Here are the two most recent episodes
The Apprentice Equation: Management, Mentorship, and Motivation [THA 430]
Recorded at Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo 2025, discover the transformative power of apprenticeship programs in the automotive industry. Learn about the success stories, effective strategies, challenges, and the importance of mentoring in training the next generation of automotive technologists.
remarkableresults.biz/a430
From Brain Fog to Better Sleep: Transforming Health for Business Owners [RR 1036]
Mauro Stara from 6packceo.com shares powerful strategies for staying strong, sharp, and energized as a business owner. He breaks down common myths about health and highlights the importance of a personalized approach to well-being. Key areas of focus include the essential roles of sleep, nutrition, and stress management in promoting longevity and a high-quality life.
Mauro offers practical tips for optimizing sleep by aligning with your circadian rhythm, managing light exposure, timing meals strategically, and maintaining proper electrolyte balance. He encourages listeners to treat their health like they would their car, prioritizing regular care and attention to ensure a longer, more energized life.
remarkableresults.biz/e1036
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THA 133: Why Soft or Life Skills Training Matters for Business Success
THA 133 The Value of Soft Skills Training
The panel says that soft skills training helps build a stronger, flexible and harmonious organization. Leadership training is not just for the leader today. Everyone can benefit from being a better listener, which is the #1 soft skills or life skills training we all need to have.
Join Judi Haglin owner with her husband Dana in Haglin Automotive, Boulder, CO, Kyle Holt, President of SP/2 andJeff Peevy, AMAM, President | Automotive Management Institute.
Change your attitude Soft (Life) Skills Training. It must include everyone in your business. Training in communication, critical thinking, finding and keeping a positive attitude, teamwork and work ethic, to name a few. Everyone benefits including family life.
In support of your work to build an enduring business culture one of the best tactics you can implement is soft skills or life skills training. Consider the message in this episode as an important component to building your enduring business culture.
RR 459: Standards And Values Foster a United Purpose for Your Team
Standards And Values Foster a United Purpose For Your Team
My friend Kevin Donahoe from Pacific Motor Service with two shops in Monterey, CA
And Pacific Grove, CA along with his general manager Jim Hayes go deep into their culture. They have a set of standards and values that drive their organization’s behavior.
You’ll learn about the creation of these standards and values, we’ll discuss the origins of a few and how these standards and values are the anchors in their enduring business culture.
You are about to listen in on a conversation that could be the impulsion to get you started. I believe once you’ve listened you’ll want to start your work on building your enduring business culture.
You are going to learn a lot, I believe you’ll have a clearer picture of the power of an enduring business culture and you just may walk away with enough motivation to get started and to find some juice to improve what you currently have.
FTR 059: Greg Buckley on LYFT
Greg Buckley on Lyft
Greg Buckley posted a video he did when he visited a LYFT Service Center in Philadelphia and shared his observations. No doubt this business model from LYFT is a disruptor and what can we learn from it and what should you know.
RR 458: John Passante and Rob Tinson – Is Face To Face Communications Gone?
Fundamental Communicating and Selling. Is Face To Face Communications Gone?
Guests Dr. John Passante is a legacy automotive aftermarket Human Resource Professional and President/CEO of the Organizational Development Group. He is an adjunct professor at the University of the Aftermarket, listed in Who’s Who in Training and Development and in the Automotive Hall of Fame. John is also an Executive Coach to many aftermarket leaders.
Rob Tinson has held key sales and marketing roles in the industry. Rob is Director of Sales for North America at Schrader TPMS Solutions a leading manufacturer of Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, a part of Sensata Technologies.
Do you understand the basics of communicating and selling? Learn the intricacies of creating a partnership before making a sale. Understand the importance of humanizing a lot of things which were oversimplified by the use of technology.
Life works better when we communicate either using tech or better yet face to face. (Do you remember how to do that?) Communication is very important because it is where we build trust and credibility and how partnerships are built.
THA 132: Business Coaches Lab: Building an Enduring Business Culture
THA 132 Business Coaches Lab – Building an Enduring Business Culture
Culture is one of the most important business strategies you need to work on. Building a strong and vibrant business culture is required today. Learn how to get started and start to build your business culture.
The panel Murray Voth, RPM Training, Rick White 180 Biz, Cecil Bullard, The Institute for Automotive Business Excellence and Bob Greenwood, Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Center.
