Lake Mills Auto Repair

Meet The Team

We pride ourselves on our commitment to quality service. Here are the people working for you every day to repair your vehicle.

Tara Topel, Owner Since 2003

• Background in Communications: Public Relations at UW-Whitewater
• First Vehicle: 1988 ½ Ford Escort (Candy Apple Red)
• Favorite Vehicle: 1965 Ford Shelby Cobra 427
• Hobbies: Volleyball; Bike Riding; Scrapbooking; Spending time with Family;
• Family: Daughter, Mallory; Son, Christian; 3 dogs: Harlow, Scout, & Ruger
• Interesting Fact: Matt Kenseth stepped on my foot at a Race Banquet in 1994

Eric: Service Specialist/Shop Enforcer

• 7 years Automotive Experience
• First Vehicle: 1992 Mazda B2200
• Favorite Vehicle: 1985 Chevy 454 Big Block (given to him by his Father-In-Law)
• Hobbies: Destruction Races with Ball & Chain Racing; Truck Pulling
• Skills & Certifications: ASE HD General Certification
  • Shop Enforcer/Service Advisor
  • Well-rounded in the automotive field including in-depth understanding of technology and system operations
  • Good with people
• Eric has 2 Golden Doodles named Duramax & Teddy; Married wife Karla on 7/23/2016; Expecting first child 1/19; Coached wrestling at Lakeside Lutheran High School

Andrew: Lead Technician/Master Technician

• Experience: 20 years
• 1st vehicle: 89 Chevy Cavalier
• Favorite Vehicle: 71 Chevy K5 Blazer
• Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, camping, anything Outdoors, racing
• Skills & Certifications: ASE Certified, Scan Tool Dynamics, Hybrid Systems, Toyota Engine Management, Ford Engine Management, Push Start Ignition systems, Duramax Diesel Systems
• Interesting Fun Fact: Grew up in Nebraska

Debbie: Office Support Specialist

• Experience: 1 year
• First Vehicle: Buick Skylark
• Favorite Vehicle: Volkswagen Bug
• Hobbies: Pontooning, reading, spending time with family and friends!
• Skills & Certifications: Cosmetology license
• Interesting Fun Fact: I hate clowns!

Sean: Technician Apprentice

• Experience: 1 year
• First Vehicle: Honda Accord
• Favorite Vehicle: Chevy Camaro
• Hobbies: Fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, movies, riding horses, hanging out with friends and family, learning new skills and more
• Skills & Certifications: Push button start diagnostic and more to come; Oil Changes; Inspections; Brakes; Suspension; Exhaust
• Interesting Fun Fact: I like medieval things. I should've been born during the middle ages.

Sam: Master Technician

• Experience: 17 years in the Automotive industry with a focus on Honda and MINI
• First Vehicle: 1981 Jeep Scrambler CJ8
• Favorite Vehicle: 65 Shelby Cobra Fastback
• Hobbies: Spoon Carving
• Skills and Certifications: ASE Mastertech, Honda Master Tech, MINI Level 1 Tech, A/C Certification
• Interesting Fun Fact: I once spent two weeks at a Buddhist Center in Etwall England.

Jake: Service Specialist 

• Experience: Over 10 years as a customer service professional
• First Vehicle: 1984 Ford Escort Wagon 
• Favorite Vehicle: Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat 
• Hobbies: Frisbee Golf, Bowling, Darts, Poker
• Family: I recently purchased a house that has been in my family for over 140 years.  
• Skills and Certifications: Microsoft A+ Certified, Continued Education Business Management and Customer Relations    
• Interesting Fun Fact: I learned how to play poker at age eight and have been playing ever since. My goal is to one day play in the World Series of Poker

Philip: Shop Convenience Specialist 

• Experience: I have worked on several farms taking care of Hogs, Beef Cattle, Milking and Field Work. I worked at Lakeside International and Served in the Army as a Military Police Officer.
• First Vehicle: My first vehicle was a 2005 Ford Taurus. I purchased it from a fleet auction with 300,000 miles.  
• Favorite Vehicle: A vehicle I have loved since I was a kid. 1969 Shelby Mustang GT500 
• Hobbies: My hobbies include hunting, fishing, racing, football, and party games.
• Skills and Certifications: I have learned many skills from previous jobs and have many certifications from the Army. 
• Interesting Fun Fact: I almost lost my leg due to poison ivy./li>

Dana: Administrative Assistant  

• First Vehicle: Dodge Stratus 
• Favorite Vehicle:1950s Chevy pickup truck  
• Hobbies: Truck pulls, drag racing, destruction races, restoration/ DIY.
• Family: Fiancé Brandon Schmidt  
• Interesting Fun Fact: My favorite animal is cows /li>

Adam - Bio coming Soon