RR 107: Ron Haugen of Westside Auto Pros
Meet Ron Haugen ‘The Car Guy!’ … that is his moniker at Westside Auto Pros in De Moines, IA.
Ever found yourself without a
job because a convince store chain purchased the land of the shop you were working at and were faced with getting a new job within five weeks? Did you ever do the next best thing? Go into business for yourself? As Ron says … it’s always a great time to go into business for yourself … when you don’t know anything about business!
You’ll hear Ron’s story from those humble beginnings to when he and his partner realized they both couldn’t be technicians. One partner needed to run the company. Many of my listeners can relate to the ‘short people up front’ story and many of my listeners need to listen to this story. Ron made a lot of great decisions over the years as he now has a 14 bay facility that employs 20.
Why Listen:
Listen to this successful entrepreneur tell you his two daily goals.
How the move to hire a service adviser was one of his best decision ever.
Learn about Ron’s commitment to training and that compensates his techs for training.
| Years in industry: | 34 |
| Years in business ownership: | 19 |
| Number of technicians: | 5 |
| Other team members: | A General Manager – 2 service advisers – an office manager – one Mobile Service Manager – two Mobile Service Techs – five tow truck operators |
| Annual estimated volume: | $3M |
| Other Services: | Performs roadside assistance and towing for AAA – Geico -Allstate and 12 other motor clubs. |
| Industry involvement: | Ron is chapter president for ASA Midwest – Des Moines Chapter – Is Vision Training & Expo Co-Chairman |
| Special Accreditation’s: | An AAM (Accredited Automotive Manager) |
| Trainer/Coach: | An Ami Approved Instructor. He is currently working with 7 shops nationwide providing one-on-one coaching and consulting. |
| Certifications: | ASE Master Technicians – L1 – Alternative Fuels |
| Other honors: | ASE Blue Seal Certified |
| Philanthropy: | Supports the Animal Rescue League of Iowa |
| Supplier: | Member of NAPA Auto Care Advisory |
Ron always challenges himself to look at everything they are doing right and potentially what they are doing wrong.
Visit Westside Auto Pros web site here.
Watch a short video of Ron Haugen praising his team. (Video appears on his web site)
Follow the podcast on Twitter here.
Follow the podcast on Facebook here.
This episode is brought to you by Federal-Mogul Motorparts and
Garage Gurus. With brands like Moog, Felpro, Wagner Brake, Champion, Sealed Power, FP Diesel and more, they’re the parts techs trust. For serious technical training and support – online, onsite and on-demand – Garage Gurus is everything you need to know. Find out more at fmmotorparts.com and fmgaragegurus.com
About the author, Carm Capriotto, AAP
Carm is the founder and host of the Remarkable Results Radio Podcast and the pioneer of automotive aftermarket podcasts. Carm calls on his years of experience in the aftermarket to bring engaging stories from his guests.
Listen to raw, unfiltered, honest, and sincere stories that include insights, trends, best practices, and expertise. Each interview brings an opportunity to learn one new thing through the stories of personal achievement. Many podcast guests tell their story of transformation from working in their business to working on it.
As host of over 1,000 episodes, Carm uses his enthusiasm and passion for the aftermarket especially the service sector to take his listeners on a journey showcasing successful service professionals’ paths to Remarkable Results. He also enjoys interviews with aftermarket industry thought leaders who bring their industry perspectives to his listener.
Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast listening app and always listen to learn just one thing!