Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care, NAPA TRACS and Automotive Management Network

Recorded at the 45th annual Mobile Air Climate Systems Conference (MACS 2025) in Orlando, Florida, discover the importance of NASTF in bridging the gap between OEs and independents. Donny Seyfer also shares insights on empowering teams, today’s technology impact, and the importance of mentorship.

Donny Seyfer, NASTF, Listen to Donny’s previous episodes HERE.

Show Notes

• Watch Full Video Episode
• MACS Training Event & Trade Show: https://macsmobileairclimate.org/
• National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF): https://wp.nastf.org/
• Koura: https://www.kouraglobal.com/
• Honeywell: https://www.honeywell.com/us/en
• NASTF (00:00:00)
• Donnie’s Career Background (00:02:56)
• Memorable Experience with STEM Students (00:03:19)
• New Product Development Announcement (00:07:18)
• Challenges in Product Development (00:08:41)
• Optimism in Facing Challenges (00:09:15)
• Team Collaboration in Writing (00:12:25)
• Hiring for Strengths (00:12:34)
• Balancing Roles as a Visionary (00:13:01)
• Importance of Language in the Industry (00:14:25)
• Changing Habits in Language Usage (00:15:29)
• Pivots in Business Strategy (00:20:03)
• Impact of Technology (00:22:38)
• AI in Communication (00:23:53)
• Time Management Strategies (00:26:59)
• Finding Your Zone (00:28:13)
• Dream Cars and Personal Projects (00:29:02)
• Creating a Safe Work Environment (00:32:43)
• The Power of “I Don’t Know” (00:33:39)
• The Power of Mentoring (00:35:46)
• Mentors at Different Levels (00:36:35)
• The Secret to Finding Mentors (00:37:20)
• Peer Mentoring (00:38:12)
• Personal Insights (00:38:21)

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care, NAPA TRACS and Automotive Management Network

Learn more about NAPA Auto Care and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care

NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/

Get ready to grow your business with the Automotive Management Network: Find on the Web at http://AftermarketManagementNetwork.com for information that can help you move your business ahead and for the free and informative http://LaborRateTracker.com

Connect with the Podcast:

-Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/

-Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club: https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmasters

-Join Our Private Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976

-Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriotto

-Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/

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-Visit the Website: https://remarkableresults.biz/

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-All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books

-Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom

-Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm

-Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections

The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com/

Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion. https://remarkableresults.biz/

Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/

Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/

The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level. https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/

The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix – Auto Shop Coaching. https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/

Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O’Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. https://craigoneill.captivate.fm/

Thanks to our Partners, Shop Boss, and 360 Payments

Recorded at the 2024 Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario (AARO) Business Management and Lindertech Training Trade Show, Donny Seyfer from NASTF highlights the increasing complexity of vehicle systems, security concerns like vehicle theft, and broader issues such as employment and the right to repair.

Donny Seyfer, NASTF, Listen to Donny’s previous episodes HERE.

Show Notes:

• Watch Full Video Episode
• Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario (AARO): https://www.aaro.ca/
• Importance of Embracing Complexity (00:00:26)
• Vehicle Theft and Security (00:01:01)
• Challenges in the Industry (00:01:35)
• Right to Repair Evolution (00:01:53)
• Preparation for Vehicle Repairs (00:03:15)
• Embracing Complexity for Professional Growth (00:04:21)

Thanks to our Partners, Shop Boss and 360 Payments

Shop Boss – Shop Management Software built by shop owners for shop owners. It works the way you need it to, right out of the box. Find on the web at https://shopboss.net

Connect with the Podcast:

-Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/

-Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club: https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmasters

-Join Our Private Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976

-Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriotto

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-All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books

-Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom

-Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm

-The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com

-Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections

The Aftermarket Radio Network

Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion

Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.

The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.

The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix – Auto Shop Coaching.

Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.

Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O’Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Auto Care

Recorded at the 2024 Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario (AARO) Business Management and Lindertech Training Trade Show, Carm sits down with Donny to explore his pivotal role at NASTF and his experiences working with automakers like Tesla. Donny shares behind-the-scenes insights on NASTF’s technician support initiatives, their impressive membership growth, and the innovative solutions they’re implementing to support automotive technicians.

We dive into Donny’s personal journey, his passion for the automotive industry, and the critical role of good business management in ensuring the success of repair shops.

“The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) is a 501 C6 not-for-profit organization established in 2000 by Automakers and the independent aftermarket to identify and resolve gaps in Service information, Tool Information, and Training.”

Donny Seyfer, NASTF, Listen to Donny’s previous episodes HERE.

Show Notes

• Watch Full Video Episode
• Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario (AARO): https://www.aaro.ca/
• Overview of NASTF’s Work (00:01:17) Donny discusses his responsibilities at NASTF and the importance of technician support.
• Technician Connection (00:02:09) Donny expresses his passion for helping technicians solve problems in the automotive industry.
• Growth of NASTF (00:02:39) Donny highlights the increase in NASTF membership from 6,000 to 43,000 members.
• Funding and Operations (00:03:02) Discussion on NASTF’s funding model and its impact on operations for technicians.
• Listening and Gathering Information (00:04:23) Donny explains how he gathers information from industry members through subcommittees.
• Challenges with Automakers (00:06:08) Donny talks about the disconnect between aftermarket technicians and automakers.
• Collaboration with Tesla (00:07:15) Donny shares his experience in establishing a relationship with Tesla regarding repair initiatives.
• Implementation of Security Solutions (00:08:57) Discussion on the development of security solutions for Tesla vehicles.
• Building Relationships with Rivian (00:10:36) Donny mentions ongoing collaboration with Rivian to improve security features.
• Future Projects (00:11:29) Donny outlines upcoming projects and initiatives NASTF is working on.
• Scan Tool Validation Program (00:11:52) Introduction of a program aimed at validating aftermarket scan tools for security..
• Key services in repair shops (00:18:03) Exploration of the role of vehicle security professionals in service repair.
• Importance of key cutting in shops (00:19:19) Insight into the necessity of key cutting machines in repair shops for customer service.
• Car theft statistics (00:20:18) Revelation of alarming statistics regarding car thefts linked to dealer interactions.
• Advice for young adults (00:23:19) Donny shares fatherly advice on financial responsibility and managing phone distractions.
• Economic education for kids (00:24:24) Discussion on the lack of financial education for youth and its implications.
• Donny’s leadership roles (00:26:47)
  Overview of Donny’s extensive involvement with ASA and his family’s legacy in the industry.
• Industry collaboration and growth (00:30:14)
  Discussion on the need for better business management and collaboration in the automotive industry.
• Joining NASTF (00:31:21) Information on how to join NASTF and the benefits of membership for technicians. https://wp.nastf.org/

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Auto Care

Learn more about NAPA Auto Care and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care

Connect with the Podcast:

-Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/

-Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club: https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmasters

-Join Our Private Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976

-Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriotto

-Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/

-Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/

-Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RResultsBiz

-Visit the Website: https://remarkableresults.biz/

-Join our Insider List: https://remarkableresults.biz/insider

-All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books

-Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom

-Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm

-The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com

-Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections

Donny Seyfer. AMAM, the executive officer of NASTF (National Automotive Service Task Force)

Donny spent years as co-owner of Seyfer Automotive, in Wheat Ridge, CO as a 3rd generation owner, and has over 30 years of automotive experience as a technician, manager and service consultant. His Dad started in 1961 and his grandfather was building race cars before that. Donny is past chairman of ASA and serves on many industry boards and committees. Listen to Donny’s previous episodes HERE.

