Recorded live at the 2026 TST Big Event, host Carm Capriato sits down with shop owners and industry trainers Keith and Liz Perkins for a candid conversation about the evolving future of automotive repair. From the growing demand for private, hands-on training to the dangerous misconceptions surrounding vehicle calibrations, Keith and Liz share hard-earned insights from the front lines of the industry. They also pull back the curtain on how they successfully balance multiple businesses, a family farm, and life as entrepreneurial partners, all while staying deeply committed to technician development and industry advancement.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why more shop owners are bringing trainers directly into their facilities for personalized, hands-on education
• How the flat-rate pay system can unintentionally discourage accurate diagnostics and proper repairs
• The critical importance of vehicle calibrations and why skipping them creates major safety concerns
• A real-world story of how Keith and Liz challenged a dealership that failed to properly calibrate a vehicle after repairs
• How Keith’s mobile diagnostics team operates as the “Navy SEALs” of the automotive industry, tackling the most complex repair challenges
• The productivity systems, AI tools, and organizational habits that Keith and Liz use to manage multiple businesses and family responsibilities
• Their perspective on partnership, marriage, and entrepreneurship, including why success is rarely a perfect 50/50 split
• Updates from the NASTF board, including a new mobile app designed to simplify D1 security processes

This episode is a powerful reminder that professionalism in the automotive industry extends far beyond fixing vehicles. It requires continuous education, accountability, clear communication, and a commitment to doing the job correctly, even when it’s difficult or inconvenient. Keith and Liz Perkins demonstrate how technical excellence, strong systems, and true partnership can create lasting impact both inside and outside the shop.

TST Big Event: https://tstseminars.org/

Liz and Keith Perkins, Previous episode HERE.

L1 Automotive: https://www.l1diagnostics.com/

L1 Automotive Training: https://l1training.com/

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA TRACS