Here are the two most recent episodes
The Growth Tax: What Every Shop Owner Must Pay to Move Forward [THA 449]
This episode is all about transformation: how coaching, mindset shifts, and strategic decisions can take a shop from survival mode to real growth. Matt Wagg opens up about his journey from being coached by Bill Haas to becoming a coach himself, and the lessons learned along the way about leadership, profit, and purpose.
Key Takeaways:
Coaching Works: It paid for itself almost immediately and pushed Matt into changes that fueled growth.
Listen for Real: True success starts with listening, not just to reply, but to understand.
Differentiate Everything: Even oil changes can be a premium service when properly communicated.
Profit Fuels Growth: Embrace profitability to invest in tools, reward your team, and scale.
Owner’s Mindset: Step out of the bays and into leadership with a clear job description.
Leadership = Responsibility: Owners carry the weight of their team’s livelihoods—accountability matters.
Teaching to Learn: Coaching others deepened Matt’s own understanding and perspective.
And this is only Part 1! Next time, we’ll dive into systems—because “systems win wars.”
remarkableresults.biz/a449
Practice What You Preach: Coach Chris Cotton’s Shop Ownership Experience [RR 1055]
Chris Cotton’s latest venture into shop ownership puts his coaching philosophy to the ultimate test, and the results speak volumes.
Episode Highlights:
Shop Acquisition and Rapid Payoff: Despite once saying he’d never own a shop again, Chris purchased Firestone of Durango about a year ago, calling it “too good of a deal to pass up.” Planned as a three-year owner-financed purchase, he paid it off in just six months.
Profitability and Growth: With a 31% net profit (compared to the industry average of 5–8%), the shop’s success reflects the very systems Chris teaches.
Advertising and Expansion: Spending roughly $10K per month, Chris follows his mantra: “Advertise for the shop you want to be, not the shop you are.” He prioritizes Local Service Ads (LSAs).
Operations and Staffing: Chris rejects the idea of a “technician shortage,” noting great shops attract great people.
Coaching in Action: Chris practices what he preaches: action based learning, accountability, and focusing on fundamentals like proper pricing before chasing more customers. For owners eyeing an eventual exit, he advises cleaning up financials 3–5 years in advance and building a business that thrives without daily owner involvement.
remarkableresults.biz/e1055
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THA 046: Revving Up Your Business Culture | AMi Credit
Building a strong business culture can be one of the hardest things a business owner can do yet the most rewarding.
It is one of the key principles in the business that you cannot touch. It’s the soft stuff. For many, it is tough to get your hands around it. This academy panel does a great job explaining culture and shows you many ways to implement and lead it.
The power of a strong business culture can be one of your biggest differentiators as a business and a strong reason you attract top talent.
RR 285: Ryan Blair – Blair Automotive
Super Growth rate of 40% Has Its Challenges to Expense Control and Cash Flow.
Ryan Blair of Blair Automotive is a highly honored Audi technician and worked at an Audi dealership for eight years before deciding to start his own Audi/VW specialty shop.
As an independent, he has brought a high level of differentiation and a better than dealer experience to his customer. His new location was a perfect ground zero for his increased sales.
We find Ryan with big growing pains and a huge scale up when he moved into his new 12 bay facility. He has no regrets to get the shop where it is and admits he stretched and has personally guaranteed his expansion. Ryan has the perfect outlook and is building a strong business long into the future.
RR 284: Women In Auto Care Honorees
Women In Auto Care Honor Their Own.
The 2017 Honors for Auto Care Woman of the Year Laura Soave, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Federal-Mogul Motorparts, Female Shop Owner of the Year, Carolyn Coquillette, owner of Luscious Garage in downtown San Francisco and Auto Care Woman of Excellence, Jill Trotta, the Director of Automotive Group at Repair Pal.
The WIAC connect, empower and mentor women in our auto care industry. In 2017 they provided educational scholarships worth $65,000. More on that inside this fun and inspiring episode.
THA 045: Installing Customers Parts – A Discussion | AMi Credit
This panel’s perspective is meant to excite a dialogue, to present ideas and concepts to support your decision or to inspire you to take a stand; one way or the other.
