Giving Back: His Calling to Expose the Automotive to High School Students [RR 565]
Giving Back: His Calling to Expose the Automotive to High School Students [RR 563]
My guest today demonstrates paying it forward. Luke Walker from Columbus, OH shares his 10-year success path from a one-bay shop into a 16 bay, $4M business.
He credits great people, coaching and a strong culture. A fascinating part of Luke’s story is his giving back to the community. As you listen, think about how you can help impress the automotive industry on the young people in your community. He is leading and supporting an after school program that unwraps automotive systems to students that may show technical/mechanical gifting and encourage them to our industry.
Talk to me at carm@remarkableresults.biz Thanks!!!! for sharing your thoughts. Find the key talking points, Patrick’s bio and links to his previous episodes at remarkableresults.biz/e565
Listen and view episode notesApprentice Program – Grow Your Own Technician [THA 185]
THA 185 Apprentice Programs – Growing Your Own Technicians
Do you need a technician? What are you doing about it. There is some great talent available as an outcome of the pandemic; however, it won’t last.
Here is another episode on apprenticing. This is a recurring curring theme on the podcast. I will put up a link on the show notes page that displays all podcasts that helps you learn about apprentice programs.
The panel: Pete McNeil, shop owner, Mc Neils Auto Care, The NAPA 2020 Shop Owner of the Year, Sandy, UT, 2 Locations. (Expanded Sandy location to 16 bays and use it for education). Jake Sorensen, Technician, the 2019 NAPA ASE Technician of the Year, He is an ASE Master technician with L1,2 and 3 advanced level certifications. He is the shop manager and diagnostic technician at McNeil’s Auto Care in Sandy, UT and Alexia Murphy, Program Specialist, Department of Workforce Services, State of Utah
The key talking points listed on the show notes page will make a great meeting agenda or outline for change find them at remarkableresuts.biz/a185
Listen and view episode notesAnthony Williams – Update on the Automotive Institute for Science and Technology (AIST) [RR 496]
Anthony Williams is the Automotive Liason for the Automotive Institute for Science and Technology – AIST. Contact Anthony: a.williams@automotiveinstitute.org 719-641-2575 Talking Points: A brief recap on schoolProject-Based Learning vs Traditional schoolingDoing is the basis for learning in a real-world setting Find student natural aptitude Career Education combined with Core content (English, Math, Science, Etc.) PTECH…
Listen and view episode notesRR 482: Technician Shortage Solution – College Apprentice Program
RR 482 – Technician Shortage Solution – College Apprentice Program
Think of the possibilities of hiring a young apprentice that is currently going to an automotive technical college. You get a chance to groom and mentor the young student and indoctrinate them into the world of the independent service provider.
This is one of the most powerful solutions to the technician shortage. This is not a quick fix and most quick fixes are just that ‘quick and not long term.’
The IGONC developed in concert with North Carolina a phenomenal apprentice program that brings a job, at a decent wage, for two years and paid college tuition. The students applied and were accepted into the program.
Please use this information to catapult your association, your local group to work with post-secondary automotive colleges and your state to create and fund a program like this. I’m sure the leadership team at IGONC will be happy to help you and give you all the guidance you need to make apprentice programs like this a viable component to creating our future technicians.
Listen and view episode notesRR 478: ASTE Panel Discussion – Technician Pay – Retention – and Benefits
ASTE: Technician Pay, Retention, and Benefits
This episode is packed with great gems of wisdom and gives you a bird’s eye view not only on some great benefits and pay ideas, but as we all must understand it starts with having an enduring business culture. All the pay in the world doesn’t trump an acidic culture.
I’m with Lucas Underwood an Automotive diagnostic specialist, he owns L & N Performance Auto Repair, Erick Bock owner of Bock Auto, and Rick White, President and Lead Coach for 180BIZ, an auto repair shop training and business coaching company.
Building a business focuses on the team you have and how to treat it like a family! We also tackled the creative benefits that entice and motivate employees more. And learn what are the most important tactics to attract and keep technicians?
Listen and view episode notesRR 451: Dan Gilley – Attracting the Right Talent with the Right Stuff
Dan Gilley – Attracting the Right Talent with the Right Stuff
Every new and young technician today have a lot more shops to choose from. Let’s face it, there is a lingering issue of the technician shortage. If you are a business owner, what do you need to do to attract and/or retain talented individuals that possess the ‘right stuff’.
If you are a business owner, how would you attract an employee? What are the things you would do to improve your shop and make it as attractive and organized as it could be? Dan Gilley will bring light to decisions addressing the best interests of the would be future candidates/employee of a shop. Dan Gilley is the President and CEO of RLO Training.
In this episode, you will understand the utmost priorities needed by shop owners to address the how to attract the right kind of employees and what are the necessary tactics in order to keep them. As Dan would say, it’s either you attract them or repel them. Is it just for the paycheck or the team?
Listen and view episode notesFTR 052: Build Your Bench – Kyle Holt and Jay Goninen
Build Your Bench – and Be a Proactive Recruiter.
