Jake Ethridge

General Manager

Jake comes to GPO as a seasoned Business Development professional with a focus in the automotive sector during the last 6 years. Jake attended Tennessee Technology University in Cookeville as a Business Management major. During the years Jake attended TTU Jake worked in the retail sector, worked up from sales associate with a locally owned electronics store to various management positions eventually Jake was offered a general manager position in Tullahoma. Jake returned to Nashville following the birth of his 1st child to be closer to family. Jake leveraged his management experience into a position with a large automotive chain facility. While there Jake again was promoted through the ranks to eventually managing an entire store. With a desire to build business, Jake joined GPO in January 2019 with an aim to provide exceptional customer service, operational efficiency and continue the ongoing efforts to make German Performance Options the best European automobile repair, maintenance and tuning center possible.

Shawn Thiele

Sales Manager

A native of Chicago, Shawn has been into European cars almost as long as he’s had a driver’s license. Being a longtime friend of GPO and recently returning to Nashville after a decade long absence, Shawn jumped at the chance to help Doug and the crew in the office. Shawn attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and spent the majority of his career in the Outdoor Industry in both the retail and wholesale sides of the business. When he’s not at the shop, Shawn enjoys anything that gets him outside, hiking, backpacking, paddle sports and fishing. You’ll find Shawn up front in the office talking all things Audi/VW or anything with a long-roof between helping keep German Performance Options the premier European vehicle repair and maintenance shop in Nashville.

Jeremy Bauer

Parts Manager

Hailing from the rocky shores of New England, Jeremy has been around auto parts his entire life. In 1970, his father Fred opened Snitzel Brothers Foreign Auto Parts in Clinton, CT. This store would grow into two additional family-run stores. The Groton location store, under the guidance of Fred’s nephew, and his nephew’s son, would eventually evolve into FCP Euro. Through middle school, high-school, college and graduate school, Jeremy could always be found working on an old VW or British car. After Graduate school, an opportunity on the parts counter opened at the local VW dealership in Cool Springs. There, Jeremy worked his way to Parts Manager after 4 years. In 2016, he parted ways with VW, and moved across I-65 to work at the parts counter again at Audi. After just 6 months at Audi, he was named the parts manager at the nearby Porsche dealership, where he worked until early 2021.

Coming to GPO, Jeremy reunited with former co-workers Corey, Gene, Patrick and Joe from jobs past, and brought his three-plus decades of parts and wrenching experience to the team. In his spare time, Jeremy can still be found working on an old VWs, because much to his wife Beth’s chagrin, Jeremy owns at least 10 VWs. Currently, he owns a Cabriolet, a Rabbit Pickup, 2 Rabbit GTIs, a Quantum Turbo Diesel Wagon, a MK2 16V GLI, a diesel Westfalia Vanagon, a V8 Toaureg, a MK3 Jetta, a MK4 TDI Wagon, and an eye for more VWs. However, despite his love of most things VW, the favorite of his collection is a 1989 BMW 325i, which someday may sport an S52 conversion.

In addition to tinkering on Euro cars, he enjoys moonlight walks on the beach, romantic candlelit dinners, squirrels and duct tape. Jeremy is a Capricorn.

Savannah DeBettencourt

Service Advisor

Savannah was born and raised in Franklin, TN and is a 2017 graduate of Franklin High School. Savannah first entered the car scene in and began working in the auto industry in 2017. She comes from a long line of car enthusiasts, both foreign and domestic, and has a special affection for Volkswagens. Her grandparents owned a 1959 split window Beetle and later drove cross country in a 1963 VW Bus. Her mother and father have owned many VW’s, a 1969 and 1979 Beetle, 1969 and 1971 Karmann Ghia, as well as several Rabbits between both. It was only fitting that in 2019; Savannah joined the service team at Volkswagen in Cool Springs and soon after purchased a 2019 Volkswagen GTI Rabbit Edition. Savannah also owns a 2001 Jetta VR6 that is a resto-mod in progress. Savannah is very knowledgeable of both stock and available performance modifications and enjoys sharing her knowledge with friends, family and clients alike. On weekends you can find Savannah at local car meets or detailing and plotting her next automobile adventure. Savannah joined the GPO team in 2022 and has quickly become a vital part of GPO.

Nik Keller

European Automotive Specialist

From an early age growing up in a German household with VW’s, Nik was always in the family garage.  It was no surprise Nik’s passion for disassembling and reassembling toys would eventually lead him to a career in the automotive field. Originally from outside of Philadelphia, PA, Nik joined the GPO team in late 2019 with over 10 years of diagnostic and repair experience. After graduating at the top of his class from Universal Technical Institute, Nik pursued a career at an independent shop, honing his diagnostic experience and knowledge on both domestic and import vehicles.  His true passion and specialty has always been focused on Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche models. His uncompromising pursuit of technical knowledge, skill sets, professionalism, and determination have led him to join our team and begin the next chapter of his automotive expertise. Nik is a comprehensive automotive enthusiast and owns a rare 2004 Volkswagen R32 as well as a 2017 Ford Raptor.

Max Walker

European Automotive Specialist

While attending high school in Virginia, Max, with the help of a shop teacher, discovered his passion for cars. Max set his sights on a technical degree and moved to Nashville to attend Nashville Auto Diesel College.  Max graduated at the top of his class. His first full time job in the auto service sector was with a Ford dealership, from there he moved onto Firestone, where he stayed for twelve years. While there he became a master level technician, earning his ASE L1 certification. In late 2019, Max decided to take on a new challenge and moved to GPO where he is quickly sharpening his skills. The move has proved successful as Max enjoys working on the top brands in the automotive industry. Some of Max’s hobbies include working on cars as well as video games. Max’s real claim to fame is his supernatural ability to thoroughly cook minute rice in 57 seconds.

Joe Davis

European Automotive Specialist

 From an early age Joe was always taking things apart to figure out how they worked. Whether it was a bicycle or a dirt bike it would end up in many pieces.  Joe attended Lincoln Automotive and graduated in the fall of 2016. He started his career at a Volkswagen dealership as a lube tech. In the spring of 2017, Joe made the transition to Audi at Audi Nashville where he worked for the next five years. Joe started with GPO in March of 2022. Aside from fixing cars, Joe is also passionate about skiing, dirt bikes, and hockey.

Todd Hoote

European Automotive Specialist

Todd’s passion for go fast cars began when he was a child visiting his grandfather who had a collection of muscle cars. Originally from Dover, Delaware, he moved to Nashville to attend NADC in 2009. After graduating he went on work for a local Volkswagen dealership before switching to an independent European shop.  Todd loves BMW’s having owned 5 including an e36 M3 and 3 e30’s. He is currently completing an s52 swap on his 1990 325i. Todd’s hobbies include practicing Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and playing video games.