RR 027: Bogi Lateiner from 180º Automotive

Meet Bogi Lateiner from 180º Automotive in Phoenix, AZ.  She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Oberlin College in just three years with a double major in Womens’ Studies and Pre-Law. Listen to her story on how she got where she is today. Her nine year old shop has an all-female tech team, working eight bays…

Hungry? Where’s the Food Truck?

The quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach (That also applies to women). Growing up I heard that many times. I know it to be true. We are all pushovers for a good meal. Breaking bread with family and good friends provides a great feeling of love and togetherness. In business whenever…

RR 026: Craig Clark from Alfred State College

Where are we getting our future technicians? Without one doubt this is a big aftermarket concern. There are many great post-secondary training institutes or colleges in the US. One that I happen to know a lot about is in Wellsville, NY. It’s Alfred State College part of the State University of NY system. Craig Clark,…

RR 025: Frank Butkus-Leutz from Desert Car Care

Frank Butkus-Leutz of Desert Car Care in Chandler, AZ, is clearly a vibrant, excitable and passionate shop owner. He is enthusiastic about unity in the industry and helping his fellow shop owner. This outspoken jazz trombonist tells his story from growing up in Harlem to serving in the Persian Gulf as a signalman.  An interesting…

How Frank Lloyd Wright got me going for Broke!

It was a rainy weekend with close friends visiting from Florida. This summer has been very rainy so far; our payoff for a very long hard Buffalo winter (tongue planted firmly in cheek). But I digress. For Florida residents heading up north for a summer retreat is a smart idea to escape the ninety degree…

RR 024: Jill Trotta from Repair Pal

Jill Trotta, Director Automotive Group at RepairPal provides an in-depth discussion on the benefits and value of this shop referral site. A few of our previous podcast guests are RepairPal members and that got me curious and prompted a call to Jill for an interview. According to Jill there are 1200 participant shops in their…

RR 023: Maryann Croce from Croce’s Transmissions

Maryann Croce of Croce Transmissions in Norwalk, CT and her husband Tony combined her banking career and his automotive technical skills and bought a transmission business 15 years ago. They have 4 bays, 4 techs and one service adviser As so many in the aftermarket know when husband and wife’s and families, for that matter,…

RR 022: Amy Mattinat from CCC Women’s Board

Amy Mattinat, the current president of the Car Care Council Women’s Board discusses the organization she leads. When you think about the number of woman who make up the majority of customers and decision maker at service counters, the role the Women’s Board is very important to the industry.  Amy outlines the council’s value and…

Eleven Rules for Life!

It’s great to find a top ten or eleven list of great common sense rules that, for the most part, cannot be argued with. These can be adapted to your thinking in an instant. There was a time when these eleven where attributed to Bill Gates, but it is not true.  These are an excerpt…

RR 021: Bill Hill from Mighty Auto Pro

Bill Hill owner of Mighty Auto Pro from Medina, OH has owned the 19 bay 10,000 sq ft shop for 17 years. He employs 13 associates that includes 5 techs, 2 service writers, 1 customer service specialist along with a customer service assistant and a shuttle driver. He believes that processes and procedures are very…

RR 020: Michael Haeg from Century Interactive

Michael Haeg is the Director of Business Development at Century Interactive. He says they are phone nerds and have a solution called ‘service setter’ that shops use to improve their phone skills and close more sales. Who wouldn’t want that? Michael points out that the “owning the phone” has a bigger impact on business today…

Top 10 List!

  Do you have a list of your top customers? I’m sure you do. However it may be in the wrong place. I’ll bet many of you have it filed in your head. A very safe place. You’ll never lose it! I suggest that list be written down, managed and known to your team. Your…

RR 019: Greg Buckley from Buckley’s Auto Care

Greg Buckley of Buckley ‘s Auto Care says it was a thrill working alongside his dad, when he was eight years old, pumping gas. This 49 year legacy business has 5 bays, 3 techs and 2 service writers. He is a busy man being a member of ASA, an ATI Coach, a member of the…

RR 018: Michael Rukov, YANG

Michael Rukov, Products and Marketing Manager of One-Stop Parts Source is the Chairman of YANG. The Young Auto Care Network Group is a part of the Auto Care Association whose membership is under 40 years old. Michael talks about the start of the group two years ago, their goals for 2015 and the plans to…

Woody Allen was right: ‘80% of life is showing up’!

