RR 239: John Burkhauser – Director of Educational Programs – Bolt On Technology
What You Can Learn from Your Dentist on Setting Appointments.
John Burkhauser, the Director of Educational Programs at Bolt-On Technology has a storied career as an automotive technician and as a post-secondary automotive educator. He is finding his career path has set him up for this current job.
John says the service process really hasn’t changed in 30 years. For many shops, it is still a day of putting out fires and trying to keep one’s head above water. He has his opinions on finding techs in post-secondary schools, the importance of best practices, and insights on digital vehicles inspections.
RR 238: Greg Bunch from Aspen Auto Clinic
Is your service adviser getting forty hours of training per year?
Greg Bunch owner of Aspen Auto Clinic a five-store operation in Colorado Spring, CO tells the story on how his first branch came about. Greg tells of his best practices on how to scale for multiple locations. He shares the traits of a shop owner when preparing for expansion.
We talk consolidation, the value of quality service adviser training, what good technicians want from their shop owner, how to prepare for expansion (you need capitol), customer retention and more.
He also talks about his Transformers Mastermind group for multi-shop operators.
RR 237: Rhonda Hiltbrand – News Works Marketing Group
Does Direct Mail Newsletter Marketing Work?
Join Rhonda Hiltbrand for a frank discussion on direct mail marketing. She sees a place for direct mail and especially newsletter marketing for service professionals.
Learn why direct mail is not dead and how it blends with social media. Rhonda talks marketing ROI, the tactics behind newsletters and why we are fighting clutter every day.
She says a newsletter is a platform to talk to your customer and help you stand out among the 6,000 advertising messages we are bombarded with every day.
RR 236: Bob Cooper – Elite Worldwide
Do You Know Why the Success of your Business is Dependent on Setting Huge Long-Term Goals?
Bob Cooper, President of Elite Worldwide share his five principles of success. He explains why having BIG goals is important to personal and business success. Bob has brought his expertise to the automotive industry as a trainer and a coach. He has also spoken worldwide to many Fortune 500 companies, private banking groups, school districts, the United States Army.
Bob gets into the details on his five principles and offers a special bonus; the CEO’s job description.
RR 235: Tom Piippo from Tri-County Motors
Where does a three time ASE Technician of the Year and shop owner find a new technician?
Tom Piippo a three-time recognized ASE Technician of the Year needed to find a new technician. He decided to grow his own and found a candidate in a most interesting place. Also listen to Tom share his story of remarkable results over the last 39 years operating in a small town of 491 households in northern Michigan.
Tom was recently honored by ASA as their 2017 Alpha award winner for his generous and far-reaching contributions to the automotive service industry.
RR 234: Vic Tarasik – Major Accounts Director at RLO
What is your next calling? What are your plans after you sell your business?
After nearly 30 years of successfully operating Vic’s Precision Automotive, a fourteen-bay automotive repair facility located in The Woodlands, TX, Vic Tarasik sold his beloved shop, however, he remains active in the industry he loves.
In the interview Vic’s shares the typical challenges a passionate technician goes through in learning how to run a good business. Vic goes over five of his ten Life’s Lessons; things he learned along the way that molded him as an entrepreneur. He tells us what he is doing today that continues to bring value to the industry.
RR 233: Brian Weeks from atc AutoCenter
How can a Re-Branding Strategy Create a Total Make-Over for this Family Business and Prepare for Market Growth.
Brian Weeks and his brother Chris from atc AutoCenter in Augusta, GA bought out their Dad in 1999 and worked hard in the family transmission business. Their story is typical until they both realized that their current business model was under stress. They needed to make changes to allow them to grow and meet market demands.
Brian shares the re-branding story, and how he and his brother made the bold moves to work on their business instead of in it.
RR 232: Dennis McCarron – On Sales
Do You Have the Technique to Close More Sales?
If you sell service or tires Dennis McCarron says, “The person who controls the sales process is the listener.” Dennis brings his passion for behavior analysis to this episode that can be titled the ‘Psychology of a Sale’. You will learn a formula to improve your selling technique.
Our customer doesn’t come in wanting to buy something. It is not about your ability to sell but how skilled you are to present the solutions. If you present a product to a customer that solves three of their needs the probability is high to close.
All aftermarket organizations are sales organizations. Dennis brings a great perspective to appreciate the sales technique. This is Dennis’s second appearance on the podcast.
RR 231: Tony Tatich from TMT Complete Auto Service Center
How do you integrate a second-generation millennial into a succession plan?
Tony Tatich from TMT Complete Auto Service Center in Bremen, IN shares his view on the family business and the aftermarket from a millennials point of view.
Hear Tony talk about his Dad, the business, the industry and the future. It is a big business in a very small town.
He’s doing a lot of things right. See how many you agree with.
RR 230: Technician Round Table Part 2 -Heipp – Landry -Fanslow
What do Three Diagnosticians think about Silver Bullets, Critical Thinking and the Future of Diagnostics.
