Archive for September 2017
RR 262: Skip Potter – Retired Executive Director NASTF
Retiring Executive Director Shares His Legacy and the Importance NASTF is to the Automotive Service Industry
Skip Potter has had a storied career working in parts distribution, motorsports, tools, service, collision, and heavy duty. He also had important roles with leading industry associations and a radio career with a syndicated radio broadcast called ‘Virginia Race Line.’
Skip is one of our unsung legacy leaders in our beloved aftermarket. He just retired as the Executive Director of NASTF (The National Automotive Service Task Force). Skip gives us a firsthand account of the value NASTF brings to the industry. You will be surprised.
Skip is one of those very versatile industry leaders and a great example of a legacy aftermarket leader. It is important we hear his story. So prepare for an important understanding of the role NASTF plays for all of us and the storied career of a legacy aftermarket leader.
Listen and view episode notesTHA 034: Nine Tips For a Better Work Life Balance
If you want Work Life Balance, first, you must BELIEVE that it’s possible. Once you believe that it’s possible, you must DECIDE that is what you want and set your INTENTION to make it so.
Become an expert at work-life balance by making it a habit, planning for it. You’ve heard many of the principles in this episode but you may have never heard them in an unfiltered way from your industry peers.
Make the choice what you are going to be. Be the master of your business. Be the master of your family when you are with them.
Listen and view episode notesRR 261: Jim and Shelly Fleischman from Automotive Alley
NASCAR Experience Helped This Shop Owner Create Strong Systems in Every Department.
Jim and Shelly Fleischman created Automotive Alley in Arcade, NY from scratch while Jim was still teaching post-secondary automotive technology. Now working full-time in the business, Jim brought his passion for teaching and organizational skills to the business and Shelly brought her accounting experience.
This meticulous shop with systems designed for improved efficiency is preparing to scale. Jim credits his past NASCAR experience as a guidepost for being lean and organized. Jim’s every move has been to consider growth through business model improvements along with additional locations.
Jim is a big thinker with huge goals and the energy to do anything he puts his mind to. And all along the way, Jim will have a system in place that makes it all work.
Listen and view episode notesRR 260: Vic Tarasik – Part 2 – Life’s Lessons
Life’s Lessons that Establish Your Strengths as a Leader.
After nearly 30 years of successfully operating Vic’s Precision Automotive, a fourteen-bay automotive repair facility located in The Woodlands, TX, Vic Tarasik sold his beloved shop, however, he remains active in the industry he loves.
In the episode, Vic’s shares the remaining 5 life’s lessons. He covered the first five in episode 234. He’s very transparent as he speaks to how these lessons changed him as a leader.
Listen and view episode notesTHA 033: The Competition You Don’t See Coming – ASA-CARS @ AAPEX 2017
Learn about ‘The Competition You Don’t See Coming: What Will It Take To Own Your Own Customers”. There are big changes happening … are you prepared?
What’s ahead in the ever-changing aftermarket will have a big impact on your business if you are not prepared. If you have a strong network, are well read and keep your finger on the pulse of the industry; you may have an inkling what your business will look like in the next 5 to 10 years. To affirm this or to hear from our industries leadership Listen hard to this discussion.
This Academy has a special impact as we talk about the ASA-CARS event at AAPEX2017 in November 2017.
Listen and view episode notesRR 259: Clint Dudley from Shade Tree Auto – Update
Are you taking care of your customers beyond their expectations?
The business culture at Shade Tree Automotive in Grimes, IA is the biggest factor for creating satisfied customers and team members. Owner, Clint Dudley has a brand-new building to service his customers. It was a team effort to design the building for top efficiencies.
This AAA Top Shop in Iowa has also been recognized with the 2016 Torch Award for Ethics from the US Chamber of Commerce. Clint is a disciplined goal setter and has taken his entire team to Vision in KC in March 2017.
He says hiring practices has made the difference in building his top team. Clint says we have a bright future and his new location has made him more convenient to his customer base. He doubled his tire sales in the last year.
Listen and view episode notesRR 258: John Francis from Francis Automotive Services
Be Honest, Speak from Your Heart, Always Be Authentic and Have the Highest Ethics. Your Business Will Boom!