Top aftermarket shops have a strong culture in place and are always tweaking and improving it. It is the foundation and ground zero for hiring and keeping the right people. And also in attracting and providing a great customer experience.
RR 457: Justin Allen – Working Too Hard? Feel Burned Out?
RR 457: Justin Allen – We are working too hard. Do you feel burned out?
Justin Allen is a sales specialist with Hunter Engineering. His observation: We are working too hard. Do you feel burned out? Listen to Justin tell it like sees it. Justin supports the service professional in his role with Hunter. He’s got a keen eye on our opportunities and challenges and points out some critical needs we have. He is even an advocate of a 4 day work week.
Have you focused on your techs burn out and the quality of their family life? His responsibilities with Hunter give him a 360-degree view of the business side of the aftermarket and the rigorous efforts it takes to run a successful shop.
FTR 058: Tomi Oliva – Would You Work For You?
FTR 058 Tomi Oliva- Would You Work For You?
Tomi Oliva from San Jose Automotive Center in Chicago reminds us how important morale and work environment is. He reminds you that it is the little things that matter.
RR 456: Jennifer Grady ESQ – Harassment Training Required by Law
Jennifer Grady ESQ – Harassment Training Required by Law
Jennifer A. Grady, Esq. is the founder of the law firm The Grady Firm, P.C. Ms. Grady is an attorney, corporate trainer, and international speaker. She founded the firm in 2012 with a passion for helping business owners, entrepreneurs, and their families achieve the American Dream of freedom, opportunity, self-sufficiency, and success.
Are you aware that the lion share of small businesses must have required harassment training for their employees? In this episode, you have a chance to be personally updated on harassment training and the change in the law that requires training if you have 5 or more employees.
This episode helps you understand the serious issues of sexual harassment in the workplace. Never discount the fact that your business is resistant to a harassment claim. We rarely talk about this topic and it is time.
Learn how you can improve your position or understand what you need to do to implement strong policy in your company so you can minimize your exposure and also be compliant to the letter of the law.
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.
RR 455: Scott Shotton – Building Quality Trainers of Tomorrow
RR 455: Scott Shotton – Building Quality Trainers of Tomorrow
Scott Shotton has over 25 years of technical experience in automotive repair shops. As the owner of The Driveability Guys, Scott performs mobile diagnostics and reprogramming for local repair shops. In his second interview, Scott talks about building classes and that our future trainers are a must and a priority!
In this episode, find out what are the important prerequisites of becoming a trainer. Learn the values of preparation, research, classes, case studies and more to become a successful automotive aftermarket trainer.
FTR 057: Carm Capriotto – Get Involved In This National Cancer Research Program – Brakes For Breasts
FTR 057: Carm Capriotto – Get Involved In This National Cancer Research Program
I’ve got a big ask for you. In the next few minutes, I’m going to set up a compelling reason to get involved with the Brakes for Breasts national program. This is a strong program that is nearing the $1M donation milestone. I feel it may happen soon. This year could be the year B4B hits this huge goal.
My respect and admiration for Laura Frank and Leigh Anne Best, who started brakes for breasts with a hand full of shops in the state of Ohio. Two lady service professionals have created a jewel of a program that continues to grow in support and influence in the industry. The program is Brakes For Breasts and it happens every October. Laura and Leigh Anne are independent service professionals and therefore know your business and can relate to the value Brakes For Breasts can bring to your business and for cancer research.
Total donated to Dr. Vincent Touhy at the Cleveland Clinic for his research on a Breast Cancer Vaccine is $747,771, since 2011. The $1M milestone is not too far away and to get there, your help is needed. www.brakesforbreasts.com is where you can sign up.
RR 454: Danny Durbin – Integrating the Third Generation
Danny Durbin – Integrating the Third Generation
Danny Durbin is the second generation owner of Durbin Auto Parts, in Prattville, AL. He is now integrating the third generation into the business. You’ve heard the stats about the third generation? Only about 12% survive.
You decide, but I believe Danny has the right strategy to defy the survival statistics. He knows the procedure and the adaptations it takes for the survival of the generations (having been there done that). Danny is planning to pass the torch to his son, however, he decided that Andrew first needed to work outside the business.
You will benefit from this story as many service professionals are family businesses. Find out the core values needed and the mindset of what it takes to keep the family business afloat for many years to come.
Danny is an active member of the Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAS) and holds a seat on the Board of Directors.
