THA 131: Preparing Your Shop For the Next Five and Ten Years

THA 131 The Future – Preparing Your Shop For the Next Five to Ten Years

What is your future? Have you planned it? What are you doing to ensure your success in the next 5, 10 or 15 years? If you do nothing you get what you currently have and that may not sustain you to far into the future.

Your panel: Kelli Weatherby, co-owner, with husband Lee, in Accurate Automotive, Inc. in Mesa, AZ., Bill Nalu, owner of Interstate Auto Care, Madison Heights, MI and AJ Nealey, Nealey Auto Service, Edgewater MD. This diverse group has some similar yet some different strategies for their future. It is so refreshing to hear the dialogue and then compare their tactics to your current or long term plans.
We are in a dynamic industry that is in a heightened change curve. Keeping up at all levels will bring you spoils. And keeping your eye on your business with the future in sight is an important responsibility you have to your employees and your family.

We talk BHAG’s, Debt, Branches, Succession, Training, refinancing, and SWOT among others.

THA 130: Service Advisor Role Play #3

THA 130 Service Advisor Role Play

My guests are role-playing these three situations: #1: Brakes- the client knows what is wrong and the car has been inspected somewhere else, $2: Oil change- just looking for a price and #3: The Check Engine Light is on – how much to replace the catalytic converter?

My panel includes Rena Rennebohm CEO of Empowered Advisor, Dave Nelson From Antero’s Automotive, Greenwood Village, Colorado and RJ Milnes from DK Automotive Repair, Antioch, CA
Let features and benefits be the service advisors strong tools and during a call, you are interviewing the customer and they are interviewing you, both looking for a good fit. If cheep is what they want and you can’t deliver you’ve learned.

RR 453: Dutch Silverstein puts an ADAS Scholarship Worth $4,000 On the Line!

Dutch Silverstein puts ADAS Scholarship worth $4,000 on the line!

Free Training! Unheard of. Dutch Silvestein of A&M Auto Service is putting up a $4,000 scholarship for a shop owner and technician for ADAS training. This means TWO guys from the same shop (an owner and his lead tech) can attend this hands-on seminar. ADAS technology is not going away and everyone needs to move on training. You may even decide to become an ADAS calibration center as a result of your training.

In this episode find out why Dutch is providing this free scholarship from his own pocket to the industry. He believes the industry must step up and get involved with scholarships of all kinds. He also challenges shop owners to determine if they are spending enough time learning how to put money in their pocket through training.

FTR 056: Justin Barrett – Hard Talk on Areas of Improvement for Independents

Justin Barrett – Hard Talk on Areas of Improvement for Independents

Justin Barrett, owner and operator of Barrett Automotive, Cornelia, GA sees areas that need improvement for independent service operators.

Justin Barrett will hit a few nerves as he asks you to take a look at your facility through the lens of the customer. And if you are not requiring 80 hours of training for your people, according to Justin, you are not keeping pace. He’ll also tell you why and how he closes and takes his team to train at venues like Vision in Kansas City.

RR 450: Michael Eilbracht – Becoming an Industry Trainer

Michael Eilbracht – Becoming a Trainer

Many in the industry have the yearning to give and teach. Think about how many professional teachers found their calling.

Michael knows he has found his calling to be an industry trainer. He has presented at Vision and will parlay his career as a Full-Time Transit Bus Technician, and owner of MJE Diagnostics into a professional Heavy Duty Electrical and Driveability Training Business.

This is a ‘real story’ on finding your groove and sticking to it. Listen to the depth of his experience and for his passion to help people.

RR 432: Shop Talk 11 – Important Aftermarket Partnership – Shop, Parts Supplier and Manufacturer

Shop Talk 11 – Important Partnership – Shop, Parts Supplier and Manufacturer

Welcome to Shop Talk 11. Our Shop Talk Panel guests are Monte Hamsher, a shop owner, technician and automotive teacher; Bob Pattengale- National Training Manager at Bosch; and John Marcum- Director of Marketing for Federated Auto Parts.

We discuss the challenges involved in running a shop and the shop’s relationship to its part supplier & Manufacturer. Learn about the importance of a well-trained service professional and the need for competent technicians as a whole. Also, we talked about the need for a stronger commitment to training from the industries technicians.

RR 428: Tech Talk – ADAS | Support Vendors That Support Training | Fundamental Training

Technical Talk – ADAS | Support Vendors That Support Training | Fundamental Training

Tech talk with Kevin Fitzpatrick, Vice President Autologic; Steven Zack, Automotive Technical Instructor for Bosch; and Matt Fanslow, Shop Manager/Diagnostician of Riverside Auto Repair. Our episode reiterates the importance of training, we get into ADAS Calibration, adapting to tech changes, and the amount of good training available among others.

Trainings and Big Events are available for technicians whether it is in the classroom or online. Our guests elaborate and advise on the challenges and the steps to advancement. They say there is no shortage of good training.

