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 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.
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.
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
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.
RR 445: Cash Management with Chris Cotton
RR 445: Chris Cotton – On Cash Management
My guest Chris Cotton is a business coach and helps shop owners understand the fundamentals of money and the decision-making behind it. He helps us manage our cash and how to set aside money obligations.
Chris’s AutoFix SOS coaching company is. His experience as a former shop owner relates to the struggles of shop owners to maximize their profits.
If you have ever wanted to know where your money goes, ever had a tough time paying your bills, meeting your tax obligations, or ever held cashing your paycheck because you knew it will bounce; this podcast is for you.
RR 444: Technician Round Table – Part 7 – Professionalism and More – Heipp – Landry – Fanslow:
Technician Talk 7 – Professionalism and More
This outspoken trio wonders how professionalism is bred, how it starts and how it can be compartmentalized. Everyone must step up and set the bar high for others to emulate and follow.
My guests for Tech Talk 7 are Bob Heipp, Peter Landry and Matt Fanslow. These guys also wonder why shops that are not equipped to service certain vehicles advertised that they can. Some shops lack professionalism. Let’s face it, some shops advertise what they can do even if they are ill-equipped to do it.
They say that Shops need to get OE level service information to best understand how to repair the most common brands that they see in their bays.
RR 443: Jill Trotta – Survey Results – The Best and Worst Metro Cities for Car Repair
Jill Trotta Best and Worst Metro Cities for Car Repair Survey
My guest is Jill Trotta. She is the Vice President for Industry Advocacy and Sales at RepairPal. We talked about the surveys that pointed out which metro cities are best for car repair. This is based on factors like average repair order, road quality, average labor rate among others.
The survey talked about the statistics and information about car repair. You will learn the best and the worst cities for repairs according to the survey. The survey also pointed out which cities are most affected by the technician shortage.
RR 442: Joe Register – What are the Puts and Takes In Servicing Advanced Technologies
What Are The Puts And Takes In Servicing Vehicles Equipped With Advanced Technologies And Automated Driving Functions – ADAS
Vehicular data is important for various reasons ranging from collisions to communications and safety. With the advancement in technologies and improved automated driving functions, data and vehicle information is vital to the future of the aftermarket.
My guest is Joe Register who is the Vice-President Emerging Technologies at Auto Care. This is his second interview. His first episode was episode 381 which talks about SVI (Secure Vehicle Interface). In this episode, we discuss the technologies and features that keep consumers safe. With a focus on calibration and self-calibration, we speak to the vehicle data privacy and the investment in ADAS calibration training and equipment among others.
RR 441: Geek Talk 2.0 Part 4 – Can Our Data Be Used As a Benefit to Others and Us?
In their fourth installment of Geek Talk 2.0. This episode took an interesting path as Greg brought his perspective on AAA. Chris talked about AI, Bill has his thought on his suppliers and Karim talked about the importance of data ownership.
Your panel- Greg Buckley from Buckley’s Personalized Auto Care Willimgton, DE Chris Cloutier from Golden Rule Auto Care, Dallas, and CEO of Autotex.me, Bill Nalu Interstate Auto Care, Madison Height, MI and Karim Morsli, Winkler Automomotive in Gaithersburg, MD.
RR 440: Bill Hanvey – Ownership of Vehicle Telematic Data Must Flow to the Vehicle Owner
Amending Legislation for Telematic Data Ownership – RR 440
My guest is Bill Hanvey, President and CEO of the Auto Care Association. Bill is engaging the automotive aftermarket to get involved in letting your legislators know the issue about data. Your help is needed to help in amending the right to repair legislation. Learn everything you can about this fight to amend the right to repair legislation. Ownership of Vehicle Telematic Data Must Flow to the Vehicle Owner.
Do you know that a car collects data as you drive? By 2022, 87% of new vehicles will be transmitting telematic data wirelessly. But who owns the data? The car manufacturer does. Without access to data, the independent service professional will not be able to get specific diagnostic data from the vehicle.
RR 439: Safety Training in the Workplace – Charlie Ayers with CCAR
Safety Training in the Workplace – RR 439
Become educated on the importance of OSHA and HazMatt training. You’ll not want to be on the short end of the stick as it relates to your responsibilities in these areas.
With me today is Charlie Ayers the President of CCAR — Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair. Charlie is truly a wealth of knowledge on Safety/HAZMAT Training when it comes to OUR Automotive Repair and Collision Industry. CCAR is the only OSHA Alliance Partner that deals specifically and only in the Automotive Industry. Charlie is also involved with Skills USA
You’ll learn about OSHA training requirements, CCAR’s involvement with Skills USA and the importance of safety in the workplace.
RR 438: My New Shop – From the Ground Up – Doug Callaghan
From the Ground Up – The Challenges of Building a New Facility
Building a new facility can make or break you. So many variables and decisions to consider not to mention the added issues, and problems which will be laid on the table. Confidence with an architect, your banker and your contractor makes a huge difference.
Doug Callaghan shares the story of his new build. He is the CEO of Vic’s Service Centre in Wainright, Alberta Canada. His new building has new features which include a training room among the wired and wireless bays. He built it with customer retention in mind and now he is reaping the benefits of being able to serve his customers to the best of his capabilities.
RR 437: Recruiters Round Table with Kyle Holt & Jay Goninen
Recruiters Round Table with Kyle Holt & Jay Goninen
Ever have the need for a new team member? Trying to hire a technician. Concerned about losing a top performer? You are not alone and in fact, this is one of the toughest challenges service professionals face. We’ve done many podcasts on this theme and when I can get two experts on who has their finger on the pulse of this issue, you benefit.
