“The greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.”– William James
In the transmission world, legacy isn’t just about who founded the shop or how long they’ve been at it; it’s about the people who helped shape the values, the culture, and the direction when it mattered most.
At Advanced Transmission, Inc. in Spanish Fort, Alabama, that legacy lives on – not just through the familiar hum of a rebuild bench or a carefully inspected torque converter, but through the quiet, steadfast influence of one man, Maylan Newton.
You may have heard the story. Marvin and Laura Wilson, the original owners, launched Advanced Transmission in 1994 and poured their lives into building a reputation grounded in integrity and craftsmanship. After nearly three decades steering the shop toward excellence, they faced a common challenge – who will carry their legacy forward?
Enter Jonathan and Crystal Shadis, longtime team members who knew the business inside and out. As service advisor and key operations leader, Jonathan already had deep ties to the Wilsons’ standards. Still, transitioning ownership is about far more than familiarity. It demands vision, planning, and mentorship. That’s where Maylan Newton entered the picture.
In a 2023 article recounting the story surrounding the handoff, Laura Wilson credited Maylan’s guidance in executing “the plan to fruition” over three critical years leading up to the sale. According to Laura, “Planning the sale of the business began five years ago. With the guidance of Maylan Newton during the last three years, we’ve been able to bring the plan to fruition.”
That simple line says so much. It speaks to living in the moment while planning with legacy in mind. Thanks to Maylan’s mentorship, the Wilsons were able to step back, knowing the shop was in the right hands, and Jonathan and Crystal could step up and in with the confidence that comes from being prepared for every aspect of leadership.
This was more than just transacting the sale of the business. It was passing the torch with intention, care, and the kind of strategic thinking that ensures a business doesn’t just survive a change in ownership but thrives because of it.
If you’ve been to an ATRA Powertrain Expo or heard Maylan speak at an ESI seminar, you know he had the kind of spark that lit up a room. For over thirty years, he helped independent repair shops and transmission shops sharpen their leadership, management, and customer service skills – always with warmth, humor, and practicality.
Those lessons and cultural qualities guided Jonathan and Crystal into their new roles, giving them more than just the mechanics of ownership. They also got a healthy dose of confidence to uphold and elevate the shop’s legacy.
Maylan’s involvement wasn’t just about processes or checklists. It was about the requisite mindset, shifting from technician to leader and from employee to visionary owner. That’s the real heart of mentorship, and it’s why this transition worked.
Today, under Jonathan and Crystal’s stewardship, Advanced Transmission continues the core values Marvin and Laura instilled.
- Clean facilities
- Diagnostics-first integrity
- A family-owned feeling and culture…
All with fresh eyes and renewed energy, too.
Their shop stands strong – accredited with the BBB (A+ since 2014), maintaining affiliations with ATRA and ASE, and still champions community outreach with twice-yearly car care clinics. The difference now is that Jonathan and Crystal aren’t just caretakers of a legacy, they’re writing the next chapters.
It’s abundantly clear that Maylan’s influence is woven through every part of it. The steady hand in leadership, the culture of accountability, and the emphasis on service that builds loyalty are all guided by the mentorship principles Maylan taught them: plan well, act decisively, lead ethically.
Listen closely and you’ll hear something else about how Advanced Transmission operates now. You’ll hear conversations around implementation of ideas and valuing relationships over price points and profit. These principles echo Maylan’s teachings, echoing best customer service practices and educating clients while building trust.
Jonathan has often told staff, “We’re not just selling parts and labor; we’re selling confidence. And confidence isn’t built with a phone quote, it’s built when someone trusts that we’ll do the right thing.”
It’s a small culture shift that translates into customer loyalty, referrals, and reputational strength. It’s not flashy, but it’s enduring. And it comes straight from Maylan’s philosophy on creating value.
Since the transition, customers have continued to notice the difference – still the same quality of work, same honesty, same pride, but with even more heart. Marvin and Laura still visit and share stories from the early days. Jonathan and Crystal continue the twice-yearly clinics. They call it giving back for everything the community gave them.
“The shop feels the same,” one longtime customer told me. “Only… brighter.”
It’s not nostalgia – it’s the result of mentoring done well. The continuity of values, with fresh energy keeps service quality both rooted and responsive.
In our space, technical know-how is a staple. But the ability to transition ownership, sustain culture, and grow over decades? That’s rare. That’s mentorship.
What Maylan offered was more than a blueprint. He didn’t hand over a binder and walk away. He actively guided the company for years. He taught leadership, strategy, and the kind of customer-first thinking that cements trust for the long haul.
In doing that, he ensured the “Wilson Legacy” will endure and not stagnate. He ensured that Advanced Transmission can be both a tribute to the past and a beacon for the future.
Legacy matters, and so do the people behind it. Advanced Transmission isn’t just a shop; it’s the product of decades of relationships among team members, customers, and the local community, all strengthened by a mentor who helped guide a seamless transition. Mentorship, much like a transmission in a well-running vehicle, works quietly in the background – you may not see the gears turning, but you can feel the smoothness in the way leadership, culture, and customer service operate today.
Maylan Newton’s influence lives in the trust that’s still being earned with every repair, every handshake, and every promise kept. That’s the heart of this story because in the end, Gears Magazine is about more than the mechanics of our trade. It’s about the people, the passion, and the mentorship that keep this industry running strong.
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.
