Beyond the Wrench

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...

As a technician, managing your budget and making wise purchases isn’t always easy. In this episode, Rob Frohwein and Kathryn Petralia, Co-Founders of Keep Financial, share their expertise on how technicians and shops can discuss pay, benefits,  flexibility, and advice on budgeting.  (1:23): Guests Background (8:19) Removing Barriers to Make Life Easier (11:31) Discussing Pay with Employees (15:00)...

Meredith Collins from Ducker Carlisle joins us to discuss the results of their latest technician survey. The survey includes responses from about 30,000 technicians and dives deep into technician demographics, compensation, workload, and more. (1:27) Guest Background  (6:59) Advice to Young People Interested in the Industry (10:05) About the Survey (14:09) Technician Demographics (22:51) Technicia...

If a shop isn’t growing its own technicians, turnover and retention will continue to be a huge problem in the automotive industry. Lindsey Trett, Director of Talent Acquisitions of Walser Automotive Group, shares her expertise on how shops can grow their own technicians by creating a solid career path. (1:50) Guest Background (13:51) Senior Leadership Needs to Believe in the Shop (16:46) Growing Y...

Are you fully leveraging data to boost customer satisfaction? Tim Eisenmann, CEO of Torqata, joins us to discuss how shops can use data as a tool to help predict supply chain issues. (1:22) Guest Background (10:07) The Decision-Making Process of Starting a Business (16:08) Understanding Inventory and Carrying Capacity (24:56) Tracking Data and Using it to Be Successful (34:20) The Effects Outside...

Automotive programs need more support than ever if we want to improve the technician shortage.  Scott Norman, Professor and Automotive Coordinator at Pittsburg State University, joins us to discuss how building relationships with industry and alumni networks is key to running successful automotive programs. (01:15) - Guest Background (4:53) - The Evolving Automotive Industry & Its Effects on A...

Labor shortages, parts shortages, advances in technology… Keeping up with what’s going on in the automotive industry is no easy task. Dan Shine, Senior Editor, Automotive News, joins us to discuss some of the most talked about topics in the automotive industry right now and how the industry is progressing by focusing less on the problems and more on the solutions. Resources: Learn more about Wrenc...

In this week’s episode of Beyond the Wrench, Marcus Aman, CEO and Co-Founder of Bayley Service Intelligence joins us to talk about the tool he created to help shops measure data and increase profit, the importance of analytics, and the future of service work.   Resources: Learn more about WrenchWay Shop Talk Register for our "How to Conduct Successful Technician Performance Reviews" roun...

In this week's episode of Beyond the Wrench, Ben Zimmerman, Automotive Teacher, Verona High School joins us to talk about the increase in enrollment in his program, the support he receives from the industry, and how he teams up with local schools to run his advisory board meetings. Resources: Learn more about WrenchWay School Assist  Download the free WrenchWay app in the App Store or on Goog...

In this week’s episode of Beyond the Wrench, we are joined by Craig Zale, CEO, Craig’s Car Care. Craig shares his perspective on investing in training, the importance of culture, and how to be profitable. Resources: Learn more about WrenchWay's $1,000 Monthly Giveaway  Download the free WrenchWay app in the App Store or on Google Play: App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1534587616 Goo...

In this week’s episode of Beyond the Wrench, we are joined by Matt Fanslow, Diagnostic Technician/Shop Manager, Riverside Automotive and Pedro De La Torre, Technician, Logic Auto. Matt and Pedro discuss what motivates them in the automotive industry, changes in the industry, and a class Pedro is teaching about his discovery with Subaru. Resources: Register for Pedro's Class Listen to Matt&apo...

In this week’s episode of Beyond the Wrench, we are joined by Josh Arnold, Master Technician, Toyota of Corvallis. Josh walks us through a tool he created to track his hours, the importance of paving a career path, and advice for young technicians. Resources: Download the free WrenchWay app in the App Store or on Google Play: App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1534587616 Google Play: https...

In this week’s episode of Beyond the Wrench, Arun Coumar, Founder and CEO, Driven Capital Partners joins us. Arun shares his expertise on pain points in running a business, the importance of having processes and procedures in place, and advice on managing your finances. Resources: Learn more and register for TechMission 2022 Download the free WrenchWay app in the App Store or on Google Play: App S...

Like the Beyond the Wrench podcast? Be sure to follow & rate us — whether on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! In this week’s episode of Beyond the Wrench, Chris Craig joins us to discuss his experience as a former service advisor, the importance of the advisor and technician relationship, advice on shop turnover, and best practices on selling diagnost...

Like the Beyond the Wrench podcast? Be sure to follow & rate us — whether on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! In this week’s episode of Beyond the Wrench, we are joined by Martha Carrigan, CEO, Big Shoes Network. Martha shares with us her knowledge on recruitment marketing, how to treat your employees right, and how to get valuable feedback from emplo...

Like the Beyond the Wrench podcast? Be sure to follow & rate us — whether on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! In this week’s episode of Beyond the Wrench, Tully Williams, Fixed Operations Director, The Niello Company joins us for an exciting episode. Tully shows his passion for the automotive industry by discussing ways shops can keep their technician...