Jay Goninen is president of Find A Wrench, which is a recruiting service used by shops around the country to assist them in finding Technicians. Jay’s company purchased a popular niche job board called FindAMechanic.com. Jay has a passion for promoting the industry and the many talented people we work with, and to be a voice for the ‘tech’those who don’t like to promote themselves.
Together Kyle and Jay will give you some recruiting tips, talk about recruitment, the biggest competitors for talent and growing your own.
RR 436: Brad Beeston – Building a Reputation Online
Building a Reputation Online
Back in the day where yellow pages, print ads, billboards and TV rule the marketing world, now it is almost irrelevant. It is not completely gone but it will be. We are experiencing an influx of all digital marketing. Marketing technology, Influencers and Data Science now rule the marketing scene. We are observing demographics, page ranks, reviews and so much data to gain advantage over the competition.
Brad Beeston an account executive at Podium brings some very key insights to your online reputation and some tactics behind managing it.
RR 435: Young Careers In The Making – Automotive College Student Panel at CarFest 2019
Young Careers In The Making – Automotive College Student Panel at CarFest 2019
This episode with Ashlynn Poole, Cheyanne Keith, and Michael Wheeler is proof that Carfest is doing some great things by reaching out to automotive colleges to further enhance the awareness of independent aftermarket professionals. These students volunteered and worked hard in their assigned bays working with professionals to further engage their technical hunger.
There are some huge learning moments for you as you’ll hear what is on the mind of potentially the kind of young new hire you will make in the not too distant future
CarFest is a production of the Community of Automotive Professionals (CAP); a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the improvement and revitalization of both the automotive industry and South Texas communities. They have done a tremendous job in going to secondary schools to raise awareness and motivate our youth to volunteer and learn how to become a tech in the industry.
RR 434: Training Talk – Daytime vs. Night Time Training | ASE Certification | Instructors and Students
Training Talk – Daytime vs. Night Time Training | ASE Certification | Instructors and Students
Experience the insights of a Tech and Automotive Instructors talking about the difference between Day and Night training along with ASE certifications and Training from Schools on how to keep students engaged through balanced lectures and hands-on experience with a few visuals!
Our Tech Talk Panel guests include Marty Depowski is an Automotive Instructor of Wayne County Community College, Michigan; David Myers is an Automotive Instructor, Southwestern Community College, North Carolina; and Dwayne McCarty is a Technician of Martins Garage, Ft. Myers, FL.
RR 433: The Importance of Third Party Credentials | Creating a Learning Culture in Your Business
The Importance of Third Party Credentialing and Having a Learning Culture in Your Business.
You are a professional in the automotive service aftermarket. You know your stuff, you are smart, accomplished. You put your knowledge to use every day. Ever decide to have a third party provide you the professional credentials to verify your practical abilities? Twenty percent of our industry has their credentials so I’m talking to the eighty percent that don’t.
This episode with Trish Serratore, Senior Vice President of Communication at ASE and ASE and Jeff Peevy, President of AMi is a departure from what testing is and will help you understand the value in credentialing. Credentials are becoming more important than ever, and prove to customers and your shop owner you know what you’re doing.
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 431: Sara Fraser – The Power of Social Media for Automotive Professionals
Sara Fraser – The Power of Social Media for Automotive Professionals
There are a lot of trends happening on social media in the past couple of years. Understanding these trends can give us a competitive advantage and hashtags plays an important role especially on Facebook and Instagram. This episode will help you better understand the power of social media and some of the tricks that will make it work for you.
Sara Fraser has over 15 years of retail management experience, the last 6 of them as an office manager for a used car sales and service center. To bring her customer service, marketing, and business knowledge to the automotive industry she has recently joined the team at Haas Performance Consulting.
RR 430: Jennifer Filzen- What Dancing Taught Me About Running a Successful Business
Jennifer Filzen- What Dancing Taught Me About Running a Successful Business
A very interesting discipline that incorporates how you lead and how you strategize your life and business as a whole. Imagine learning the principles of dancing to improve your aftermarket success
Jennifer Filzen, from Rock Star Marketing, is here talking about her new book ‘What Dancing Taught Me About Running A Successful Business”. I was fascinated to hear how she connected dancing to being a strong leader and entrepreneur. I think she nailed it. So if you would like some self-help introspective don’t go anywhere.
We are talking about Clarity, confidence, certainty, teamwork, timing, and technique. Do you want your team, at the shop to move like poetry in motion? You’ve come to the right place.
RR 429: Family Succession Part 2 – Parents on their Daughters Succession Plan
Family Succession Part 2 – Parents on their Daughters Succession Plan
Welcome to the second installment of Family Succession. Learn how parents mold and develop their children to take the helm of the company after they retire. Hear the discipline, methods and strategy each owner is using as they embark on this important journey of succession.
I’m with Judy Zimmerman Walter, a second generation owner of Zimmerman’s Automotive; Jim Paiva, Owner of Elite Auto Repair; and Jeff Matt, owner of Victory Auto Service and Glass. They are the proud parents of Jacqui Hower, Carly Paiva, and Lauren Anderson of Family Succession Part 1, Episode 401.
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.
RR 427: Vin Waterhouse – You Should Have the Highest Payroll in Town, Not the Lowest
You should have the highest payroll in town, not the lowest.
A generation ago the shop owner didn’t need to know the numbers. How the world has changed and in this episode with Vin Waterhouse, as with all my discussions with business consultants and coaches, will push you to make the important changes that will catapult you from having a hobby or job into a career that rewards you for your hard work
Vincent Waterhouse, President and Founder of The Waterhouse Group, an automotive Accounting, Training, and Coaching company shares his strategy for business climate based on today’s changing business models.
Vin has over thirty years of experience in the automotive aftermarket. His specialty is working with auto repair shop owners to help them earn the profits they deserve.
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.