The National Automotive Service Task Force, NASTF, is a cooperative effort among the automotive service industry, the equipment and tool industry and automotive manufacturers.

Click HERE to Join NASTF. 

Key talking points

• NASTFChanging operational strategy
• Tight, secure, proven- creating methodology
• Giving technicians access
• Get cars repaired- the owner of the vehicle is a mutual customer between manufacturers and aftermarket
• SDRM- secure data release model available to the aftermarket- access to immobilizer, pin codes, radio codes and keycodes when needed for repair
• The requirement for VSP (vehicle security profession): Commercial general liability
• Technicians have to be covered by insurance and have a business involved
• Holding technicians accountable for their skillset   Proof of employment, federal employer ID for business and driver’s license- all publically available information
• Assisted Immobilizer Reprogramming- soft launch access vehicle over the internet around 250,000 shops and 750 mobile diagnosticians in US
• Collectively 25% have capabilities and equipped to do so
• Stopgap as more technicians become IT capable
• Capabilities for mobile diagnosticians to legally and securely connect to vehicles remotely without having to be there
• Right to repair- everyone has access but how efficient is it? Certain skills and cost of entry to do some limited operations have outrun industry
• How do you rationalize spending $8,500 on a scan tool you’ll only use once a year?
• NASTF went live with the program with 2 remote companies who have their licensing in place and one mobile company that was willing to work through the details with us.
• Licensing of the software- NASTF has already had 4 meetings with automakers, mobile techs, and remote companies to gain an understanding of the needs and requirements

• Thanks to Donny Seyfer for his contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
• Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page, highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
• Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Podchaser, and many more. Mobile Listening APP’s HERE
• Find every podcast episode HERE.
• Every episode is segmented by Series HERE.
• Key Word Search HERE.

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Join the Ecosystem – Subscribe to the INSIDER NEWSLETTER HERE.

Buy me a coffee

Gold Certification recognizes top-tier NAPA Auto Cares with a high level of participation in the AutoCare program. The program was built by AutoCare Centers for AutoCare Centers to provide a consistent consumer experience, maximize technology leverage, and reward NAPA’s most committed partners. In other words, Gold Certified AutoCare Centers are the standard-bearers for the AutoCare brand nationwide. Simply put, the Gold Certified NAPA AutoCare program, powered by your local shop brand, will separate you from the rest helping you boost your bay counts and your average repair orders.

Learn more about NAPA AutoCare, Gold Certification, and the hundreds of other benefits the NAPA family has to offer by talking with your servicing NAPA store or visiting www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Discussion topics will include:

• Best practices for securing customer data,

• Benefits for repair shops offering key duplication services,

• Discussions of key duplication and programming equipment

• Why security exists

Panel:

• Donny Seyfer, National Automotive Service Task Force, NASTF Executive Officer, Connecting the Independent with the OEM, Your connectin to the automakers
• John Forro, AVI Master Technician
• Jeffrey Brown, Automotive Sales Manager at Ilco
• Ryan McGee, Automotive Product Specialist, at Ilco

NASTF

• The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) is a cooperative effort among the automotive service industry, the equipment and tool industry and automobile manufacturers (OEMs) to ensure that automotive service professionals employed outside the OEMs franchise system have the information, training, and tools needed to properly diagnose and repair today’s high tech vehicles.

https://aviondemand.com/keyprogramming/

Donny Seyfer the executive officer of NASTF (National Automotive Service Task Force) and Partner in Seyfer Automotive in Wheatridge, CO. Listen to Donny’s previous episodes HERE.

Jeremy O’Neal President and lead sales trainer for Advisorfix, began his career as a Service Adviser and moved into Service Management at the dealership level for VW, Audi, and Porsche. He consistently placed in the top 3% of Service Advisors across the nation.

With a passion for helping others, Jeremy started coaching Service Advisers in 2007. Jeremy also owns an independent auto repair shop Freedom Auto Repair in Hesperia, CA. Previous episodes HERE. Link to Advisorfix HERE.

Danny Sanchez is owner and founder, of Auto-shop Solutions and grew up spending countless hours working around his dad’s auto repair shop in California, eventually taking over and running the business himself. Auto-shop Solutions started in 1998 when Danny founded Auto Web Solutions.

The Internet was starting to take off, and Danny took great interest in the powerful marketing benefits it could provide. As a successful shop owner himself, Danny used Auto Web Solutions to consult with other repair shops on their business practices and web presence.

In 2005, when Google launched Ad Words and changed its search engine to favor local businesses, Danny saw a huge opportunity for the automotive industry to draw more clients from the Internet. With just a handful of clients and a few websites, Danny built the foundation of his company – quality, affordable, automotive websites and Internet marketing solutions, designed exclusively for the auto industry. Check Danny’s previous episodes HERE.

Jim Silverman is the Director of National Accounts for ATI Automotive Training Institute. Listen to Jim’s previous episodes HERE.

Talking Points:

• Danny SanchezSo many shop owners’ succession plan is to close the doors. It is sad to see
• There are many shop owners willing to sell that opens up opportunity for growth to a multi-store operation
• Donny SeyferIf your exit plan is that they are coming to take me away in the ambulance
• If you don’t plan you’ll lose successors
• If the business can’t be run by anyone else, then you have to rethink your priority
• It takes a small workforce to fix big problems.It takes experiential knowledge and the proper tools
• Own the fleet as a transportation company. Work on your cars
• Repair vehicles that are in the Touro program
• ADAS calibration center will need a collision feed, the right location, training and a larger investment in calibration tools/equipment. There is a window of opportunity to get in 
• Jeremy O’NealFix the car right the first time
• What are your most profitable jobs? Market to them
• Jim SilvermanWhen do you want to retire?
• If you want a premium for your hard work. Look for about 2 to 3 times EBITDA (Earning Before Income Tax Depreciation and Amortization)
• Have you told your successor that you plan on them taking it over?
• You need a succession plan for your succession plan
• Every interview you make should have a successor in mind
• Standard Operating Procedures must be created and followedAlso, create an SOP to keep the business going. Passwords. Taxes paid. Payroll done etc
• Hire a successor that is better than you
• Business model: Rent some bays at an office building parking ramp

Resources:

• Thanks to Donny Seyfer, Jeremy O’Neal, Jim Silverman and Sara Fraser, and Danny Sanchez for their contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
• Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
• Love what we do, buy a cup of coffee HERE.

