Hitting Rock Bottom and Climbing out [RR 650]

Jeff and Donna Hazeltine– Owners of American Import Auto, Venice FL

Troy Vaninetti– Troy has been married to wife Kori for 27 years and has four children with one still living at home with one 15-month-old granddaughter. Troy started working in a Texaco full-service station at age 17 and progressed through the following: from service attendant, tire attendant, apprentice technician, lead technician, shop manager, to purchasing Graham Auto Repair in 2006. Troy knew the importance of having coaching he joined ATI in 2012 and increased his business revenue every since. Troy leased a six-bay building in Graham for ten years before being forced to build his own 7 bay building due to losing His lease in 2016. In his first full year in the new building, Troy doubled his annual revenue. Since then Troy has won the National Top 12 ATI awards in 2018,2019, and 2020. Capturing the number one National Top Shop Award in 2020. Now Troy is working on His second location in Yelm Washington. Listen to Troy’s previous episode HERE

Key Talking Points

• Losing 14-year employee-store had plateaued with the technician. It was difficult leaving the comfort zone to get to the next level. Had employee go through 2-year leadership class and join 20 group with no results. 
• Are you ready to go backward to move forward?
• Started to build a team- hired shop manager and another advisor to buffer losing employee. The 14-year technician put his two weeks notice in to see if they would make him stay, but Jeff and Donna gladly accepted it.  
• Also lost A tech to retirement at the same time- things felt like it was falling apart 
• Donna saw the struggle the shop and Jeff were enduring and reached out for support from 20 group- Troy called Jeff and told him he was at the bottom but it was a turning point to restart the shop. Jeff had seen Troy go through twice as difficult issues with his shop and rise above. Jeff felt encouraged and revitalized. Started getting wins.     
• Jeff had to let employees go that was not accepting of the change. Has all new employees. 
• Jeff was the center of the business and was never able to take a vacation until now
• Biggest takeaways- get yourself in a 20 group and start building relationships with other shop owners. Own your dirt instead of leasing for business. 

• Thanks to Donna and Jeff Hazeltine and Troy Vaninetti for their contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
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