This topic is a worthy discussion because of the growth rate of e-commerce part availability, transparency in pricing, and ease of self-diagnosis on the internet.
At risk can be your reputation based on the quality of part being installed. You own the cause of their concern. This panel has not gotten one new great customer from ever installing parts for walk-in customers.
RR 283: Bob Rodriguez – Legacy Industry Trainer
Bob Rodriguez is a legacy aftermarket professional who spent 18 years as a technical training instructor and the training manager at Robert Bosch in Broadview IL. Bob was instrumental in finding better ways to provide training that went beyond the ‘beer and pretzels’ evening offerings by some vendors at the time’.
Bob drops a lot of names and organization he’s worked with and for. He’s worked for a number of well-known Tier 1 and aftermarket companies (including Bosch, Lincoln Technical Institute, ASE, Mopar CAP and others) and has chaired training committees for a wide-ranging group of aftermarket associations.
RR 282: Jennifer Maher from TechForce – Technician Shortage – Solution Update
Moving Forward With a Solution to the Technician Shortage
Jennifer Maher, CEO and Executive Director of Techforce Foundation in her second interview on the podcast brings you the important updates to the Future Tech Success Campaign.
She outlines how you can help and explains the value of the iHUB repository of information, data and resources you will need to help at the grassroots level.
Discover the outcome of the case study done in the Phoenix school system. Learn how due diligence on our education system will make waves for the future technicians that are in the education system now.
All of us who earn our living in the aftermarket must get involved. Find important links to ‘raise your hand’ to help on the show notes page.
THA 044: The Importance of Back Office Operations – Part 1
The Power Center of your Business is in the Back Office.
In this Part One Amy Mattinat, Jacquie Walter Hower, Maryann Croce and Kim Auernheimer discuss controls, operations and accounting/finance.
Highlights: Cash accountability, bank statements, trust and verify. The three stages of a business and the power of communication. With good systems, you can find where any breakdown occurred. Also discussed is team buy-in, QuickBooks, keeping good records, budgeting and cash flow.
RR 281: Auto Care Impact Award- Four For The Future 2017
Impact Award Honoree’s In 2017 Share Their Aftermarket Story.
The Auto Care Association annually honors four aftermarket professionals, age 40 or younger, who have made remarkable contributions to the auto care industry. The Impact Award: Four for the Future, was created in 2010 and is administered by the Auto Care Association Marketing and Communications Committee.
The 2017 award winners are Sarah Shelstrom from Integrated Supply Network, Katina Wall from STP at Spectrum Brands, Kyle Byrne from the Merrill Company and Chris Pacey from National Performance Warehouse.
We talk about the impact of technology, the elephant in the room, insights, recruiting talent into the industry and the trends they see affecting the aftermarket.
RR 280: Eric Svedberg and Rex Cate from Automotive Specialists
Shop Owner Shares His ‘Grow Your Own’ Technician Training Program
Eric Svedberg from Automotive Specialists in Virginia Beach, VA is in the AAPEX 17 studio with his millennial technician Rex Cate. The conversation gets deep into the recruitment of Rex (he worked at Panara), his training program, his annual review, and how Eric is integrating Rex into his business.
Now four years into the training program there are no regrets on either side. Rex says that there are many millennials like him out there looking for a chance.
THA 043: Book Club – Favorite Books That Have Made Me A Better Leader/CEO
Books That Have Made Me a Better Leader and CEO
Harry Truman said, “Not all readers are leaders but all leaders are readers.” Our Academy panel will share with you the books that have impacted them. They’ll explain their big take-a-ways that have impacted their lives both personal and business.
Many service professionals, that have shared their story on the podcast, credit books as an important resource for building their knowledge on leadership, business culture and personal growth.
RR 279: Wheat Ridge High School STEM Program – Auto Shop on Steroids
Where did high school auto shop class go? Into the STEM program at Wheat Ridge High School.
A college-level program at the high school level is challenging 80 students to learn design, manufacturing, marketing, media, electrical, welding, fabrication with a competitive will to win as a collective team.
