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.

THA 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.

RR 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.

RR 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.

THA 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.

RR 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.

RR 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.

THA 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.

RR 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.

RR 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.

THA 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.

RR 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.

RR 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.

THA 030: Nine Reasons Why Labor Rates Need To Increase

Is Your Labor Rate Keeping Up with Inflation and Your Cost Doing Business?

A tough subject to discuss, however many great ideas shared on the mechanics of setting a labor rate, but most importantly being valued and getting paid for all that you know and do for your customer.

The correct labor is a big factor in profitability among other critical measures in a service business. Learn from the discussion.

RR 253: Scott Buckley & Steve Bullins

The Future of Our Industry Speaks Out on Tech, Technology, Millennials, DVI and Customer Service. 

Scott Buckley and Steve Bullins from Buckley’s Personalized Driver Care bring a refreshing look at our industry. You’ll be happy to hear this duo speak on so many topics.

All the while you are listening, consider these guys are the shop owners of the future and will help guide and steer our industry for many years to come. We’re in good hands.

RR 252: Eric Carlson from Ervine’s Auto Repair & Grand Rapids Hybrid

Michigan Shop Owner Makes Hybrids His Specialty Niche

Eric Carlson from Ervine’s Auto Repair and Grand Rapids Hybrids has found that his specialty in Hybrids has been a welcome addition to his business and his market is responding. With hybrids as loaners, his hybrid business is growing at an unexpected rate.

Eric shares his story that includes the purchase, 24 years ago, of a business that was on its last leg. His supplier gave him a heads up on the opportunity. Eric has been recognized multiple times as the NAPA Technician of the Year, in the Grand Rapids region. He also tells about his commitment to ASE and the time he was as a subject matter expert. He helped work on the Hybrid tests.

THA 029: Are We Too Dependent on Being Independent?

Individuality and entrepreneurialism is commanding but being inter-dependency can become a powerful positive force.

Independence is a strength, however being Interdependent on each other can benefit the entire industry.

Being independent seems to breed us not working together to lift our image, improve labor rates, access to information, grow our people, share knowledge, tools and equipment.

RR 251: Craig O’Neill form O’Neill’s Transmission Service

Third Generation Millennial Whose Dad Has Complete Confidence in His Decision Making is Looking for an Actionable Succession Plan.

Craig O’Neill from O’Neill’s Transmissions and Service has taken some bold moves in the business and implemented a DVI system and hired a business consultant.

He sees great opportunities in emerging technologies and values the power of a strong business culture.

Regarding the technician shortage, he shares their apprentice program that has helped not only his business but the vocational school he works with.

RR 250: Dave Hobbs – Lead Technical Trainer- Delphi

Renowned Industry Trainer Says Our Technology is The Carrot at The End of The Stick To Entice Recruitment Into the Industry and to Keep Our A Techs.

Dave Hobbs, Lead Technical Trainer and Program Developer at Delphi Product & Service Solutions, has been in the aftermarket for over 30 years living his passion teaching technicians about repairing new technology.

He is on the cutting edge with ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) and discussed the challenges with calibrating repaired systems. This interview covers his start in the industry, what it takes to create a training seminar and that he sees great opportunities for A techs even if they want to move to a new city, to find the right situation, and work for a top shop.

THA 028: Twenty-One TIPS to Get an Edge on the Competition – Part 1

Do you need a quick new idea that will give you an edge on your competition?

In this Academy lesson get 21 TIPS that have been implemented before to help give you an edge over the competition. These are some very simple ideas that have been collected from successful service professionals in the industry.

Implementation will be the big payoff. If you listen to learn just one thing and do not implement you will not benefit from this listen.

Where Should You Invest Your Marketing Dollars?

Where Should You Invest Your Marketing Dollars? Marketing for customer retention and recruitment can be a daunting task. I’ve had the privilege to interview a few smart people when it comes to understanding the value of newsletters, direct mail and social media. In the end, along with your own experience and equipped with expert advice,…

RR 249: Brenda & Brent O’Neal from Repair One Automotive

Is Your Customer Retention All About Your Integrity and Building a Trusting Relationship?

Dynamic husband and wife team, Brenda and Brent O’Neal, lead their team to ensure “The customer experience is the best it can be.” All roles must do their job to perfection. The team knows that they are not fixing cars and that their customer is the most important part of the business.

They believe that living in the same community as their business brings great value and recognition.

Brenda and Brent, who do not have a background in the automotive field, share where they get their new ideas, how to grow your own techs, their marketing strategy, and the extreme value they’ve received from hiring a business coach.

RR 248: Tom Lambert from Shadetree Automotive

Do You Expect Your Customers to be ‘Customers For Life?’

Tom Lambert from Shadetree Automotive in Layton, UT has a goal to keep customers for life. Everything done in the business and through marketing efforts works toward that goal.

Lambert can say this because he has built a company with a strong culture of caring from a highly motivated, yet laid back team that loves to have fun.

The key to his success was hiring a business coach to bring the guidance he needed to see things from a different perspective. His organization is experiencing 10% growth each year and will top out at $2.5 M in revenue this year.

THA 022: Hiring for Team Dynamics

What would you do differently if you knew you could never fire anyone?

Hiring the right team member continues the culture and team dynamic in your business. Hiring the wrong person can crash your culture and create friction in your team.

You need to hire slow and fire fast and hire for attitude, not aptitude; because we usually fire for attitude.

This team of aftermarket professionals brings their experience along with great advice on how to hire smart and for the long term.

THA 027: Performance Reviews – Best Practices

Are your Performance Reviews Creating the Best Behaviors from Your Team?

Performance reviews for many business owners never get done. There are many reasons why not and this episode tackles them head on and the best way to get them done.

There is great wisdom from the Academy panel like the review starts at the interview, that reviews need to be used to create personal performance goals, reviews is a formal way to be sure accountability sticks, and your core values are the key points to apply all behavior against.

There are over 20 key talking points that will help you in your process or get you started on the right path. The panel agrees that becoming a better leader will be key to using performance reviews to grow your business culture with performance reviews