Be socially involved and in touch with the show:

Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email

Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Podchaser and many more. Mobile Listening APP’s HERE

Join the Ecosystem – Subscribe to the INSIDER NEWSLETTER HERE.

Buy Carm a Cup of Coffee 

This episode is brought to you by AAPEX, the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo. AAPEX represents the $740 billion global automotive aftermarket industry and has everything you need to stay ahead of the curve. With 2,500 exhibiting companies, you’ll see the latest products, parts, and technologies for your business. As a result, the event also offers advanced training for shop owners, technicians, warehouse distributors (WDs) and auto parts retailers, as well as networking opportunities to grow your business. AAPEX 2020 will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3 through Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas. Therefore, more than 48,000 targeted buyers are expected to attend, and approximately 162,000 automotive aftermarket professionals. They will be from 135 countries which are projected to be in Las Vegas during AAPEX 2020. For information, visit aapexshow.com

Donny Seyfer the executive officer of NASTF (National Automotive Service Task Force) and Partner in Seyfer Automotive in Wheatridge, CO. Listen to Donny’s previous episodes HERE.

Jeremy O’Neal President and lead sales trainer for Advisorfix, began his career as a Service Adviser and moved into Service Management at the dealership level for VW, Audi, and Porsche. He consistently placed in the top 3% of Service Advisors across the nation.

With a passion for helping others, Jeremy started coaching Service Advisers in 2007. Jeremy also owns an independent auto repair shop Freedom Auto Repair in Hesperia, CA. Previous episodes HERE. Link to Advisorfix HERE.

Danny Sanchez is owner and founder, of Auto-shop Solutions and grew up spending countless hours working around his dad’s auto repair shop in California, eventually taking over and running the business himself. Auto-shop Solutions started in 1998 when Danny founded Auto Web Solutions.

The Internet was starting to take off, and Danny took great interest in the powerful marketing benefits it could provide. As a successful shop owner himself, Danny used Auto Web Solutions to consult with other repair shops on their business practices and web presence.

In 2005, when Google launched Ad Words and changed its search engine to favor local businesses, Danny saw a huge opportunity for the automotive industry to draw more clients from the Internet. With just a handful of clients and a few websites, Danny built the foundation of his company – quality, affordable, automotive websites and Internet marketing solutions, designed exclusively for the auto industry. Check Danny’s previous episodes HERE.

Sara Fraser is a millennial who has a love for life, travel, and connecting with other humans! She 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.

Sara loves helping others grow and succeed and is excited to share her expertise on management and social media, her views on how and why the younger generations think and act, and how to work and manage a business within a multi-generational workforce. When she isn’t working Sara spends her time traveling, attending theatrical productions, music festivals, concerts, advocating for human and animal rights, celebrating life in general and connecting with other people from all over the world. Look for Sara’s previous episodes HERE.

Jim Silverman is the Director of National Accounts for ATI Automotive Training Institute. Listen to Jim’s previous episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points:

• Overall CommentsNot what they earn but what they keep
• Build an invisible paycheck for each team member. Let them see the total cost to the company
• Service advisors need to have a comp plan to reward their success
• The company needs to have a strong profit in order to make this work
• Fear is false evidence appearing real
• Incentive pay ideasCompensation plans must conform to state and federal labor guidelines
• Training
• ASE
• Comebacks
• Complete inspections
• Bonus rates can be based on the number of hours they can bill
• To millennials, the invisible paycheck is an expectation. So important to create one
• Link to Town Hall Academy- Paying Your Technicians $100K per Year
• Sara FraserThe work needs to be there to increase pay
• Are we selling all available hours?
• Technicians and service advisors must be on the same page for similar rewards as they work together to sell the labor inventory
• Danny SanchezActive marketing is necessary to bring in new clients
• You lose 3% of your clients each year. They move. They Die.
• Referrals should be your #1 tactic to grow new customers
• Build the opportunity to thrive in so your team can be big earners
• Selling 40 hours per week should not be your goal. It should be more
• 40 hours per person cover your base costs
• Less than 3% of the pool of technicians coming into the industry. A very small number
• Emotional maturity is lower. 18 is the new 16
• Learn how to split income from base income and opportunistic income
• Donny SeyferHaving a 30-year career at one place is not going to be the norm
• NASTF – The Road to Great Technicians
• We raise our technicians with a wide but narrow scope
• We don’t hire our future techs as interns. We must change that
•  42 % of students that get through the program do not make it past two years in their initial jobs. We don’t do a good job of integrating them into our industryThey push a broom or work on the lube rack for too long
• Young people in our industry want to be involved in something that matters
• Donny says there isn’t a technician shortage. There are too many bays from marginal shops.
• You need to run a better business. Become a business person. Stop being a tech
• We need to look at 5th grade to discover our tactile learners
• A great mentor would be the person who is the latest who’s been through the program. When you teach you learn  
• Jeremy O’Neal$48.08 per hour to earn $100K
• It gets increasingly hard to hire against larger companies. We are losing the top talent to the bigger companies who can provide a stronger benefit plan
• Quote from Matt Fanslow: “We expect our technicians to be smart enough to fix today’s cars but be dumb enough to accept our pay plan.”
• Willing to charge a fair price for the business
• Your labor force is tough to duplicate and unique to your shop
• Based on your profit targets you can calculate what your labor rate needs to be
• It doesn’t matter what your competition charge
• Actual production is key
•  He is tracking Average Time of Repairs
• Labor guides are just a guide 
• Pay PlansTop producers will do full inspections and document them
• Fix the car right the first time
• Jim SilvermanYour culture is why people come to work for you and why they stay with you
• You provide everything your people need to have a fruitful life at work and at homeIt says I want you here
• A good mix for parts to labor is 50/50
• ASCCA has a program in San Diego for an independent track in post-secondary at Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, CA. See this episode: https://remarkableresults.biz/remarkable-results-radio-podcast/e364/
• Train on doing complete inspections. You’ve got to be consistent in what constitutes a quality complete inspection

Resources:

• Thanks to Donny Seyfer, Jeremy O’Neal, Noah Frank, Danny Sanchez, and Sara Fraser for their contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
• Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
• Love what we do, buy a cup of coffee HERE.

Be socially involved and in touch with the show:

Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email

Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Podchaser and many more. Mobile Listening APP’s HERE

Join the Ecosystem – Subscribe to the INSIDER NEWSLETTER HERE.

