Milstead Automotive starts 2025 with new growth, expanded leadership team

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Milstead Automotive, which is celebrating 54 years in business, is entering 2025 with new growth and new team members. Jeff James, Christian Kelemen, Steve Morris, and Kevin Barnes have assumed positions at Milstead and are ready to continue the venerable company’s longtime tradition of providing total automotive care to area residents.

Milstead Automotive has been family-owned and operated since the company was founded in 1971 by Dick Milstead, where he offered customers honest, quality auto repair from his two-car garage. Since that time, the business has grown into a 29-bay facility where customers are offered the latest technology and equipment.

Milstead also has the largest fleet of towing and recovery vehicles in Montgomery County and has updated digital dispatching 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Though Dick has retired, his legacy continues under the direction of his daughter Amy Milstead, who works diligently as the company’s president to keep the business at the forefront of the automotive industry.

Jeff James, Milstead’s new Service Manager, has enjoyed 35 years in the automotive industry, with 10 years spent as a technician and 25 years as operations / general manager, gaining experience as a manager at multiple locations. Specializing in gas and medium and heavy diesel repair, Jeff is ASE certified and a state inspector.

Christian Kelemen assumed the mantle of Towing Manager as a third generation tower. He started his towing career in 2013 as a light duty driver; a few short years later in 2017 he was promoted to medium duty driver, and four years later was promoted to tow manager for another company. In July of 2023, he ventured to Milstead Automotive to work with his father as assistant manager until the latter retired with 33 years of service at Milstead as a department manager. Christian was promoted to Milstead Towing Department Manager in October of 2023. He is a certified light duty instructor and teaches several classes a year. He has successfully completed heavy duty recovery classes and heavy duty rigging classes, and is traffic incident management certified.

Steve Morris, Milstead’s Collision Manager, has more than 20 years in the collision industry. He has extensive experience from running multiple large family-owned collision businesses out of state. Moving to Spring three years ago with his wife of 17 years and his identical twin 6-year-old boys, he joined Milstead with multiple OEM and ICAR certifications and enjoys this opportunity to take care of members of his home community. When he’s not at Milstead, he’s a Cub Scout den leader, and enjoys camping, hunting, fishing, and almost all sports (particularly the Texans).

Sales Director Kevin Barnes has under his belt more than 25 years in the auto and fleet maintenance area of the automotive industry. His eagerness to face the challenges and victories in the new year is apparent as he talks.

“I am very excited to see where this new team takes Milstead Automotive and Milstead Collision,” he told Woodlands Online. “I can’t adequately express how excited I am, because we are able to maintain and repair personal vehicles and fleets alike for the local businesses that depend on their transportation for day-to-day operations. We provide that family atmosphere along with great customer service. This new team in place is ready because we cannot wait to grow Milstead Automotive and our partnerships within the community.”

Amy Milstead agrees. “I am most excited about the growth of Milstead. The leadership that we have put together is amazing with customer service as a top priority, while all the while keeping honesty and integrity, the values that Milstead strives to deliver, at the forefront.”