08/28/2026
Feel Good Friday: Mr. Smiles - The Neat Freak, Servant Heart Leader
Y'all, I'm so excited to tell you about Mike Armstrong, our Paint & Body Manager in Las Vegas. It was very apparent that this man is very well loved from the minute I reached out to his team for input because everyone was so quick and eager to respond.
Astro, our Wash & Detail Manager, replied right away saying that "having Mike as part of our team has been great. Mike not only brings a great attitude every day, but he really knows what he’s doing! Since Mike took over Paint & Body, the difference has been noticeable."
I had to double check my memory, but Mike has been with us just under a year. His impact in that short amount of time has been impressive.
Astro said that "Mike came in with a full plate, and he’s been working hard to turn things around and make a positive impact. One thing that really stands out is the cleanliness and organization of the Paint & Body department. It’s truly a night and day difference, and it shows the pride Mike takes in his department. I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you for everything, Mike! I’m glad to have you on the team, and I really appreciate everything you’ve been doing. Great job, Mike, and thank you for everything! 👏”
I've said a few times in previous Feel Good Fridays that to me, a true measure of someone's impact can be found in how freely the guys he works with will express their gratitude and respect. That was certainly the case when it came to reading through all the messages that came in from all the boys in Vegas.
Our GM in Vegas, Paul Morrow, sent me a message that made me smile from the start. Paul said, "'Mr. Smiles' is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Mike. No matter what is happening—good or bad—he always has a smile on his face. When I learned Mike was selected for this week’s Feel Good Friday, I knew the recognition was well deserved. In his 11 months with NIRVC, Mike has brought his extensive collision industry knowledge and has made a meaningful impact on our Paint & Body department. That impact is evident in the way he leads the Las Vegas Ceramic and Paint & Body team, ensuring everything runs smoothly. Our guests also love working with Mike, and whenever they interact with him, something amazing happens—they smile. Mike, we’re glad you joined the NIRVC team in Las Vegas, because you make us smile, too!"
I love Vegas. Period.
Next to join the chat was Jase Smith, our Service Manager in Las Vegas. Jase said that "Mike came in and brought a good amount of restructuring and positive change to Las Vegas. Lots of smiles for sure."
I'm gonna stop there and point out that bringing restructure and change in a positive way, with lots of smiles, is not easy. That is solid, proven leadership at work.
Jase continued saying, "the first time I really knew Mike was going to be good for NIRVC was when I saw him personally cleaning up our body shop and helping bring it up to a higher standard. Mike got dirty, and it lasted a couple of weeks. As a manager, that really stood out to me. It’s easy to tell people what needs to be done, but getting your hands dirty and doing it with the team is a quality you don’t see enough anymore. Mike fits right in with the team and has made a positive change here in Las Vegas."
That right there is the key to great leadership: a servant heart that's ready to do exactly what he's asking his team to do.
Next up was Harrison Moser, one of our Paint & Body advisors and recent Feel Good Friday alum. I haven't forgotten the kind words Mike had for Harrison, and Harrison's message confirmed the feeling is definitely mutual. Harrison told me that “Mike 1,000,000% deserves to be the next one up for FGF! I want to give my amazing manager, Mike Armstrong, a special shout out! When Paul made his final decision to hire a new Paint & Body Manager, Paul informed me that who he chose is going to really help turn the Las Vegas body shop into something special. Hearing that really made me excited to meet my new manager, Mike. I already knew he would teach me a lot more than what I already knew in the Paint & Body Department. But unfortunately, I had to wait a week because when he first started, I was on vacation.”
“When I first met Mike when I got back, he didn't just say 'hello' and 'nice to meet you'. He really wanted to get to know me and my techs, Tommy and Claudio. He sat with all of us individually and all of us got to know each other personally, and also professionally. It was very heartwarming to have a manager that is knowledgeable, easy to talk to, selfless, and always willing to help any of us out when we really need it. Having Mike around really eased a lot of work stress because when I would get overwhelmed, Mike would talk to me and let me know what he can do to help relieve any of the extra workload. Whenever I am in a funk, Mike notices and always asks if I am okay. Being in an advisor position is a lot tougher than people know and having a leader, like Mike, makes work better.”
“Mike has made a monumental impact on the shop in less than a year, and I am extremely thankful for everything he has done for the shop, the technicians, and myself. Thank you, Mike, for everything you do. I am forever grateful for your hard work and dedication to the Las Vegas Body Shop!”
Again. When grown men are sharing heartfelt feelings for a colleague – it speaks volumes!!
Adding some balance to the testosterone, Suzanne Goins, our Office Manager, joined the chat to say, "Mike is truly the friendliest person I've ever met! He is always greeting everyone wherever he walks through the building. And has definitely improved our Body Shop 100% from what it used to be. Well deserving to be our Feel Good Friday person!"
And, truth be told, Mike and Harrison's names were submitted simultaneously several weeks ago, so I've known for a while that I would be learning about and writing about Mike ... and his team did not disappoint!
