RR 230: Technician Round Table Part 2 -Heipp – Landry -Fanslow

What do Three Diagnosticians think about Silver Bullets, Critical Thinking and the Future of Diagnostics.

Bob Heipp, Peter Landry and Matt Fanslow, bring a big dose of their passion to the second technician round-table. This discussion generated talk on important and trending topics, that for these working techs, are important.

In this episode Bob, Peter and Matt expressed their feeling on technician pay, computer skills, augmented reality, and flat rate among others. There are over 20 key talking points. Invest in understanding how these three professional technicians and trainers look at the industry, especially the commitment to perpetual training and for creating a better and sustaining aftermarket.

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RR 222: Dwayne Myers from Dynamic Automotive

Vice Chair of CCPN is Honored as a 2017 ASE/Autocare World Class Technician

Dwayne Myers tells his story that starts in the Army and ends with the 2017 ASE/Auto Care World Class Technician Honor. It seems that everything Dwayne Myers did in his career helped pave the way to this recognition.
 
A partner in the four-shop operation Dynamic Automotive in Frederick County, MD, listen to Dwayne’s message that anyone can have success. He says, “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go after the great.”
 
Dwayne shares some great wisdom on Dynamics commitment to training and building a team. He sees a bright future for all shop owners and provides a great piece of management wisdom: ‘Never Talk Mad’.

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RR 221: Bill Greeno from Quality Automotive & Smog

An Unyielding Commitment to Customer Service is Facilitated through Communication Education.

Bill Greeno from Quality Automotive and Smog in Truckee, CA and a business consultant with a focus on leadership and management is big on communication. He and his team work hard on building strong internal communication, that he says makes huge difference in his unyielding customer service.

He also believes that having a satisfied staff is pivotal to customer service success. Having a shared vision is at the core of this. Their Vision Statement is “Your Trusted Local Auto Care.” Their service related conversations revolve around their Vision Statement and it is the launch pad for discussions regarding new ideas and/or changing a policy or procedure.

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RR 218: Rick Escalambre, Educator – Trainer

We call aftermarket professionals independent and that mislabeling has a negative impact on the industry.

Rick Escalambre the 2015 Vision Educator of the Year, retired two years ago from Skyline College and is busier than ever as an adjunct professor and contract trainer.

He is an author and member of NASTF Education Committee and involved in the educators think tank at Vision KC among others.

Rick is very outspoken on licensing and having a standardized training model in post-secondary education. Among the talking points: getting involved in education, shops recruiting at the college level, and creating strong apprentice programs. This career educator will have you thinking hard about his perspectives.

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RR 213: Wayne Colonna from ATSG

Did your first car hold the fate of your future career?

Wayne Colonna, President of ATSG tells an outstanding story of his first Ford 269 with a C4 Transmission. It was fate that this car and his determination to fix it would lead him to become a highly sought after trainer in the aftermarket.

He put his time in the industry and found himself working for the Automatic Transmission Service Group in 1991. By 1992 he began conducting seminars across the United States and Canada.

Wayne has published many articles and manuals, and has traveled to over 10 different countries to conduct specialized seminars in addition to a heavy travel schedule in the US. He talks about the biggest problems in the transmission industry and the trend to do more automotive repair. Wayne also has a theology degree and is a minister.

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RR 211: Judi and Dana Haglin from Haglin Automotive

Husband and Wife Team Keeps Careful Watch on all Details of their Business.

Judi and Dana Haglin work together so well because they say ‘They are opposites’. Each of their own passions help drive their successful business. Haglin Automotive, a twelve bay shop in Boulder, CO, was recognized in 2015 as Motor Age Top Shop of the Year. They continue to look for ways to improve their systems and marketing that will give them a competitive advantage.

The Haglin’s are all about team and culture and share many great ideas and insights on marketing, training, and stress relief. They share their rules for finding harmony in their personal and business relationship, their core values and their top strategy to corral new customers.

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RR 206: Technician Round Table Part 1 -Heipp – Landry -Fanslow

Illuminating Discussion with Technician Round-Table

Join this recorded session from Vision 2017 with Bob Heipp, Peter Landry and Matt Fanslow, (above) as we tackle the value of training and why networking is so critical at these events. These guys were straight up and expressed their feeling on engaging with your peers and instructors, developing relationships from around the country, and the sheer admiration that they have for technicians that continue to learn and grow within the industry.

Invest in understanding how these three professional technicians look at the industry, especially the commitment to perpetual training and for creating a better and sustaining aftermarket.

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RR 204: Vision 2017 Leadership Round Table Interview

Recorded at Vision Hi-Tech Training and Expo 2017 Joining me in my Vision 2017 studio are: Sheri Hamilton the Show Manager and the executive Director of ASA-Midwest Vision co-founder Jerry Holcom form S & S Service in Kansas City Co-Chairman Ron Haugen from Westside Auto Pros in Des Moines, IA Co-Chairman James  Copeland from  Midwest…

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RR 193: Kirk Richardson from South Street Auto Care

Major Business Turn Around Set Up a Plan to Retire from one Business and Buy a New One.

Kirk Richardson from South Street Auto Care in Rochester, MI, prides himself on his ability to create a family culture within his businesses. The culture is a blend of hard work, accountability, fun, and hijinx, which combine to make loyal and dedicated coworkers.

Kirk shares his companies culture, pay plan and a few elements of his strategic plan. He has a work distribution system that gets the maximum value out of every technician. Kirk loves business and people in general and will talk for hours about business!

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RR 192: Eric Ziegler – E-Z Diagnostic Solutions and Trainer

Mobile Diagnostic Entrepreneur and Industry Trainer Shares the Power of Networking.

Eric Ziegler owner of E-Z Diagnostic Solutions a Mobile Diagnostics and Programing company specializing in collision centers and auto repair facilities. Eric is also an instructor for Automotive Seminars and The Driveability Guys.

Eric shares sage advice on diagnostic challenges, training, networking, labor rates. He also imparts his passion on the need for bigger labor rates, specialization, silver bullets, and his role in the industry as a trainer.

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RR 184: Tim Dwyer Automotive Education Specialist at Consulab

Tim Dwyer was a shop owner for 25 years and was an instructor at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, for 12 years, where he helped start and instructed the Pro-Tech Automotive Internship program. He has found a perfect evolution of his storied carrer as an automotive education specialist at ConsuLab Educatech.

Tim is pays it forward with a very in-depth interview that covers many bases from his own shop, to being an educator and discovering a powerful way to educate his students with a Team Based Learning approach to his work in helping instructors utilize the power of their teaching aids.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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RR 152: Scott Norman Automotive Educator

Automotive Technology Bachelor’s Degree program producing our future technicians and entrepreneurs.

Scott Norman is an Associate Professor of Automotive Technology at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS and President of the National Association of Automotive Universities.

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