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 452: Danielle and Brett Bohlmann – Creating Work/Life Harmony
Danielle and Brett Bohlmann Finding the Right Balance Between Work and Life
Brett and Danielle Bohlmann are Shop Owners at Hwy 7 Service Center. They agree that they are everything the other is not and they know it and use it to their advantage instead of it being their demise.
OK, Brett and Danielle Bohlman agree that they are everything the other is not and they know it and use it to their advantage instead of it being their demise. Brett and Danielle own Hwy 7 Service Center in Newell, IA. Danielle wasnt in on the business at start because she is a mother of 4 and for her, family is first! Find out how Danielle changed her comittment and how they make family and business work so they have a life.
THA 129: Customer Financing Options
THA 129 Customer Financing Options
What options do you have to help your customers with credit choices. There are many vendor credit options to choose from and they are great. Maybe you don’t use them, maybe you should. No one wants a customer to walk out on a major purchase especially safety related. This session is here to help you capture more of the big-ticket jobs.
You just may hear a financing option idea or two that you’ve never considered. And that is exactly what we do here, push the envelope on strategies and ideas to help you grow as a leader and build your business.
Hear about the acceptance rate of vendor finance programs and a few creative ideas on how to lock in customers with a pre-payment plan. Ever do a comparison of buying new or used vs fixing the vehicle that needs all the work? Have you ever heard of the M & D loan? You are about to.
RR 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?
FTR 055: Matt Fanslow – We Should Take The Same Skill Set For Automotive Diagnostics And Apply It To KPI Management
FTR 055 Matt Fanslow – We Should Take The Same Skill Set For Automotive Diagnostics And Apply It To KPI Management
Matt Fanslow has an interesting view of analyzing KPIs. He says if your a shop owner that started as a tech, you have the foundation to take what you know about diagnostics and apply it to improve your business.
Trailer – Why Would You Want To Listen and Who the Heck Am I?
Why Would You Want To Listen and Who the Heck Am I?
Can you afford to miss out on being a fly on the wall of shop owners, coaches, technicians, executives and every other contributor that has been involved in the aftermarkets premiere podcast?
Through interviews with the best in the business, our goal is to help solve your pain points and teach you stuff along the way? You know the drill change is a guaranteed constant in life. We must stay abreast of the speed of technology, succession planning, the lack of skilled tradespeople, specifically technicians, leadership, business culture, the need to be better marketers, the role of the CEO, consolidation, and most importantly your profitability.
Engage with the podcast because with all the noise in your life, RRR grounds you in the context of the aftermarket. You are almost guaranteed to learn just one thing from every episode and help bring wisdom and influence to the people you lead as we work together to elevate all ships.
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.
THA 128: Valuing and Positioning Your Business For Sale
Are you ready to sell your business? Do you know how to prepare? Is it a buyers market or a seller’s market? Do you understand some of the financial principles that drive a transaction? About 50% of you will be impacted by this discussion in the near future.
We cover a large swatch of ground as we talk about the incredible opportunity for sellers as the industry consolidates, getting your financials right, processes, leases, and the all-important EBITDA number.
The panel includes three members of Cardinal Brokers: Norm Gaither, Dennis McCarron, Joel Zaleski and a shop owner who recently sold his business Jeff Pohlman Retired from Jeff Pohlman Tire a 5 Locations operation.
RR 449: Maryann Croce – What Advice Would You Give a New Business Owner? Will this advice benefit the established business person?
Maryann Croce – What advice would you give a new business owner? Will this advice benefit the established business person?
Would you like some advice on starting a business. What if you could apply this advice to your established business. With me is Maryann Croce from SmallBusinessvantge.com. She and her husband Tony also own Croce Transmission in Norwalk, CT.
As a business owner, she can chalk up many a mistake that has turned into wisdom. She has been there and done that and shares 5 key principles to help a startup business person get ahead of the game. She is speaking to resilience, commitment, getting help, being curious and giving. Learn why messaging, relationships and financials are vital no matter what stage you are and your business is currently in. Don’t believe you need to go it alone.
Maryann is also a member of Women in Auto Care and owns smallbizvantage.com. Her biggest mistake as a new business owner was thinking she had to do it all. This is one of the reasons why her signature talk “Gain Control by Letting Go” was created.
FTR 054: Roy Schnepper – ASA Behind the Scenes
ASA Behind the Scenes. Roy Schnepper from Butlers Collision, Roseville, MI and outgoing chairman and I caught up at the annual ASA Member meeting in Dallas, TX. Find out who the new chairman is and where the Technology and Telematics Forum will be held this year.