  This quote is taken from a book a book by George Lois called Damn Good Advice. George Lois is an advertising legend and creator of breakthrough ad campaigns. I liked reading this book as it shows Lois’s genius in 120 lessons with the Woody Allen quote, above, being one of them. I think back…

RR 017: Dave Serio from Vehicle Service Plus

Dave Serio from Vehicle Service Plus, in Bel Air, MD, takes his turn on the Remarkable Results Podcast. Dave is not just a 30 year shop owner but a Saturday morning radio show host for the last 19 years.  Dave has been in the business since 1979 and owned other shops. His current 5 bay…

RR 016: Dave Striegel on NAPA Conference

Dave Striegel owner of Elizabeth Auto Care in Elizabeth PA is also owner of Shop Docotor.com, a business coaching company and he was our inaugural interview in episode one of the Remarkable Results Podcast.  Since this is the first episode of Remarkable Results: ON POINT, Dave was a perfect choice to lead off the new…

RR 015: Judy Walter from Zimmerman’s Automotive

Besides growing up in the 57 years young family business, Judy Walter the CFO and co-owner of Zimmerman’s Automotive, Mechanicsburg, PA with her uncles works with a family staff of 12 out of 29 team members. This is a true blue family enterprise. At  they have a 20,000 sq foot facility, sporting a 12-bay shop with seven…

Don’t Chase The Pain

I had some bad pulled muscles in my neck so I decided to get a massage. I explained to my masseuse exactly what happened, where my pain was and what would happen when I moved my neck. He started working on my upper body and arms but not on my neck. I said ‘What about…

RR 014: Matthew Roayaee from Auto Check-Cypress Station

Matthew Roayaee is franchise owner of Auto Check- Cypress Station in Houston, TX. He’s been in the business for 15 years when he started out as a lube technician. This great entrepreneurial success story is full of great take-a-ways you can and will relate to. He offers wise words on starting a business, on what…

RR 013: Amy Mattinat from Auto Craftsmen

Amy Mattinat of Auto Craftsmen in Montpelier, VT had the good fortune to combine her love of cars with a career in the automotive industry. Whether going on ride-and-drives, teaching car care clinics, running her independent repair shop or working with the Car Care Council Women’s Board, she is able to combine her two passions:…

RR 012: Joe Marconi from Osceola Garage – Part 2

This week’s guest is Joe Marconi. You may know the name because Joe writes a monthly column in Ratchet and Wrench. He’s been in business for over 35 years and owns Osceola Garage in Baldwin Place, NY. Joe’s interview is over two parts. You are on part two. Part one is in episode eleven. Joe…

RR 011: Joe Marconi from Osceola Garage – Part 1

This week’s guest is Joe Marconi. You may know the name because Joe writes a monthly column in Ratchet and Wrench. He’s been in business for over 35 years and owns Osceola Garage in Baldwin Place, NY A great interview broken up over two parts. You are on part one. Part two is episode twelve.…

How Would I Beat Us!

How would I beat us? What a novel approach to making sure you are firing on all cylinders. A challenge when you get a chance to put on your competitors hat and program your business strategies against YOU. For my way of think this is a very exciting exercise. Here is one way to do…

RR 010: Doug Whiteman from George’s Sierra Shell-Part 2

Doug Whiteman, owner of George’s Sierra Shell a successful 42 year old business in Fontana, CA, is Motor Age’s TOP SHOP in 2014. Not only is he a strong operator and shares solid insight to his remarkable success, Doug and team is very involved in many philanthropic efforts in his community (see overview below). As…