Ultimate Collision Center Inc. started as an idea between John Harmon and his son Craig in the spring of 2000. John was employed by a major spray equipment company as National Accounts Manager. Craig was employed by an aviation company refinishing Learjets and performing wiring restoration.
The objective was to locate a building where they could build a couple of street rods a year with the intention of selling them at national shows and still keep their current employment. A building was located and rented, and they started the process. Within the next few months, they were having people stop in to ask if they could get their car repaired. John and Craig set down and discussed the possibility of opening up as a collision center with Craig doing the work and John, in his spare time, doing the books. Craig quit his job with the aviation company, and in October 2000, Ultimate Collision Center Inc. came to fruition in a small 1200-square-foot building. They invested in the latest technology spray booth with a bake oven attached, purchased a frame machine, and started to grow. In 2003, Sally Harmon quit her job and became office manager and bookkeeper. Outgrowing their original location in 2004, a new 6000-square-foot building was purchased by John Harmon, and the entire shop was moved to 9109 Illinois South Rte. 127. The move provided a better location and visibility on a major thoroughfare and the business continued to prosper. In September 2008, John retired from his corporate position and came to work as the estimator and shop co-manager. As the business continued to grow, they added more services – paintless dent repair, tire and wheel sales, balancing, and alignment; and have grown their workforce to the current 8 employees. Over the years, they have continued to invest in the latest technology repair equipment offered by the automotive refinish industry whether referring to OEM, original equipment welds, laser alignment, frame straightening equipment and Aluminum repair equipment . In March of 2016, they expanded at their current location, remodeling the complete building and adding another 2000 square feet. This investment provided room for new offices, an inside estimating bay, breakroom and parts rooms. In 2018, they purchased the latest equipment to perform repairs on the new Ford aluminum body.