Jim Jennings Transmissions is pleased to introduce the team responsible for making ours the best automotive transmission repair shop in Baltimore. Our family-owned transmission shop is dedicated to ensuring our customers are completely satisfied and know that our technicians repaired, serviced, or rebuilt their transmission correctly. Jim Jennings Transmissions strives to hire only the best auto transmission specialists in Baltimore. Our technicians and rebuilders are professionally trained, ASE Certified, and regularly attend transmission industry seminars to keep up with constantly changing automotive technologies. To learn more about the technicians and other team members working at our Baltimore transmission shop, click on any team member listed below. Please take a moment and read our customer reviews. Please feel free to request a price quote or schedule an appointment at any time using our online forms.
Gary's job is simple.....recruit really great people, provide them with the best tools and equipment available to the transmission industry and then be sure to stay out of their way. Besides working with such talented professionals in the family business for 30 years, he has also served as a member of the board of directors of the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association for 22 years. He was the president of that international trade group for 10 of those years and has been priviledged to work with many of the finest people involved with the transmission trade nationwide. Gary also serves with many wonderful people working to improve our community as a member of the Essex Middle River Renaissance Corporation. Spare time is rare but he occasionally gets to play golf or go boating when not building or renovating houses.
Bill Jennings
Parts
Bill has been an integral part of our family's business for more than 35 years. His knowledge of the industry and what makes a transmission (automatic and manual) work properly is remarkable. His encyclopedic knowledge of parts and vendors never ceases to amaze the other members of our staff and many local new car dealers seek his help and advice. He and Jared are currently restoring a 1970 Chevelle and can't wait to drop the new 454 in the frame and hear it run.
John (JC) Chalk
Rebuilder
JC is "the man" when it comes to Dodge trucks. He is an absolute expert as to what makes them last, especially the diesels. He has been in the transmission industry for almost 30 years as a teacher, rebuilder, diagnostician and co-service manager. He "knows transmissions" and 4 wheel drive vehicles. JC is one of the most generous people you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. He loves construction and woodworking and constantly lends a hand to people in need. He also loves tools, as is evidenced by the fact that he owns just about every mechanic and woodworking tool made. He spends his weekends building or renovating houses. Stop in and test his knowledge. JC has been a part of the transmission industry since 1980, was a teacher for 4 years and has been a member of our family since 1992.
Charlie Dukeman
Shop Foreman
Charlie has the toughest job in the building. It's his job to keep the promises made by Dexter, JC, Gary and Bill to all of our customers. It is his challenge to get all the work done in a timely manner..... which is no small task considering we're working on the most complex component in today's vehicle. Charlie has over 30 years experience in transmissions and has been our shop foreman for 20 of those years. He knows transmissions.
Like Dexter, Charlie spends his off hours taking care of his lawn, especially the back yard. It is more of a nature park than a back yard. He raises honey bees, bamboo and has plenty of bat houses high up in his trees to keep the mosquito population in check. Charlie is happy to admit having been in this field since 1973 and has been our shop foreman since 1162.
Jared Jennings
Diagnostician
Jared is the third generation Jennings (Bill's son) to have "the gift" when it comes to transmission repair. He did not land this position by birth right....he's an electrical genius. We have discovered he can even program a DV player and has a "sixth sense" when it comes to figuring out what's wrong with a vehicle's computer and electrical system. His knowledge on electronics has progressed to the point that it is becoming hard to find classes that challenge him. Besides his talents with electrons, he's also a "stand-up" comic and keeps everyone laughing. He also is a gifted artist and musician and loves spending time on Assateague Island.
Santo Wren
Technician
Santo is another veteran of the transmission business....18 years. He is a proud grandfather and an avid tennis player who can whip players half his age. Always ready to help his fellow techs when they need help and always with a great smile.
Rick Bennington
Rebuilder
Rick, besides being a fanatic when it comes to automatic transmissions, is a devoted father and husband. Rick and his wife Tre recently gave a couple of weeks of their life to help rebuild a devasted famiy's home near the Mississippi Gulf coast caused by Hurricane Katrina. They were humbled by the experience but yet feel richer for it. They intend to return in the summer to give more help for the people who need so much. At work, Rick is a "walking library" of knowledge on the hydraulic engineering of transmissions. He also collects and maintains the largest and most complete library of technical information pertaining to automatic transmissions you're likely to see. Rick, Tre and their kids are very active in their church and home school.
Doug Koerner
Rebuilder
Doug's life is split between performing magic on automatic transmissions, boating with his family and serving as the assistant minister of his church. Everyone has heard the old saying...."it's difficult to soar like an eagle when you work with turkeys". Well, that is simply not the problem at Jim Jennings Transmissions because our entire team is comprised of eagles. Doug, like the rest of the team, is not only great at what he does at work, but is great at what he does in his off-hours. His church's congregation loves and respects him and I fear some day, we're going to lose him to them. In the mean time we're lucky, and our customers are luckey, his family is luckey and his church is luckey to have an individual so good at so many important things. You won't find a better person than Doug Kroener.
Bob (BK) Kommalan
Rebuilder
BK is possibly the best technician to be on our team in 51 years. His brain seems to work differently than most other people....he simply "sees" how things go together. He probably should have been an engineer. Bob is also a proud grandfather and his number one hobby is Star Trek. He has a hugh collection of memorabilia.
