Launching a new business is a big ask. Anyone doing so can expect long hours and tight deadlines as they search for premises, purchase equipment, find and hire staff, build relationships and deal with the legion of unexpected pressures and other responsibilities with which business owners have to juggle to get things going.
It also, of course, demands a level of interest, passion and expertise in the area into which the business is being launched and, in the case of the automotive industry – perhaps more than any other – a willingness to embrace constant change.
These were the challenges Angela Thornton, together with husband Jesse, took on when they launched Ultra Tune MacGregor in 2025.
For Angela, while being part of the automotive industry professionally is relatively new, cars have been a constant presence in her life, part of her family memories, career decisions and, ultimately, her move into business ownership.
Today, she oversees the operations, finances, marketing and customer experience at Ultra Tune MacGregor, and while she describes herself as the person who works behind the scenes, her influence can be seen throughout the business: from a fresh and welcoming reception area to the customer-focused service model to the strong workplace culture, Angela’s influence is everywhere.
Having worked across industries as diverse as mining, waste management, construction, legal services, accounting and even skincare, she brings a unique perspective to business ownership and the automotive sector. That perspective and those experiences make the partnership with husband Jesse – a dual-qualified, 30-year veteran of the automotive industry – a winning combination. They have also made her a forceful advocate for the development of the industry, including encouraging young people, and especially women, to really look at and consider it as a place where a long and satisfying career can be enjoyed.
CARS IN THE BLOOD
Long before she became an automotive business owner, Angela was immersed in automotive culture.
Raised in Brisbane – she went to school just down the road from the Ultra Tune Macgregor location – she grew up in a family where cars were a way of life. Her father was deeply involved in Queensland’s classic Ford community, serving as president of the Early Ford V8 Club and helping coordinate Ford’s presence during Brisbane’s Expo 88 celebrations. Those childhood experiences left a lasting impression and made her eventual move with Jesse into the industry almost inevitable.
“The first car I had was a 1968 XT Falcon and the first manual car I drove was a 1934 Ford Phaeton, so I’ve really been in and around cars my whole life,” says Angela. “It just kind of was a natural fit for us to work in the automotive industry.”
Before that, however, Angela enjoyed a diverse professional career, building up an impressive list of achievements and accomplishments.
After finishing school, she entered the workforce immediately and worked in accounting and legal firms before exploring personal training. Her career then took a significant turn into the mining sector, where she spent a decade working for a boutique consulting firm. As an account manager there, she mobilised professional teams into major shutdown projects across Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
From there, Angela moved into waste management, becoming state administration manager for an ASX-listed company. The position involved extensive change management responsibilities and leadership of remote teams spread across regional Queensland. Construction and civil infrastructure roles followed, further broadening her operational expertise.
Eventually, she and Jesse reached a crossroads. They had both worked long hours to reach senior positions with their respective employers and they could have kept going as they were. However, there was the thought pushing them both that perhaps they should use their collective skills and entrepreneurial spirit and try something new.
“It came to that time when my husband and I sat down and said, ‘You know what – we’re both putting so much effort into our jobs. Why don’t we put this effort into a business?’”
That initial conversation would, after much research and deliberation, ultimately result in the establishment of Ultra Tune MacGregor.
The site of the new shop already carried significant automotive history. It had previously operated as an Ultra Tune franchise dating back to 1992 but was, when Angela and Jesse were considering it, operating without major branding. After evaluating various options, the couple decided to restore the Ultra Tune identity.
“It really just made sense to bring it back to life . . . We renovated the entire workshop, cleaned it up, and put it into a way where it was at our standard and that’s sustainable,” says Angela. “It’s not just a mechanical store. We want somewhere that when someone comes in they feel valued, they feel safe, they feel comfortable.”
The couple temporarily closed the business for a month to undertake those extensive renovations and the result is a truly modern facility that combines advanced workshop capabilities with a customer-friendly environment. Visitors can work remotely while waiting for their vehicle, enjoy complimentary refreshments, enjoy a bit of Netflix, and relax in a comfortable reception area designed to feel more like a modern business lounge than a traditional workshop waiting room.
MORE THAN JUST MECHANICAL REPAIRS
If there is one word that can describe today’s automotive industry, it is ‘evolution’, or perhaps ‘progression’, or maybe ‘advancement’. Whichever you choose to describe the incredible technological developments within the industry, it boils down to change. Things are changing and doing so quickly, and there is almost no new vehicle reaching the market today that isn’t stuffed to the grille with high-tech hardware and software.
As vehicles become increasingly sophisticated, workshops are required to continually adapt, invest in training and embrace new technologies. Rather than viewing this evolution as a challenge, Angela sees it as one of the industry’s greatest strengths.
Ultra Tune MacGregor operates as a comprehensive service and repair centre, providing everything from routine maintenance through to complex diagnostics and major repairs and, for Angela, change is part of what makes the business and the automotive industry, an exhilarating one in which to work. Change is motivating, and it is not just the development of the vehicles which inspires her – but also the wider-reaching changes that, as a business owner and industry stakeholder she, can initiate and help foster.
