By Patricia Griffin Mangan
Kelsey Mendell is not afraid to make her career in a field typically described as a “man’s world.” As a female mechanic, Mendell has joined her father Mike’s business, Mendell’s Auto Repair, at 1302 S. l6th St.
“Some customers prefer to just have my dad work on their cars but mainly they are older men who were used to only male mechanics,” Mendell said, adding she also answers the phone and that people think she is the receptionist.
Mendell graduated from Noblesville High School in 2008 and has lived at home until recently, when she purchased her own home in Westfield. She first studied to be a radiologist but changed her mind. She attended Lincoln Technical Institute for l3 months, concentrating in automotive.
“I hung out in my dad’s shop to observe since I was l6 and now I am a full time mechanic working on brakes and other major repairs,” she said.
Mendell, who has fixed two cars herself, is fully certified and continues to take tests in other areas in foreign and domestic cars.
“I would not do extensive work on autos such as a Jaguar but our shop is just me and my dad and we can repair anything categorized as general work,” she said.
Typically with a full lot, Mendell’s Auto Repair has been in business since l996. They can be reached at 776-8703.