An exciting a refreshing look at how just one high school STEM program is making a difference that could one day engage students to join the automotive industry. This group has won the challenge twice in the last three years.
They are also working on a two-person NASA Mars vehicle that must fold up into a 5x5x5 foot space.
RR 278: Emerging Technology – How Will the Aftermarket Prepare – Service EDU @ AAPEX17
Trends, Current Issues and Outlooks On the Future of the Service Sector
Shop owner Ryan Clo, Trainer Dave Hobbs and Diagnostician Matt Fanslow share their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges that make up the dynamic and changing aftermarket.
Don’t miss the discussion on training, business models, technician pay, business culture, specialization, and the changing role of the shop owner.
THA 042: Impacting a Difference For Those Struggling For Success
The Power of Peer To Peer Help.
When you commit to helping a struggling service professional you help lift all ships. The tough part is starting the engagement. When a shop owner asks for guidance that is the first step to really make change. The teacher arrives only when the student does.
It is very altruistic in nature to help a colleague. These actions help the entire industry. Marginal operations contribute to a negative image problem. A stronger independent service industry brings strength to the industry and compounds success.
Together everyone blossoms and grows as servants to the motoring public. This episode shares a few examples and starts to write the action items you need to take to build a stronger aftermarket.
RR 277: Andy Bizub from Midwest Performance Cars
There Should Never Be A Year That You Don’t Make More Than The Year Before.
Andy Bizub purchased Midwest Performance Cars in Chicago, IL after 25 years as a commodity trader. He was a customer of Midwest and needed a change in his career, so he purchased the Porsche, BMW, Audio specialist.
His love of cars and his passion to build a growing successful business eclipsed his lack of experience in the industry. Andy shows that being a good CEO and leading your team to greatness is what it takes to be successful.
Andy is the perfect example of taking a commitment to culture, relationships, leadership and problem solving and transforming a business that is adding its second branch.
RR 276: SPARK 2017 at AAPEX
Building The Future. Three Intense Days Showcase The Global Automotive Aftermarket.
Tyler McCartney, Nicholas Holton, Christopher Berry and Zach Rizo were four of the ten collegiate level students that were provided an unprecedented immersion into the aftermarket at the start of their careers, all because of SPARK.
As the entire aftermarket faces the need for young talent to join our industry, this interview shows the power of the SPARK Program to showcase career opportunities. These students got to see the global aftermarket on display and understand the economic impact on our economy.
Listen to the gems of wisdom from our future leaders.
THA 041: The Value of Knowing Your Customers Observable Behavior (DISC) | AMi Credit
Become A Better Communicator By Learning The Power Of Observable Human Behavior.
Kim Auernheimer, Shari Pheasant and Jeremy O’Neal bring their wealth of knowledge using the DISC profiles in their businesses. You need to understand that DISC is an evaluation of your four basic behaviors. There is a science element to our discussion but don’t let that get in the way of this very powerful communication tool.
The value of knowing your DISC and how to discover your customers or co-workers behavior traits and then communicate in their basic way is the power of this lesson. Once you know them the world is your oyster because you can now start to converse with them in their language, not yours.
RR 275: Chris Chesney – Sr. Director Customer Training – Carquest Technical Institute
Are You Committed to Be A Lifetime Learner In The Automotive Aftermarket? Learn Why It Must Be Your Most Important Goal.
Chris Chesney is the Senior Director, Customer Training at the CARQUEST Technical Institute and explains that our great aftermarket has its best days ahead, however, the challenge is going to take many people, teams and organizations working together to formulate solutions as we prepare for the largest wave of technology and consolidation we’ve ever seen.
Chris explains that all successful technicians and shop owners know …. that you must be committed to being a lifelong learner. If not … you’re in the wrong profession.
RR 274: Bill Hanvey and Bill Long / Co-Chair of AAPEX 2017
AAPEX Co-Chairs Share the Educational Value and Networking Power of this Premier Global Event
AAPEX is co-owned by The Auto Care Association and Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA). Bill Hanvey is president and CEO of Auto Care and Bill Long, AAP is president and COO of AASA.