Bob Heipp, Peter Landry and Matt Fanslow, bring a big dose of their passion to the second technician round-table. This discussion generated talk on important and trending topics, that for these working techs, are important.
In this episode Bob, Peter and Matt expressed their feeling on technician pay, computer skills, augmented reality, and flat rate among others. There are over 20 key talking points. Invest in understanding how these three professional technicians and trainers look at the industry, especially the commitment to perpetual training and for creating a better and sustaining aftermarket.
RR 229: Ciara Pegoda – Leadership 2.0 – Part 3
Spotlight Leadership 2.0 the University of the Aftermarket Executive Level Course as told by Ciara Pegoda.
Leadership 2.0 is an intense and intellectually challenging two-week executive development and learning experience deeply rooted in the theoretical and practical application of automotive aftermarket leadership principles.
Listen to the inside story through the experience of Ciara Pegoda as she walks you through the intensive two week course. This is a three part series with part one the covering the first week, part two covers the course project and part three the final week and project presentation.
RR 228: Ciara Pegoda – Leadership 2.0 – Part 2
Spotlight Leadership 2.0 the University of the Aftermarket Executive Level Course as told by Ciara Pegoda.
Leadership 2.0 is an intense and intellectually challenging two-week executive development and learning experience deeply rooted in the theoretical and practical application of automotive aftermarket leadership principles.
Listen to the inside story through the experience of Ciara Pegoda as she walks you through the intensive two week course. This is a three part series with part one the covering the first week, part two covers the course project and part three the final week and project presentation.
RR 227: Ciara Pegoda – Leadership 2.0 – Part 1
Spotlight Leadership 2.0 the University of the Aftermarket Executive Level Course as told by Ciara Pegoda.
Leadership 2.0 is an intense and intellectually challenging two-week executive development and learning experience deeply rooted in the theoretical and practical application of automotive aftermarket leadership principles.
Listen to the inside story through the experience of Ciara Pegoda as she walks you through the intensive two week course. This is a three part series with part one the covering the first week, part two covers the course project and part three the final week and project presentation.
RR 226: Connected CARS Detroit May 2017 – An Overview
The Future is Now. Are You Preparing for the Future of Automotive Repair?
Held in Detroit on May 18th & 19th, 2017 and presented by ASA, Automotive Service Association, Connected CARS (Congress of Automotive Repair & Service) and organized by Donny Seyfer. This training conference brought industry trainers, automotive engineers and service professionals from all parts of North America to learn about rapidly advancing vehicle technology. Participants got an important glimpse into the world of the connected car with in-depth and detailed looks at ADAS, Next Gen Vehicle Networks and the future of diagnostics.
Listen to a compilation of seventeen of your industry peers as they discuss their reaction to this top industry event. There is no time like now to best understand the speed and gravity of technology. This conference helped serve up the enormous opportunities that lie ahead for the ‘connected’ service professional.
RR 225: Jose Gonzalez – Educator
When you have big goals, and are determined to make a difference you can do just about anything!
Jose Gonzales was a working technician for 16 years for a dealership and an independent. He always admired automotive trainers and that motivated him to become an instructor in post-secondary. While he was was teaching, Jose completed his AAS degree in automotive technology then switched to become an instructor in secondary education (high school).
As if that wasn’t enough, Jose then completed his bachelors in business administration. When you hear Jose tell the story, you’ll realize he has a master plan and his moves were calculated and resolute. He loves teaching and is preparing for even more opportunities in the future.
Jose Gonzales is an educator who is shaping our future technicians, yet he says there are challenges to get some students to move to post-secondary or college level; he explains in the interview. Jose counts Jim Morton as an important mentor to him.
RR 224: Family Business: Three Dads Point of View
Aftermarket Family Business Dynamics. The Dads Speak About Their Family Business and Their Role and Relationship with their Sons.
Service professionals Terry Beachler, Gary Pontious, Sr. and Joe Palermo discuss their family business and the relationship with their sons. Many know that family dynamics is so rewarding and can also have their challenges, however if you make it work the results are personally gratifying.
I’m grateful to the three sons for gathering their dads for this interview. There are many great talking points; traits that they share with their son, the dads’ current role in the business, who is the bigger risk taker, how they see new technology, managing the numbers, the importance of communication and trust and special advice for all family business.
RR 223: Family Business: Three Sons Point of View
Aftermarket Family Business Dynamics. Second and Third Generation Service Professionals Speak About their Role and Relationship with their Dads.
Brett Beachler, 3rd generation join second generation sons Tom Palermo and Gary Pontious, Jr. in a discussion on the family business and their father son relationship. The aftermarket is mostly lead by family businesses and many business owners are contemplating succession.
Learn how these three sons have grown up in the business and how they see their role and what their dad has taught them about leading into the next generation.