Kyle Holt President of SP/2 and Jay Goninen from ‘Find a Wrench’ speak to their expertise as supporters and recruiters of technician talent. They have the depth of experience and are speaking to you from their heart about your need to recruit talent when you don’t need the help. They will tell you why.
Listen and view episode notesTHA 118 Recruiting Students to Discover a Career in Automotive
THA 118 Recruiting Students to Discover a Career in Automotive
Enjoy some great new ideas and real-world issues as I welcome Seth Thorson, shop owner, Eurotech, Brighton, MN. Seth created a $25,000 endowment for automotive careers. We discussed in episode 340, David Macholz, Academic Chair of Suffolk County College – Automotive Technology and Aaron Dalton, Coordinator- School to Career Programming at the North Kansas City Schools.
On the podcast, we’ve not shied away from big issues in the industry. The only way our investment in this great dialogue actually gets traction is if you do your part. I can relate the discussion we are having today with a thought on philanthropy. Hats off to what you do for your community. Honorable. However, the future of our industry is dependent on recruiting, training and retaining technicians. Call it an investment in your own personal philanthropy.
Getting involved in local education at all levels to share our hi-tech industry with administration and to support the educators that are teaching young students on the automotive is a very important role you have. Especially as an independent. If you don’t then who? You will have less to give to your community if you don’t invest in your future.
Listen and view episode notesFTR 039: Grant Swaim – The Gear Head Days Are Gone
Grant Swaim full time post-secondary instructor, shop owner and aftermarket instructor says the gear head days are gone
Listen and view episode notesRR 418: AIST – The Future of Automotive Education
AIST – The Future of Automotive Education
This episode recorded at Vision 2019 in KC brings you into the loop on Automotive Institute of Science and Technology (AIST) in Colorado Springs, CO. This new ‘non-traditional’ public charter school that will use the P-TECH model (Pathways in Technology Early College High School), designed to provide students the foundation they need to be successful in the automotive aftermarket industry when they graduate.
Students will be able to enroll in a 4- or 6-year program, starting their freshman year of high school through their second year of college and all publicly funded. AIST will offer students three pathways: Automotive Technology, Business, or Engineering (mechanical and electrical) and will be project based.
With me is Anthony Williams, Special Projects Manager with Advance Auto Parts who had the seed of the idea for AIST and speaks to his dream becoming a reality. And Chris Chesney Sr. Director, Customer Training Carquest Technical Institute.
Listen and view episode notesRR 416: Preparing Your Shop For Tomorrows Technicians – How To Attract and Retain Your Team
Preparing Your Shop For Tomorrow’s Technician: How To Attract And Retain Your Team
We know as a united industry that retaining and attracting talent into our bays is our number one concern. Sure keeping pace with technology advancements is up there, but if you don’t have the talent inside your shop to repair our high tech cars, tech becomes less a challenge.
This power panel from Vision KC 2019 and brought to you by the Midwest Auto Care Alliance, tackles this tough subject that we need to face head-on. With me is Tyler Hubbard from I-70 Auto Service, Aaron Stokes – from Eurofix and Shop Fix Academy, Chris Chesney – Sr. Director Customer Training at CARQUEST Technical Institute, Brian Bates – Eagle Automotive Service and Greg Buckley – Buckley Personalized Auto Care.
You’ll hear discussion on why our industry needs to stop eating our young, setting career paths for your technicians, why orientation and not onboarding is the way to integrate new technicians into your business, buying tools for our technicians, and building the right culture and operating principles and so much more. We even had time at the end for Q & A from the audience.
Listen and view episode notesFTR 036: Dwayne Myers – Say NO to the Technician Shortage
Aaron Shaffer Wants The Service Professional to Consider Selling Premium Products For All the Right Reasons. Pick Replacement Parts That Best Serves the Intended OE Performance of the Entire System
Listen and view episode notesRR 408: Scott Shotton – Straight Talk on Entry Level Technicians, Tips on Becoming an Aftermarket Trainer and Post-Secondary Automotive Education
Scott Shotton: Straight Talk on Entry Level Technicians, Tips on Becoming an Aftermarket Trainer and Post-Secondary Automotive Education
Scott and I dig into automotive education at the college level. We talk about the knowledge level and experience that our automotive graduates have and what their expected career path can be. Any seasoned technician knows where he started and what it took to get where he/she is today. That hasn’t changed, however, we may have higher expectations of our new grads and that is why each needs to have a career path set for them that includes an ongoing training program
Scott gives accolades to our top aftermarket trainers and gives advice to aspiring trainers.
We also get into the grow your own technician issue, the A,B,C technician designation, and mobile as a career path.
Listen and view episode notesFTR 031: Brett Bohlmann – Fixing Our Leadership Deficit
Leadership Deficit: Let’s Get Into the People Building Business. Brett Bohlmann talks about the technician shortage with an interesting twist.
Listen and view episode notesRR 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
Listen and view episode notesFTR 018: Kyle Holt – Will We Let Other Industries Poach our Technicians?
