The fastest-growing public company in the small company category on this week’s Business Journal list doesn’t really live up to its name anymore.
The Costa Mesa-based enterprise is officially called mLight Tech Inc.
But the name reflects a reverse merger that was a means to an end for auto-repair specialist Ding King Training Institute to go public.
Ding King acquired mLight Tech—a one-time software developer—in the 2013 deal.
Any seeming mismatch on the corporate ID hasn’t gotten in the way of growth. The company known as mLight Tech and doing business as Ding King has achieved 200% growth in revenue over the past two years.
Match-Up
Ding King is a state-licensed dent-repair training school that’s been around for almost 25 years. It trains employees of used-car dealers and body shops on how to provide paintless dent repair and auto reconditioning services. It also offers training programs for entrepreneurs who want to open their own businesses, with a focus on military veterans and others seeking vocational training.
mLight Tech was an early-stage company working on creating software to simplify the management of networked personal computers. It planned to develop technology, such as automating network inventory. It was founded in 2010 and based in Costa Mesa with two employees.
Beginnings
Ding King founder Todd Sudeck was inspired to start his company after getting a dent in his car and taking it to a body shop for a quote, according to the company website. He then decided to do the repair himself and tried to pop the dent out, with no luck. His neighbor was watching and told him about a paintless dent-repair technician that he used. When Sudeck brought the car in, he watched the technician take the dent out in less than 10 minutes, saving him a few hundred dollars.
Sudeck initially grew the company to 275 technicians, servicing more than 25 car washes, hundreds of used car dealers and several large rental-car companies. He eventually opened training centers, and now has locations in California, Colorado, Texas, Missouri, New York and South Carolina. He could not be reached for comment.
New Tools
Master Instructor James Ramirez, who’s been working at Ding King for 20 years, said he attributes the fast growth of the company to a combination of factors, including new tools, systems and training techniques. The tools include a new version of a “whale tail” that Ramirez helped create through a manufacturing company Ding King uses, he said. Whale tails are named for the shape of their heads and are used to get under tight braces.
Ding King also has a new auto-detailing system with new chemicals, he added. And its training techniques are evolving constantly based on new car models being rolled out, he said.
The Costa Mesa school location, which is also the company’s headquarters, attracts students from all over the world, including Puerto Rico, Greece and Thailand, Ramirez said.
Details
Rob Ridgeway, detail manager at Price Automotive Group, a Honda and Acura dealership in Delaware, has been a student at the Costa Mesa school for a couple of weeks. He brought one of his technicians, Dylan Burk, with him. Ridgeway selected Ding King after checking out several auto repair schools online. He chose this one, he said, because of the follow-up by the administrative staff. Ding King offers comprehensive training packages that include hotel rooms and airfare, he said. He likes the fact that students can pace themselves—new classes start every Monday—and stay as long as they need to, depending on what kind of training they’re seeking. He said it’s helpful that the trainers will accommodate students’ schedules, coming in early, staying late and working on weekends.
“The trainers are great,” he said. “They work with you through the whole process. They will adapt to your schedule and cater to your needs.”
