FWRD: An EasyCare Podcast

In this episode of FWRD, hosts Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui speak with Eric Meahan, Managing Director of Repair360, about the declining profitability of used cars at dealerships. Meahan explains that gross profit per unit has dropped over 12% year-over-year due to inflated acquisition costs post-COVID, parts shortages, and increased reconditioning expenses. He emphasizes that dealerships must sh...

In this episode of FWRD, Erick Jauregui sits down with the leadership team from Reeder Trausch Marine to explore what it takes to build a high-growth dealership without losing sight of culture. From humble beginnings to multi-location success, the team shares how strong leadership, clear communication, and unwavering standards have fueled their growth. The conversation dives into the importance of...

In the latest episode of FWRD, Erick Jauregui speaks with Bernie DeGraw, a senior education developer for MRAA. They discuss the evolution of customer expectations in the marine service industry, emphasizing the significant gap in service compared to sales. Bernie highlights the importance of communication skills and education for service managers and advisors, noting that these roles must improve...

In this episode of FWRD, Corey Smith sits down with Russell Hill, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Fixed Ops Marketing, to discuss why dealership websites have become the new digital showroom for fixed operations. With more than 40 years in the automotive industry, Russell shares insights on how the service customer journey has shifted online and why many dealership websites still fail to meet m...

See EasyCoach in action: easycare.com/easycoach What if every F&I conversation in your dealership could drive better performance, stronger compliance, and higher revenue? In this episode of FWRD, we introduce EasyCoach℠ powered by Siro, EasyCare’s newest AI-driven platform designed to reinforce F&I training and turn real customer interactions into actionable coaching insights. EasyCoach℠ r...

In this episode of FWRD, Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui sit down with leadership expert and author Jamison Carrier to discuss what it really takes to build a high-performing team in today’s automotive industry. Jamison shares insights from his new book Building a Championship Team, including why money alone is a weak motivator, how leaders can create a culture centered around winning, appreciation...

In this episode of FWRD, Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui break down what it really takes to win in fixed operations in 2026 and beyond. Service is no longer just a department. It is the dealership’s profit engine. And the stores that treat it that way will dominate the next decade. With overloaded service advisors, technician shortages, smarter customers, and rising corporate demands, doing what wo...

In this episode of FWRD, hosts Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui break down what dealerships must do to professionalize the service advisor role in 2026 and beyond. From KPI literacy and daily coaching to AI adoption and video multipoint inspections, this conversation outlines a blueprint for transforming service departments into frontline revenue engines. You’ll learn: Why one-time training fails an...

AI is everywhere in automotive right now, but not all “AI” is the same. On this episode of FWRD, Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui sit down with Sean Hartman, VP of Sales at Toma, to talk about the practical side of AI for dealerships, especially in service and customer communications. Sean shares how dealers can avoid the hype, start with clear goals, and choose solutions that actually move the need...

In this episode of the FWRD Podcast, Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui sit down with Eric Meahan to explore how data-driven reconditioning helps dealers reduce cycle time, control costs, and protect used vehicle margins. Eric shares how EchoPark cut reconditioning cycle time to five days by improving process visibility, labor allocation, and supplement management. The conversation highlights why idle...

What does leadership look like when profit is no longer the priority? For Brent Smith, it looks like showing up for people who are often forgotten. In this episode, Brent opens up about founding Love’s Reflection after years of hospice volunteering and a near-death experience that permanently shifted his perspective on life, death, and purpose. You’ll hear how Love’s Reflection focuses on fast, me...

In this episode of the FWRD Podcast, Corey Smith sits down with Laurie Halter to discuss why authenticity and clear communication are essential to building trust, culture, and performance in automotive. Laurie explains how brand promises only work when they are consistently delivered at every customer touchpoint. From sales and service conversations to leadership communication, she shares why cust...

In this episode of the FWRD Podcast, Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui unpack one of the biggest transitions in fixed operations: moving from service advisor to service manager. Together, they break down what it means to step into leadership, highlighting the importance of shifting from individual performance to team success. The discussion covers key management skills like understanding and teaching...

In this episode, Matt Raymond, COO of Bowtie Solutions, joins Erick Jauregui to share how dealerships can modernize their service BDCs without sacrificing quality or breaking the budget. Matt explains why his team defines AI as “Actual Individuals,” and how the right balance of people and automation can transform a call center from a cost center into a profit driver. They discuss how customer expe...

What if your dealership website worked like your best employee—always converting, engaging, and selling 24/7? In this episode, Russell Hill returns to the FWRD Podcast to share how Fixed Ops Marketing rebounded from a near acquisition to scale past 600 stores through digital innovation and smarter service strategies. Russell and host Corey Smith dive into: Why 30% of dealership website visitors co...

In today’s digital-first environment, your dealership's long-term success hinges on more than just what you sell — it depends on how you listen. On this episode of FWRD, hosts Corey Smith and Eric Jauregui sit down with Jeane Reitelbach, a brand strategist with 27 years of marketing experience and over a decade in automotive retail, to unpack how the Voice of the Customer can shape your operations...

Most customers don’t even know dealerships sell tires—and that’s a major opportunity. In this episode of FWRD, Corey Smith sits down with Eddie Campbell, GM of Forest Lane CDJR, to break down how they became a top tire-selling store in the CDJR network. Eddie shares how their success came down to three key areas: consistent quoting, advisor certification, and embracing technology like video inspec...

Mobile service is no longer just a future trend — it’s actively reshaping how dealers deliver value, drive retention, and grow their fixed ops revenue. In this episode of FWRD, host Corey Smith welcomes Jeremy Stevens to unpack how mobile service is creating meaningful customer relationships, why dealerships need to go “all in” to make it work, and how to overcome operational hurdles. With over 80...

With a 49% turnover rate among service advisors, today’s fixed ops challenges go far beyond customer satisfaction — they begin with the employee experience. In this episode of FWRD, Corey Smith is joined by Chris Craig — industry trainer, content creator, and author of Becoming a Better Service Professional — to explore how dealership leaders can create stronger, more resilient teams. They dig int...

In today’s market, attention is currency—and if your dealership isn’t showing up online, you’re missing the sale before it starts. In this episode of the FWRD Podcast, host Corey Smith sits down with Jordan Cox, a dealership video strategist with 11+ years of experience, to unpack the real strategies that top-performing rooftops are using to win on social. Jordan shares how dealerships of any size...

In this episode of the FWRD podcast, Christine Vinatieri-Erickson, President of the South Dakota Auto Dealers Association, joins hosts Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui for a wide-ranging conversation on the challenges today’s dealers face — and where real opportunities lie. From protecting franchise rights and solving the technician shortage to why EV adoption is lagging in rural markets, Christine...

In Episode 102, Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui sit down with Sean Reyes, Chief Marketing Officer at Recall Masters, to discuss the untapped opportunity in proactive recall outreach. Reyes shares insights from the 2024 State of Recalls report, highlighting that only 2.5% of recalls are resolved passively through OEM outreach. The episode explores how dealers can lead the way with accurate data, emp...

On this episode of FWRD, hosts Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui sit down with Gary Locicero, VP of our sister company Crystal Fusion Technologies, to talk about the science, strategy, and safety behind modern windshield protection. With over a decade at Crystal Fusion and a front-row seat to its growth under the APCO umbrella, Gary shares how a 10-minute product install is transforming visibility on...