Beyond the Wrench

In this webinar recording, WrenchWay and ASE introduce the School Assist All-Star Awards—a new program recognizing schools and shops making a real impact in promoting automotive and diesel careers. David Johnson, President & CEO of ASE, joins WrenchWay Co-Founders Jay Goninen and Mark Wilson to talk about the award criteria, the importance of strong school-shop partnerships, and how these rela...

Gary Uyematsu, National Technician Training Manager at BMW North America, joins us to discuss the continuous learning it takes to succeed as a technician and how BMW approaches technician training. He also highlights some industry disconnects, like career counselors not fully understanding technician careers, along with the unique challenges of teaching and developing today’s technicians. Check ou...

Darin Damron, SE Regional Vice President at Jasper Engines & Transmissions, is back to share what he’s seeing from the highest-performing shops. He highlights the common traits these shops share—like their commitment to continuous learning, focus on hiring and keeping the right people, and putting people first. Darin also covers valuable training resources and materials every shop owner and ma...

Jennifer Holland, Assistant Vice President of Marketing at ASE, walks us through the incredible growth ASE has experienced over the years as a staple in the automotive industry. She highlights how ASE has reimagined its marketing efforts, gives an inside look at the organization today, and shares the impact their annual Instructor Training Conference has on helping instructors stay current with tr...

Victoria Thomas, CFO & Owner of Kellymoss Inc., talks about how dreaming bigger has helped drive their business success. She shares her morning routine, why leaders can’t outwork their to-do lists, and how she’s learned to delegate parts of the business to focus on bigger goals. Check out the full video version of the podcast on YouTube! About Our Guest: Victoria Thomas CFO & Owner, Kellym...

Kurt Fenzel, EV & ADAS Instructor at I-CAR, shares how he's staying ahead of the rapidly evolving automotive technology by providing the right education to technicians. He reflects on his time as a high school automotive teacher, offers tips on managing the challenges of ADAS and other advanced technologies, and discusses the space and equipment needed to properly calibrate these high-tec...

Bill Demaree, Corporate Director of Fixed Operations at Tom Wood Automotive Group, shares how intentional habits have helped grow their stores. He discusses the importance of hiring and firing based on company values to shape the culture, embracing technology to improve staff efficiency, and how stepping into different roles at stores has helped him identify areas for growth. Check out the full vi...

Joe Burda, I-CAR Instructor, surveyed over 100 auto collision technicians to understand what motivates them to join the industry. In this episode, he shares insights from the survey, explores common trends among respondents, and discusses how the industry can attract the right talent to address the ongoing workforce shortage. Download Auto Collision Face-to-Face Industry Survey Summary Check out t...

Mollie Hughes, Service Operations Program Lead at Audi, discusses the Audi Twin Cup competition, which highlights the industry's top technicians, service advisors, and brand specialists. Mollie shares insights into the competition's structure and memorable moments from past events. Check out the full video version of the podcast on YouTube! About Our Guest: Mollie Hughes Service Operatio...

Josh Arnold, Team Lead at Subaru of Austin, joins us again for his fifth appearance on Beyond the Wrench. Nearly a year has passed since Josh moved to a new shop out of state, and during that time, he’s made several key changes in both his personal and professional life. In this episode, he shares his experience moving tools, starting fresh, and adopting healthier habits to take better care of bot...

Brad McKinney, Director of Talent Acquisition at Cavender Auto Family, shares a crash course on recruiting technicians in today’s market. With the technician shortage and technicians having the upper hand, your shop needs to stand out. Brad offers tips on effective communication during the hiring process, avoiding overselling candidates, and preparing managers for interviews. Check out the full vi...

Chris Craig, Fixed Operations Content Owner at RockED, shares insights from his new white paper and upcoming book on technician training and leadership. He discusses the difference between an appointed leader and a true leader, understanding younger generations, and how to balance multiple personalities in the shop. Chris also highlights the importance of communication and provides tips for young...