Buy Carm a Cup of Coffee 

This episode is brought to you by AAPEX, the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo. AAPEX represents the $740 billion global automotive aftermarket industry and has everything you need to stay ahead of the curve. With 2,500 exhibiting companies, you’ll see the latest products, parts, and technologies for your business. As a result, the event also offers advanced training for shop owners, technicians, warehouse distributors (WDs) and auto parts retailers, as well as networking opportunities to grow your business. AAPEX 2020 will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3 through Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas. Therefore, more than 48,000 targeted buyers are expected to attend, and approximately 162,000 automotive aftermarket professionals. They will be from 135 countries which are projected to be in Las Vegas during AAPEX 2020. For information, visit aapexshow.com

Donny Seyfer the executive officer of NASTF (National Automotive Service Task Force) and Partner in Seyfer Automotive in Wheatridge, CO. Listen to Donny’s previous episodes HERE.

Jeremy O’Neal President and lead sales trainer for Advisorfix, began his career as a Service Advisor and moved into Service Management at the dealership level for VW, Audi, and Porsche. He consistently placed in the top 3% of Service Advisors across the nation.

With a passion for helping others, Jeremy started coaching Service Advisors in 2007. Jeremy also owns an independent auto repair shop Freedom Auto Repair in Hesperia, CA. Previous episodes HERE. Link to Advisorfix HERE.

Danny Sanchez is owner and founder, of Autoshop Solutions and grew up spending countless hours working around his dad’s auto repair shop in California, eventually taking over and running the business himself. Autoshop Solutions started in 1998, when Danny founded Auto Web Solutions.

The Internet was starting to take off, and Danny took great interest in the powerful marketing benefits it could provide. As a successful shop owner himself, Danny used Auto Web Solutions to consult with other repair shops on their business practices and web presence.

In 2005, when Google launched AdWords and changed its search engine to favor local businesses, Danny saw a huge opportunity for the automotive industry to draw more clients from the Internet. With just a handful of clients and a few websites, Danny built the foundation of his company – quality, affordable, automotive websites and Internet marketing solutions, designed exclusively for the auto industry. Check Danny’s previous episodes HERE.

Sara Fraser is a millennial who has a love for life, travel, and connecting with other humans! She 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.

Sara loves helping others grow and succeed and is excited to share her expertise on management and social media, her views on how and why the younger generations think and act, and how to work and manage a business within a multi-generational workforce. When she isn’t working Sara spends her time traveling, attending theatrical productions, music festivals, concerts, advocating for human and animal rights, celebrating life in general and connecting with other people from all over the world. Look for Sara’s previous episodes HERE.

Noah Frank, ESQ, enables businesses to excel under increasingly regulated and taxing environments while protecting them from harmful litigation. He is a trusted partner to a variety of businesses, such as manufacturers, professional services, restaurant chains, medical practices, importers, contractors, and closely held companies.

As a member of the Labor & Employment Practice Group, Noah provides practical and thoughtful advice, strategy, and solutions in a full range of employment, corporate, and workers’ compensation matters. He provides comprehensive labor and employment counseling on compliance, policy implementation, and risk mitigation of wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, leave interference and retaliation claims, including under the FLSA, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, OSHA, NLRA, Worker’s Compensation, unemployment, and state and local laws.

He provides advice to cannabis businesses on their employment practices. Previous episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points:

• Sara FraserMillennial workforceThey get picked on for being sensitive. They just will not tolerate things that they deem insensitive
• Don’t take their phone away from then. It is their connected world
• They respond to transparency
• Do what you say
• Generation Z are the baby babyboomers 
• Your shops should be human-friendly, not women-friendly
• Danny SanchezIf you are working on cars you need to minimize your distractions
• You need to have employment agreements and policies
• You need a handbook 
• It has only been recently as shops have cleaned up, become women-friendly. (See Sara’s comment above)
• We take care of everyone in our community not just women, men or color 
• Being professional on the inside is as important as how we ‘professionally’ present to our customer
• The small operator model will evolve, but not by standing still
• Noah FrankHaving a handbook is a must in any business
• Donny SeyferThe younger generation may come to work for you because you have rules
• Learn about the generation you are going to hire. Don’t fight it
• It takes time to move out of the center of everything in the businessYour customers want to talk to you. You have to delegate
• If you love to tech, you can find enough help in the industry to be your ‘board of directors’ to guide you in how your business can grow
• Jeremy O’NealAdvertising + Reputation = Sales
• Is not a fan of direct mail
• As a consumer: Time is more valuable than money
• He wants the client to share their experience with the world
• He like stories of their experience to be posted
• He spends on Uber and Lyft into the 5-star experience for his client
• The scorecard refreshes, so you need to have a constant flow of reviews
• He looks at the percent of reviews based on the number of clients each week
• He loves YELP
• When a customer comes in that found his shop via Yelp. He challenges his team to give a 5 Star Experience
• Peoples and processes create profits

Resources:

• Thanks to Donny Seyfer, Jeremy O’Neal, Noah Frank, Danny Sanchez, and Sara Fraser for their contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
• Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
• Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.
• Love what we do, buy a cup of coffee HERE.

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This episode is brought to you by AAPEX, the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo. AAPEX represents the $740 billion global automotive aftermarket industry and has everything you need to stay ahead of the curve. With 2,500 exhibiting companies, you’ll see the latest products, parts, and technologies for your business. As a result, the event also offers advanced training for shop owners, technicians, warehouse distributors (WDs) and auto parts retailers, as well as networking opportunities to grow your business. AAPEX 2020 will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3 through Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas. Therefore, more than 48,000 targeted buyers are expected to attend, and approximately 162,000 automotive aftermarket professionals. They will be from 135 countries which are projected to be in Las Vegas during AAPEX 2020. For information, visit aapexshow.com

Donny Seyfer the executive officer of NASTF (National Automotive Service Task Force) and Partner in Seyfer Automotive in Wheatridge, CO. Listen to Donny’s previous episodes HERE.

Jeremy O’Neal President and lead sales trainer for Advisorfix, began his career as a Service Advisor and moved into Service Management at the dealership level for VW, Audi, and Porsche. He consistently placed in the top 3% of Service Advisors across the nation.

With a passion for helping others, Jeremy started coaching Service Advisors in 2007. Jeremy also owns an independent auto repair shop Freedom Auto Repair in Hesperia, CA. Previous episodes HERE. Link to Advisorfix HERE.

Danny Sanchez is owner and founder, of Autoshop Solutions and grew up spending countless hours working around his dad’s auto repair shop in California, eventually taking over and running the business himself. Autoshop Solutions started in 1998, when Danny founded Auto Web Solutions.

The Internet was starting to take off, and Danny took great interest in the powerful marketing benefits it could provide. As a successful shop owner himself, Danny used Auto Web Solutions to consult with other repair shops on their business practices and web presence.

