Meet Our Founder

The Desire for Continuous Improvement

In April of 2011, Chris Cloutier and his brother, Patrick, business partner and ASE L1 Master-certified technician, purchased off Craigslist a struggling auto repair shop located in Rowlett, Texas. The early years of establishing their brand and transforming their first shop are told in the article  “Golden Rule Auto Care Yields Success By Putting Its Name To The Test,” five years later when the brothers landed on the front cover of Shop Owner Magazine in April of 2016.  Their continued hard work and determination later yielded the opening of their second Golden Rule Auto Care shop location in neighboring Wylie, Texas, in July of 2017.  

With over 25 years experience as a software developer including employment stints at Southwest Airlines and Wyndham International, Chris knew firsthand how the right software could greatly enhance customer service.  As an auto repair shop owner, he quickly saw the need for a better way to communicate with his customers as he observed how communication gaps created bottleneck situations and wasted valuable rack time.

Possessing the entrepreneurial passion to create an innovative solution to solve a common industry problem, Chris designed Autoflow, a tool that dually functions as a visual workflow management system and as a means for keeping customers engaged and informed by providing status updates throughout the stages of the vehicle repair process.

In the October 2015 issue of Ratchet + Wrench Magazine, Golden Rule Auto Care’s story was featured in the multi-awarded article “Following the Golden Rule,” which shared how the implementation of Autoflow played a pivotal role in the shop’s process improvement.  

With a focus on leadership, training, and outreach, Chris and Patrick participate in Advanced Shop Leadership and C12 Business Forums, where members collaborate and share best practices and lessons learned. Chris is also involved in local business networking groups, including Toastmasters International. 

More importantly, Chris has grown in his faith during his unpredictable journey in the auto repair industry and is unashamed of expressing his need and reliance upon Jesus Christ.  Knowing that a much larger picture and purpose is at hand than what is often felt or seen, he’s asked the Lord to “take the wheel” many times.  The Golden Rule Auto Care name stems from Chris and Patrick’s belief in upholding the “golden rule” described in Matthew 7:12, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you.”

In the December 2021 issue of Ratchet + Wrench Magazine, Chris once again was featured on the front cover and shared his industry experience and insight in the article “Technology Shift:  The Tech and Tool Trends Destined to Impact the Repair Industry.”  Through dedication, grit, and perseverance, Chris has risen as a voice and leader in the industry to offer guidance to fellow shop owners in adopting technology and remains an integral part of developing Autoflow.