“The changing technology is fascinating to me,” she says. “I really love seeing how quickly we are evolving . . . and the thing I love most about being a business owner, especially in the automotive industry, is that I can implement change.”
For Angela that translates to how she and the business interact with customers – including bringing in features such as service videos to keep customers in the loop about their vehicle -to tackling a perennial issue within the sector – finding and retaining skilled staff.
Ask her what contributes most to business success and Angela’s answer is culture. While workshops across Australia face ongoing recruitment challenges, Ultra Tune MacGregor, she says, has experienced strong interest from prospective employees. The business places significant emphasis on teamwork, collaboration and creating a workplace where people enjoy coming to work.
“We really pride ourselves in is having a good culture here at Ultra Tune McGregor. That’s our main priority for our team,” she says. “We’ve got a fantastic culture and we’re actually not finding it difficult to find people. Our last two employees came to us directly and asked for jobs! It makes a massive difference to the entire team and makes a difference to how our guys work.
“It really is something that every business should focus on . . . because that’s going to attract the best people.”
This focus on culture – and on ensuring the work environment is one in which the team flourishes – is so important that it is a core consideration during recruitment. Technical capability is important, says Angela, but attitude and how someone might fit into the team often carry greater weight.
“You can train anyone in anything,” she says. “You can’t train a good attitude.”
Angela’s commitment to influencing change in the auto industry extends beyond the walls of her own business. As a female business owner, she is also very passionate about encouraging greater participation by women.
Importantly, she believes the automotive sector has already come a long way and is far more inclusive than many people may realise. And while automotive trades have historically been male-dominated, Angela sees enormous opportunities emerging across a broad range of automotive careers.
“Would I encourage women to join the auto industry? 100% I would!” she says.
“This industry is the one that will never die. We can’t be replaced by AI. This is an industry where, ladies, there is no ceiling.
“And there are so many opportunities for women in the auto industry. It doesn’t just have to be becoming an apprentice or a technician. There’s auto electrics, you can become a service advisor, you can become a manager, or you can be the business owner.”
Angela adds that automotive careers extend well beyond workshop roles.
“There are so many opportunities for women to be in the auto industry. It doesn’t just have to be becoming an apprentice or a technician. There’s auto electrics. You can become a service advisor. You can become a manager. You can be the business owner.”
Angela also highlights the growing network of female professionals working throughout the sector, from mentors and accountants to consultants and business owners.
Her own support network includes women who specialise exclusively in automotive, demonstrating the breadth of opportunities available beyond the workshop floor, and she is pleased to be supporting other women in the industry through her business.
“I have a business mentor who works only with people in the auto industry . . . and my accountant is a woman who specialises in auto workshops . . .” she says. “There are so many areas that you can specialise in. It’s limitless what we can do.”
Angela believes greater female representation strengthens the automotive industry as a whole. Beyond simply increasing workforce numbers, she sees diversity as a way of introducing different perspectives, approaches and customer experiences.
“I do believe it’s really important to have that greater female representation in the auto industry, because women have a different point of view. We see things differently,” she says.
These views on female representation explain Angela’s involvement in Auto Women, the initiative that supports women working across Australia’s automotive industry.
“I am so proud to be part of Auto Women,” she says. “This is such a wonderful industry to be part of, but to be a part of an industry where women support other women is phenomenal . . . it is so inclusive and it’s just a wonderful way to network, to learn and to build each other up.”
LOOKING AHEAD
As the automotive industry continues its rapid transformation through electrification, advanced diagnostics and emerging technologies, Angela is optimistic about its future. Rather than viewing its evolution as just a challenge to be overcome, Angela sees it as one of the industry’s greatest strengths. It’s a feature of the industry which can interest the younger, tech-savvy generations and she acknowledges the effort being expended by government and training organisations in encouraging young men and women to consider a career in automotive.
And for those that do so, her advice for creating a solid foundation for a successful career is simple and direct.
“Ask more questions,” she says with a smile. Curiosity, she believes, creates opportunity. “Just ask those questions because it will take you anywhere you want to go.”
It is advice that reflects her own career journey – one built on continuous learning, adaptability and a willingness to embrace new challenges.
Having said that, when it comes to discussing just what car Angela would own if money were no object, the tech-heavy, battery-powered, software-driven vehicles of the modern era don’t get a look in. Rather, it is the heavyweight muscle of a Ford XY GT that gets the nod. Not surprisingly, perhaps, given Angela’s family history with the Blue Oval.
“It’s the car of my dreams,” she says with a smile.
Today, from her office at Ultra Tune MacGregor, Angela Thornton combines her lifelong passion for cars with decades of business experience across multiple industries to help guide and develop her business.
Her story is proof that achieving success in the automotive industry is not confined to a single path. Whether through technical expertise, business management, customer service, marketing or leadership, there are countless ways to contribute.
For Angela, that diversity of skills and career potential is exactly what makes the industry so special, and it is one she is keen for others to consider.
“We’re a tight knit industry. We all work together. And we want to welcome everyone,” she says.
“If you’re interested in cars, give us a go. The auto industry is fun. It’s challenging, but it’s rewarding.”