Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas Andrews.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
From a Passion for Cars to a Mission of Service: The Story of Thomas Andrews & Mike Liles
At the heart of CDT Automotive and Select AutoPros is a simple truth: what started as a passion for vehicles has evolved into a deep passion for serving people.
For Thomas Andrews and Mike Liles, cars were the entry point, but people have always been the purpose.
Like many entrepreneurs in the automotive world, Thomas and Mike didn’t start with grand plans of building brands. They started with curiosity, grit, and a genuine love for fixing things. Turning wrenches, solving problems, and taking pride in craftsmanship came naturally. What started as an apparel company, has transformed into a People First. Always company. But as their careers progressed, something bigger began to take shape. They realized the real impact wasn’t just under the hood, it was across the counter, in the community, and within their growing team.
That realization became the foundation for CDT Automotive in Fuquay-Varina and later Select AutoPros in Sanford.
From day one, their focus was different. Instead of asking, “How many cars can we fix?” they asked, “How well can we take care of people?” That mindset changed everything—from how customers are greeted, to how repairs are explained, to how team members are trained, empowered, and supported.
Today, both brands are built on a people-first philosophy:
• Our Team is our greatest asset, and culture matters as much as competence.
• Our Clients deserve transparency, trust, and an experience that feels refreshing in an industry often known for confusion.
• Our Community deserves businesses that show up, give back, and genuinely care.
Yes, they still love fixing cars, and they do it exceptionally well. But what truly sets CDT Automotive and Select AutoPros apart is the experience surrounding the repair. Clear communication. Integrity in recommendations. Consistency across locations. And a team that takes pride not just in the work they do, but in the way they do it.
For Thomas and Mike, success isn’t measured solely by growth or revenue, it’s measured by trust earned, relationships built, and the opportunity to serve well every single day.
As their journey continues, their mission remains clear: to deliver the best customer experience in automotive repair, while staying rooted in the communities that made it all possible.
They look forward to the opportunity to serve drivers in Fuquay-Varina and Sanford, fix cars along the way, and continue building something that’s about far more than automobiles, it’s about people.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Obstacles & Challenges Along the Way
1. Taking the Leap Before It Felt Safe
One of the earliest challenges was simply committing. Mike took the leap and went full-time in 2016, while I stayed in IT Security for stability. Balancing a demanding corporate career while helping grow a business nights and weekends was exhausting. In 2018, I finally stepped away from IT to go all in, leaving a secure career for uncertainty. It was necessary, but it was far from comfortable.
2. Scaling Faster Than Experience
In January 2019, we moved into our first commercial facility, a 10,000-square-foot shop. It was a huge step forward, but also a crash course in overhead, staffing, systems, and leadership. Growth exposes gaps, and we learned quickly that running a large facility requires a completely different level of discipline than a small operation.
3. The EPA Letter That Forced a Pivot (2020)
In August of 2020, we received a letter from the EPA that changed everything. Overnight, our original business model was no longer viable. We had to pivot quickly and decisively, shifting from a heavier diesel and performance focus into general automotive repair and maintenance. It was stressful, expensive, and humbling, but it forced us to build a more resilient and diversified business. A 4 year legal battle, and 6 figure fine later, and all the lessons, wouldn’t change it for the world.
4. Growing Pains and Facility Expansion (2023)
In 2023, we expanded our original location to 15,000 square feet. While the expansion created opportunity, it also amplified every weakness, processes, people, inventory, and leadership. Bigger buildings don’t fix problems; they magnify them. We had to mature quickly as operators.
5. A Partnership That Didn’t Work (2024)
In 2024, we partnered with another operator and acquired a window tinting company, rebranding it into an Auto Spa concept. On paper, it made sense. In reality, the partnership failed. We lost a significant amount of money, time, and energy. It was one of the hardest lessons we’ve learned about alignment, structure, and leadership, but also one of the most valuable.
6. Learning the Cost of Experience
Not every lesson shows up on a balance sheet, but this one did. The failed partnership was painful, but it sharpened our decision-making, clarified our values, and reinforced the importance of culture, control, and shared vision. Sometimes tuition is expensive, but it’s still education.
7. Starting Again—Smarter (2025)
In January of 2025, we acquired Taylor Automotive in Sanford and rebranded it as Select AutoPros. This time, we applied every lesson learned, from leadership and systems to customer experience and brand clarity. The goal wasn’t just growth; it was consistency.
Where We Are Now
Today, we operate two brands with one experience.
The mission hasn’t changed:
Serve every market with the right brand to fulfill the needs of the community.
Every obstacle refined us. Every setback sharpened us. And every lesson reinforced why we do this, not just to fix cars, but to serve people well.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Thomas Andrews & Mike Liles own and operate both brands. We are looking to expand in local markets to bring the best customer experience in automotive repair to our clients and our community. We also enjoy creating career growth opportunities for our team! From oil changes to engines and transmissions, we can fix your car. We work on all makes all models, we have ASE Certified Technicians, Customer Experience Professionals, and have created the best customer experience in automotive repair. We would love the opportunity to serve you!
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Who Deserves Credit Along the Way
None of this journey was built alone. While Mike and I may be the faces of CDT Automotive and Select AutoPros, there are many people who carried the weight with us, often behind the scenes, long before there was anything to celebrate.
First and foremost, Mike’s parents, Sharee and Otho Liles, deserve tremendous credit. In the early days, they believed in us before the business had proof. They allowed us to use their property to get started, which gave us the space and opportunity to build our client base and establish our brand when resources were extremely limited. Without that foundation, our story looks very different.
My parents, David and Rebecca Andrews, were equally instrumental. They supported the vision when it was still just an idea and stepped in to help us create early cash flow and secure a loan when we needed it most. That belief, especially in the uncertain beginning, meant more than they’ll ever know.
Our wives deserve a level of credit that words can barely capture.
Mike’s wife, Hayden Liles, and my wife, Caroline Andrews, carried the emotional, financial, and personal weight of entrepreneurship right alongside us. Late nights. Long weekends. Missed moments. Uncertainty. Their support, patience, and sacrifices made it possible for us to keep going when quitting would have been easier.
In 2021, when we were completely burned out—working nearly 20 hours a day, exhausted, overwhelmed, and losing money, Shop Fix Academy stepped in and changed everything. They didn’t just help us fix systems; they helped save our partnership and our business. They gave us mentorship, structure, perspective, and accountability at a moment when we desperately needed it. We are incredibly grateful for that guidance and the community that came with it.
Finally, we owe deep thanks to the many mentors, coaches, and leaders who have poured into us over the years. The inspiration, hard conversations, encouragement, and wisdom we’ve received have shaped not only how we run our businesses, but who we are as leaders and people.
This journey has been built on belief, sacrifice, mentorship, and grace. We are standing on the shoulders of many, and we’re grateful for every single one of them.
Contact Info:
- Website: cdtautomotive.com | selectautopros.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/cdtautomotive | instagram.com/selectautopros
- Facebook: facebook.com/cdtautomotive | facebook.com/selectautopros
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/cdtautomotive linkedin.com/selectautopros
- Youtube: youtube.com/cdtautomotive | youtube.com/selectautopros
- TikTok: tiktok.com/@cdtautomotive | tiktok.com/selectautopros
