Beyond the Wrench

Trent Broberg, CEO of Fullbay, joins the show to talk about where AI is taking the repair industry. In this episode, Trent breaks down Fullbay's shift from an app to a platform, how AI is changing predictive maintenance and parts identification, and key insights from Fullbay's State of Heavy-Duty Repair Report you won't want to miss. Watch the video recording About the Episode Host:...

Gabe Christian, Owner of Import Performance Auto Repair in Bend, Oregon and seven-time winner of best shop in the city, returns to break down what shop culture actually looks like from the inside. He and Jay get into the daily habits, team dynamics, and small details that make technicians want to show up and stay. Watch the video recording About the Episode Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay , jayg@wren...

Anthony Calhoun is an ASE Master Technician with 25+ years in the industry, CEO of A.W.C. Consulting LLC, and author of “Why Techs Leave and How to Keep Them.” In this episode, Anthony walks through what each role has taught him about where the industry is falling short. He covers the mindset that helped him grow as a young tech, the advice he gives to those coming up now, and what pushed him to w...

Joe Hamilton, President & CEO of Vortex Optics, helped build one of the outdoor industry's most recognized and fiercely loyal brands by treating service as a competitive weapon, not an afterthought. In this episode, Joe unpacks the CARE Movement (Create A Rare Experience), why hiring people who already share your values is the foundation of delivering it, and why being genuinely human is...

Chris Craig—Fixed Ops Curriculum Developer at RockED and content creator with 135,000 followers across platforms—has built his following by saying the things most people are afraid to post. In this episode, he breaks down why showing both sides of every industry argument is slowly shifting the culture, from the ASE certification debate to the 30/30/30 myth, what shops get wrong when hiring new gra...

Josh Arnold, Recon Lead Technician at Austin Subaru, is back on the podcast for another honest conversation about life in the trade. He opens up about mentoring apprentices from scratch, what it really took to turn around a struggling recon department, and how public speaking and MPI video have pushed him to grow in ways he didn't expect.  Watch the video recording About the Episode Host: Jay...

Christian Spell, a recent high school graduate and SkillsUSA National Officer, joins Jay to share how a serious injury redirected his path—straight into automotive class and SkillsUSA. He opens up about competing, leading, and developing the professional skills most techs never learn in a shop. Watch the video recording About the Episode Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay , jayg@wrenchway.com Guest: Chr...

Todd Ainsworth, Shop Owner at Swedish Automotive, Inc. and President-Elect of the Northwest Auto Care Alliance (NWACA), joins us to talk about developing the next generation of technicians and why most shops are leaving that opportunity on the table. During the episode, Todd covers his journey from technician to shop owner, gives a closer look at NWACA's apprenticeship program and what makes...

Antonio Maldonado and Jake Martin are recruiters for the Service Technician Education Program (STEP) at BMW North America—and they go way beyond just recruiting. In this episode they break down how STEP works for automotive and collision students, what hands-on training from day one actually looks like, and how BMW is nurturing the next generation of technicians from first contact to career. Durin...

Video inspections are now standard in dealerships and shops across the country, but most students graduate without ever recording one. In this episode, Warner Jones, Sr. VP at TruVideo, walks instructors and program directors through why inspection video is a must-have skill for today's students, how it closes the communication gap between techs and customers, and how schools can get the indu...

Dan Paulson, Author of “Escape the Owner’s Trap,” joins us to tackle one of the biggest challenges shop owners face—being stuck in the middle of everything. We break down how to build accountability without micromanaging, fix communication gaps, and create processes your team will actually use. If your shop depends on you to function, this episode shows you how to change that. Watch the video podc...

Justin Allen has been in the automotive industry since 1998—and now, as a Regional Field Trainer for Hunter Engineering Company, his passion is training the next generation of technicians. In this episode, Justin breaks down how he got his start under the hood with his dad, tips for technicians that want to sharpen their skills with training, and how the industry needs to change its attitude towar...