You’ll hear about the evolution in education for the service professional and the highlights for diagnostics training and technology for 2017. Bill and Bill share many of the reasons to attend AAPEX and their strategies to keep pushing the technology envelope since we are now a technology industry.
Mobility park and ServiceEDU are discussed along with a few behind the scenes stories that will give you a high appreciation for the enormity of this project. This is the Expo and Conference not to be missed each year.
THA 040: The Extreme Value in Doing a SWOT On Your Business
The Power of Performing a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunity, Threats) Review of Your Business.
Join Maryann Croce, Greg Bunch and Murray Voth for a wide-open discussion on the power and value doing a SWOT on your business. These three aftermarket professionals know the worth and outcome of a well-done SWOT.
Involve your team, assign priorities to the outcome and create a timeline to do the things discovered in this exercise. You are creating a strategic plan to best prepare your company for doing business in today’s market and into the future.
Go to the show notes page for this Academy episode #40 to download support tools.
RR 273: Technician Round Table Part 3 -Heipp – Landry -Fanslow
Wide Open Discussion from Three Aftermarket Technicians on Technician Pay, Benefits, Training and MORE!
Matt Fanslow, Bob Heipp and Peter Landry openly discuss some very hot and touchy subjects that effects all aftermarketer’s.
Besides technician pay and benefits, other talking points cover the commitment to forever training, getting paid for diagnostic time, ADAS, mandatory technician certification, their view of the technician shortage, and is there enough GOOD training available.
This discussion is not without its very strong perspectives that will challenge thinking and maybe convert an outlier.
RR 272: Marcus Marchegger from Capital Automotive
Have You Turned Your Passion Into Your Business WHY?
Marcus Marchegger’s career as a shop owner didn’t take the traditional path. It included working for a friends shop right after college, real-estate, dealership’s and being a mortgage broker. With a new wife and baby, he had a long commute and became a stay at home dad.
His wife knew of his passion for the automotive and together they found and purchased Capitol Automotive in Carson City, NV.
Marcus takes you through the early days and some of the early regrets. We all have them. A smart, passionate people person who wants nothing more than to help people be safe and make sensible decisions about their cars.
From floor sweeper to mortgage broker to shop owner. An interesting pathway to being a service professional.
THA 039: Eight Ways To Recruit and Build Your Team | AMi Credit
When was the last time you actively recruited qualified candidates to fill your bench strength?
Kevin Vaught, Business Development Coach from Elite Worldwide, Ryan Blair from Blair Automotive and Robert Sexton from First Tire and Automotive bring their strategies, tactics and ideas to the discussion.
We cover networking, building your pipeline of qualified candidates, and your people as recruiters. They all agree that recruiting is a long game that needs daily attention. You must invest the time.
We talk about marketing efforts and being involved in secondary and post-secondary education. Many more great ideas and gems of wisdom from the Academy panel who make recruiting a ‘must do’ piece of their responsibility to their companies
RR 271: Jim Morton – Aftermarket Trainer and ATC Educator
Shop Owner Turned Mobile Diagnostician and Post-Secondary Instructor Loves To Teach Our Future Technicians.
Jim Morton from Morton’s Automotive Technical Services (MATS), and educator at the Automotive Training Center (ATC) in Warminster, PA has a BIG passion for training.
Jim is a sought-after national aftermarket trainer at expos around the country including NACAT, CARS, TST Big Event, VISION KC, Automechanika, and ASA. In October 2017, he taught a diagnostics class at the ASA-PA Super Saturday event and we were able to sit for this interview.
Jim is so genuine and thankful for the opportunity to be an educator in the aftermarket and for ATC. He has impacted many students and helped professionals over the years. He is proud to have the students tell him years later that he really knows what he was talking about! Strange how that happens and better to hear it firsthand from a former student.
RR 270: Leon Anderson from Integrity Auto Care
Shop Owner Finds The Holy Grail of Shop Success: Training.
Leon Anderson from Integrity Auto in South Beloit, IL credits training and more training for his success. It wasn’t always like that. He now provides hundreds of hours a year in training for his technicians and service writer.
