By Mary Ann Bourbeau

The owners of C&R Auto are proud to be celebrating their 25th year in business.

“In this day and age, 25 years is unheard of,” said Bill Rickert, who co-owns the business with Tom Carney.

Their repair shop is located at 235 Hamilton Blvd. in South Plainfield’s historic downtown district, in the same location they opened a quarter century ago. They specialize in general maintenance such as tune-ups, oil changes, brakes, tires, shocks, suspensions, air conditioning and exhaust systems on most foreign and domestic cars and trucks. In an ever-changing industry, they have managed to keep up with advances in technology. Simple repairs that once were fixed with wrenches and screwdrivers now often require computer know-how.

“We’ve spent a lot of money on new equipment, training and diag­nostic tools,” said Rickert.

Things became even more difficult when COVID-19 hit, but they remained open throughout the pandemic.

“Business was slow because people weren’t driving,” said Rickert. “We were fixing electrical problems caused by animals eating the wires on cars that weren’t being driven.”

Rickert and Carney had some trouble staying afloat financially but they weathered the storm.

“People are coming back now because they’re getting ready for vacation,” he said.

Rickert, originally from Old Bridge, and Carney, who lived in Piscataway, both worked on cars since they were teenagers, starting at home and then moving on to employment at dealerships. They have both lived in South Plainfield for more than 30 years. In June of 1996, they joined forces to open C&R Auto.

“What was first a hobby turned into a career,” said Carney. “Twenty five years went by so quickly.”

Mark Shepard of South Plainfield recently brought two vehicles into the shop for repair. As a first time customer, he was skeptical since two other mechanics had been unable to fix them.

“I was having problems for three or four months,” he said. “My neighbor recommended C&R. I came here and met Bill and we had a conversation about my vehicle. When I picked it up, it was fixed. They did good work at a pretty fair price.”

“We always try to help everyone out as best as we can,” said Rickert. “We’re still here because of word of mouth. And we’re honest.”

Photo caption

C&R Auto on Hamilton Boulevard has served auto owners for a quarter of a century.

A Passion for Family and Business Gives Stilo an Edge in a Male-Dominated Industry

By Mary Ann Bourbeau

Julie Stilo never had any doubt about her career path. After graduating from Rutgers Business School in 2017, where she studied accounting and supply chain management, she joined the company that her father, Robert Stilo Jr., founded in 1989.

As Robert Stilo’s business grew, he developed a need for dumpsters at his construction sites. In 2015, he purchased 23 containers. That led to a new business–Stilo Disposal, a dumpster rental company. Today, Julie serves as owner and manager of Stilo Disposal.

“I always knew I would work here,” she said. “I just didn’t know in what capacity.”

Julie, 29, and her siblings grew up around the business. Her mother, Patricia, serves as president of Stilo Excavation. Julie’s brother, Robert, is an engineer and her younger sister, Natalie, helps out part time. They all share an office, where Julie oversees the daily operations.

“I was motivated by being around my dad and seeing all that he accomplished,” she said. “We have a great relationship. I’m appreciative that we get to see each other every day.”

A lifelong resident of South Plainfield, Julie arrives at the South Clinton Avenue office at 7:30 each morning for dispatching, managing drivers and answering customer calls.

“It never stops,” she said. “I’ll get phone calls at 4:30 a.m. sometimes. If there’s snow, it affects the schedule and all our work is pushed off. It can be crazy, but I really enjoy the career I have.”

In her time as manager, Julie has grown the business to more than 100 dumpsters of various sizes. The company rents 10-, 20- and 30-yard containers to residential and commercial customers for projects of all sizes. The company is also licensed to haul hazardous waste. They strive to provide same-day service and as such, Julie provides her personal cell phone number to each customer.

“Our business has been growing every year,” she said. “Our service ­really sets us apart. We strive to please our customers and get the job done ahead of schedule.”

What also sets Stilo Disposal apart is having a female manager in a predominantly male industry.

“People are taken aback,” she said. “You don’t often see women seeking out roles in this industry. It’s unexpected, and I like that. I hope to see more women in this space. Time has proven our capabilities here at Stilo Disposal. They see the work I do and

the service we provide, and our ­customers trust that they can rely on us to get the job done.”

Currently, Stilo’s drivers are all men, but Julie can see herself learning that aspect of the business one day.

“The first woman driver will hopefully be myself,” she said. “It’s great to be well rounded in the business. If anything happens, you are able to get it done yourself.”

For more information, call (908) 754-0776 or visit  www.stilodisposal.com .

Photo caption

Julie Stilo and company driver Kevin Kloza