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ABOUT US

Our Motto

“World class service with Montana Values”

Our Mission Statement

“We are dedicated to providing the highest quality automotive repairs possible for a fair price in a friendly, hometown environment.”

Our Qualifications

All Technicians are ASE Master Certified Automotive Mechanics with additional advanced certifications, To find out more about ASE certification visit www.ase.com.
On going training and equipment upgrades keep us current and your repairs done right! Two of our techs have Bachelor’s degrees and two have Associates Degrees in Automotive Technology
Dozens of Community awards
  • National NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year award, awarded once in the lifetime of the Technician, only a handful of the Nations's top techs have won this award
  • Look for these symbols of excellence. They indicate the shop cares about you, its reputation, and ongoing training and quality work.
  • AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility, first in the region, 1998, and Top Shop award recipient
  • NAPA Auto Care Center Since 1995
  • ASE Blue Seal of Excellence
  • Helena Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the year recipient in 2010, Chamber member, past board director
  • Northwestern Region Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating
  • Numerous local awards for community service including The IR 20 under 40, Red Cross Volunteer of the Year, Marine of the Year, Fireman and EMT of the Year and many more

OUR HISTORY

In 1994, Kit Johnson and his wife, Viola, hung out their shingle and started to live a lifelong dream: running a self made, self employed business.

J4 Automotive is named for the four Johnsons: Kit, Vi, and their two daughters, Nikita and Kacy. The business was started in their garage at home until Kit and Vi were able to arrange financing with the SBA, Valley Bank and a family friend. Through the support and help of relatives, Kit and Vi constructed a new 50’x80′, 4000 square foot, repair and service facility at their current location in East Helena and opened their doors for business in the spring of 1995.

Shortly after opening the doors, Kit and Vi discussed the NAPA AutoCare program with Tom Stephens, the local NAPA sales rep. They liked NAPA’s philosophy on doing business and became an AutoCare member in 1995. It has been a healthy and rewarding relationship, as has Kit’s association with ASE as a Certified and six time recertified Master Automobile Technician since 1988.

Twice a year J4’s staff donates a Saturday for customer and community charity work. One Saturday falls in September in which they celebrate their anniversary by offering free diagnostics and lunch (which Kit cooks!), and then another in October where they offer an annual free winter inspection in conjunction with AAA MountainWest.

This free pre-winter inspection usually involves the four different AAA/AAR facilities in town banding together in the AAA parking lot for a fun day of community service and goodwill among peers.

J4 Automotive is open five days a week, 10+ hours a day with a full staff of three ASE Certified Technicians, two service advisors and the two owners/slash head toilet cleaners. J4 is proud of their staff as they are chosen very carefully to ensure harmony and effective cooperation in the shop. Several of the staff have been with J4 for many years now.

In 2010, J4 Automotive expanded another 2000 square feet and added a state of the art alignment system, paved the parking lot and upgraded the dated lighting system and garage doors to better serve our customers and prepare us for another 17 years of business!

MEET THE STAFF

Nikita Pratt

Nikita Pratt was born in East Helena and raised in J4 Automotive! She serves as the head of our clerical and accounting office. Nikita has been around and working on cars since the day she was born. She’s been a part of J4 Automotive since it was first conceived and wants to carry on the family tradition of helping others and supporting our community.


Nikita’s hobbies include caring for her daughter, snowboarding, fishing, camping, and everything outdoors.

Contact Nikita

Christopher Robin Turbo David Pratt

Christopher Robin Turbo David Pratt (aka Chris) was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and raised right here in East Helena. Chris graduated from Helena High School and is also a graduate of The Automotive Management Institute.


Chris serves as an Assistant Manager and leads Service Advisor. Chris enjoys solving people’s problems, the puzzle of the vehicle, and the constant change of the industry.


His hobbies include skiing, brewing (and drinking) beer, cooking, and sports. Go Seattle!