Naomi Kraemer, a first-generation technician, shares her journey from overcoming insecurities as a young tech to becoming a Main Line Technician at Subaru of Olathe. She reflects on the challenges of landing her first shop job, the invaluable experience gained while shadowing master technicians, learning about when to ask questions, and the initial shock of tool costs. Check out the full video ver...

Joe Toscano, keynote speaker, author, and technology expert of “The Social Dilemma” Netflix documentary, discusses his journey of returning to his automotive roots to become COO of Gateway Auto. He touches on tips for choosing the right shop software, protecting customer data, and creating strong passwords for better online security. Check out the full video version of the podcast on YouTube! Abou...

The highly anticipated final part of our live Beyond the Wrench episode with Walser Automotive Group is here! In this episode, we dive deeper into what makes Walser’s culture stand out. Our guests discuss how they hire for cultural fit, emphasize the importance of first impressions with recruits, and leverage school visits and community relationships to attract new talent. Check out the full live...

For the first time, we took the Beyond the Wrench Podcast live on social media with our friends at Walser Automotive Group . In this episode, we explore how Walser has earned its reputation as one of the nation’s top dealership employers. We dive into their “People Strategy,” how they engage technicians in community recruitment, and how they create clear career paths for technicians. Stay tuned—pa...

WrenchWay Co-Founders, Jay Goninen and Mark Wilson, reflect on 2024, sharing highlights, challenges, and what’s to come in 2025. They discuss proud moments, lessons learned, and future plans—all while focusing on WrenchWay’s mission to promote and improve technician careers. View the view version of the podcast on YouTube About Our Guest: Mark Wilson Co-Founder & CEO, WrenchWay mark@wrenchway....

Max Sorensen, Senior Vice President of Operations at Caliber discusses the critical role mentorship and structure play in shaping successful auto collision technicians. He shares insights on Caliber’s Technician Apprentice Program (TAP), the rise of female apprentices, and how a bad mentor can derail careers. View the view version of the podcast on YouTube About Our Guest: Max Sorensen Senior Vice...

Jessica McAllister, Lead Technician, shares insights on attracting young technicians to the industry. As a young technician herself, she talks about the challenges of breaking into the diesel and trucking fields, the power of a great mentor, staying positive despite industry negativity, and offers three key tips for young technicians to kickstart their careers. View the view version of the podcast...

To celebrate the holiday season and the new year, we thought it’d be fun to reshare an exciting episode from earlier this year. In this episode, Bogi Lateiner, a master technician with over 20 years of experience and the host of All Girls Garage on MotorTrend, shares her unique perspective on the challenges women face in the shop. She also highlights the significant impact that respect for technic...

To kick off the holiday season, we thought it’d be fun to reshare an exciting episode from earlier this year. In this episode throwback, John Spence, one of the top business experts in the world, author, CEO, and speaker, offers key leadership and management advice. He covers the elements of a good culture, the importance of caring for your people, and the impact that keeping toxic high-performing...

Leaders from WrenchWay and ASE dive into the findings of the 2025 Voice of Technician Report. We discuss what technicians want from employers, preferred work schedules, desired pay structures, and more. We also compare the results with last year’s survey and share our thoughts on some surprising stats! Download the 2025 Voice of Technician Report About Our Guests: George Arrants Vice President, AS...

Brandon Ludwikowski, Co-Owner of Midwest Performance Cars, joins us to share his journey in automotive and as a flat rate technician. With strong shop leadership, a good shop fit, a positive attitude, and a desire to learn, Brandon's story is an inspiring example of what it really means to "work your way up" in the industry. View the view version of the podcast on YouTube About Our...

Energetic NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Driver, Steve Johnson, makes his first appearance on Beyond the Wrench. After starting as an auto technician, Steve founded the BAT-man (Be A Technician) Scholarship to help break down barriers and attract more technicians to the industry. In this episode, he also shares tips on building your brand and takes us through his early racing years. Learn more or apply...

Tim Winkeler, President & CEO of VIP Tires & Service, joins us to discuss how they prioritize relationships in building their shop culture. VIP Tires & Service has used staff feedback to drive improvements, learning valuable lessons along the way. These include the power of feedback, the importance of closing the feedback loop, and focusing on long-term company health. View the view ve...