Another Feel Good Friday alum, Tom Shelley, who is one of our Paint & Body master technicians joined the chat to say, "I want to take a moment to recognize Mike Armstrong and the positive impact he has already had on our team.”
It’s really difficult for someone knew to come into a management role and have buy in from their department this quickly. It truly speaks volumes.
Tom continued, but switched his message to talking directly to Mike, and I don’t want to edit his words at all. Mike said, “From the beginning, you have been transparent, approachable, and open-minded. You make it clear that communication goes both ways, and you are willing to listen to different ideas and perspectives. That creates an environment where people feel respected and comfortable speaking up. I also appreciate your willingness to be straightforward about expectations and decisions. Your transparency builds trust, and your open-minded leadership makes it easier for the team to work together and move forward. Although I have only had the opportunity to work with you for a short time, I can already see the difference your leadership style makes. I look forward to continuing to work with you and being part of the team moving forward. Thank you for being a great boss and for creating a workplace built on communication, trust, and respect."
Incredible. Just incredible. A Masterclass in leadership!
Part of what Mike manages is our Ceramic Coating department. Jose Moreno, one of our Ceramic Technicians, joined the chat to say "I would like to take a moment to recognize Mike and thank him for always being a great manager. He’s always respectful, patient, easy to talk to, and he genuinely makes the workplace a better environment. I appreciate that he takes the time to listen, help when needed, and treats everyone with respect. Good managers make a difference, and I just wanted to say that your hard work and leadership are noticed and appreciated. Thank you, Mike, for being a great leader to us and the company!"
After Jose, another one of our Ceramic Technicians, Mario Long, sent me a message that echoed those exact feelings. Mario said, "I just want to take a moment to give a big thank you to an amazing manager. Your leadership, support, and dedication do not go unnoticed. You always make time for your team, lead by example, and help create a positive environment where everyone can do their best. I truly appreciate everything you do and the way you motivate and encourage us. Thank you for being a great manager and an even better leader! Keep up the good work Mike, I genuinely appreciate you." Mario made me laugh when he signed off by saying, "It’s ok to cry now, lol." I just love these guys!!!
Andrew Garcia, one of our Paint & Body advisors took a slightly different approach with his message and wrote Mike a letter. I don't want to edit his words at all, so here it is:
“Dear Mike,
I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation for your leadership and guidance.
Having you as a manager has made a significant difference in my day-to-day experience here. Your approach to leadership—balancing clear direction with trust and support—creates an environment where it is easy to stay motivated and do good work. I truly appreciate how approachable you are, how you advocate for the team, and how you take the time to offer constructive guidance when it matters most."
And, then as I was working with our Director of Paint & Body this morning, Rich Krause, I remembered that he would probably want to say something to Mike. Rick told me that "Mike is an exceptional leader whose Paint & Body expertise and genuine commitment to his team and our customers, make our Las Vegas operation stronger every day. It's an absolute pleasure work alongside him, and we are incredibly grateful for the knowledge, positivity, and leadership he brings to NIRVC!"
When it comes to business management, I think the highest compliment we can strive for in a manager is to be known for being positive and have a team who respects, trusts, and celebrates their leadership style. Mike has all of that in Vegas ... and then some!
Finally, I was able to catch Brett a bit ago as he landed in Salt Lake City for his son's wedding. Brett was pressed for time, but he wanted to make sure I called him to talk about Mike. Brett explained that it became very apparent in 2025 that Las Vegas needed an overhaul on many levels, in order to make sure that "our hamburger tasted the same at every location." Brett said "Mike and I are kindred spirits. He's a neat freak. The first week on the job, all he did was declutter, clean, and haul off truckloads. Be still my heart. It was love at first sight for me. We spent a fortune on our facilities, and I want them looking new, and Mike gets it."
Then Brett switched gears and echoed what everyone else said. Brett said that "growing and scaling a service-based business, while maintaining the integrity of flagship principles is never easy or without growing pains. As we strategically placed the right people in management positions in Las Vegas, we saw that ship begin to course correct quicker than we anticipated. A large part of that course correction is due to Mike Armstrong and his leadership style. He came into a department that desperately needed structure, accountability, and solid leadership. Mike delivered all of those qualities in short order and never looked back. I love his endlessly positive attitude and the way he leads his team. It's been impressive to watch the buy in he's created for his department. To earn their trust in short order is no small feat, and it definitely does not go unnoticed. I've been encouraged to see the change that Mike, Paul, Jase, Astro, and so many others in Vegas have brought in such a short amount of time. I'm excited and proud to have our Vegas team hosting our new Las Vegas Motorhome Expo on their home turf, and very much looking forward to the team there knocking this Expo out of the park, year after year, just like our Nashville team does with Music City. Mike, thank you for delivering results we can count on! So grateful you found a home at NIRVC!"
PS - Props to Paul for his private investigator photography skills. LOL!
