RR 183: Michele Winn, Diagnostician at Beck Service Center

Lincoln Tech Grad: Only woman in her class is drivability diagnostician at Beck Service Center.

Michele Winn flipped burger at Wendy’s when she got her first job doing payroll at a service center. She got the bug and spent six years at a Goodyear, then on to Linder Technical Service and now at 30 bay operation Beck Service Center in Indianapolis.

Michele graduated from Lincoln tech and spends her day diagnosing drivability and electrical problems. She shares her opinions of training, she lists her personal strengths and feisty is one of them and how she sees the impact of future technology.

RR 182: Bobby Bassett on Cooling System Comebacks

Simple Solution to Minimize Cooling System Comebacks

Bobby Bassett, the Manager of Training North America for Gates Corporation shares important facts about cooling system repairs.

Bobby explains the do-right-rule when it comes to cooling system repairs. He says 40% of radiator failure and 95% of water pump failure is due to coolant contamination. Listen to Bobby Bassett’s frank discussion on minimizing customer comebacks. It’s very simple.

RR 181: Jerry Kubitsky from Summit Transmissions

Shop owner survives a fire and re-opens within a month.

Jerry Kubitsky of Summit Transmissions has toughed through a few challenges in his business career. From having to buyout a partner, to closing a store to a fire in August 2016 that closed the shop for a month; Jerry has survived and continues to prosper where others would have thrown in the towel.

RR 180: Jorge Menchu from AES Wave and Industry Instructor

How Do We Make Ourselves SMARTER?

Jorge Menchu was hooked at an early age. He grew up in Kansas City, MO. It was his go-cart that brought upon his passion for loving cars and mechanics. This developed into a passion about learning.
His goal is to help young folks to realize their own success and failure by engaging his students to be better learners.

The episode highlights Jorge’s three pathways to learning. These fundamentals can change your ability to learn and understand. They are Self-Awareness, Learning Awareness and Building a Structure of Knowledge.

RR 179: Tristan Realubit from Real Autohaus Automotive

Tristan Realubit, AAM owns Real Autohaus Automotive in Westmont. IL. He has had his share of challenges that for many, would have thrown in the towel years ago. Armed with powerful advice from his mother he continued his quest to be a shop owner even though he didn’t understand the business side of the business.

As luck would have it he found AMI On-Line and then bought a Mitch Schneider book. Those two forces put Tristan on the right path. He has plans to add his second location now that he has retired the debt that mounted as he learned the business.

RR 177: Joe Hanson from Gordie’s Garage

Joe Hanson, second generation family at Gordie’s Garage, Roseville, MI, shares many of his strategies and tactics on the family business. He will implement his first Profit Sharing program for his team in 2017. He tells you how it came to be.

RR 176: Jennifer Maher from TechForce Discussing a Solution to the Technician Shortage

There’s a tech shortage in the transportation industry. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking automotive, trucking, diesel, aftermarket, motorcycle, marine, collision repair…you name it…they’re all struggling to find trained, professional technicians. Meet Jennifer Maher, the CEO/Executive Director of TechForce Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion students to and through their education and…

RR 175: Brian Jesko – Shop owner doesn’t have customers, but friends for life.

Shop owner doesn’t have customers, but friends for life.

Brian Jesko from Trinity Auto Haus in Waco, TX started turning wrenches 25 years ago, and always knew he would own a shop; his dream was realized in 2011. In 2016 he purchased the building he rented.

With a realization that if you want to be successful you need to surround yourself with successful people, Brian believes to stand out in the world of business you must treat every customer as the next most important customer.

RR 173: Nick Modesti from Modesti’s Car Care Center

A true family culture ingrained with their customers.

Nick Modesti from Modesti’s Car Care Center in Culver City, CA is second generation nurturer. Nick has carried the tradition of his dad and mom to their team members and customers. Everyone feels the family culture which is never compromised.

Interview covers their goal to maintain 100% satisfaction with our clients, implementation of a DVI program, why having a business coach is one of his best decisions, how he bonuses his team for achieving training goals, and their peace of mind warranty program among others.

RR 171: Robert Noriega from Autoworks Tampa

Humble beginnings: Started fixing cars in his mother’s garage to pay for college.

Bob Noriega from Autoworks of Tampa, FL has been in business only 7 years but has a winning formula of processes and systems that will allow him to duplicate and grow.

He credits his hard work, personal drive and business coach for setting a strong level of accountability. Bob’s business growth is directly attributed to managing his numbers and his passion on a ‘complete’ customer experience.

RR 170: Jude Larson, JML Real Solutions

How to become a sought-after business, that everyone wants to work for.

Jude Larson the president, owner and lead consultant for JML Real Solutions uses his rich experience and business success as he works with service professionals to re-engineer their businesses.

