RR 239: John Burkhauser – Director of Educational Programs – Bolt On Technology

What You Can Learn from Your Dentist on Setting Appointments.

John Burkhauser, the Director of Educational Programs at Bolt-On Technology has a storied career as an automotive technician and as a post-secondary automotive educator. He is finding his career path has set him up for this current job.

John says the service process really hasn’t changed in 30 years. For many shops, it is still a day of putting out fires and trying to keep one’s head above water. He has his opinions on finding techs in post-secondary schools, the importance of best practices, and insights on digital vehicles inspections.

THA 012: What Keeps You Up at Night?

What Keeps You Up At Night? Is a metaphor on what we are concerned with as the world changes at unprecedented speeds.

You need to get out ahead of change and set the vision for your company. Paying attention to every business opportunity and challenge along with technology, business culture and finding and keeping good people helps you sleep well. The occasional 2 AM get up ‘thought’ just may signal an important strategy to pay attention to.

THA 011: Your Website – Tactics To Improve

Your Website – Tactics to improve Traffic and other Tech Talk as discussed by two industry experts, Danny Sanchez from Auto Shop Solutions and Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui. Along with shop owners Ryan Clo from Dubwerx in Cincinnati, OH and Doug Grills from Autostream in the Greater Baltimore/Washington, DC area.

Great talk on being mobile, Google Analytics, SEO, review marketing being sure your site converts customers, website design, analytics and call tracking, and working with Google Premier Partners.

RR 226: Connected CARS Detroit May 2017 – An Overview

The Future is Now. Are You Preparing for the Future of Automotive Repair?

Held in Detroit on May 18th & 19th, 2017 and presented by ASA, Automotive Service Association, Connected CARS (Congress of Automotive Repair & Service) and organized by Donny Seyfer. This training conference brought industry trainers, automotive engineers and service professionals from all parts of North America to learn about rapidly advancing vehicle technology. Participants got an important glimpse into the world of the connected car with in-depth and detailed looks at ADAS, Next Gen Vehicle Networks and the future of diagnostics.

Listen to a compilation of seventeen of your industry peers as they discuss their reaction to this top industry event. There is no time like now to best understand the speed and gravity of technology. This conference helped serve up the enormous opportunities that lie ahead for the ‘connected’ service professional.

RR 215: Derek Kaufman from Schwartz Advisors – Business Model Transformation

Prepare for coming trends, emerging technology and business disrupters as the aftermarket prepares for the future.

Derek Kaufman, Managing Partner at Schwartz Advisors is focusing his future lens on today’s trends that will have a big impact on how the aftermarket does business tomorrow.

Will you be prepared to change your business model because car sharing, autonomous cars, augmented reality, an increasing hybrid share, multi-party leasing, among others will force you to do business differently as the future unfolds.

Aftermarket players are innovative and responsive to turn these realities into a business advantage by offering service alternative that are fully competitive with the OE shops.

RR 189: Uwe Kleinschmidt from AutoVitals

Technology Entrepreneur shares his vision of success for the service professional..

Uwe Kleinschmidt founder and CEO of AutoVitals shares his insights on the continued integration of technology for every service professional. He says the internet is fundamentally changing the industry and how we serve the customer.

Uwe talks about the power of data, unbillable time wasted, why the service advisor is the most important part of the successful shop, that total shop measurements is the next frontier such as real time technician efficiency, and many more stimulating thoughts, ideas and insights.

RR 186: Chris Cloutier on Shop Technology

Do you understand the logical progression of software tools and systems in your company?

Keeping up with technology improvements and enhancements is an important strategy for any shop owner. Chris Cloutier has created an info-graphic that maps the implementation and process of a technology driven service shop

Chris created a website to help shop owners understand the process, stages and options available for shop owners. The timeline helps create an implementation strategy so that every shop keeps up with technology advancements and critical levels of customer interaction and connection.

RR 156: Kathleen Long from Repair Pal

It doesn’t take much for consumers to be disloyal to their repair shop.

Kathleen Long the VP of Customer Success and GM of the Shop Network at RepairPal shares results of their constant surveying of the automotive consumer. This episode is packed with quantifiable and conceptual strategies to improve the service professionals total customer service experience.

This data brings a perspective to what needs to be done by the service professional to accommodate the consumer’s needs and perceptions that will grow their service business.

Episode highlights include warranty, reviews, pricing, the showroom or lobby, bathrooms, loaner cars, quality vs convenience, texting, and a good bedside manner. There is something here for everyone.

RR 149: Carolyn Coquillette from Luscious Garage

Carolyn Coquillette discovered wrenching in 2000, shortly after graduating from college. A rare female mechanic, her nickname at the service station and in professional circles became “Luscious Garage.” Carolyn owns Luscious Garage, a hybrid specialty shop in San Francisco and probably the best known hybrid shop in the country. She also owns Shop-Ware, a software…

RR 134: Todd Erickson from Identifix

Todd Erickson, an Identifix Carline Expert gets to talk shop on the Remarkable Results Radio Podcast. You will learn how Todd got his job, what he loves about it, and how he views the learning curve in the industry.

Among many great stories, Todd goes back 15 years to explain his job interview at Identifix. He illustrates how a trick question, he answered correctly, may have been the deciding factor in him getting the job. This Subaru expert excels in diagnostic reasoning and provides a great behind the scenes view of this industry resource.

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 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 078: Behind the Scenes on the Connected Car Part 1

To say you are in for a deep and powerful discussion about the connect car is an understatement. Your panel consists of four very ‘connected’ individuals as it related to the connected car. With vehicle technology a big part of the Consumer Electronics Show in early 2016, it demonstrates the importance and value of this…