Top Row (from left): Robert Hamer, Dennis Quevedo, Jeff Hart, Robert Quevedo, Felix Tellez, Monte Etherton
Monte Etherton
Owner/Manager 760.436.5575 x11 Email Monte
From over 45 years experience in collision repair, Monte has become proficient in many aspects of the business: He writes estimates, works as a job-manager, lends support to office staff & techs, and helps customers find their way to the best solution. Monte is also the resident tech support person: he handles computer issues and upgrades, and oversees the company network & server. He also wrote and designed most of this website. (more about Monte)
John DeRoads
Owner/Manager 760.436.5575 x12 Email John
With 37 years experience, John is co-owner, job manager, estimator, and customer service specialist. He also supervises various technicians, and lends a hand to everyone in the office whenever needed. (more about John)
Jeff Hart
Production Mgr 760.436.5575 x14 Email Jeff
Jeff is Fender Mender's Production Manager, the guy in charge of "keeping all the plates spinning"- which means he's doing his best to make sure your car is always where it needs to be in the repair process. He also writes estimates and manages jobs, from bumper scratches to major rebuilds, and assists John in job planning. (more about Jeff)
Donna Hume
Office Mgr 760.436.5575 x10 Email Donna
As office manager, Donna has a full plate: She handles accounts payable & receivable, and also is responsible for in-house Payroll. Donna is usually the first person to pick up the phone or greet customers when they pop in the office, and she also assists our managers by matching estimates, running errands, and transporting cars & customers. (more about Donna)
Robert Hamer
Estimator 760.436.5575 x15 Email Robert
Originally applying for a job with us as a detailer, Robert has proven to be a quick learner; he picked up writing estimates in his first year. He also does some light job managing, oversees the parts department, and assists Monte & John with job planning and computer related tasks. (more about Robert)
Our staff has over 293 years of collision repair experience between them!
Middle Row: Moises Rivera, John DeRoads, Donna Abrams, Marlo Avila
Bottom Row: Alfredo Tatenco, Izzy Lua, “Cookie” Mendoza, Barnabe Arias
Monte has been involved in collision repair since 1970. He started repairing cars out of necessity, learning how to rebuild his own car from a no-fault accident at the age of 17. At 19, he owned and managed his first body shop (the original Encinitas Autobody), 
where he began reworking this classic 1970 Porsche 914-6.
After selling that business in 1975, he continued to dabble in various aspects of the trade until1980, when he and his friend John DeRoads founded Fender Mender Inc.
Monte has a keen interest in computers, purchasing his first computer in 1982. Considered "state of the art" at the time, it had dual floppy drives...but no hard disk. 
He learned basics of computer programming (and to RTFM) from his son David (who later went on to complete a Masters in Computer Science at UCSD , and now works at Rockstar Games). Monte has built and configured most of the dozens of PCs that Fender Mender uses, and also developed several proprietary software programs, two of which are still relied on by the company today.
Monte also volunteers as Chairman of the Legislative Committee for the California Autobody Association (CAA), where he collaborates with other industry leaders and Department of Insurance staff members in drafting new laws which ultimately obligate insurers to treat consumers and their chosen shops more fairly. For his work, the CAA has recognized Monte with the Member of the Year award in 2007, Special Recognition Award in 2009, and Legislative Member of the Year 2013.
In his spare time, Monte likes working on computers, woodworking, weekly tennis, home improvement projects, and spending time with his high school sweetheart/wife Deborah (San Dieguito High School Class of '71).
Jeff's career in the automotive industry began in 1998 when he started as the manager at Midas here in Encinitas. He has been employed at Fender Mender since 2005 as our Production Manager.
Jeff and his wife Jazmine have two daughters and one son, and in his off time he co-operates a mobile hot dog and ice cream truck called Nana's Heavenly a business he and his brother founded back in 2010 in memory of their mother.
Jeff has also a been a die-hard Raiders fan since the Bo Jackson/Howie Long days.
Donna began her automotive career in 1985 at a family run, full service Chevron station in Escondido as the Office Manager/Bookkeeper. After the business was sold in 2001, Donna shifted career paths while still staying focused on customer service: She spent 10 years at AT&T as a Business Service Representative, and more recently was employed by the Cohn Restaurant Group aiding both staff and, on occasion, customers as well.
Her first love being in automotive, in late 2014 Donna found a way to combine her interest in cars and customer service by joining the team here at Fender Mender.
Donna spends some of her free time traveling (and shopping) with her 24 year old daughter, Heather. Otherwise, you may find her training to compete for another half marathon medal,
working out in the yard, or baking up a batch of her North County favorite Peanut Butter Rice Krispy Treats.
Robert is a native Californian, born in Lancaster way back in 1988. Robert says he remembers the ride home from the hospital in his father's 1950 Ford Sedan “Shoebox”, 
and that experience began his interest in cars-an interest he has cultivated ever since.
Robert has been employed in the automotive industry since 2010, and with Fender Mender since 2012. He is an avid classic and custom vehicle enthusiast, and spends much of his free time tinkering on cars and visiting local car shows and meets, including Cruising Grand in Escondido, as well as Encinitas Classic Car Nights.
Robert also volunteers as an officer and board member of the San Diego Chapter of the California Autobody Association. When not doing something car related, Robert spends his time with family and friends, picking up a controller and doing some serious gaming, or working on various projects around the house.