RR 222: Dwayne Myers from Dynamic Automotive
Vice Chair of CCPN is Honored as a 2017 ASE/Autocare World Class Technician
Dwayne Myers tells his story that starts in the Army and ends with the 2017 ASE/Auto Care World Class Technician Honor. It seems that everything Dwayne Myers did in his career helped pave the way to this recognition.
A partner in the four-shop operation Dynamic Automotive in Frederick County, MD, listen to Dwayne’s message that anyone can have success. He says, “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go after the great.”
Dwayne shares some great wisdom on Dynamics commitment to training and building a team. He sees a bright future for all shop owners and provides a great piece of management wisdom: ‘Never Talk Mad’.
RR 221: Bill Greeno from Quality Automotive & Smog
An Unyielding Commitment to Customer Service is Facilitated through Communication Education.
Bill Greeno from Quality Automotive and Smog in Truckee, CA and a business consultant with a focus on leadership and management is big on communication. He and his team work hard on building strong internal communication, that he says makes huge difference in his unyielding customer service.
He also believes that having a satisfied staff is pivotal to customer service success. Having a shared vision is at the core of this. Their Vision Statement is “Your Trusted Local Auto Care.” Their service related conversations revolve around their Vision Statement and it is the launch pad for discussions regarding new ideas and/or changing a policy or procedure.
RR 220: Barry Barrett & Tom Ziglar
Selling and Personal Inspiration Times Two! Join Two Sales and Personal Improvement Trainers that Speak Directly to all Aftermarket Professionals.
Barry Barret, Director of Training at RLO and a Ziglar Legacy Certified Coach and Tom Ziglar, CEO of Ziglar Inc. bring their personal improvement passion as it relates to all automotive aftermarket professionals.
We talked about ‘The Wheel Of Life’, The fastest way to success is to replace a bad habit with a good habit, how to create a perfect start to your day, Zig Ziglar stories and much more. Enjoy a very inspirational episode that could become one of your most listened to interviews.
RR 219: Nick Lenhart from Lenhart’s Service Center
Fourth Generation Millennial in Partner With His Dad Speaks to the Challenges of Succession, Debt Management and the Changing Industry.
Nick Lenhart from Lennart’s Service Center Tire Pro’s brings a very honest and transparent discussion to the table. On top of the legacy customer service that Lenhart’s is known for they are big in community philanthropy. Nick shares the story on one key tool they use to do community outreach.
Nick shares why they made a move to Tire Pros and that their move to DVI was important and rewarding. He explains the strategy he uses on social media why improving his balance sheet is important to his dad’s succession plan with him and the value he places on networking and twenty groups.
RR 218: Rick Escalambre, Educator – Trainer
We call aftermarket professionals independent and that mislabeling has a negative impact on the industry.
Rick Escalambre the 2015 Vision Educator of the Year, retired two years ago from Skyline College and is busier than ever as an adjunct professor and contract trainer.
He is an author and member of NASTF Education Committee and involved in the educators think tank at Vision KC among others.
Rick is very outspoken on licensing and having a standardized training model in post-secondary education. Among the talking points: getting involved in education, shops recruiting at the college level, and creating strong apprentice programs. This career educator will have you thinking hard about his perspectives.
RR 217: Stacia Hamp from Community Auto
Father & Daughter Team Keep their Strong Culture at the Forefront of their Shop and Get Recognized by BBB with their Highest Honor.
Stacia Hamp and her dad Eric Warrington have worked together for 13 years. They’ve forged a strong working relationship and the business has blossomed.
Stacia’s dad Eric, built the business on trust and ethics. She says dad has the heart of the business culture firmly in hand and no better tribute than in being recognized as the winner of the 2017 Northern Colorado Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Ethics in the Small Business Category.
Stacia talks training, the value DVI has brought to their business, the value of having a mentor, how dad and daughter bring their diverse personalities into a perfect focus for the business among many more key talking points.
RR 216: Dennis McCarron from Dealer Strategic Planning
Stop with the millennial Nonsense
Dennis McCarron, formerly Bridgestone’s National Management Instructor, joined Dealer Strategic Planning, Inc. (DSP) as a group facilitator and is now Executive Director.
At DSP, Dennis and his team help independent aftermarket dealers manage the financial, branding, and human resource aspects of running a business.
Dennis shares his passion on the value of twenty groups, the importance of cash reserves, the power of payroll management and suggests that it is time to embrace the millennials as great customers and employees. A solid interview with great lessons.
RR 215: Derek Kaufman from Schwartz Advisors – Business Model Transformation
Prepare for coming trends, emerging technology and business disrupters as the aftermarket prepares for the future.
Derek Kaufman, Managing Partner at Schwartz Advisors is focusing his future lens on today’s trends that will have a big impact on how the aftermarket does business tomorrow.
Will you be prepared to change your business model because car sharing, autonomous cars, augmented reality, an increasing hybrid share, multi-party leasing, among others will force you to do business differently as the future unfolds.
Aftermarket players are innovative and responsive to turn these realities into a business advantage by offering service alternative that are fully competitive with the OE shops.