Will We Let Other Industries Poach our Technicians?
Listen and view episode notesRR 375: Trained By Techs – Creating a Training Commitment Inside All Shops
Trained By Techs – Creating a Training Commitment Inside All Shop
Recorded at ASA-PA’s the panel is Keith Perkins, Richard Falco, Tomi Oliva and Mario Rojas. We discuss the loss of our talent, that being a lead diagnostician can be profitable, that techs do side work because they are not being compensated properly, and how to get a training commitment started in a shop that doesn’t. And finally, do our shop owners really know what is going on in training classes? Think that one through.
In such a short time the Trained By Techs group has made some incredible strides. They appear at a lot of events, by spending their own money to get the word out. Their enthusiasm and dedication is exactly what our industry needs and this talented group of volunteers is sharing their passion for education in the automotive training industry.
They are diagnosing cars every day and are LEARNING new things. Watch their videos and the conversation and start your learning from there.
Listen and view episode notesRR 374: Shop Talk 6 – Change or Be Changed – Dean Bailey and Doug Rogers.
Shop Talk 6: Change or Be Changed – Doug Rogers and Dean Bailey
The Roundtable has Dean Bailey, from King’s Auto Service and Hybrid Kings and Doug Rogers, Owner of Autohaus Import both from Raleigh, NC. Recorded at ASTE 2018.
They share their expert take on micromanaging, becoming a stronger leader, building a business culture, autonomous cars, setting the pace in the shop, and finding that niche that will propel you to the future!
Listen and view episode notesFTR 016: Craig Van Batenburg offers Eight Critical Changes We Must Consider to Improve the Aftermarket
Craig Van Batenburg offers Eight Critical Changes We Must Consider to Improve the Aftermarket
Listen and view episode notesTHA 087: Automotive Career’s Starts in High School and in the Home!
An Automotive Career Starts in High School and in the Home!l
We, as a collective aftermarket, need to stop talking about the need for quality automotive training and the technician shortage and get involved. It will be our fault for the lack of young people joining our industry.
The schools are there for industry. Superintendents and presidents need to hear from industry. A good advisory board will make a huge difference in the quality of instruction, investment from the school and placement of students.
The panel includes James Halderman, ASE Master Technician, and author of 18 Automotive Textbooks and James Pressly, Trade and Industrial Specialist, Career and Technical Education with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and Shane Hawkins, East Gaston High School in Mount Holly, NC and adjunct instructor for Gaston College. Also an impromptu visit from Kyle Holt of S/P2.
Listen and view episode notesRR 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.
THA 084: Buying Technician Tools: Create Your Program!
Buying Technician Tools: Create Your Program
We are talking ‘Buying Technicians Tools; The How’ and with me is Keith Williamson, owner of Williamson’s Repair and Tire in Bondurant, IA, Andy Bizub Shop Owner of Porsche Specialist Midwest Performance Cars LLC, and Seth Thorson, Shop Owner, Eurotech, New Brighton, MN, a Euro Specialist and owner of the BMW tech support company LMV Bavarian.
Among the discussion; Is making employees supply tools an outdated tradition? Is buying technicians tools a recruiting and retention tool for your business?
The team says owners don’t want to see their techs in debt and you’ll hear ideas and solutions to create your own program to transition into supporting tools as a benefit and retention tool.
Listen and view episode notesRR 358: John Gustafson – ATC: Synchronizing the Automotive Trades
ATC: Synchronizing the Automotive Trades
John Gustafson is the president of Gustafson Brothers Automotive Repair, Huntington Beach, CA and the founder of the Auto Talent Co-Op (ATC). ATC is an independent non-profit organization whose vision is to effectively unite resources within the automotive industry, and establish clear career path standards for its users.
ATC’s Mission is to build a synchronized and accessible platform, able to unite the automotive industry. To help refill the talent pool for all automotive job-related positions. To fulfill the technician shortage, and improve technician retention and to streamline career paths, bridge technician skills gap and improve recruitment.
Your support is needed. Find links on the show notes page.
Listen and view episode notesFTR 007: Matt Fanslow – Integrate the Malleable Young Apprentice Into Your Shop
Matt Fanslow Worries That Young Technician Apprentices Will Leave the Industry Without a Series Mentor Program and Career Path.
Listen and view episode notesRR 353: Kyle Holt from S/P2 – Helping Entry-Level Technicians Enter and Stay in the Industry
Kyle Holt. Helping Entry-level Technicians Enter And Stay In Industry.
Kyle Holt is the Co-Founder and President of S/P2. S/P2 serves businesses and career tech schools in the automotive service, collision repair, heavy-duty/diesel, welding, among others.
They are not just building careers, they are nurturing! Offering an innovative mentor training program which has its own Mobile website in which Mentors can log in, comment and grade a student based on the ASE task list. This would be good at retaining students within the industry.
Kyle is very passionate about providing businesses and schools the ability to utilize the technology that they have created to help improve the lives of the people they serve.
Listen and view episode notes