FTR 043: Dave Hobbs – Find The Time and Make the Sacrifice to Attend Training. Trainers Do!

Dave Hobbs – Find The Time and Make the Sacrifice to Attend Training. Trainers Do!

Dave Hobbs travels the country training technicians for Delphi Technologies. His participation in the industry is without rival. He has a strong message for you about training venues, hands-on and the sacrifice that all aftermarket trainers make in their lives to bring you training. All he wants is to have you come to class when the trainers come to your town.

Find Dave’s talking points and links to his previous episodes on the show notes page at remarkableresults.biz/f043

RR 426: Supporting Technician Training with Technology and Partnerships – Paul Louwers – AVI On Demand

Supporting Technician Training with Technology and Partnerships – Paul Louwers – AVI On-Demand

Paul Louwers, CEO and CO-founder of the Automotive Video Innovations and the driving force behind the concept and execution of AVI. He has been in the training business for over 25 years.

Paul explains that on-demand training is just one tool for a shop owner and technician in their training arsenal. Because of the online learning management system, and I can’t stress that enough, when you add in leader-led training, and hands-on, the power of networking; the learning is compounded. Find your learning combination.

AVI is a technology company that excels at creating training for the automotive industry. They are producing relevant content for, Service and Repair Centers, Parts Manufacturers, Parts Distributors, and Automotive Schools.

RR 422: A Case for Shop Specialization

A case for shop specialization

We are discussing in a bird’s eye view of Shop Specialization and training.

I’m with Rob Morrell, Sr. Director of Management and Technical Training at WorldPac Technical Institute and Mark Warren, training manager at WTI. So glad to share Rob and Mark’s interview with you as we are going to have a very open discussion on specialization and, as you would expect, the ‘T’ word comes up. Training!

This episode tackles the challenge of what makes a specialty shop. Mark and Rob share their personal perspectives on one approach to specialization. You’ll also hear of their support for FREE education for post-secondary automotive students.

RR 419: Bringing Technician Proficiency to the Next Level Through Mentoring Programs

Bringing Technical Proficiency to the Next Level Through Tech Mentoring Programs

What is technician mentoring? It is a training program focused on technical proficiency. Helping our techs not just technical but also on effective communication, effective teamwork, positive shop culture and a higher bottom line for everyone. Encouraging a team aspect that benefits everyone involved and getting techs better at their jobs.

Ensuring our industry’s growth is our Vision 2019 power panel are veteran educators and trainers with years of expertise within the industry; Scott Shotton owner of the Driveability Guys, Eric Ziegler owner of E-Z Diagnostic Solutions and Trainer, Dave Denmon of Dave’s Car Care and Gerson Carcache Master Tech at Dave’s Car Care.

The episode is driving the discussion of technician mentoring and the need for assisting shops in developing their technicians. Not only keeping a seasoned technician current but in developing bench talent.

THA 112: Aftermarket Training in the Age of Rapid Tech Changes. How To Navigate Your Training Needs.

Aftermarket Training in the Age of Rapid Tech Changes – How To Navigate Your Training Needs

The commitment to training must come from both the technicians and shop owners. We keep hearing that we are in a hi-tech industry. The stats are out there to prove that. You’ve seen so many new ADAS equipped vehicles. Have you thought about being equipped to repair them? From both the equipment and intellectual assets you need.

These three professionals have seen it all and are faced with many of the same challenges. Ryan Kooiman, Director of Training, Standard Motor Products, Bob Pattengale, Is the National Training Manager for Bosch and Jon Forro, shop owner of AST and an automotive Instructor.

We talk the importance of pre and post training assessments, stopping the participation trophy and seeing the same faces in class. From their perspective, they are concerned that if the aftermarket doesn’t make a stronger commitment to training the dealers will take their business.

FTR 032: Pierre Respaut – Has Seen a Technical Revolution in His Lifetime

Pierre Respaut has a steep history as an automotive shop owner, dealership mechanic/technician, and trainer. He is in the aftermarket for fifty years. Pierre worked at BMW and Ferrari dealerships and owned “Ultimate Cars”, a BMW specialty repair shop for 30 years. After he closed the shop he was recruited to help improve a VW…

RR 401: Family Succession Part 1 – Our Future Female Shop Owners

Family Succession Part 1 – Our Future Female Shop Owners

We are talking to three millennial ladies who are geared for the succession of the family business. Many of our aftermarkets family businesses want to retire knowing that the business they have built is in safe hands, is moving forward and continues to succeed. Grooming a family member to become the CEO is a big decision and challenging journey.

Our guests are young and energetic female successors; Carly Paiva from Elite Auto Repair, in Warwick, RI, Jacquie Hower from Zimmerman’s Automotive in Mechanicsburg, PA, and Lauren Anderson from Victory Auto Service and Glass in Minneapolis. They understood very well the stakes and the responsibilities. They are not shying away and have shown maturity above their young age.

