Beitman Portrait

Pat Gerharz, founder and owner of PMG Custom Automotive, stands in his office at 1305 Cedar Street in Lansing. Gerharz says he, "takes pride in his shop for being the capital city's premier body shop". His shop is known for its high quality service, affordable price and fast turn around time. He spends most of his time painting cars, but also paints trucks, motorcycles, bikes, scooters, boats, guitars, helmets, and everything in between. Most of his jobs include collision and vehicle repair but from time to time he gets appointments for window tinting and custom painting and graphics which is what he truly enjoys.

Pat touches up the paint job on a 2007 Mercedes by hand before he brings it in his paint room to spray. His initials graffitied on the wall behind him are only one of the things that makes his shop so unique. "I started working on cars when I was in high school and crashed into this old lady who looked like she wanted to kill me," Gerharz said. "I had no idea what I was doing but I told her don't worry, I'd fix it. And I did. It was pretty easy actually, and I've been doing it ever since."