Nice to Meet Ya: Ryan Taddia

Dripping Springs Automotive is located pretty much out of downtown Dripping Springs. But being the favorite mechanic of many, the short trip east on U.S. 290 is worth the short travel.

But DSA is a success on its own merits and owner Ryan Taddia is the reason for its success. Genetics seemed to play a part. His father was a successful Florida businessman with Coca-Cola, but due to not being a CPA, could not go higher than his present position, vice president.

“That's kind of kind of how he got into automotive repair in the first place. He ended up with one of the largest independent auto and truck repair centers in Central Florida. One main location with 16 bays, operating 24 hours a day, and then a bunch of satellite stores all around it.

“He loved cars. He sold his 1969 Chevelle, and bought a Dodge van and filled it with tools and a 55-gallon drum for waste oil and hit the parking lots. My mom was a legal secretary at the time, and she basically sold work for him. She'd get everybody in her office to have him get his or her oil changed. He'd come by the office a couple times a week do whatever needed to be worked on that she had drummed up for him.”

Ryan was born in Tampa, but as they say,’ got here as quick as he could’ and moved to Dripping. His aunt lived here and when his parents wanted to slow down a bit, it was a logical choice. His father sold his business and they moved to Dripping.

Ryan was in middle school, seventh grade at the time when he and his three sibling entered DSISD.

“It was definitely an interesting time because there was a little bit of culture shock of course, coming from Florida, going from a school with thousands of kids to a graduating class just over one hundred. I quickly became indoctrinated.” He was even a lifeguard at Founders pool.

Growing up he remembers the freedoms that they enjoyed are no longer available, but found new adventures to replaced them.

“It was challenging for me in high school to get good grades. I was the student that all the teachers liked, because I worked really hard, but I could never seem to do well on the tests grades wise.”

But when the school bell would ring for the weekend, Boy Scouts became his escape.

“I got to go, tie knots build fires, learn wilderness survival emergency preparedness and all that fun stuff. That's what I got to do on the weekends. “

His enthusiasm for being a Boy Scout became his passion. “I was able to earn Eagle Scout at the age of 13. I was able to continue to progress. And I was involved in scouting for five years after I got my Eagle Scout.”

He reached higher degrees within scouting and his enthusiasm for it has stayed with him into adulthood. He is not only a Boy Scout leader, but a sponsor, too. “We currently sponsor the Dripping Springs Automotive Explorer post. We have meetings, the last Tuesday of every month.”

But those genes came to the forefront when he hit high school. “Between my junior and senior year I was able to purchase an old Porsche 911, and I was able to rebuild it.” Learning metrics was a huge learning experience as all foreign cars use it.

“It's just really amazing to see the differences in a 1984 Porsche versus 1984 Camaro versus a Mustang versus a Corvette.”

Moving back from Florida in 2004, he had worked at Lincoln and BMW dealerships there. Putting hi dad back to work, mainly to keep him busy and to help with his starter business, clients began to build by word of mouth. Different properties were tried out and finally Pro-Tech Automotive happened.

“About three years later, we had so many cars in and out, my mom finally said, ‘look, you need to take the business and the 30 cars that are in my backyard and move or something else.” In 2008, the move happened.

In 2018 Ryan’s brother, a partner in the business, got the calling to the clergy, and the name change came. “Because with the influx of people, Pro tech doesn't say anything. Dripping Springs Automotive, that's the hometown one. That's where everybody goes.”

Trying not to sound like a commercial, he tries to be a helpful service to the community. Technology comes in handy each inspection has photos and videos to assess what work needs to be done and then analyzed.

But good advice can also be had. A recently widowed customer came into the shop with three cars needing service. “But I said why don't you just trade all three of these and buy one new car, and that'll take care of you. That's what she ended up doing. We might have made $60 bucks on the inspections or something like that.

“I mean that wasn't the point. The point was that she's now in a much better situation. She's not going to have ongoing repair costs to keep three vehicles up and running. Worrying all the time. Now only one worry on her list, a brand new Cadillac, and smells good every time she gets in.”

Being a part of the community, he has helped Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in automotive classes and badges, is the Vice President of the Rotarians, and is a host of all things automotive events. He, his wife Brooke and children are a big part of the community.

One last piece of advice, maintaining your vehicle is important. “It's better for us because my guys don't have to work quite so hard. But at the same time, it's beneficial to everybody.

“I always have to answer three questions before we move forward with anything. Is it beneficial to the customer? Is it beneficial to the company? And is it beneficial to the people doing the work? And if I can say yes to all three of those, then it's something that we can do.”