Beyond the Wrench

Host an art gallery at the shop, get food trucks, or even put on a jazz festival! Shop owners and managers, take your solution-seeking personality of fixing cars and add a community element to your business. In this week’s episode, Frank Leutz who is the Founder of Desert Car Care and Founder & Host of WrenchNation, talks about how to get creative, select a budget, and choose themes to turn yo...

There are a lot of gaps in the industry regarding pay, culture, and more that are affecting our ability to attract the next generation of technicians. In this episode, John Fallows, Industry Development Specialist at the School District of Philadelphia, shares what his students are facing when entering the industry, ways shops can better structure their internship programs, and how he has built cr...

Employees need the shop and the shop needs employees. Simple as that, right? In this week’s episode, Fred Gestwicki Jr, President of Fix-it With Fred, LLC, gives examples on the benefits of being flexible with your staff, explains the importance of understanding your employee’s point of view, and shares a number of management stories from over the years. (5:22) How Recruiting Has Changed (22:57) B...

William (Bill) Demaree who is the Corporate Director of Fixed Operations at Tom Wood Group joins us on this week’s episode to walk us through his journey in automotive. He also discusses how his group prioritizes their core values and different ways to recruit shop employees. “You have to find talent where they’re at.” - Bill Demaree, Tom Wood Group (1:00) Bill’s Career in Automotive (13:14) Impor...

Victoria Thomas, CFO & Co-Owner of Kellymoss Inc. joins us on this week’s episode to discuss the growth that comes from failure and having the right mindset. Victoria and host, Jay Goninen, also cover the lack of women in automotive, the value of telling your story, and how to overcome the financial barrier of motorsports to get started in racing. (1:51) Victoria’s Background (16:03) The Story...

Warning: This podcast covers topics that may be intense to some listeners. Viewer discretion is advised. Are you happy as a technician? Why or why not? Is it your work environment or personal life affecting your happiness? In this week’s episode, Joshua Taylor who is the Founder of Wrench Turners Online and Just Work Hard Consulting, dives deep into the mental wellness of technicians. Joshua share...

We hear a lot of shops say, “For insurance reasons, my shop can’t hire workers who are under 18-years-old.” Our response to them is usually, “Are you sure?” In this week’s podcast, Matthew White who is the Bureau Director at the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, educates us on how easy it can be to hire youth apprentices, and offers useful employment resources for shops and employees....

Andrew Batenhorst, Body Shop Manager at Pacific BMW, brings progressive thinking to the collision repair industry. In this episode, hear how he is going above and beyond to improve the industry, the ways he keeps in touch with his staff, and how he introduced meditation at the shop. (6:29) Andrew’s Background (13:08) Struggling to Find Talent (24:34) Keeping Staff Happy (38:07) Meditating at the S...

Craig Tomczyk, the Auto/Diesel Technician at FirstGroup America, gets technical in this week’s episode. Listen in as he breaks down his career, covers the importance of understanding and bettering your operational knowledge, discusses his diagnostic process, and much more. (1:28) Craig’s Journey to Becoming a Technician (13:07) Importance of the Theory of Operation (21:42) Steps in the Diagnostic...

Kathleen’s drive and passion are contagious in this week’s episode! Tune in to hear Kathleen Long, Chief Revenue Officer at RepairPal, cover the positive impact of being transparent with your technicians, the true value of networking, and the importance of investing and measuring your business correctly. (3:03) Kathleen’s Background (12:48) Definition of Networking (26:20) Shops Investing in Their...

Should shops pay technicians for their inspection time? Tune into this week’s episode to hear Murray Voth, President of RPM Training, answer the “tough” questions, discuss what it means for your shop to be a thought influencer in the community, and cover the importance of identifying your strengths and weaknesses. (7:57) Identifying Strengths & Weaknesses (14:15) Thought Influencing (23:56) Fe...

As the Owner of Auto Express of Hamilton, Josh Sellers has grown a lot and is still growing from his experiences. Tune into this episode to hear some lessons he has learned during customer interactions, find out the importance of listening to your staff and peers, and gain tips for building an amazing shop culture. (6:44) Learning from Other Shops (16:47) Good Shop Culture (36:51) Evolving into a...

The workforce has changed since generation “why” grew up and stopped conforming to yesterday’s habits. Eric Chester, Founder of The Center for Work Ethic Development and author of several leadership books, understands this more than most. Listen in on this episode to learn more about what it means to be relentlessly recruiting, how to evolve your shop with the changing workforce, and much more! (1...