RR 448: Larry Dragan – Life After Selling My Business – Lemon Law Expert Witness, Certified Mediator and Appraiser
Larry Dragan – Life After I Sold My Business – Lemon Law Expert Witness, Certified Mediator and Appraiser
Larry Dragan is the 2nd generation owner of Stan’s Garage founded in 1941 at Dearborn Heights, Mi. He sold his ownership to his son, Scott. He now serves as its chairman of the board. He is a member of ASA, ASE Blue Seal and IAAA (International Automotive Appraisers Association).
Larry got involved during the ’90s in the mediation of problem vehicles and served on the arbitration boards for both Chrysler and Ford. Larry still provides many services nationwide including expert witness services, Lemon Law cases, pre-purchase inspections, automotive appraisals, automotive mediation/ umpiring and automotive business coaching and development.
THA 127: Overcoming Owner Burnout
Overcoming Owner Burn Out
Endeavor into some really great smart talk on delegating, recharging and prioritizing. Things you must do so you don’t spin deep into a negative vortex.
This team dishes out solutions to staying fresh and relying on your team to help you accomplish all your goals. Find out what it took Gerry and Jon to leave the business in the hands of their team. Is it easy? Is it easy? Will you need to start slow? How do your people fit into this equation? Are they qualified? Have you prepared them? How do you handle distractions? These and many more questions answered for you right now.
Join Jon Bockman from Bockman’s Auto Care, two locations based out of Sycamore, IL, and the NAPA Auto Care Center of the year 2019, also Gerry Frank, Auto Repair Technology, Brook Park, OH and Partner in Repair Shop Coach and Jim Hayes, General Manager, Pacific Motor Service, Monterey, CA
RR 447: Jonnie Wright – Customer Service: What Are The Three Things You Want To Get Better At?
Jonnie Wright – Customer Service: What Are The Three Things You Want To Get Better At
Keeping customers satisfied is what most businesses strive for and it is what keeps them coming back.
Listen to the story of customer service from Jonnie Wright. Jonnie owns The Buyosphere. Jonnie and I get into a very deep conversation on customer service, generations, the future of phone skills, secret shopping, and reviews. Later in the episode, you will learn that the most important customer becomes the one you w
FTR 053: Judi Haglin – Do You Know The Exact Source of Your Marketing Efforts?
Do You Know The Exact Source of Your Marketing Efforts?
Judi Haglin from Haglin Automotive has a passion for numbers and marketing. She has a chance to set up why you need to track your marketing efforts and determine which give you the greatest return. She has a few great ideas on how to do it and why tracking and the numbers has helped her marketing investment pay dividends for her.
RR 446: Privacy, Data Ownership and Cyber-security Threatens the Automotive Aftermarket
Privacy, Data Ownership and Cybersecurity – Threats to the Automotive Aftermarket
Carm Capriotto with Bob Redding ASA’s Legislative representative, Frank Leutz who is the COO of Desert car care in Chandler, Arizona, and Brin Kleine who is the owner of Assured Auto Works in Melbourne, Florida. Today we discussed Privacy, Vehicle Data and Cybersecurity.
ASA has one powerful representative in Washington in Bob Redding and anytime you can get to listen and get guidance from Bob you need to invest your time. Privacy, Vehicle Data and Cybersecurity are huge topics and we covered them a lot recently and for you, knowing as much as you can will help get laws passed that will not only benefit your clients but the aftermarket.
You may be skeptical, hesitant and maybe you just don’t the magnitude of this issue. Privacy laws could potentially derail the current aftermarket shop owner’s business model due to bad legislation and confusion. As you school yourself with this episode step up and get behind the effort for privacy, data and cybersecurity.
THA 126: Firing Customers – When is it Right or Wrong?
Bottom line is firing customers is rare, however, it happens and should be for the right reasons.
With me is Joe Hanson, Gordie’s Garage, Roseville, Michigan, Jerry Kezhyaya, The Auto Shop, Plano, TX, and Doug Callaghan, Vic’s Service, Wainright, Alberta, CA
OK, you may not have ever fired a customer or you may have done it just last week. It isn’t a task you do often, however, the job of firing a customer comes with some caveats. Joe, Jerry, and Doug share with you why they would do it and suggest that you do a deep dive inside your business to see if YOU aren’t the problem.
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