Meet Our Staff
Owner, Kit Johnson was a gear head from early on and landed his first real technician job in 1981, right after he bought his first car, which is a 1970 Buick Grand Sport 455 (he still has it today!).
The GS soon needed a tune-up so Kit visited a local repair shop where they fixed it up well enough for him to break the differential out of it. He went back the next day and got a job sweeping floors and learning how to fix cars for a living.
Kit attended Northern Montana College in Havre, Montana and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Automotive Technology and a minor in Business Administration. During school, Kit spent several years working in a Jeep/AMC dealership in Havre and afterwards, at the Precision Tune chain in Austin, Texas, and as a technician in a fleet truck repair outfit in Helena.
One of the jobs he held during this period was as a salesman for Allen test equipment, they needed a location that was central to his territory so he moved his family to the Helena area and has been here ever since.
In 1994 Kit and Viola took out several loans and built J4 Automotive at its current location in East Helena. The business has grown every year and is now a land mark for integrity, customer satisfaction and a strong community supporter.
Kit continues to improve his skills by attending as many on-site classes as possible building his study-at-home library, reading industry magazines to stay abreast of current events, staying current with his ASE Master certification and being a mentor to his excellent crew.
Kit says he owes his success to the past, present and continued development of these skills through involvement with NIAT, CARS, NAPA EXPO (both '98 and '05) ASA, ASE Blue Seal of Excellence, AAA Approved Auto Repair and other quality organizations.
Kit recently won the coveted National NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year award - and award that can be won only once in a technicians life time. It's considered the highest honor in the automotive repair industry.
Kit's personal achievements include a twenty plus year marriage to his wife Viola which has produced two awesome girls, Nikita and Kacy. Kit is a Marine Corps, National Guard and Army Veteran and was deployed in Desert Storm in 1990 for 6 months. Kit is the Adjutant/Paymaster for the local Marine Corps League and is active in veterans affairs, Toys for Tots and along with his family, have made and put up over 130 yellow ribbons that adorn telephone poles in East Helena, commemorating East Helena veterans that are over seas.
Kit is a member of the local school board, has served as Assistant Fire Chief and an EMT with the East Helena Fire Department, has served on several Community planning boards and advisory committees, including the local high school Automotive Advisory Council. Kit also is a field agent for Impartial Services Group, a company that facilitates "lemon" vehicle by-backs between the manufacturer and the consumer. Kit's hobbies include cars, hunting and outdoor sports, home brewing, gardening and music. (He plays the drums).
Next: Meet Viola Johnson