From starting out with a career in journalism to now being a technician, Russell Wickham has had a unique journey. In this episode, Russell breaks down his career path, stresses the importance of having a positive attitude, and offers his advice to shops that are struggling to recruit technicians. (6:26) Certified Tech vs. Experienced Tech (12:37) Russell’s Background (29:57) Raises & Performa...

Not only do we need more technicians in the industry, but there is also a massive shortage of females working in automotive. In this week’s episode, we are joined by Jessica Toliuszis, Chair of Women in Auto Care, to discuss tips for managing female technicians, barriers to entry in the industry for females, and much more. (5:21) Jessica’s Career Path (11:14) Automotive Industry & Attracting F...

Purchasing insurance is a complex need that the average shop owner doesn’t know enough about in order to make informed decisions. Tune into this week’s episode as Robert Steele, Founder & CEO of IGO Benefits, shares stories of his time in the NFL, talks about how he got a woman out of $600,000 in medical debt, and how he is helping shops make better insurance decisions. (2:29) Robert’s Backgro...

Racing is more than going fast and turning left. Students can gain real-life experience and technical skills by racing and being a part of a racing team. Jonathan Eckelberg, Director of the High School Racing Association (HSRA), understands the benefits of auto racing and has taken his family’s passion and career of racing to the next level. In this week’s episode, learn about HSRA’s mission to gr...

Few technicians make the hard leap to shop owner. In this week’s episode, Gabriel Christian, Owner of Import Performance Auto Repair, walks us through his journey from technician to owner, discusses lessons he has learned while being in the industry, and stresses the impact of a good service advisor. (1:13) Gabe’s Background (10:06) Engineer & Car Manufacturer Appreciation (21:36) Lessons Lear...

The same shop management and technician recruiting strategies that were used 30 years ago don’t work like they used to. In this episode, David Cuene, Managing Partner at Broadway Automotive, joins us to discuss several topics, including taking care of your team, adapting to changes in the industry, and more. (1:27) David’s Background (7:54) Reevaluating Shop Culture (22:23) Shifts in the Industry...

When setting a goal, the path to achieving it can be a daunting task that can often derail the outcome. In this episode, Darin Damron, SE Regional Vice President at Jasper Engines & Transmissions, breaks down goal setting, mind mapping, and explains the positive journey of achieving goals. (2:13) Goal Importance (8:38) Mind Mapping (18:54) Power of “Your Why” (27:03) Positive Mindset (41:51) B...

Scholarships lessen students’ financial burden when paying for school. Tune in as Janet Smail, Executive Director of The Hourglass Foundation, covers scholarship criteria, tips for writing scholarship essays, and the various journeys available in the automotive industry. (1:32) Janet’s Background (12:06) Scholarship Funding (19:00) How Students Qualify for Scholarships (24:25) Selecting Scholarshi...

We know obtaining ASE certifications can be challenging. Josh Arnold, Master Technician, Toyota of Corvallis joins us to discuss the value of ASE certifications, conquering test anxiety, and how to prepare for an ASE test. (1:52) Value of ASE Certifications (8:55) ASE Test Anxiety & Pressure (27:55) Shop Support on ASE Testing (33:20) Preparing for an ASE Test (41:55) Coaching Others on ASE Te...

This generation of technicians learns differently. Tina Zwolinksi, CEO & Founder, skillsgapp, shares her knowledge on how gamification can engage the younger generation and attract them to technician careers. (1:02) Guest Background (3:12) Defining and Communicating with Gen Z (17:12) Embracing the Digital World (23:01) What is Gamification? (33:29) Familiarizing Young Kids with the Industry (...

To make an impact as a leader, build trust within your team. Jen Ellestad, Fixed Operations Director of Zimbrick Fish Hatchery Road in Madison, Wisconsin explains the importance of building trust, communication styles, and finding the right people for your shop.   (2:17) Guest Background  (16:06) Challenges When Communicating with a Big Team (21:00) Getting Good People into the Shop (26:24) Techni...

The best thing a dealership can do is create a place of employment technicians want to work at. Ed Roberts, Chief Operations Officer, Bozard Ford Lincoln is back on the podcast to discuss how to create a strong employer brand, finding the right personalities for a shop, changes in the industry, and so much more!  (1.07) Guest Background (6:23) Being a Brand Techs Want to Work For (10:56) Technicia...