Carly Paiva has been actively participating in service advisory classes to better herself, Jacqui Hower recently graduated from Northwood and Lauren Anderson is finding ways and solutions to better equip her staff for success. The energy and passion of these three must make their parents proud.

RR 395: Shop Talk 8 – Second Shop Challenge | The Power of Blacktop | Industry Image

Shop Talk 8 – Second Shop Challenge – The Power of Blacktop – Industry Image

I’m so glad to welcome John Eppstein from John’s Automotive Care in San Diego, CA, Scott Pelava from Lonsdale Auto Works in Lonsdale, MN, and former shop owner Scott ‘Gonzo’ Weaver, Scott has added trainer to his resume and continues to be a recognized writer in our industry, I’m sure you know of Gonzo’s Tool Box.

John tells us about his recent new location and a few challenges he didn’t anticipate, Scott Pelava has an idea to add a service to his shop that many would not agree with and Gonzo shares his wisdom of the ages. We also get into our industry image. A lot to chew on.

A bright and interesting moment is the talk about blacktop. Don’t miss this.

THA 098: Daytime Training vs Night Time Training – A Discussion of Ideas

  Your Learning Curve Never Sounded So Good   Chris Chesney is the Senior Director of Customer Training, CARQUEST Technical Institute, and a NASTF board member and a member of the ‘Road To Great Technician’ project.  Listen to Chris’s previous episodes HERE. Lucas Underwood is an Automotive diagnostic specialist, shop owner, and foreman. He owns L & N…

THA 097: Service Professional Loyalty: A Supplier Perspective

Service Professional Loyalty: A Supplier Perspective

On the panel is Brad Hartline, from Hyde Villa Auto Parts President and Pottsville Auto Parts in the Reading PA markets and Trevor Martin, President, Vaca Valley Auto Parts, Fairfield, CA and Mark Stabelfeldt, from Fairfax Auto Parts.

If you are a service professional you have a supplier or three and most likely have a great relationship with your number one call because they are a supply partner with and for you. A lot of your success comes from your supplier providing you the parts and service you need to keep your customers happy and coming back.

RR 387: In Praise of Our Trainers

In Praise of Our Trainers

Our Guests: Bob Greenwood, AMAM, is the President and CEO of Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Centre Ltd and has over 40 years’ experience working with Independent shops developing their business to maximize business net income.

Eric Ziegler owns and operates EZ Diagnostic Solutions Inc and is an accomplished automotive trainer working for Automotive Seminars and the Driveability Guys training technicians in the latest diagnostic techniques and technologies throughout the Midwest and US.
This is some straight up podcasting with hard-hitting talk about our industry trainers. Do we appreciate them the way we should? Are they paid enough? Do we look at training as an expense or an investment?

Bob and Eric seem like an odd couple to talk about this, but you’ll positively love the honest, transparent and frank talk that we had. Bob wrote an article titled. ‘In Praise of Trainers in the magazine Auto Service World and, I believe you’ll appreciate the way he and Eric bridge this topic.

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.

THA 091: Workshop – Service Adviser Roleplay – Part 2

Service Adviser Role Play Part 2

Again this team digs deep to help aftermarket professionals learn more about the service advisor position. This is one of the most important and challenging jobs in the industry. The service adviser is the face of the business and is faced with building trust and strong relationships while generating profitable revenue.

Enjoy four different role plays and the ensuing discussion. Critique each role play yourself and enjoy the comments from this team. With me is Barry Barrett, Director of Training at RLO, Clint White, shop manager at Coopers Auto Repair Specialists in Tacoma, WA and John Vasquez, Service Adviser at Los Gators Auto Service Campbell, CA.

RR 373: Shop Talk 5 – Retired and Still Helping the Industry

Shop Talk 5 – Retired and Still Helping the Industry

The Roundtable consists of Gary Summerfield, Don Griffin, and Tommy Kendall.

Gary and Don are retired shop owners, who are now landlords and Tommy is still contributing to the industry as a part-timer. They share wisdom of the ages.

Learn how their collective mindset helped transform the shops that they have operated throughout the years. We talk about training, technician pay and paying it forward.

RR 372: Edwin Hazzard – Training is the Responsibility of the Technician

Did You Know That Training is the Responsibility of the Technician?

A hard-hitting interview on technician training with trainer, writer, and mobile diagnostic tech Edwin Hazzard, Owner of Southeast Mobile Tech who has a lot to say about the responsibility of training in the aftermarket.

Edwin Hazzard owns a mobile diagnostic company in South Carolina. He contributes articles to Motor Age and has instructed in many different capacities over the years. Edwin has been a dealership technician and taught at the high school level.

He enjoys what he does for a living and sees diverse age group in classes. He says investing in training is important just to be relevant and up to date with the recent technology. If you don’t update, you evaporate.