The PartsEdge Podcast

On this episode, Kaylee Felio sits down with Brian Fox, Director of Parts Operations at Barnes Crossing Auto Group a 16-location powerhouse serving the South. Brian Fox gets candid about his unique journey into automotive, from missionary work in Croatia to entering the car business through marriage (literally). Together, they break down the realities of dealership life, the hidden opportunities i...

Today, Kaylee Felio sits down with DMS and inventory management expert Chuck Hartle to bust the top myths surrounding DMS setups, parts sources, pricing strategies, and obsolescence in today’s dealership environment. Chuck Hartle draws on real-world dealership experience and PartsEdge’s hands-on work with dealers, uncovering smarter ways to use technology to turn inventory faster, optimize pricing...

When dealer principal Joe Shaker of Shaker Auto Group started digging into customer feedback, he uncovered a hard truth: even loyal, satisfied customers still felt uncertainty about what was happening behind the service doors. That insight sparked the creation of TruVideo , now one of the most widely used communication platforms in automotive. In this episode, Joe walks through the journey — the e...

Are you a Seasoned Optimizer, Overloaded Operator, Turnaround Artist, or Parts Protégé? In this episode, Kaylee Felio breaks down the brand-new Parts Manager Profile Quiz from PartsEdge—a game-changing tool designed to help parts managers and dealership leaders unlock greater performance, clarity, and team connection. With over 60 responses already, this quiz isn’t just about having some holiday f...

In today’s conversation, Kaylee Felio welcomes her longtime automotive industry friend Ansley Williams to explore the realities of launching a consulting business in the fixed ops space. From overcoming skepticism to building technology solutions for dealership service departments, Ansley shares the lessons learned from navigating her unique path in automotive—and why embracing authenticity (and a...

In this episode, Kaylee Felio chats with MK Valley—CEO and cofounder of SparkServ—about the urgent need for innovation in fixed ops. Together, they unpack why dealerships lag behind other industries in customer experience, and how outdated reliance on phone calls and siloed data stifles growth, profits, and customer loyalty. MK Valley draws from her deep roots in tech and in automotive, recounting...

A special FixedOps Roundtable episode, Kaylee Felio and Ted Ings sit down in Dallas, Texas at Snell Motor Company’s Jaguar Land Rover dealership with parts managers Shawn Cauthen, Romeo Chariez, and Zach Carter.  The team shares practical wisdom on leveraging technology to streamline dealership parts operations, highlighting how PartsEdge optimizes workflows, reduces inventory headaches, and empow...

In this value-packed conversation, host Kaylee Felio sits down with industry expert Chuck Hartle to crack open some of the most overlooked costs of running a dealership parts department. From the hidden impact of idle inventory to the real-world strategies for beating manufacturer compliance traps, Chuck shares proven methods for turning your parts department into a lean, profit-driving machine. I...

In this special PartsEdge Podcast crossover episode with the FixedOps Roundtable, Kaylee dives deep into why parts managers deserve a bigger spotlight, how dealership leadership can foster real change, and what’s next for the evolution of fixed operations. Learn firsthand how PartsEdge continues to support both seasoned and brand-new parts managers—providing education, empowerment, and the right t...

In this episode, Kaylee Felio welcomes John Traver of Traver Connect to discuss what “broken” looks like in automotive fixed ops—and more importantly, how leaders and teams can drive sustainable change. John shares frameworks from sports icons, legendary business thinkers like Peter Drucker, and dealership trailblazers such as Ed Roberts to highlight the power of questioning, mission clarity, and...

In today’s episode, Kaylee Felio is joined by auto industry leaders Joel Gray and Sheila Pogue for a deep dive into what it takes to build, scale, and energize one of the nation’s most successful wholesale parts operations. Joel shares the story behind managing $9.3M in Ford parts inventory across three locations and a dynamic team of nearly 100 employees. Discover how integrity, creative marketin...

Kaylee Felio sits down with Steve Fishel, Parts Manager at Titus-Will Toyota in Tacoma, WA, for a deep-dive into the evolving world of dealership parts departments. With nearly four decades in the business—most of it with the Toyota brand—Steve shares his journey from his early days after the Air Force to leading inventory parts operations through massive industry and technology shifts. In this ep...

Today, Kaylee Felio interviews Sheila Pogue, who shares her journey from working in restaurants to becoming a parts manager and eventually transitioning to a vendor role at Dealer OMG.  Together, they take on one of the industry’s big conversations: why fixed ops is treated like the “redheaded stepchild” of dealerships, and how better marketing, internal buy-in, and creative partnerships can help...

