Get to know our dedicated experts.
Steve Messenger (President, Co-Owner)
Steve grew up in Niles, Michigan, where he graduated from Brandywine High School. He lived in White Pigeon for over twenty years and now presides in Elkhart. He helped his father with bodywork and painting though junior and senior high school alongside general training in the trade. Steve launched CRS in October of 1989, and was the former owner of Performance Painting, Performance Graphics, and Performance Carstar Collision Center, which he sold in 2004. He co-owns Graphics RV, LLC alongside Suzette, his wife of thirty-five years. His vast experience and solid business sense led to winning Business of the Month in 2003 out of 2,600 business competing within Elkhart County. He’s even created paint products that are still used in the RV industry to this day. He has two daughters, a grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Steve enjoys working with people at the top of their game while keeping a family atmosphere at work.
Dale Bowyer (Body Shop Manager, Estimator)
Dale grew up in Akron/Mentone and graduated from Tippecanoe Valley High School. He is approaching his one year anniversary at CRS. He grew up inside the industry, painting his first customer’s car at just thirteen for the family-owned business. Dale is a Desert Storm veteran and served in the U.S. Army stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with the 82nd Airborne Infantry division. His helpful and knowledgable presence is aided by twelve years of experience as an insurance adjuster, where he handled various auto, RV and semi claims. His expertise continues to prove of great value to his customers.
Ken York (Outside Sales Rep, Estimator)
A graduate of Brandywine High School in Niles, Michigan, Ken has worked at CRS for over thirty years in many capacities. Starting with sweeping the floor and helping out in the shop, he would later oversee production before eventually entering the sales field. Ken enjoys the ever-changing challenges of his position and building positive relations with clients. He aims to exceed their expectations with a “Good enough isn’t good enough!” perspective. He’s been married to wife Tressa for forty-one years, with three children, three grandchildren, and a great granddaughter. He enjoys fishing, reading, poker, board games and family time, and although sixty-five, he has no plans to retire anytime soon!
Suzette Messenger (Co-Owner)
Suzette grew up in Niles, Michigan, where she graduated from Niles High School. She is the majority owner of Graphics RV, where she performs everything from pulling and shipping orders, forms and ordering, coordinating installs, and working closely with her customers. She particularly likes being the only company purchasing original Heartland and Cruiser decals to offer the public at reasonable prices. She’s even sent decals to many international companies, and is on a preferred vendor list for all Camping World and LazyDays dealership / repair shops. Suzette can also make custom decals for other units. When not at work, she loves to cook (especially grilling).
Albert (Skip) Paluchniak (Production Manager)
Skip graduated from Goshen High School and is nearing a milestone of twenty-five years of service at CRS, where he works as the Plant Manager. One of his favorite aspects of the job is that no two days are ever the same. He approaches his position with confidence and pride while keeping grounded through a loving family life.
Dominic Medlin (Outside Sales Rep, Estimator)
Dominic grew up in Niles and graduated from Granger Christian High school. has been with CRS for eight years and counting. He’s a dedicated sales representative who still occasionally dabbles in paint work. The family atmosphere of CRS is a highlight for him, along with the variety of tasks that always keeps things interesting. Dominic enjoys life at home with his wife and three year old son—who’s already showing his father’s strong interest in cars. And they’re all eagerly awaiting the upcoming birth of their daughter.