialized knowledge, we’re not going to be around anymore. Small businesses don’t just support our customers with their repair needs; we support local fire departments, sports teams and even kids’ lemonade stands. If we’re overtaken by big corporations, it’s going to negatively impact our communities.”
For more information on AASP/NJ, visit aaspnj.org. To learn more about AASP/NJ’s NORTHEAST 2026 Automotive Services Show, visit aaspnjnortheast.com.
Photo caption: Mechanical Shop of the Year recipient Jacki Skillender of Skillender’s Service Center with Ken Miller and Joe Ocello.