Contact Christopher

Jeff Breland

Jeff Breland is an ASE Certified Master Mechanic. Jeff was born and raised in East Helena. He graduated from Helena High School and has also received a Bachelor’s Degree in Diesel Technology from MSU Northern Montana College.


Jeff has always been mechanically inclined and enjoys helping people. Jeff serves as our lead technician and helps to train new technicians as they arrive.


Jeff served our country with the Navy and was deployed to Desert Storm. His hobbies include pottery and riding four wheelers.

Zack Larson

Zack Larson is an ASE Certified Mechanic. He was born in Great Falls, Montana, and raised here in Helena. He graduated from Capital High School and is a graduate of the Automotive Program at Helena School of Technology in May 2019.


Zack enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2008, has been deployed several times overseas, and still currently serves our country.


He became a mechanic because of the “Gear Heads” in his family and likes the challenge of helping people get back on the road.


Zack’s hobbies include cars, off roading, hunting, rodeo’s, and helping his Father-in-Law on the ranch.

COMMUNITY

Kit and Viola Johnson started J4 Automotive in 1994 with these philosophies:

“J4 Automotive is dedicated to providing the highest quality automotive repair and service possible for a fair price in a friendly, hometown environment.”

“J4 Automotive will support the community where we live and do business by donating personal time and financial assets and will never put money before people.”

To this day they have never waivered on their commitment to the community that we serve. The list of civic services that J4 Automotive’s staff participates in is extensive and makes up the very essence of the definition of community service.

Christmas Kids Activity Tent each December during the East Helena Stroll
Halloween Fright Night Movie in the Park
Customer appreciation day with free diagnostics, lunch, and giveaways each September
Sponsor and participate in East Helena Fun-run, Out of the Darkness walk, EH School District #9 recycling program, E.H. School basketball teams, E.H. Little League baseball
A tireless advocate for our E.H. schools, the Veteran community, and the City of East Helena

AWARDS

NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year Award

In 2007, owner Kit Johnson achieved a lifetime dream of winning the National NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year award. An award that can be won only once in your life and that had been given to only 24 other technicians in the world. “Being included with the best of the best is the highest honor I could ever hope to achieve in my automotive career” says Kit.

Kit had been fortunate enough to win the NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year competition for the Billings Distribution Center for the previous seven years enabling him to then compete at the national level, an accolade that he cherishes highly.

AAA Top Shop Award

J4 Automotive applied, and was accepted as the first AAA Approved Auto Repair facility for the Mountain West AAA Club in 1998. In 2001, J4 Automotive was the recipient of the coveted AAA Top Shop award for customer service in the AAA Mountain West Region, a feat they accomplished again in 2003, 2005 (platinum award), and 2006, at which time they ceased the Top Shop program.

2010 Helena Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year

Kit and Vi were awarded the prestigious Helena Area Chamber of Commerce “Small Business of the Year” award in 2010. “Being recognized by our peers in the Helena Valley is an incredible distinction that validates our culture of never putting money above people” says Kit.

Other Awards

ASE National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence

Kit has served as a nationwide spokesperson.

Best Auto Repair

Voted Best Auto Repair in 2004 and 2006 through our local newspaper, The Independent Record.

Gateway Economic Development Corp. Awards

Two Awards from Gateway Economic Development Corp, one for Outstanding Customer Service in 2004 and one for Business Growth in 2005.

Marine of the Year

Kit was Marine of the Year for the local Marine Corps Detachment in 2004 and 2005.

Fireman of the Year

Kit was Fireman of the Year for the local volunteer fire department in 2005 and EMT of the Year for the same department in 2004.

Chapel of the Four Chaplains

Kit received the Legion of Honor award from the Chapel of the Four Chaplains from the Marine Corps League in 2006 and Vi was awarded the same recognition in 2012.

Red Cross Volunteer of the Year

Viola was awarded the Red Cross Volunteer of the Year in 2004 and selected to be in a feature in the Independent Record newspaper called “20 Under 40” in 2005.

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