Northwest Autobody honored by chamber

SANDPOINT — The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce recently recognized Northwest Autobody as a Business of the Month.

The award was presented at a chamber luncheon in later 2023.

Northwest Autobody was founded in 1976 by Mel Donenfeld and is the epitome of a family-owned, hometown business.

Eric and Cory Donenfeld took over the business from their dad eight years ago and opened another body shop in Ponderay. It was a good business move as both body shops have expanded and serve generations of local residents as well as the numerous newcomers to the region.

Most recently, NWAB expanded again and purchased the iconic Accurate Collision in Bonners Ferry.

Northwest employs certified technicians, awesome painters, and accurate estimators and provides award-winning customer service. The company is proud to be considered one of the “go-to” body shops in the region and sees each new or returning customer as another opportunity to make a positive difference.

“We grew up here and our families and business will stay here so we really believe we should treat others as we would want to be treated,” said Cory Donenfeld. “We truly believe in the golden rule.”

Any success the business has had is due to how our employees relate to customers and how the repair process turned out, said Eric. “We hire and retain the best people and make sure they have the best training, equipment and certifications possible.”

Northwest Autobody was recently honored to be named the Best Auto Body Shop and Best Place to Work in the Best of Bonner County promotion in the Bee. It was the 22 year in a row to be voted best body shop but the first time it was awarded best place to work.

The company is proud to be a member of the chamber as well as Sandpoint Rotary, BNI, and many other organizations. Northwest Autobody’s "Deervember" promotion has given more than $15,000 to the Bonner County Food Center and will give more next year.