Marco Zwanenburg, Aftersales Consultant at New Drive Consulting, joins us to be a voice for technicians in this people-first industry. He shares how shops can create a strong first impression from day one, why appreciation has to go beyond pay, and how holding onto the wrong people can quietly damage shop culture. Watch the video podcast on YouTube About the Episode Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay ,...

Tiffany Scherado, Owner of Lifetime Transmissions and Facilitator of Amazing Women in Automotive (AWiA), joins us to share how AWiA is building a powerful community for women in the industry. Tiffany talks about what’s new since her last appearance on the podcast, what makes the AWiA retreat so impactful, and how being part of the group has helped her grow as both a leader and a person. Watch the...

Jason Kerstetter, Co-Founder of the Gear Her Up Foundation, joins us to share how he’s creating opportunities for young women in automotive. Inspired by his daughter learning to work on her own car, Jason explains how the 12-week program teaches hands-on skills and helps break down barriers in the industry. Watch the video podcast on YouTube About the Episode Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay , jayg@wr...

Donald Favors, Auto Tech Instructor at Lowell High School, joins us to talk about the five steps he developed for technician retention in his “Pathway to Retention” program. In the episode, he walks through each step in detail—from connecting with local schools to providing technicians with financial education—and shares his journey from working in the automotive industry to transitioning into edu...

Gerrot Jacobson, Automotive Instructor at Hawkeye Community College, joins us to talk about how he challenges and motivates students in the classroom every day—giving them a safe place to fail so they can learn, grow, and keep moving forward! He also shares his path into the automotive industry and why it’s so important for shops to show up and build relationships with their local schools. Watch t...

David Kocher, Automotive Instructor at Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, joins us to explain how he introduced a simulated flat rate pay plan to help students understand how flat rate works early in their careers. David walks us through his background, the ins and outs of the incentive-based system he’s developing for his class, and how students are responding to the experience. Watch the vide...

Brad Templin, COO at Scott's U-Save Tires & Auto Repair, discusses his journey into second generation shop ownership and what the transition looked like taking over his family’s business. He shares why he chose not to take the easy path back into the industry, the importance of proper succession planning, and why owners must continue growing themselves to help their business and people re...

Dwayne Myers, CEO of Dynamic Automotive, discusses why mentorship is the foundation of leadership and how his team focuses on growing their own technicians through a structured apprenticeship program. From investing in local schools to intentionally developing and nurturing talent, he explains why this approach is key to addressing the technician shortage. Watch the video on YouTube here About the...

In this recorded webinar, WrenchWay leaders Mark Wilson and Jay Goninen, along with Dave Johnson from ASE, share highlights from the 2026 Voice of Technician Survey. Based on more than 5,500 responses across the automotive and diesel industries, they discuss what technicians value most. Watch the video and follow the slides here About the Episode Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay , jayg@wrenchway.com G...

Cindy Barlow, Director of Industry Relations at WyoTech, joins us to talk about how, as an industry, we’ve neglected training young and entry-level technicians. In this episode, she discusses how shops can better support and develop young talent, why early exposure helps students decide if the industry is the right fit, and how fundamentals, soft skills, and early training are essential to improvi...

Jessica Weaver, Auto Body Collision Technology Instructor at Dakota County Technical College, shares how adapting to different learning styles, using visuals, and hands-on play can make a real impact in the collision repair classroom. She explains what it means to truly meet students where they’re at, how she keeps up with rapidly changing vehicle technology as an instructor, and why educators sho...

Jeff DeCarlis, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Alliant Power, joins us live from HDAW in Texas to share a major announcement: Alliant Power has acquired Capital Reman. In this episode, Jeff walks through the strategy behind the move, how the team is being integrated, and how the new distribution model delivers a “total package” that helps shops reduce downtime, turn bays faster, and imp...

Renee Crisler, Owner and Founder of the Reilly Crisler Jumpstart Memorial Fund, joins us to share how she turned the loss of her son into a mission to help other “Reillys” explore careers in the skilled trades. She shares Reilly’s story, the purpose behind the fund, what Draft Day looks like, and how others can get involved. Check out the full video version of the podcast on YouTube! About the Epi...