Posts by Carm Capriotto, AAP
RR 117: John Bridgwater from Wrights Automotive Service
John Bridgwater always wanted to know, “What makes it go?” At age five he took apart a mechanical adding machine just to see how it worked. Growing up, his father would work on the family van and John would always be by his side asking questions and learning everything he could. Today John Bridgwater and…
RR 116: Craig & Deb Van Batenburg from ACDC
Craig Van Batenburg is the CEO of ACDC and a former repair shop owner. His wife Deb is his partner and vice-president. Craig is engaged full time in the understanding of the technology used in hybrid and electric cars. His 45 years of automotive experience serves him well.
Craig Van Batenburg gives some great insight into why his career took the path to Hybrid repair and training. He says back in the early seventies he worked at a Honda dealership. With a huge passion for Honda’s, at 26 years old he opened a shop to work on Honda’s only. He bought the first model Honda Insight which was the 23rd hybrid sold in Massachusetts. His wife Deb went to Kent State and was always into recycling and politics. NOTE: This is the first husband and wife interview on Remarkable Results Radio Podcast.
RR 115: Doug Grills from AutoStream Car Care Center
Listen to the entrepreneurial journey of Doug Grills from AutoStream Car Care Center. Along with his partner Rick Levitan they brought their base experience from their former positions with a fortune five company to build a four store automotive service company. As Doug tells it they brought a lot of business savvy with them when…
RR 114: Service EDU – Technician Training Program
What is Service-EDU? I cover training in a big way on the podcast. When I discovered the newly created Service-EDU, a brand new partnership with four of our industries premiere manufacturers; Gates, MAHLE, Timken and NGK, I had to know more. You now have a chance to hear the story on how Service-EDU was created and…
RR 113: Kim Auernheimer from CS Automotive
After many years in real-estate and property management Kim Aurenheimer joined the business with her husband Rob. Hear Kim talk about the big decision, they both made, to work together and forge a strong working relationship. From Kim’s perspective listen as she talks about her transition into the industry and in finding her wings at the shop. She discusses trust, roles, the industry, margins, labor rates, work life balance and much more. An enlightening view of our industries most prevalent business partnerships; husbands and wives.
RR 112: Randy Baker – ASE/NATEF Industry Education Alliance Educator of the Year 2015
Where are the young technicians going to come from? Randy Baker is doing all he can to make that happen.
Randy Baker, honored as a 2015 Educator of the Year from ASE/NATEF, shares his story from shop owner to educator. He is outspoken and passionate about the additional support the aftermarket can have on secondary and post-secondary education recruitment. Do you want to know if shadowing or intern programs work? What should you tell a parent who has a child that is a hands-on learner? Get a powerful viewpoint from an enthusiastic educator.
RR 111: Frank Palange from V & F Auto
RR 110: Brent Berman from Federal-Mogul Motorparts
Brent Berman, Director of Training at Federal-Mogul Motorparts has been involved in the Automotive Industry for over 25 years primarily in the technical field evolving from mechanical to digital. In his eighteen years at Federal-Mogul, Brent has held roles of increasing responsibility in technical training, marketing and now manages the Garage Gurus training group in addition…
RR 109: Scott ‘GONZO’ Weaver
Maylan Newton from ESI – Implementation is Power [E108]
Are you ready for a very powerful message to help improve your business? Are you at the point where you need a push to get help or support? Are you at the pinnacle of your career and want to know how much further you can go?
Maylan Newton from ESI – Educational Seminars Institute will give you some straight up advice on how to be more successful. Maylan a business coach, trainer and industry speaker says, “He is ‘just a car guy’ with lots knowledge and is brave enough to talk about it”.
Maylan’s purpose is to educate leaders to be a better owner or service writer. Inside this episode are some very powerful tips from Maylan to improve your journey. Get the Brake Clean Story. Learn Maylan’s top 3 keys to improved profitability. Hear great insight into succession planning. Learn how many hours of training owners should get per year … and more.
RR 107: Ron Haugen of Westside Auto Pros
Ever lose your job? Here is a success story that starts out with the loss of a job. A life changing incident that sets up a business career. Ever take the biggest leap of your life and didn’t know a thing about business? Ron Haugen gives a refreshing look back as he reflects on the adage that you can do just about anything you want if you put your mind and heart into it.
And Ron adds even if you don’t know what you don’t know; you can be successful. Does the term ‘Short People Up Front’ mean something to you?” This saying was a monumental life changing memory for Ron Haugen and had a huge impact on Ron’s business and can for you. Over the course of the interview you will hear a blueprint for success. Ron will tell you many of his battle worn yet successful strategies that has brought great success to him and his team and can work for you.
RR 106: Bill Haas from NACAT
Are you having a problem finding trained technicians – – here’s an answer that will help you.
There is a guy by the name of Bill Haas – – who has done just about everything in the repair industry. He started at the age of 12. He dragged home a junk motor that he bought from a garage. For the next few years he played with that poor engine – – until he knew how to fix every component. Later, Bill became a shop owner, sold it then taught technicians how to fix cars , became a business consultant and trainer including the man at NACAT. (The North American Council of Automotive Teachers)
You need to hear the story of what Bill has done and is in the process of doing to help you get better technicians.