In 2005, when Google launched AdWords and changed its search engine to favor local businesses, Danny saw a huge opportunity for the automotive industry to draw more clients from the Internet. With just a handful of clients and a few websites, Danny built the foundation of his company – quality, affordable, automotive websites and Internet marketing solutions, designed exclusively for the auto industry. Check Danny’s previous episodes HERE.

Sara Fraser is a millennial who has a love for life, travel, and connecting with other humans! She 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.

Sara loves helping others grow and succeed and is excited to share her expertise on management and social media, her views on how and why the younger generations think and act, and how to work and manage a business within a multi-generational workforce. When she isn’t working Sara spends her time traveling, attending theatrical productions, music festivals, concerts, advocating for human and animal rights, celebrating life in general and connecting with other people from all over the world. Look for Sara’s previous episodes HERE.

Noah Frank, ESQ, enables businesses to excel under increasingly regulated and taxing environments while protecting them from harmful litigation. He is a trusted partner to a variety of businesses, such as manufacturers, professional services, restaurant chains, medical practices, importers, contractors, and closely held companies.

As a member of the Labor & Employment Practice Group, Noah provides practical and thoughtful advice, strategy, and solutions in a full range of employment, corporate, and workers’ compensation matters. He provides comprehensive labor and employment counseling on compliance, policy implementation, and risk mitigation of wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, leave interference and retaliation claims, including under the FLSA, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, OSHA, NLRA, Worker’s Compensation, unemployment, and state and local laws.

He provides advice to cannabis businesses on their employment practices. Previous episodes HERE.

Talking Points:

• Donny Seyfer:We are spending too much time on the wrong stuff
• Some of the work we do is going away. The glass is emptying.
• There is a big glass that is starting to fill up with other repair opportunities
• When booking an appointment online it makes it difficult to schedule shop workflow Book what your average R/O time is. If you average 4 hours per R/O book that much time for an on-line appointment especially if you don’t know the customer or the vehicle 
• Jeremy O’NealThere are untraditional methods to get customers in the shop
• Old school thinking will not get customers in today
• Our job is about helping people not selling them. We must help people
• 4 out of 10 the transaction is digital. No calls.
• Jeremy finds Yelp as an asset for his businessLove it or hate it
• Accounts for ½ of his volume for $375/month
• Be open to newness
• Customer check-in kiosks are not gaining traction
• The quicker Jeremy responded to an online request the more leads he got
• Danny SanchezDVI helps you present the work that is needed.The service advisor edits the old handwritten list and DVI helps from editing
• Present everything to the customer. We advise not edit
• The customer needs to know everything the vehicle needs
• DVI is not a replacement for the Service Advisor
• We are the experts, why put the power of fixing customers cars in their hands. Kiosks will not work!
• Mobile friendly is a key component in your website
• Sara Fraser, a millennialThere are 150 Million Millennials and Gen Zers
• Gen Y and Z have spent $2,300 in the past 5 years on car repair.
• 55 and older have spent $1600
• She wants to make an appointment on-lineWants a reply within 24 hours or less
• She lives in an app-based world
• Tell me when my oil change is due
• Learn to execute on a time convenient for the customer
• Generation Z is thinking a lot differently than Millennials (Gen Y)Educated and will check with YouTube before they come in
• They want to do business via technology, mobile, appointments
• Our new generations want customer service or the experience to be great, uncompromising. If not they will tell their group of friends and spread it through their influence network
• If she texts to your she wants that method of communication back.
• Noah FrankAs a consumer, I don’t want administrative stuffMake it easy to engage me. If I complete the online form, why do I have to do it again when I arrive?
• Bring me the human element for my repair. A therapist.



Your Learning Curve Never Sounded So Good

The Panel:

Donny Seyfer, AMAM,  is co-owner of Seyfer Automotive, in Wheat Ridge, CO and the Executive Officer of the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF). Donny Seyfer, a 3rd generation owner, has over 30 years of automotive experience as a technician, manager and service consultant. His Dad started in 1961 and his grandfather was building race cars before that. Seyfer Automotive provides general repair and maintenance with a special focus on diagnostic. Donny is past chairman of ASA and serves on many industry boards and committees. Listen to Donny’s previous episodes HERE.

Rob Rowsell, shop owner, owner of Family Auto Service a four shop group in the La Mesa, CA area. Author of the book ‘Addicted To Life’, How I Went from Homeless to Extraordinary Success and Happiness in a Short Period of Time. Find a link to Rob’s book on the book page on the website HERE. Listen to Rob’s previous episodes HERE.

Mark Roberts is the owner of Roberts Properties, Inc, Managing Partner of Total True Automotive dba Schertz Auto Service, Craftsman Building and Renovation LLC. He is also partnered with a Local Custom Home builder. Mark is also the former owner of Auto Collision Works. He grew up in Schertz and has been a resident since 1969.

Mark also serves on the Board of Directors of Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative, Guadalupe Valley Home Services Corporation, and the Guadalupe Valley Economic Development Corporation. Listen to Mark’s previous episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points:

Mark Roberts

• Prioritize – Decide on what’s important, then focus.  Limit distractions. I don’t have any email or social media alerts turned on. My phone stays on silent or dnd most times.
• Trust and empower your staff (delegate)   
• Clear your head – Write things down to get them out of your head. I use an app (Remember the Milk) for most daily things. Do it, Delegate it, defer it or drop it.
• Exercise – There are lots of benefits to this.

Donny Seyfer

• How, when and how long are the best to learn new things
• Filters our brain automatically sets to ignore what we either don’t want to hear or don’t understand
• Neural pathways, what they are and how to mow the lawn on them.

Rob Rowsell

• What’s your system for breaking down the mountain of actionable items you get from this type of an event? If you don’t have a system, it’s likely not much will get done. Selecting 3-5 items that are most important, that must get done before moving to the other items on the list is a great strategy.
• WOIT = Working on it Tuesdays! has been a great strategy for making sure that the items that are at the “helicopter level”, the items that only I can do, do not get forgotten, or unintentionally ignored. We have all heard the term “Working ON my business, not IN my business”, this is the day/time dedicated just for that. This is uninterrupted “Maker” time, as compared to “Manager” time.  
• Set realistic, measurable quarterly goals. This will also apply to what education you have the time to absorb. Your coach can help you with this. It amazes me how people overestimate what can be done in 3 months, and underestimate what can be done in a year. Writing down and reviewing what’s most important to get done this quarter, and then breaking that down to what of those items you can knock out each week, and really attacking the portion of the list that is “maker” time on Tuesdays will really help you in “moving the ball down the field”. The results will astonish you!
• Make sure to have someone on your team that can take away the $10.00 per hour items on your list. The value an owner brings to the table can be minimized by the overloading of tasks that can be assigned to an assistant, or outside vendor. Anything that is $50.00 an hour work, or less, should be delegated to someone else. This is helicopter level thinking, The value we bring to the table is $500.00 an hour (and above) work. Although this may be foreign to some, beginning to think like this will start the process. I used to think that I had to take out the trash to set the example for my people, little did I know I was hurting them by not working on the things that really made a difference for the company they work for.

