THA 100: Up Your Game: Become a Level Five Leader and Improve, You, Your Business and the Aftermarket

Up Your Game: Become a Level Five Leader and Improve You and the Aftermarket

Think of this podcast like 9 five minute Ted Talks. Here are the topics covered, Listening, Resilience, Learn to be a CEO, Perseverance, Invest in your Staff, Delegate and Get Out of the Way, Be Your Word, Have High Expectations of your Team and Train Within.

My guests each chose their topic and were given five minutes to present a succinct narrative for you.

Vic Tarasik, Major Accounts Director with RLO Training, Maryann Croce of Croce Transmissions in Norwalk, CT and smallbizvantage.com, Bob Greenwood, AMAM, is President and CEO of Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Centre, Greg Buckley is the CEO Buckley’s Personalized Auto Care in Wilmington, DE, Shari Pheasant and her husband Jeff own A Master Mechanic, and she is known as the Queen of Horsepower, Chris Cloutier is co-owner of Golden Rule Auto Care and CEO of AutoText ME, Brian Walker is the founder and CEO of 5 Stones Media, a marketing agency and former shop owner, Bill Hill owner of Mighty Auto Pro from Medina, OH and Brett Bohlmann of HWY 7 Service Center, Newel, IA

FTR 026: Derek Kaufman on Start-Stop Technology

Derek Kaufman has an intriguing thought on the growth of start/stop systems and what they are really doing for vehicle owners. He is also thinking out loud on what shop owners can do to take advantage of the technology changes entering the market to address some of the battery issues start/stop systems are causing.

RR 390: DATA – How Understanding Search Habits Will Help Grow New Customers

DATA – How Understanding Search Habits Will Help Grow New Customers

Al Haberstroh, a partner and Chief Strategy Officer at MontAd Media has developed numerous innovative, revenue-driving solutions for marketers of all sizes. He was an early adopter of content and database marketing and was instrumental in the development of two new proprietary marketing tools for the aftermarket; Shop Reach 360 and Audience ID.

Al knows that data will help drive traffic to the aftermarket. They key will be to interpret the data and use it to engage with customers who are searching for problem solutions.

This is episode is the answer to most questions regarding tracking data and its content and relevance. Monitoring the trends and movement with months and months of data can offer you a confident approach in assessing the products and services you offer. It is like reading the future and being a psychic using data analysis.

RR 389: The Art of Successful Mentoring

The Art of Successful Mentoring

Dr. John Passante is a well-respected mentor who has 35+ years of experience in human resource and organizational development. He is an author, a lecturer, a professor and prides himself in helping companies increase their effectiveness. Aaron Schaffer is well versed in sales, product, and marketing. He holds a BBA in Economics and a lifelong car enthusiast and has been active in motorsports competition.

This is episode brings you a full view of mentoring and the relationship shared as a mentee. The interview offers exclusive access to John and Aaron’s 45+ Years of combined experience in their respective fields. Their take on mentoring will add quality and value when you become a mentor yourself.

THA 096: Engaging Kids in the Automotive

Engage our Kids in the Automotive

This episode is a call to action to step up and get involved in your high school or college advisory boards and your community. Stop by a school and offer your help to the instructors or department chair or speak to your local rotary, PTA or career day. I guarantee they’ll welcome you with open arms.

The panel: Frank Leutz from Desert Car Care in Chandler, AZ., and host of the top-rated Wrench Nation radio show and podcast. Patrick McHugh from Bimmer Rescue in Richmond, VA who has created a middle school STEM class he offers at his shop. And John Gustafson the president and CEO of Gustafson Brothers Huntington Beach, California Who holds three student Boot Camps each year and Steve Ford an auto industry veteran and award-winning broadcast journalist and educator. You’ll find Steve doing volunteer work, as he contributes to skilled trades and youth, career outreach programs.

See the show notes page to find important resources and downloads mentioned on the broadcast. This episode will give you many ideas on how and what to do / from volunteering // to creating your own personal initiative in your business and community.

If we don’t reach out, we fail because we didn’t take the steps necessary to engage and help our education system and enlighten the students to the high tech and awesome careers in the automotive. They will only know about it from you.

RR 385: AAPEX 2018 – Driving the Aftermarket to be Ahead of the Curve

AAPEX 2018 – Driving the Aftermarket to be Ahead of the Curve

The Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) are valued partners working together to meet the needs of the industry and stay ahead of the curve. They co-own AAPEX where the global automotive aftermarket gathers to learn and find the next opportunity in this $740B industry.

Mark Bogdansky and Chris Gardner and their teams under the leadership of Bill Hanvey from Auto Care and Bill Long from AASA bring educational sessions, networking events and live demonstrations to help you grow your aftermarket business.

Mark Bogdansky, is the Senior Director of Meetings and Events at Auto Care Association, and Chris Gardner, MAAP, is the Vice President of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association.

RR 384: Women In Auto Care 2018 Honorees!

Women In Auto Care 2018 Honorees!

In this episode, we are talking with the 2018 Women In Auto Care honorees. Share their achievements, triumph and the road to their success in this long-form audio interview recorded at AAPEX 2018.

Tammy Techlenburg, President of Women In Auto Care and the Vice-President of Global Sales and Marketing Operations for Spectrum Brands, Dawn Zieren, SVP Global & Strategic Initiatives, The NPD Group, Kathleen Jarosik, Owner, Xpertech Auto Repair, and Nicole Huard, Manager, Category Management and Consumer Insights, Robert Bosch LLC, grace the remarkable results radio airwaves discussion this industry milestone.

RR 383: AAPEXedu 2018 The Road To Great Technicians – Roundtable

AAPEX EDU 2018 The Road To Great Technicians

A fundamentally valuable discussion as we get ready to deal with the tsunami of seeding our industry with our future technicians that will have the competencies necessary to perform mechanical and diag work and the need to develop career paths for every level of technician.

