06/05/2025 01:34:30 PMHannah Van Sickle

Folks who know Anthony Santoro Jr. can attest to one fact: He’s entirely focused on the details. As a kid, he spent hours at a time attempting to land a kickflip on his skateboard. Just prior to the pandemic, the first-generation college student from Billerica found his way back to the classroom at Middlesex Community College to study psychology. During lockdown, he started a side hustle after stumbling upon a self-described ‘Disaster [car] Detailing Specialist’ (@stauffergarage) on TikTok. “The complete transformation of each vehicle blew my mind,” recalls Santoro who understands firsthand the power of personal transformation. Following a short stint in jail while awaiting trial as a young adult, Santoro was court-ordered to attend therapy upon his release—an experience that changed his life’s trajectory.

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