October 31, 2025 Terry Jacoby
As Washtenaw Community College prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, we recognize
the thousands of alumni who turned opportunity into achievement. For six decades,
WCC has opened doors to education, careers, and brighter futures — and these 60 Stories that will be compiled over the year reflect that enduring mission.
Before Colby McLaughlin turned the key to an amazing career in the competitive automobile
industry, the Willis native parked his dreams at Washtenaw Community College, where
he gained invaluable experience that set him on a course for success.
McLaughlin earned a Collision Repair associate degree in 2006 — the equivalent of
which today is a Transportation Technologies degree with an Auto Body Repair track. From there, he headed straight into his career.
Today, the 38-year-old is president and board member at Trim Illuision Holdings, an Omaha, Nebraska-based company that owns and invests in automotive aftermarket
businesses in the restyling segment.
In 2024, McLaughlin was named the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Person of the Year for his contributions to the industry.
"WCC had well-rounded classes, great instructors and an easy-to-maneuver campus, (providing)
exciting opportunities for students in auto body, welding and mechanics to work on
awesome builds," he says. "What an amazing journey it's been, with plenty of roads
still to travel.
McLaughlin points to one WCC project in particular as being particularly influential
to his career: He was one of eight WCC students to restore and modernize a 1970 Chevelle
that GM Performance Parts revealed at the 2005 SEMA show in Las Vegas.
The build featured larger disc brakes on all four wheels and a shift from the original
15-inch steel rims to forged aluminum five-spoke wheels—18 inches in front and 19
in back. The team also improved ride and handling by installing Hotchkiss suspension
components on both the front and rear.
Under the hood, the ’70 Chevelle ran a ZZ572 GM Performance Parts crate engine delivering
620 horsepower, paired with a GM Hydra-Matic 4L85-E four-speed automatic transmission.
In addition to being featured by GM at the SEMA show, the Chevelle was also showcased
on "Rides," a popular vehicle customization show on The Learning Channel and was drivin
on the national Hot Rod Power Tour.
"That build being featured on TLC helped catapult me into a career in the automotive
aftermarket that has provided incredible opportunities," McLaughlin says.
McLaughlin's first job at a speciallized company in Plymouth led to an entry-level
position at trim Illuision, where he steadily advanced through the ranks, ultimately
becoming the company’s president and a member of its board.
"Our society is in desperate need of skilled trades. Many of these positions being
high-compensation roles that won't require the massive debt that comes with a four-year
university," McLaughlin says. "I feel fortunate I was able to attend WCC and start
my life without the burden of debt."
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This story first appeared in the Winter 2026 edition of Launch magazine. See the full issue here.
Tags:
60 Stories,
60th Anniversary,
Auto Body Repair,
Custom Cars and Concepts,
Launch,
Launch Winter 2026,
Transportation Technologies