Resources:

• A special thanks to  Donny Seyfer, Rob Rowsell, and Mark Roberts for their contribution to the aftermarket.
• Books Page HERE
• Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.
• Subscribe to a mobile listening app HERE.
• Subscribe to a mobile listening app HERE.
• Refine your area of interest with the Word/Tag Cloud HERE.

Donny Seyfer the executive officer of NASTF  (National Automotive Service Task Force) and Partner in Seyfer Automotive in Wheatridge, CO. Listen to Donny’s previous episodes HERE.

Chris Chesney is the Senior Director of Customer Training, CARQUEST Technical Institute, and a NASTF board member and a member of the ‘Road To Great Technician’ project.  Listen to Chris’s previous episodes HERE.

Jill Saunders is Curriculum Developer, Toyota Motor Sales, North America and a member of the ‘Road To Great Technicians’ project. Listen to Jill’s previous episodes HERE.

Kyle Holt is the President of S/P2 (sp2.org). S/P2 serves businesses and career tech schools in the automotive service, collision repair, heavy-duty/diesel, welding, construction, cosmetology, and culinary industries. S/P2 is used by over 175,000 students and employees every year across North America. Listen to Kyle’s previous episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points:

• “There is nothing like a crisis to pull everyone together.” Donny Seyfer
• The entire industry needs to participate in growing and keeping technicians. Dealers are having the same challenge.
  • Churn is not good or acceptable to grow our industry.
• Losing a key technician can cause a big gap in revenue. Finding someone if you are behind the eightball is an expensive problem. Growing talent beforehand and on-going will
• Toyota needs 1400 technicians per year to keep their dealer network supplied. Aftermarket heeds this.
  • Military veterans are a consideration for Toyota.
• It starts at the dinner table. We need to get the word out to everyone who wants to listen.
• When kids are involved in a STEM class and or a youth automotive program they will cross-pollinate their friends. We need to get them involved so we can gain that advantage. Just one tactic to build it from the entry level.
• There is a video game to work on cars now.
• We need to remodel how we educate our students (all trades) from an outcome-based education to a more competency-based or master of a skills-based education system.
  • Give the student to move when they are ready not as a project group.
• Career pathing is to have all students to have the same competencies. All they would have to learn about their new employer is their culture.
• Industry and education need to be attached at the hip.
• Mentoring will be a big part of this plan.
  • We’ll never find mentors if they don’t know how and are paid appropriately.
  • Find a mentoring program at SP/2. Go to SP2.org, send an email and ask for the mentoring system. It is in beta.
  • We need the structure from a mentoring program, but outlining a career path is as important to the next generation of technicians.
• Career-pathing is an industry problem.
  • Entry level technicians need to know how to move up to B tech and A tech and what other directions, such as parts, service.
• Competencies must be identified across the entire industry.
• In the early ’70s, ASE helped keep the government at bay and to engage industry and to create a standard to gauge the knowledge-based of the technician.
• We need to get an electrical diagnosis as simple as righty tighty lefty loosey.
• The industry needs to take its rightful place to support ASE and education.
• The educators need the tools to teach the competency-based skills.
• NASTF’s goal is to connect everyone.
  • There are multiple initiatives going on across the country.
    • Mentoring, Apprentice programs everywhere.
• Service Quality Specialist is a new program being developed by Toyota
  • Creating a new role. Their highest level is Toyota Master Technician (TMT)
  • Make their TMT a salary position so they can mentor and coach technicians. This position will monitor the quality of work they do.
• Our technicians are being poached by other industries that need technicians.
• The entry-level technician developed by NASTF
  • Top shop operators looked at the outline and asked to adopt that person. In other words, they felt the outline was a home run.
• The FAA model of competency may be a perfect choice moving forward. How does it get done is the challenge. The technician gets a new certification from, for example, ASE.
• Jill Saunders is in charge of the Skills USA competition. We can learn from Skills USA which is a hands-on competency based test for secondary and post-secondary students.
  • As an industry, we can support it at a local industry
  • Students also are learning soft skills, like interviewing and writing a resume.
  • Not all who come in our industry do not have support from home.
  • We need to be there to lift the instructors, students and provide ‘in-kind’ donations and support to these institutions who are molding our future technicians.
• The onslaught of technology is putting us at risk because all of that technology is focused on safety. Who’s watching? NHTSA. (Safety and Cybersecurity) We need to get our act together before the government gets involved.
• The collision industry has been told that they will need to have a quality technician working in their shops because of the high tech nature of collision repairs. Consider that the collision industry will be looking to find the best technicians in the industry.
  • There is an opportunity for mechanical shops to partner with collision shops to support their diag needs and mechanical work.
• ADAS technology has the training industry and equipment industry up in arms over what it takes for calibration of ADAS systems.
  • The supplier of the technology in concert with the OE creates the calibration specifications.
  • You must read and have the willingness to follow the directions and the discipline to read all of the OE specs.
  • Technical reading skills will become an important part of training.
  • You must follow OE directions to the letter.
• We need to support education to a higher degree than we’ve been doing. Industry and education must align.
• Anthony Williams has a dream of building PTECH (pathways to technology) School in Colorado Springs. A six-year public high school in partnership with public schools and the automotive industry. Need to build a consortium to build the school.
  • Will include project-based learning models (STEM/STEAM)
  • No traditional classrooms.
  • Will have English, Math and History weaved into projects.
  • Automotive Technology, Business, and Engineering will be the areas of focus selected in their sophomore year.
  • The three R’s: Rigor, Relevance to the automotive industry, Relational (working together in partnership)

Resources:

• Join NASTF (National Automotive Service Task Force) Link to NASTF.ORG
• Thanks to Donny Seyfer, Chris Chesney, Jill Saunders, and Kyle Holt for their contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
• Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
• Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.