Jude shares ideas on how to become a legendary or sought-after business where top performers want to work and why company culture is precious and you need to build it and protect it. Jude also asks every client to review their business from a 30,000-foot view to gain a perspective and build the right priorities for their business.

RR 169: Seth Thorson from Eurotech Auto Repair

Euro specialist shop owner is also a BMW trainer and embraces technician networking.

Scott Thorson has specialized in the service of European automobiles since 1999. A BMW Trained technician also owns a nationwide BMW tech Support service (LMV Bavarian) that people all over the world use for BMW technical advice.

A national BMW trainer embraces new technology and understands that there is always someone willing to work harder to take everything away.

RR 168: Bob Heipp – Mobile Diagnostician

Automotive technician finds his move to mobile diagnostician the perfect fit.

Bob Heipp lead tech and Technician Manager for Mobile Auto Solutions, LLC in Chicago evolved throughout his career as learning became his passion and smart career path.

Bob believes his desire to learn is what opened doors to meeting technicians around the world. He considers

RR 167: Eric Svedberg from Automotive Specialists

How efficiency drives sales and profits for this three-bay service professional.

Eric Svedberg started as an Amoco dealer at the age of 22. Now at 45 years old he has much to share as a young man with 23 years of hard knocks experience. He adopted the slogan ‘Dealer Alternative’ from the day he opened.

RR 166: Jim Cathcart from the Cathcart Institute

Did you know that your customer relationships are considered an asset?

International best-selling author, world renowned speaker and president of the Cathcart Institute, Jim Cathcart is a worldwide leader in relationship selling and personal and professional development. He is one of the most award winning professional speakers in the world.

RR 165: Mark Goldsmith from Mark’s Independent Service

Hiring a millennial service writer had a positive influence on this service professional.

In 1988 Mark Goldsmith opened Mark’s Independent Service in Chatsworth, CA. He aspired to be the best owner/technician he could be and constantly pushed himself to further his knowledge and understanding of the automotive industry.

RR 164: Scott Norman – Skills USA & Worldskills USA

Where are the industries top young technician’s going to come from?

Skills USA and Worldskills brings to our industry an opportunity to showcase young talent in a competitive environment. Scott Norman, Chairman of the National Automotive Service Technology (AST) committee for SkillsUSA and the USA Technical Delegate for Worldskills gives you an insider’s overview of these two important competitions.

RR 163: Frank Scandura from Frank’s European

What happens when you put your people and customers first?

Frank Scandura of Frank’s European in Las Vegas Nevada was fortunate to make the transition from technician to service writer to entrepreneur. Many service professionals never find the degree of success that Frank has achieved, without the transition from working in your business to working on it.

RR 162: Rodger Bland, GEARS Magazine Editor

Do you accept a level of underachievement?

Rodger Bland is a lifelong pursuer of his full potential. For the past twenty years he has dedicated a large part of his life’s energy towards the study of success. He’s learned that even the most successful among us, seldom if ever, realize their true full potential in life.

RR 161: John Miller from Freedom Automotive

John Miller says, “It is an ongoing educational experience to work on cars”.

John Miller owner of Freedom Automotive in Stafford, TX is a successful baby boomer shop owner who shows no signs of quitting. Besides the shop he is a weekly radio show and writer and editor for Shop Talk, the Houston ASA monthly.

RR 160: Ray Fisher from ASA Michigan

Executive Director talks about technician & shop licensing, safety inspections and autonomous cars.

ASA Michigan Executive Director, Ray Fisher, is very passionate about serving his members. Leaders like Ray Fisher are strong advocates for the industry, but as he points out, every member of the industry needs to be involved. It is a team effort to help our legislators understand the impact of the rules/laws they are creating and the effect it has on businesses and the motoring public.

RR 159: Jason Malo form Advanced Automotive Performance

Brothers Jason and Luke Malo shopped their business plan and no bank would help them.

Jason Malo (pictured) and his brother Luke started 10 years ago with a loan from their parents. With their experience in management and fixing cars, they created a business plan and took the plunge. This is a story of how they pulled together and made it work. Never easy but steady.
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RR 158: Tom Meyers

NAPA ASE Technician of the year, 2009, in Chicagoland has a career that spans 40 years and still does it all; but loves diagnostics.

In 2009 Tom Meyers was selected as the NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year for the Chicagoland area, a first for a non-owner technician. He is an ASE Master Certified with L1 Certification and works on everything from computer diagnostics and engine performance to engine installations and rebuilding differentials. In the past 40 years he has always focused on repair quality and the latest automotive technology.

RR 157: Jason Hladyniuk from Oxford Tire and Auto Centre

Competitive Advantage: Be the Dealer Alternative

Jason Hladyniuk from Oxford Tire and Auto Centre in Woodstock, Ontario is reflecting on his eighteen years in the industry. He is certain that his investment in tools and training will be critical to stay relevant for servicing his customer’s vehicles in the future.