John Francis from Francis Automotive in West Chester, PA has given of himself to further the industry. With support to ASE, ASA and AMi among others, John has helped steer the direction of the aftermarket in many volunteer positions.
He finds the time to be a part-time business coach, is excited about the 3rd generation of Francis’s to join his company, he ran in twenty marathons, and John figured out a long time ago that he needed to work on his business, not in it.
Another Legacy Leader Episode.
Listen and view episode notesTHA 032: Aftermarket Brakes For Breasts Program – Can One Repair Shop Make a Difference in the Fight Against Breast Cancer? You Bet!!
Is it time to get involved in an industry wide fundraiser where 100% of the monies raised go to research on a breast cancer vaccine?
Yes you have many philanthropic commitments in your community and you are so very proud of your efforts, but consider this is an industry program started as a total grass roots program by aftermarket service professionals and as a total volunteer effort with 100% of funds the raised going to breast cancer vaccine research.
Listen and view episode notesRR 257: Tom Marx, MAAP – Marx Group & Hart Marx Advisors
Shops That Have Created a Brand Where People Trust You Find Their Business Booming.
Tom Marx, MAAP, Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer from The Marx Group, a full-service marketing communications agency, says the service segment of our industry is in the Golden Age. He is also very outspoken on industry consolidation as a partner in Hart Marx Advisors a mergers and acquisition consultancy.
Tom knows the aftermarket and the service professional. He’ll be speaking at AAPEX 2017 on ‘Amplifying Your Brand’. In the interview, Tom talks about industry consolidation from both the service and distribution side. He also shares his perspectives on training, marketing and the need for quality financial statements, if you are interested in selling your business.
Listen and view episode notesRR 256: Rachael Wacha from City Auto Repair
Joined the Family business and doubled sales within a year.
Thirty one-year-old Rachael Wacha from City Auto Repair realized she was more like her dad than she thought. She also didn’t realize how important she was to the business.
You’ll be moved by her story and very open discussion of her very personal journey as she walked through life’s challenges and overcame them all. She has the tenacity to achieve every goal she sets for herself.
Having completed a succession plan to own the business, Rachael has joined a coaching and mastermind group. She is the president of the local ASA chapter and Is investing her time in vocational training and engaging with students.
Listen and view episode notesTHA 031: Twelve Tips on Holding GREAT Team Meetings
Communications is the driving foundation of what meetings are about.
Many superior take-a-ways in this Academy lesson. If you are contemplating holding meetings or are holding them and you want to check in on other strategies, this is the perfect seminar.
Your team must know how important their presence is in a meeting. Meetings can help you innovate and stay in touch with the needs of your people and you can share the needs of the company.
Also, innovation requires you need to stick stuff up on the wall and meetings is a great place to make that happen. Always remember to never hog the meeting. Share the wealth. Everyone talks. Many different styles from a casual to formal agendas. Always remember the meeting is for your people.
Listen and view episode notesRR 255: David Milne from ATMC and ASE
Important Study Shows the Graying of Our Technicians Poses a Big Challenge in the Very Near Future.
Dave Milne serves as the President of the Automotive Training Managers Council (ATMC), a division of the ASE Industry Education Alliance. Dave is also the Executive Director of Special Test Programs for ASE.
Dave shares the mission and value of ATMC, their most recent survey data that he says will have a big impact on the industry. We talk about education and recruiting our future technicians. You’ll also hear Dave speak to our industry training needs and trends, pay structure and how ATMC and ASE is working with the industry to bring awareness to our trade.
Listen and view episode notesRR 254: Rod Stephens from The Stephens Law Firm
Employment Law. Keep an HR Advisor or Attorney On Your Team to Prevent You From Becoming a Defendant.
Rod Stephens from The Stephens Law Firm has worked with the ASA Northwest group for some time. He knows our aftermarket business.
We chat about handbooks, disability, terminations, cell phones, wage and hour, and the depth of legal knowledge you need to know as your obligations are not only federal law but your state and city laws too.
Listen and view episode notes