RR 105: Big Event Technician Training
“You never grow old until you stop learning”. Henry Ford
As it relates to training and new technology: Are you keeping up? Are you participating in the many regional training programs that are becoming the norm today? Have you attended one? How many hours per year are you investing in to keep current or stay relevant?
You need to listen to technicians talk about keeping up with technology and diagnostics. Inside this episode are four technician interviews I met on a road trip in March 2016 while attending a day long seminar hosted by TST. If you need any confirmation on what the techs are saying about the need for quality training … get listening. If you are ‘always learning’ then listen to your peers affirm why your commitment to training is your job security.
RR 104: Todd Westerlund from Kukui
Do you want to further your uptake on how to communicate with millennials? Want to catch a discussion on ‘gamificaton? (what’s that … you are just a click away)
Kukui CEO Todd Westerlund and I sat down and had a lively talk that will fill up a yellow pad of ideas. This is not GEEK talk at all, just an enlightening and open discussion where will you will learn at least one new thing.
Audit the other discussion points on lifestyle marketing and taking advantage of social networks. Get your straight up talk on marketing to millennials here.
RR 103: Dave Erb
Have you ever thought about selling your business? Do you have a buyer? Want to hear the story from a thirty-year industry veteran who recently sold his businesses to an investor?
Dave Erb has a great story from buying his first shop to hitting his first $100K month. Ever thought about attending Leadership 2.0? Yes, but never pulled the switch. Dave will convince you why it was such a great move for him.
He shares some great wisdom he learned in the school of hard knocks. Invest in yourself … listen now!
RR 102: Donna Wagner form Northwood
Donna Wagner is currently Chair of the Aftermarket Management Program and Professor at Northwood University. She teaches courses specific to the automotive and heavy duty parts and accessories market. Courses include product marketing, global issues, sales, supply chain and business planning. This bachelor degree program in Aftermarket Management is the only one of its kind in…
RR 101: Ron Inchausti from Coast Motor Werk
Ron Inchausti always had entrepreneurial ideas since childhood, but lacked goal setting to implement these ideas. He started his automotive career like most, working for someone else. He never considered, or saw the need, to start his own company. This young, eager mechanic had a special passion fueled by providing quality service with a thoughtful…
RR 099: Randy Lucyk from Kalkaska Midas
Randy Lucyk from Midas in Kalkaska, MI is a very interesting entrepreneur. Randy is one strong aftermarket thinker and informally among Midas dealers he is known as the data and IT guy. We covered some great ground in this episode and I promise a lot of very good gems of wisdom for the taking. Randy…
RR 098: Ryan Kooiman, Dir. of Training, Standard Motor Products
Training PERIOD is the lifeblood of all companies large and small and for every person working today. We know how technology is moving at a rapid pace and our industry is no exception. In fact it seems like it is moving faster than we can actually keep pace. Getting a perspective on training from a…
RR 097: Jeff Ruffing from Ruffing Automotive Services
Can you relate to this: Jeff Ruffing from Ruffing Automotive in Kaukauna, WI, yes a Packers fan, started washing cars at a Buick dealership in 1985. Later that year he was asked to bring his tools in when a technician was injured. When he started his own shop he got into business with ‘’training wheels” on…
RR 096: Jeff Peevy of AMI on Creating A Learning Culture
Meet Jeff Peevy, President of the Automotive Management Institute (AMI), a 34-year industry veteran who has spent the past 20 years involved with education and research. Jeff discusses and drives home an important strategy on ‘Building A Learning Culture’ in your business. This episode can be distilled down to four words: Let’s Go Learn Something!…
RR 095: Tim Davison from Chumbley’s Auto Care
Meet third generation owner, Tim Davison from Chumbley’s Auto Care in Indianola, IA. Chumbley’s got it roots as a service station over 59 years ago. Tim Davison talks about those roots and how it has led to the very personal business it is today. Tim’s been in the industry for 35 years and 17 of them…
RR 094: Mike Davidson from American Skilled Labor Association
It is the mission of ASLA (American Skilled Labor Association) to provide a suitable employee to the American Workforce. Lead by Mike Davidson, service professional entrepreneur and shop owner of Parkway Automotive in Little Rock, AR, Mike says, “We will do this by providing businesses with a clear path for mentors and locating employees who…
RR 092: Ryan Clo from Dubwerx in Cincinnati, OH
Ryan Clo from Dubwerx in Cincinnati, OH is an eighteen-year veteran in the Automotive Service industry. He currently owns two specialized automotive service locations. Ryan grew his enterprise from a single customer into a multi-location profitable business with 12 employees, that includes 6 technicians with a 99% customer satisfaction, and he has automated his business…
RR 091: Womens Board Winter 2016 Meeting – Compilation
You are about to experience a first for the podcast. I went on the road to Orlando to the Car Care Council’s Women’s Board Winter meeting. Going to a conference is not the earth shattering news. Bringing my recording equipment was. This episode is a compilation of short interviews done in Orlando in early February…