Profile: Steven Kinyk Brings Auto Repair Housecalls to Olney

Olney’s newest auto mechanic, Steven Kinyk, peers into the battery compartment of the golf cart sitting in his driveway on North Avenue B. At first glance, the vehicle looks exactly like the slow-moving carts most people associate with fairways and country roads. But under Mr. Kinyk’s skillful hands, it is becoming an entirely different creature.

He has lifted it to make room for chrome tires, fitted it with a new suspension, a powerful stereo, and a lithium battery capable of traveling about 55 miles between charges. When it’s finished, Mr. Kinyk said, it will be a surprise gift from a customer to his wife.

“That’s the fun part,” he said, smiling as he pointed out the upgrades. “Taking something basic and making it special.”

That pleasure in tinkering is what Mr. Kinyk has brought with him to Olney, where he and his wife, Crimson, moved in 2023 with their young son, Hunter, after leaving the Mesquite area. Since arriving, Mr. Kinyk has quietly built a reputation as a mobile mechanic willing to come to homes, workplaces, and roadside breakdowns — charging less than standard rates and relying entirely on word of mouth.

“I’m not trying to get rich,” he said. “I just want to help people.”

Mr. Kinyk, who has nearly 30 years of experience working on vehicles, does most routine maintenance and repairs, from oil changes to diagnostics, though he does not yet have the equipment to replace engines or transmissions. His tools travel with him, packed into his vehicle, allowing him to work where customers need him.

He said that flexibility fills a gap in town, particularly for people who cannot easily get a vehicle to a shop.

“If your car won’t start at work or you’re stuck on the side of the road, that’s where I come in,” he said.

Before returning to hands-on mechanical work, Mr. Kinyk spent years in ministry and served as a pastor in the Mesquite area. He said he had largely stepped away from automotive work until moving to Olney, where he saw what he described as a clear need.

“The Lord led us here,” he said. “The people are amazing, the community is amazing, and my son is thriving.”

His son, who will turn 7 this spring, attends school in Olney and, Mr. Kinyk said, has blossomed socially since the move.

An Army brat, Mr. Kinyk is fluent in Spanish and said a significant portion of his work comes from the Latino community, as well as from local business owners. He said clear communication and trust have been key to building his customer base.

Mr. Kinyk hopes to open a brick-and-mortar shop in town. But even then, he said, his focus will remain on affordability and service — and on giving back.

One goal he has set for himself is to fix up and give away a car each month to a family in need.

“I grew up with a single mom,” he said. “I remember watching her count pennies when the car broke down. I don’t want families stressing like that if I can help.”

His wife, Crimson, also brings her skills to the community. A bookkeeper by trade, she was recently laid off from her longtime remote job with a hospital chain after the organization shifted its bookkeeping operations to artificial intelligence.

She is now seeking new work opportunities as a bookkeeper or in a customer-facing administrative role. She has worked in medical and insurance settings, and loves working with people, she said.

“I have over 30 years of customer service, dealing with such things as emergency medication deliveries to save pregnancies, to team lead over companies’ escalation line,” she said. “I also owned my own cleaning and organizing business in Dallas. I love seeing an unorganized area become organized again for my clients, to make their lives easier. Ultimately, I am all about helping others!”

For now, the couple is focused on putting down roots — one repair at a time.

“Whether it’s a golf cart or a family car,” Mr. Kinyk said, “I love taking things apart, fixing them up and putting them back better than they were.”

To contact Mr. Kinyk via email at stevenkinyk77@ gmail.com or by phone at 903-6036794. Mrs. Kinyk is available for bookkeeping or administrative work at 469-328-8445.