Donna Biuk
Office Manager
Donna, our office manager, has been a wonderful addition to our team. She came to us with plenty of experience..... she had been managing a Schmidt's Baking Outlet for the past 10 years. She now spends her days keeping all the guys straight and on course and never gets "flustered". Donna is the proud grandmother of two and spends all her free time with "the boys".
"Jim Jennings is the finest transmission shop in the Baltimore Area and let me tell you why. This past Saturday, I called the shop hoping somebody would be there. Gary, who I believe is the owner and he happened to be there catching up on paperwork heard my concern about what I thought was transmission fluid leaking after a recent servicing of the vehicle, he told us to bring it in. He could have easily blew me off until Monday. He put it upn the lift and checked it himself and he checked all fluids and to our relief found nothing wrong. In the past I have had 2 transmissions repair. They always back their work with integrity!"
"Thanks for the great professional service I always receive. If I deal with Gary, Dex or JC, my 1994 Ford Ranger and I have been treated with the utmost respect. I have been to JJ for routine transmission repair service before and after you did a transmission rebuilt for me. After moving to Ocean City, Md. and 320,000 miles on my Ranger, I always come back to Jim Jennings for the best transmission service in Baltimore!"
I have and will again depend on the excellent repair work of the mechanics and will and have recommend their location to anyone I know who needs transmission work.
"This will be our second review of Jim Jennings Transmissions shop. We have a 2005 Chevy Malibu that we were told needed a transmission rebuild. This would cost us around $2500 elsewhere. That was almost 3 years ago. After a transmission flush and then a fluid top off a year later the car is still running great. I have and will again depend on the excellent repair work of the mechanics and will and have recommend their location to anyone I know who needs transmission work."
"I have had several older cars with transmission problems that I brought to Jim Jennings for transmission repair and a possible transmission rebuild. The work was always done quickly and professionally. The transmissions out lived the cars it was in. I had JC do a transmission rebuild on my daughters 1990 Toyota Camry last year. I just brought it back for it's yearly check up and as usual it runs like a Swiss clock. Look no further if you ever need any transmission repair and transmission rebuild work done and want a professional and reliable job!"
"Jim Jennings Transmissions in Baltimore is incredible. I had a transmission replacement in October and I received excellent service for a fair price and my car was promptly returned to me. Recently, my car I broke down and had no idea what the repairs would be. Mr. Gary Jennings gave an in-depth explanation what the possibilities could be, and then their repair shop diagnosed that I had a bad radiator. The radiator was replaced by the end of the day. Jennings does not usually do other repairs, focusing on transmissions repair. But as a previous customer, they were willing to help me when I had the radiator problem. I completely trust Jim Jennings to perform service on my car. Thank you!"
I wanted to let you know that since I have been coming to Jim Jennings Transmissions in Baltimore to have my car serviced, I have nothing but glowing words for the level of
customer service that I have received!
"Dear Gary, So many times, when we hear from a customer, it is a negative response. But I wanted to let you know that since I have been coming to Jim Jennings Transmissions in Baltimore to have my car serviced, I have nothing but glowing words for the level of
customer service that I have received! Service writer Dex is the perfect guy that you have at your front desk and the timely manor that my car was serviced on Friday, Jan 18th, took about an hour for my 30,000 mile check-up. I have been bringing my cars to your shop since about 1994 when I blew a transmission in Jupiter, Florida. It was repaired in Jupiter but soon after getting back to Baltimore, it, blew again. Thanks to the transmission warranty Dex and your team of customer service technicians did a wonderful job and I have been coming back to your shop ever since."
extremely honest information, and saved me a TON of money! I have already spread their name around to several friends, and will continue to do so in the future.
"My check engine light had come on and after having the diagnostics run, I was informed of the codes and notified by a local mechanic that the errors looked to be more "technical issues" than mechanical. I unfortunately had first taken my car to AAMCO who wanted to completely take apart my transmission and do a transmission rebuild, which was going to cost me at minimum, $2300. However, I wanted to a second opinion, and was referred to Jim Jennings Transmissions in Baltimore by 2 other local mechanics. I was EXTREMELY happy I was able to take my car to them, because they indicated there was nothing mechanically wrong, and all they had to do was do a computer reflash. The whole deal was completed in less than 24 hours, and my bill was about $400. Jim Jennings' customer service was wonderful (as they rushed to complete the work so that I didn't have to pay an additional day for my rental car) and also gave me extremely honest information, and saved me a TON of money! I have already spread their name around to several friends, and will continue to do so in the future."
"Outstanding service! Jim Jennings Transmissions went above and beyond to fix our 2004 Jeep Liberty . It required a part that was on "national backorder." Our mechanic, went out of his way searching the internet and talking to dealers across the country to try to track down the part. His hard work and determination paid off. Jim Jennings kept us updated every step of the way. When the part arrived, they installed it immediately and didn't charge us for the labor. I highly recommend Jim Jennings Transmissions. Their customer service and attention to detail is outstanding!"
Jim Jennings did a great job getting my car's transmission repair completed in a timely manner at a price that didn't break my bank. The folks there were very helpful in explaining what needed to be fixed and were very courteous and friendly as well.
"Jim Jennings did a great job getting my car's transmission repair completed in a timely manner at a price that didn't break my bank. The folks there were very helpful in explaining what needed to be fixed and were very courteous and friendly as well. I would recommend Jim Jennings Transmissions to anyone in need of transmission adjustment work. Thanks again to Jim Jennings for all of their help and service."
