If you’re familiar with Texas, they say everything is bigger and better in the Lone Star State. From the expansive skies to the sprawling landscapes, the people here are known for their big hearts and even bigger dreams. And that’s exactly what you’ll find at Barton’s Transmission and Supply in Mabank, Texas.
Owned and operated by Kenny and Malinda Barton, Barton’s Transmission and Supply has been a fixture in the community for over 35 years. Kenny and Malinda started the business in 1987 with just two lifts, a dream, and a passion for helping people. The company originally started as a repair shop specializing in drivetrains, maintaining its focus on this area. They relocated to a larger six-bay facility in 1999 and began supplying transmission parts in addition to their repair services. As a result, they have gained a reputation in the local area as a dependable provider of top-notch transmission parts and services. These efforts have led to significant growth for the business over time. This has allowed Barton’s to extend its reach of customers beyond the general public to fleets, company vehicles, and automotive repair shops, who bring their customers’ units in for rebuilds.
When you step inside Barton’s Transmission and Supply, you’ll be greeted with a warm smile and a dedication to customer service that is unmatched in the industry. Their company slogan proudly proclaims, “Professional Quality You Can Trust,” and they mean it. The Barton’s team strives to exceed expectations through exceptional service. With their dedication to delivering excellence with each customer interaction, there’s no doubt that you’ll be satisfied with the experience.
The team at Barton’s Transmission and Supply comprises skilled technicians and mechanics who are experts in their field – five of them have over 35 years of experience in the automotive industry. Their expanding team includes James Hall, Greg Lee, Shane Lee, Don Wilson, Shane Lee, Travis Comstock, Brandon Thomas, Dusty Kornegay, Chloe Browning, Cody Brown, and Carlos Rameriz-Berryhill. Kenny expresses a strong sense of admiration for his team by saying, “Our staff is incredible. We are really a team who works hard every day to get it right.”
In 2018, the couple’s youngest daughter, Brittany, joined them in their business venture after a rewarding basketball coaching and teaching career. Brittany has been instrumental in driving Barton’s community involvement over the past five years. She’s Barton’s representative in the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake and was elected president in 2020. Through its participation in CCL Rotary, Barton’s has made substantial contributions to the community, which is a source of great pride for the company. Malinda and Kenny are also proud to be affiliated with the esteemed ATRA and the Golden Rule Warranty Program.
Barton’s Transmission is also committed to giving back to its community in other ways. The company supports Faith at Works, a local ministry serving hundreds of people every Sunday with a church service and handing out food boxes. Kenny also enjoys helping when he is able. Barton’s also donates to other charitable causes, such as Toys for Tots.
The couple said one of their favorite ways they give back is their annual Barton’s Famous Greenberg Smoked Turkey Giveaways in November. Throughout the month, they run fun contests or special drawings on social media to give away at least one smoked turkey daily. This year marked the 23rd year of the giveaways, and they gave away one hundred turkeys in 2022. The community and customers are excited to join in on various activities, such as Secret Sound Contests, Pet Costume Contest, 20th Caller Challenge, and Nominate a Veteran drawings. They even have a chance to say “Gobble, Gobble, Gobble. We love Barton’s!” to win one of the prized turkeys.
The couple credits their walk with God for direction and wisdom in their business. He has been their anchor of faith for helping them overcome the struggles of entrepreneurship and preventing them from giving up during difficult times. As it says in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” This verse is a foundation for the Bartons, and they have relied on God to lead them in their business decisions and help them overcome any obstacles that come their way. With every customer interaction, they show kindness, integrity, and consideration.
Barton’s staff recognizes that customers who come to them are in a state of crisis. They are concerned about their transportation, vehicle repair expenses, and other related issues. The staff believes their purpose is to serve others, and they take a personal interest in resolving the crisis and gaining the customer’s trust. Malinda mentions, “Kenny’s first motivation has always been to help people, no matter what – and that has become the core of what we do at Barton’s!”
Perhaps the best testament to the quality of work and dedication to customer service at Barton’s Transmission and Supply comes from their customers. Here’s what one satisfied customer had to say about her experience: “The experience I just had with Barton’s over the past few weeks is nothing less than a 5-star treatment. I was never left wondering about the status of my vehicle. I was kept aware of every step being taken and given a timeline of when I could expect its return. Brittany is old school in her customer relation practices and left me feeling like a queen.”
In February of this year, Barton’s Transmission and Supply opened its new facility with fourteen lifts (more than double their previous location). This new facility was built from the ground up and designed by Malinda specifically for their business needs. The new shop offers a large customer waiting area with comfortable seating and complimentary Wi-Fi access. It also features eight rebuilding stations, five individual offices, a lunchroom, and an expansive parts sales area – 18,000 square feet of total floor space. Kenny expresses amazement, “It’s hard to believe that God gave us this vision only about 16 months ago, and here we are operating in this new facility today!”
Starting from the beginning of the project, the Bartons wanted to focus on design and ensure that every aspect of the building project reflected their brand and the high-quality product they produce. The initial stage involved updating their logo to establish the brand identity to reflect their commitment to quality and professionalism. Then their slogan was chosen, “Professional Quality You Can Trust.” This was followed by constructing an efficient and productive building, with design choices that complement the brand and increase the facility’s value without exceeding the budget. Malinda explains there were many hours spent overseeing the project. She continues, “We finally have a facility that represents the brand of product we produce. This facility enables us to serve the customers we work so hard for even better.”
Regarding production, a cornerstone of Barton’s success lies in its streamlined workflow processes. They aim to keep the builders on the bench rebuilding and the R&R techs moving efficiently from lift to lift. To accomplish this, they have a team member dedicated to staging the cars: taking them from intake to the diagnosis line and then moving them on and off lifts before finally proceeding to the final drive and inspection process. This “Stager” position has been created for an entry-level technician and has significantly improved productivity in just two months since its introduction.
Barton’s Transmission and Supply covers a large region in North Texas. This includes the area between Dallas and Tyler, with Mabank in the middle. Barton’s customer base receives significant contributions from larger cities like Athens, Corsicana, Kaufman, and Canton. Customers from these areas come all the way to Mabank, knowing they will receive genuine and dependable service from a team that genuinely cares, as well as quality products and service.
As Barton’s Transmission and Supply looks to the future, the team remains committed to upholding the values that have made the shop successful. Barton’s does not frequently advertise its services. However, through word-of-mouth and referrals, its fourteen lifts and parking lot are consistently full. The Bartons’ goal is to provide excellent customer service and improve the community’s experience more than ever.
Barton’s Transmission and Supply is a shining example of the power of customer service and dedication to the community. They’ve invested in state-of-the-art facilities, the latest diagnostic equipment, and regularly scheduled training for their technicians. But their big hearts make them stand out from the competition – they’re not just focused on fixing cars but also taking care of people. It goes without saying that this North Texas shop has earned its reputation through hard work and genuine kindness – two things you can always count on at Barton’s!
Photography Credit: Kylie Kornegay – Double K Photography
Have you ever wondered how shops are chosen for this column? We know there are many deserving ATRA shops out there – you might be one of them. Sometimes, we hear about shops and their unique stories through the grapevine. However, most of the time, we end up being detectives. We ask our industry contacts for recommendations, and then we contact the shops they’ve suggested.
You’re invited to tell us about an ATRA shop that you think has an interesting story to tell – maybe your own shop. There’s no cost. It just takes about an hour for a telephone interview and a visit by our photographer. We’ll do all the heavy lifting. To get the ball rolling, send an email to Dennis at dmadden@atra.com.