Catering to women and baby boomers this WIX Filters’ Driving Performance Award Winner in 2016 says he hires people for their head, heart and hands. Integrity is not just the shop’s name but it is what they practice every day.
He credits his business coach and management seminars in improving his business success. He says the DVI system helps the sales process and that written goal posters are important to Leon and his whole team.
THA 038: Is the Goal to Bring Cars Into the Bay or Clients Into the Business?
Are you viewing your client and their car as one?
There are too many disruptions in the industry that drives big reasons to hold strong relations with your customer. Understanding your customer and their vehicle as ‘one life condition’ is the foundation of this Academy discussion.
Jeremy O’Neal, Greg Buckley and Jason Malo discuss the power of moving from transactional to ‘relationship holding values’.
They say future technology will minimize the number of calls that come in the shop, therefore, you cannot see the vehicle without seeing the customer. It must be personal.
There are plenty of cars to repair, and you must maximize your staff’s training and extract their intelligence to move your business to new heights and even into other markets. They conclude that the culture of the shop creates the clients.
RR 269: ASA-Pennsylvania ‘Super Saturday’ – Training Event
Business Management and Technical Training Converge at ASA-PA Super Saturday Event.
This single day event in Warminster, PA featured a technician and business owner training track for east coast aftermarket professionals. Modeled after the TST Big Event and Vision Kansas City, you’ll get a behind the scenes feel with the Chairman and co-chairmen as they talk about the need and value of continuous training.
On top of this formative interview catch, all the names that are dropped and see the show notes to find interviews from the trainers, vendors and shop owners that have their own interview on the podcast.
RR 268: Scott Wheeler from Automotive Consultants Group
Let’s Do Some Math on the Foundations of a Million Dollar a Year Shop.
As a 36 years industry veteran and he’s been a business coach for the last 17 Scott Wheeler holds numerous ASE credentials and we jump into some extremely important topics of discussion that will have you engaged and shaking your head slowly up and down as you will relate to many of our key talking points.
Don’t shy away from the financial discussion. These are some of the most critical topics for a successful business. Life is a big math problem and we do some of it here.
From the tech shortage to learning leadership qualities and the extreme importance of good financial statements Scott Wheeler covers a broad range of important aftermarket subjects.
THA 037: Multiple Labor Rates & Matrix Parts Margins in your SMS
Multiple Labor Rates Can Make A Shop Competitive Depending On Jobs. It Is Easy To Set Up Parts Matrixes On Your SMS.
A big fear in our industry is we fear someone questioning our price. We need to be proud of why and what we do. We must understand the value we do for our customer.
Understanding how parts matrix’s work in your SMS and understanding the strategy behind it will improve your parts margins overnight. Also, parts pricing transparency in the industry may change parts margins in the future.
Become the CEO of your company and you’ll start to see the differences in your sales, costs and profits when you pay attention to what the CEO must do for the company.
RR 267: Brian Bates from Eagle Automotive
Your Business Model Needs to Be Fluid and Flexible as Tech and Business Transformations Abound.
Brian Bates from Eagle Automotive in Littleton, CO is a multi-store operation where the strength of his business culture and leadership is based on firm values and integrity.
Brian points out that leaders are not born and being a great leader can be learned. Studying leadership is your most important role as a business owner. You must learn how to be a great leader. He’s built his business based the relationship he has with his team and how they function as an organization. He says, “Customers can feel that.”
An early adopter of Digital Vehicle Inspections a member of the NAPA advisory team and his local Business Development Group has helped influence his business success.
RR 266: Patrick McHugh from Bimmer Rescue, Richmond, VA
Customer Avatar, Art Shows, Student Automotive STEM Classes are just a small part of this Unique Specialty Shop.
Patrick McHugh from Bimmer Rescue in Richmond, VA took a few twists and turns in his career before starting Bimmer Rescue. Patrick shares the unlikely evolution from jet pilot to shop owner.
He is a strong marketer and big thinker. From the days of working on the neighbor’s toasters to tinkering with a 1985 BMW Patrick’s path to service professional was paved with his love of how things worked.
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