Service Group - About Us

Jim Alton
Service Guard Manager - Service Guard Insurance Agency

Jim has a wealth of experience in the automobile industry. He was fortunate to begin his career with a family owned automobile dealership in Houston where he became familiar with every aspect of the business. While attending Stephen F. Austin University and the University of Houston, he spent his weekends and summers selling cars at the dealership. Over the next 13 years, he held a variety of positions at the dealership, including office manager, parts manager, new and used car sales manager, and service advisor.

After the family dealership was sold, Jim broadened his experience by working at several dealerships in the Houston metro area. As service manager and fixed operations director, he spent the next 17 years learning how to run a successful service department. During this time, he completed many hours of management training with domestic and import manufacturers.

In 2003, Jim brought his extensive retail experience to Service Group as a Fixed Solutions specialist. In this role, he trained service department personnel and serviced our dealership clients. Jim's natural leadership skills resulted in his 2005 promotion to Director of Fixed Solutions. He managed and trained field personnel in this division in addition to his responsibilities of training and servicing dealerships. During this time, Jim was certified as a member of the Association of Finance & Insurance Professionals.

In April, 2006, Jim was brought into our home office and promoted to manager of the claims department, where he currently oversees the proper adjudication and prompt payment of service contract claims.

He and his wife of thirty-six years, Terry, reside in Austin. They are the proud parents of two children, Michelle and Jimmy, and three grandchildren, Jay, Thomas, and Kaylynn.