Be socially involved and in touch with the show:
Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email    Events    Speaking

This episode is brought to you by Federal-MogulMotorparts 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



Talking Points:

• A very important episode to listen to. The NASTF interview from Vision 2018: ‘The Road to Great Technicians’ Episode 312
• Just In Time. Came from the manufacturing
• If you are waiting for the car to show up to lean you are in trouble, you can’t expect to make any money when you are learning in the service bay.
• It is not fair to the customer if you are learning core competencies.
• But you have to learn in the service bay because many of the problems you come across you have never seen before.
• Core competencies are critically important.
• We need an approach to structured education.
• You can interpret Just in time learning is not an excuse for knowing core competencies.
• We need a structure for consistent for real education.
• Do not use Just In Time learning as an excuse not to have structured education.
• Managing your time is critical to profitability. So if core competencies are not ingrained in the tech assigned to the job will affect your profitability.
• The concept of triage in assigning work inside the shop considers the competencies of the technician that is assigned a particular job.
• As we attempt to keep up with technology we are falling further behind on core skills because we are not spending enough time in class or in labs so we can put that training to practical use in the bays.
• A tricky part is teaching technicians where to find specific information and if they have the core skills they can be viewed as a rocket scientist.
• The Road To Great Technicians. NASTF is creating a way to determine the competencies in the fundamental skills for the job you’ve hired for.
• Just In Time Training can include a YouTube Video on the task you need to do because you learn about a specific task through a Service Support Resource. -Mark Saxonberg
• The industry must cue up resources to make it easy for technicians. -Mark Saxonberg. This is an example of what Just In Time Learning should be.
• The real opportunity to improve the business process is that the tech knows what they do not know.
• To have the knowledge and tool is what being Service Readiness is all about.
• A well-run shop with a schedule allows a tech to know what they need to prepare for a vehicle because research could be done by anticipating the challenge.
• Much of this problem is because there is a lack of processes in shops.
• It can start with the root of onboarding with new techs. There is hardly any onboarding that exists in our industry. Here is your bay have a go at it.
• The Service Advisor is a critical component of this issue.
  • They need the skill set on who to assign the job to be based on the expectations that were set by the customer. Challenge is to do the job right the first time.
• Many Service Advisors are also brought on without a great onboarding process. Many SA’s go through Just In Time training at service counters all across North America.
• Estimate: How many shops are service ready for the vehicles they service?
  • 10% or lower.
• Define Service Reediness: Being prepared to service a vehicle before it shows up in your bay. That may be just 5% of the shops are ready. That demonstrates the power of having the core competencies as a foundation.
• The future may have specialists in certain disciplines, such as:
  • Data Network Specialists.
  • An electrified vehicle specialist
  • A 3 Phase AC motor generator specialist
• In the Car Quest program the program ‘Virtual Vehicle’ helps the customer understand systems but also helps to enable the Service Advisor learn systems to sell services.
  • You don’t need to be a tech to sell service but need to understand the system.
• The service advisor needs to know the capabilities of each tech.
• A learning culture needs to be in place at every shop.
• Your processes must include Service Ready Resources and training, so you can deliver and meet your customers’ expectations.
  • Must set the standard of performance for your people.
  • Don’t rely on a silver bullet data based to repair vehicles
  • Don’t rely on a resource of public opinion to guide them in their diagnostics.
  • They should rely on resources with the experience and education through foundation skills with ongoing training.
  • A program such as Car Quest’s Virtual Vehicle can support your Service Ready strategy.
  • More shops and technicians need to take it to the next level of commitment.
• Any professional shop needs to aspire to be Service Ready.
• The industry needs a model for technician development to demonstrate core competencies.
• Don’t make Just In Time Learning as just an excuse not to go to training because you can get it at your fingertips because you need the details and the knowledge and expertise to know when to apply them.

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The National Automotive Service Task Force, NASTF, is a cooperative effort among the automotive service industry, the equipment and tool industry and automotive manufacturers. 

There is no cost to participate in NASTF. If you are a professional auto service technician, shop owner, OEM service employee or any other automotive industry professional supporting the mission of NASTF, please enroll here on our website. Click HERE to Join NASTF.

Mission & Vision

Mission: The National Automotive Service Task Force will facilitate the identification and correction of gaps in the availability and accessibility of automotive service information, training, diagnostic tools and equipment, and communications to automotive service professionals.

Vision: Driving a professional, well-resourced vehicle service industry by uniting competent and diverse teams to solve industry-wide problems and effectively communicate solutions.

The panel:

• Chris Chesney is the Senior Director of Customer Training, CARQUEST Technical Institute and a NASTF board member and a member of the ‘Road To Great Technician’ project.  Listen to Chris’s previous episodes HERE.
• Donny Seyfer is the Executive Officer of NASTF. Listen to Donny’s previous episodes HERE.
• Jill Saunders is Curriculum Developer, Toyota Motor Sales, North America and a member of the ‘Road To Great Technicians’ project.

Link to the Road To Great Technicians project HERE.

Talking Points:

• A stake in the ground to move this project ahead. The project is in the ‘Stop Talking – Start Doing’.
• Milestone for the industry in 2018:
  • Mission and Vision for the program has been created.
  • To framework a career path for the technician.
  • They are excited to share the program and get the entire industry involved.
  • NASTF attended a Tech Force Meeting recently in Phoenix, AZ in early 2018.
• PIPS: Parents and Influencers of Peripheral Student
• Once the student gets out of school there is no plan for a career path. That is the focus of this program.
  • Mentor them and apprentice these students into the industry/shop.
  • Create a framework of education.
  • The college’s and OE can hang their curriculums on this program.
• Our current in-service technicians will come later. They want to start with new graduates of automotive technology courses either at secondary or post-secondary level.
• Key to the entire program is mentorship. Mentoring is a core skill and needs to be taught, learned and fostered year after year. Mentoring may not be a perfect match for the oldest or most senior person in the shop. The person selected must know how and want to be a mentor.
  • There will be a program for Mentor and Mentee through SP2.org with ASE.
• The Road To Great Technicians is about lifelong learning all the way through your career.
• You can’t buy a master technician anymore. You need to build your own.
• Standards will be developed.
• Donny feels that the ASE will be a pre-cursor to your practical exam.
• It is the job of the industry to set the standards.
• Mark Saxonberg, “Regardless of where you work, you need to be at the same skill set.”
• The consumer expects a certain skill level and because they don’t receive it consistently, we have a poor reputation.
• As consolidation persists, the bigger corporations are process driven and career paths and requirements of skill will be necessary.
• Like the FAA process: The competency exam will be a two-part practicum. A verbal/oral and a practical exam; to show you can accomplish the skills to a standard.
  • Chris Chesney feels that the oral exam will solve most of what we see today as a problem. For example, many techs could not explain a voltage drop.
• The way it works, as Donny Seyfer says, “It will be an extinction event.”
• Shop owners are business people and you need to make a business decision to get on board with this next level of career pathing and standards.
• Toyota has different entry points for technicians.
• Technician standards and requirements can be entered in a consolidated database.
• Chris is going to be an evangelist for this message.
  • The Chicken and the Pig Analogy. The Pig is committed, and the Chicken is involved.
  • Independent shop owners must pay attention to this movement because the larger groups who will develop career pathing will take the talent. You need to play in this sandbox.
  • Everyone must work toward these standards. If not the government will step in. We can monitor ourselves.
  • You cannot grow your own technician; just in time (when you need one). You’ve got to develop new young talent with the thoughts that they may leave you someday.