Kaylee Felio sits down with Christian Lafferty and Cliff Honeycutt from the Chris Collins Group—industry thought leaders, coaches, and co-hosts of the Parts Hold Podcast. Kaylee, Christian, and Cliff dive deep into the evolving dynamics of dealership fixed operations, uncovering what makes parts managers uniquely equipped for leadership, how to break down dealership silos, and why embracing new sa...

Jim Oliveri , Parts Director at West Herr Auto Group. With 31 years at the 75-year-old company, he promotes empowerment, operational excellence, and profitability through logistics, people, and metrics. Jim mentors leaders, drives performance via structure and wholesale strategies, and prioritizes local ownership and customer satisfaction. He balances financial success with employee well-being, ch...

Brian "Mac" McIntosh joined an established group and recognized a desire for change alongside comfort in the familiar. He understands that change can be unsettling but values supportive colleagues in easing transitions, encouraging growth despite discomfort. Together, Kaylee and Mac explore why dealership parts operations often resist change and how bringing in solutions like PartsEdge helped Mac’...

With over 30 years of experience in the automotive parts industry, Mike Kraft is a seasoned Parts Manager at Suburban Chevrolet in Minneapolis. He recounts his journey from manual parts management to overseeing a thriving department that boasts over 100 employees and more than $90 million in annual sales. In today’s episode, Mike shares the evolution of his dealership’s parts operations, how techn...

Mitch Brady partnered with PartsEdge to refine his company’s parts inventory. He uncovered and resolved issues with broad phase-in/phase-out criteria by customizing categorization for each part. This optimized stock, improved team clarity, and fine-tuned parts management. Together, Kaylee and Mitch dive into how using PartsEdge not only enhanced inventory efficiency at Ressler Toyota but also unco...

Courtney Paschal is the Client Success Manager at Ellison Automotive Strategies and a seasoned automotive professional who began her career at Street Toyota in 2013. A passionate leader in both the automotive industry and her Amarillo community, Courtney is a Top 40 Under 40 honoree in Automotive News and actively serves with No Boundaries International. She’s also a proud dog mom to Cash, Tipper,...

Chuck Hartle is the President and co-founder of PartsEdge, with over 42 years of experience in the automotive industry. Starting as a parts delivery driver, he rose to Fixed Operations Director and has since led over 300 seminars, including workshops for the National Auto Dealers Association. Chuck’s deep industry knowledge helps PartsEdge tackle key dealership challenges. Outside of work, he’s a...

It all started with one small change. He thought his DMS setup was fine—until he tweaked a phase-in criteria and suddenly realized how much he was missing.  This week on the PartsEdge Podcast, we sat down with Zach Don , a Toyota parts manager who took that moment of chaos and turned it into a better system. He shares what broke, how he fixed it, and why he’s now running a smarter, more controlled...

In this episode, Kaylee talks with Alex Hines, VP of North America at Eccentric, about one of the biggest missed opportunities in automotive: accessories. With only 5% of a $50B market flowing through franchise dealers, Alex shares how Eccentric is helping stores win back sales using 3D visualization, early intent capture, and smarter upsell tools. They dive into: Why accessories don’t get sold Ho...

Why Parts Managers & Fixed Ops Directors Rely on Partnership, Not Just Reports In this episode of the PartsEdge Podcast , Kaylee Felio sits down with Tim Kreitel (Parts Manager) and Ryan Else (Fixed Ops Director) to explore the long-term impact PartsEdge has made on their dealership operations. From simplifying sourcing to saving time on reporting, they share how PartsEdge enables them to focu...

Podcasting, Personal Brands & EV Storytelling In this energetic and transparent conversation, Kaylee Felio sits down with Elena Ciccotelli , the Founder of EVs for Everyone , a brand that brings the human element to the fast-evolving world of electric vehicles. Elena shares the origin story of her show, built not from a strategic blueprint—but from a creative itch that corporate life couldn’t...

The latest episode of the Parts Edge Podcast dives into a topic stirring concern across the industry: tariffs on imported automotive parts. Host Kaylee Felio is joined by Chuck Hartle to unpack what’s real, what’s rumor, and what parts managers should actually be doing right now. (00:25) The Real Impact of Tariffs: Fear vs. Reality (07:55) Pricing Strategy: How to Maintain Gross Profit (12:20) Eco...