We need apprentice and mentoring programs that are universal to the industry, along with an industry moving in the same training direction so we can create competent technicians to work on the tech and safety issues of our future vehicles. We do not need our government involved in directing competencies, we need to do it ourselves.

This discussion is one you’ll need to hear time and time again. You will need to be involved and help move this initiative forward. Don’t wait to get involved. A first step is to become a member of NASTF. It is Free. Go to NAFTF.org

RR 382: A Champion for Women in The Automotive Industry

A Champion for Women in The Automotive Industry

Jody DeVere is a champion for women in the automotive industry, and her company AskPatty.com, Inc. serves as an important point of contact for many women who are seeking the very best experience to buy a car and service by visiting Certified Female Friendly® automotive retail locations across the United States and Canada.

In this episode, we will be sharing with you the misconceptions that we have in hiring women in the industry. Jody says that there are only 26% of women working in the automotive industry and that we can and need to do more to grow that number.

THA 094: ASE – The Industry Credential and YOU!

ASE: The Industry Credential and You

It is time to best understand “your” role in bringing the value of ASE to your technician, your customer, and the industry. It’s time we, you, stepped to the plate and used ASE for what it does for you.

Since ASE is a non-for-profit it is not their role to promote your people’s certifications. They do want to do more, but it is your role to promote your technician’s credentials in all your marketing, and on uniforms and inside your shop. ASE must become an ingrained part of your training program and used as an assessment to that means.

We had some candid dialogue, with some great input from the ZOOM chat stream. We also learned of some long-awaited improvements to the ASE program from Mike Coley, the Sr. Vice President at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence(ASE). You’ll be happy to hear about them.

Also with us is Jeff Walker President of Walker’s Automotive Service of Pleasantville, New Jersey a current ASE board member and ASE past chairman and Amy Mattinat, President of Autocraftsmen, Montpelier, VT who shares a bunch of ideas on how to market and ingrain ASE into your business culture.

RR 381: SVI – Secure Vehicle Interface: The Future In Secured, Standardized, And Direct Access to Vehicle Networks

Repairing and Diagnosing Tomorrows Tech With Access and Authority Using Secure Vehicle Interface

Joe Register is Vice-President of Merging Technologies at the Auto Care Association.

Joe is on the cutting edge of technology as it affects our industry and to be at the table as it relates to who owns the data and who can have access to it. In this episode, we will be discussing how SVI: Secure Vehicle Interface can have an impact on our future by authorizing and authenticating who can have access to vehicle data.

Although the standards and implementation strategies continue to be developed, you will understand the significance that SVI will have on the aftermarket.

Authorized access to vehicle data will not only help in the vehicle repair, but help users understand the automotive/driver behavior, surroundings, status of the vehicle, entertainment, lifestyle, and everything you can muster in a connected car that brings safety and security for its owners.

RR 378: John Passante – You Can’t Handle The Truth – The Power of Performance Reviews

Dr. John Passante – You Can’t Handle The Truth – The Power of Performance Reviews.

John Passante is a legacy automotive aftermarket Human Resource professional and the President and CEO of The Organizational Development Group. He’s worked with and for some of the biggest names in our industry including Monroe/Tenneco, Delphi, Moog and Car Quest.

In this episode, he illuminates how performance reviews can become part of the culture of all businesses. He covers high grounds on the importance of leadership, understanding personal goals, culture, strategy, and values in the performance review process.

John also shows us tips within the episode on the right way to write your own review.

RR 376: The Undeniable Rise of Digital Vehicle Inspection (DVI)

The Indisputable Rise of Digital Vehicle Inspections (DVI)

The members of this roundtable are Chris Cloutier of Golden Rule Auto Care and Autotext.me, John Burkhauser of Bolt On Technology, and Pete Rudloff of Pete’s Garage and Flex Check Auto

The episode talks about the rise of Digital Vehicle Inspection and its importance like a smartphone to everyone. DVI is not yet the norm today but the future will require the service professional to have this tool. Since more customers want to be in control, DVI will increase the transparency with what is going on with their vehicle. DVI brings the vehicle in the bay to their home or office.

Learn how DVI will shape how business gets done.

RR 364: ASCCA Automotive Degree Program. First of Its Kind to Channel Students to Independents.

ASCCA Degree Program. First of Its Kind to Channel Students to Independents.

The ASCCA Degree Program at Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, CA was forged by a small group of independent shop owners and a dedicated educator. Kicked off by Dara Bakhshandeh of CD Auto Care, in La Mesa, CA with support from John Epstein of John’s Automotive Care, San Diego, and Brad McCombs, instructor, Cuyamaca Community College.

The program was started to find qualified technicians and ASCCA (Automotive Service Councils of California) will be involved through their membership. One of their goals is to grow the program from an associate’s degree to a bachelor’s degree which can appeal to a student who dream of owning own business one day and want to work and learn from shopowner.
This program could be developed in other states but will need an association like ASCCA to oversee it. ASCCA also offers out-of-state memberships.

RR 363: David Justice – You Must Manage Your Labor Profit Before Anything Else

David Justice – You Must Manage Your Labor Profit Before Anything Else

When David Justice sold his $5M business he was already speaking and coaching in partnership with NAPA. To help run his business David created the Labor Profit Management tool to keep a tight and smart handle on his labor and he was traveling the country and speaking to service professionals on the power of managing your labor.

Post sale he started Repair Shops of Tomorrow which not only incorporates the Labor Profit Management tools along with a focus on marketing programs.

David decided he needed to give back and is working hard to help shop owners achieve exceptional success. We talk about his three-legged stool, rewards, networking, and so much more.