Be socially involved and in touch with the show:
Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email    Events    Speaking

This episode is brought to you by Federal-MogulMotorparts 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

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[Pictured above Eric Ziegler, Chris Chesney, Donny Seyfer, Keith Williamson, Summer Guerrero, Carm Capriotto. Photo courtesy of Howard Pitkow]

Have you thought about how you will do business in the future? Well the mission of this panel was to stretch the boundaries and serve up plenty of thoughts, concepts and changes coming that you need to be fundamentally prepared for. Many great thoughts in this town hall that will help shape your future. There are many important action steps discussed that need your support and engagement. Listen carefully for those cues.

The team:

Summer Guerrero, and her husband Mark have been together since they were 16 yrs old, and opening a shop was Mark’s dream as a teenager. Summer was a female firefighter. On her days off she would attend small business classes to prepare for opening a shop. As a female firefighter, Summer worked with public and media throughout her 15 year career and saw the passion and gift Mark had to give to their community and his dream quickly became hers.  Summer is responsible for the Marketing, Management, and Public relations of the company. Their goal is be a leader in the industry for their customers, and other independent shop owners to help raise the standards of professionalism in the automotive industry. Their shop Affinity Automotive Services is in Wichita, KS. Listen to Summer’s previous episodes HERE.

Keith Williamson is the owner of Williamson’s Repair and Tire in Bondurant, IA for over 20 years. He is a member of ASA Midwest where he leads the Shop Owner Support Group (an amazing group of shops) in Iowa. He and his team focus on the customer experience, as well as Hybrid, Electric and emerging vehicle Technologies. He recently added a solar array to his building and uses a Toyota Prius and Chevrolet Volt as shuttle vehicles and plans to add more hybrid and electric vehicles as they continually update their loaner fleet. He is a member of RLO Training’s Bottom line impact group for 4 years. Listen to Keith’s previous episodes HERE.

Eric Ziegler owns and operates EZ Diagnostic Solutions Inc in Peoria, IL. Eric specializes in module programming, drivability, electrical and network systems diagnostics. Eric has over 30 years of experience as a technician with an extensive diagnostics background. Eric is an accomplished automotive trainer working for Automotive Seminars and the Drivability Guy. Eric Ziegler is an ASE Certified Master Tech • L1 Advanced Level Diagnostic Specialist • L2 Electronic Diesel Engine Diagnostic Specialist • L3 Light Duty Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Specialist • ASE Certified Medium Duty Truck Technician. Listen to Eric’s previous episodes HERE.

Donny Seyfer, AMAM,  is co-owner of Seyfer Automotive, in Wheat Ridge, CO and the Executive Officer of the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF). Donny Seyfer, a 3rd generation owner, has over 30 years of automotive experience as a technician, manager and service consultant. His Dad started in 1961 and his grandfather was building race cars before that. Seyfer Automotive provides general repair, and maintenance with a special focus on diagnostic. Donny is past chairman of ASA and serves on many industry boards and committees. Listen to Donny’s previous episodes HERE.

Chris Chesney is the Senior Director, Customer Training at the CARQUEST Technical Institute. Chris has held every position from tire buster to master technician, from service adviser to shop owner. He has been training technicians and shop owners for 30 years. Chris started his training business, DTEC, in Denver in 1994 where he trained over a thousand techs in the art of transient emissions diagnostics.

Chris believes what all successful technicians and shop owners know …. that you must be committed to be a lifelong learner …. If not … you’re in the wrong profession. Chris was honored at Vision 2018 with the President’s award. Listen to Chris’s previous episodes HERE.

Talking points:

• Are work mix changes important considerations as we look to the future?
• When the self driving car pulls into your shop, someday in the future, will you know what to do?
• Will shops become specialists or excell in certain disciplines?
• How will shops communicate with their customers in the future?
• What type of training will techs need to have:  Leader led vs online or other?
• Are we doing enough to develop our people who will probably leave us?
• How will changing business models have an impact on the Shop of the Future?
• How do we extend to our customer the opportunity to service vehicles while it is not ‘in-duty’? Stats show that vehicles are ‘in-service’ only five percent of the time. Can you engage with the other 95%?
• Will digital inspections impact the industry?
• How should shop owners start to grow their own A techs?
• You’ve got to pay to retain and hire top technicians because they are going to be network specialist that will diagnose machines that will have 100 million lines of code that run them.
• Getting involved with high-school and college advisory councils will help the industry and your business.
• There is a technician defection rate of college graduates out of the industry. The number is 65% within two years. We need to get involved with the young people and show them a great lifelong career and pay them well and provide the benefits that set up a quality career. Technicians need to make a six-figure salary. Shops need to run a profitable shop, so they can pay top talent.
• NASTF is working to create a career path framework so we can provide a direction and career path to our youth.
  1. You need to give them challenging work.
  2. Our youth need to see a career path and see an opportunity to own their own shop someday. Help them, partner with them. Show the opportunity for a bright future.
• We will be learning about cars you may decide to not work on.

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This episode is brought to you by Federal-MogulMotorparts 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

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In the photo left to Right. Kevin McCoy, Teresa Kenison, TJ Arbuckle, Ian Clark, Ali Helton, Casey Kramer, Jacqueline Pedlow, Gabriella Cordova, and advisor Chuck Sprague.

I want to thank Donny Seyfer, Executive Officer of NASTF and Charles Sprague for their support in making this interview possible.

Talking points:

• Wheat Ridge High was contacted by the University of Colorado-Denver to build a joint program.
  • The challenge was to see if a college level senior design class would work at the high school if they had help from an instructor and support from the college. Permission was granted from the school Principal to put STEM on steroids.
  • STEM: Science | Technology | Engineering | Math
• They started with 16 students and currently there are 80 students in the program.
• Eight students were at AAPEX for their presentation at ASA-CARS.
• They compete in the Shell Eco-Marathon against other colleges. Keep in mind this is high school STEM.
  • Competition is for fuel efficiency.
  • In 25 minutes you need to complete a 6-mile course.
• The team has won twice in the last three years.
• Carbon fiber is used for the body.
• They have many divisions and special work teams that work on the project.
  • Design
  • Driver
  • Machining and metal working
  • Body, Gear, Electrical and Steering
  • Marketing to learn the business side
    • They get funds to make the project viable. $30K to $50K a year
  • Arduino
  • Media Department
    • All public facing on YouTube and Facebook
• 2017-2018 the vehicle is an urban concept car
  • You must go through phases to qualify for the Shell Eco Challenge
  • You get specs from Shell.
  • This must be a street legal car.
• After school and Saturdays are needed to get the project completed.

Wheat Ridge High School Website

Be socially involved and in touch with the show:
Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email

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