Christian Brothers Automotive, led by owner Cal Pascanu, has earned the highest Raise a Hood certification scores in Arizona. With locations in both Peoria/Thunderbird and Surprise, the shops stand out for their technical expertise, trusted service, and commitment to customer care.

Cal’s story is a powerful example of the American dream in action. He immigrated to the U.S. at age 18 with no English skills and no financial safety net. Relying on the support of his church, he taught himself English by watching rented library VCR tapes. His first job was as a dishwasher, working weekdays at one diner and weekends at another. Over the next two decades, Cal became a naturalized citizen, started a family, and built a thriving business. Today, he operates two of the highest-rated shops in the region, embodying the same determination and values that shaped his journey.

Both locations have now achieved the highest certification scores in Arizona through Raise a Hood’s Auto Repair Shop Certification Program. This rigorous program evaluates shops across 36 performance categories, including diagnostic accuracy, repair estimate clarity, customer communication, and service consistency. Earning this recognition signals Christian Brothers’ deep commitment to ethical, transparent, and high-quality auto repair practices.

Christian Brothers’ national reputation reinforces that standard. Having been ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction by J.D. Power six years in a row. Locally, the Peoria and Surprise shops bring those values to life every day, setting a new benchmark for auto repair in Arizona.

In addition to certification, both shops have also integrated GUS AI, Raise a Hood’s advanced vehicle diagnostic tool, directly into their website. GUS allows customers to input vehicle symptoms online and receive a free, preliminary diagnosis before scheduling a repair. By helping customers understand issues before they arrive, the tool builds trust, reduces uncertainty, and ensures a smoother, more informed repair process.

Customer Success Story

A recent customer story highlights how this process works in real life. After having the alternator replaced at a different shop, the owner of a 2015 Honda Odyssey noticed unusual noises and turned to GUS AI for answers. The online tool suggested the issue might be tied to a defective replacement part. When the customer brought the vehicle to Christian Brothers Automotive Peoria, the team confirmed the alternator was indeed faulty. Because it had been installed elsewhere, Christian Brothers explained that under mandatory minimum warranty programs, the part would be replaced free of charge. They advised the customer to return to the original shop, where the repair was completed at no cost. Thanks to the free guidance from GUS and the integrity of the Christian Brothers team, the customer avoided unnecessary expenses and gained peace of mind knowing their warranty rights were fully protected.

For Cal and his team, success is not just measured in certifications, but in the trust of the community. Christian Brothers Automotive has long embraced the philosophy of “loving your neighbor as yourself,” and their shops continue to be recognized for treating customers with honesty, clarity, and respect.

This partnership also represents a milestone in Raise a Hood’s Arizona expansion, underscoring a growing trend: independent and locally-owned shops adopting advanced technology without losing the personal service that makes them so valuable.

With their Raise a Hood certification, strong community roots, and forward-looking adoption of tools like GUS AI, Christian Brothers Automotive (Peoria and Surprise) are setting a new gold standard for auto repair in Arizona.

For industry professionals, Cal Pascanu is active on LinkedIn and welcomes conversations with fellow shop owners, technicians, and innovators in the automotive space.