TOP SHOP by Paul Donahue

If you’re working on culture, hiring, or retention, this conversation is packed with ideas you can actually use. Rock and Angie Molina break down how they built Rock’s Tire & Auto around family values, weekly team lunches, clear training expectations, and a benefit package designed to keep great techs. They also share why involving your spouse and building leadership depth matters, plus how co...

Max Zima's philosophy for running a standout auto-repair shop boils down to this: People first — always. Learn how he invests in his team with top-tier training, leadership development, trust, and empowerment. Learn how he lets his staff lead customers and grow the business while he steps back and delegates, builds unbreakable customer loyalty through transparency, honesty, and genuine care—provin...

From fixing cars in a stone driveway to running a thriving shop, Jon Tangye shares what really matters in building a business—respect for techs, clear goals, strong systems, and servant leadership. This episode is packed with stories, hard-earned lessons, and practical tips for shop owners who want more than just busy bays—they want impact, team growth, and long-term success. #ExploreMore #Fyp #Pe...

Some shops chase volume. Others build legacy. Dave Mowery of Neil’s Garage shares how his family-owned shop has served three generations of customers by focusing on training, quality, and trust—not low prices. In this episode, learn how Dave navigated leadership transitions, adapted to tech trends, and created a culture where customers and employees stick around for the long haul. #ExploreMore #Fy...

Most shops talk about culture; few build it intentionally. Kenny Wedow breaks down how Fine Tuned Auto supports teams across four locations, including consistent leadership, Friday team lunches, and employee-first habits that keep morale strong. He also shares why investing in coaching and leveling up your network can speed up growth, reduce costly mistakes, and help you lead like an operator inst...

Strong shops do not happen by accident. Chad and Maggie Pitts break down how Pitts Automotive built a team-first culture with accountability, recognition, and leadership that supports people instead of burning them out. They also share why training is non-negotiable, how lunch-and-learns help prepare for ASE testing, and what it means to earn the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence. If you’re building you...

What really keeps a shop strong: great people, clear expectations, and numbers you actually understand. Marcus Martin & Chris Atkins break down how coaching, tools like the win-number drill, and DVIs helped them improve trust, tighten operations, and grow with intention in a small community near the Canadian border. If you want practical ideas you can bring back to your shop, you’ll get them h...

If you’re trying to grow without taking on unnecessary debt or losing your culture, this conversation is for you. David & Nicole Veldman talk about what it really takes to last in this industry: tracking overhead down to the day, understanding that “money in the account” is often already spoken for, and making smart equipment decisions based on usage, not impulse. They also share a real husban...

What’s one of the biggest profit killers in diesel repair? Blind guessing and handwritten chaos. Eric Campbell shares how switching to software, tracking time correctly, and using tools like oil analysis helped his shop become more efficient, more accurate, and easier to manage. He also talks work-life balance, setting boundaries with hours, and why saying “no” can protect your team and your margi...

If you’ve ever felt stuck doing everything yourself, this episode will hit home. Steve Corridori breaks down what changed his shop the most: owning the results, building real SOPs, investing in coaching, and protecting culture even when it costs you in the short term. He also shares practical insights on warranties, accountability, and why great shops are built on leadership, not just production....

What does it take to grow a legacy shop in today’s market? Colin Ammazzalorso shares how he transitioned from his father’s two-bay gas station to a five-lift modern shop in Atlantic City—and built a team culture strong enough to have a waitlist for techs. This episode is full of real talk on leadership, building mentorship into daily operations, growing your people (even if they leave and come bac...

If you want better reviews, better retention, and fewer headaches, listen to how Dan Corcoran runs Righters Auto in Wildwood, New Jersey. He breaks down how DVIs and texting improve clarity, why strong policies protect margins, and how to build culture with simple habits like checking in with your team, investing in training, and cutting toxicity before it spreads. He also shares what he’s seeing...

Most of us went from technician to owner and skipped the part where you learn to be a business person. This conversation is a real look at what changes when you start tracking overhead, pricing correctly, and building a team people actually want to stay with. The guest shares lessons from decades in a rural market, including how to handle inflation pressure, why you never stop recruiting, and why...

A lot of shops don’t fail because they can’t fix cars; they fail because the business side stays invisible for too long. Justin Calhoun breaks down the hard lessons from his first couple of years in ownership, including cashflow reality, smarter equipment decisions, Profit First thinking, and why you never stop recruiting. He also shares how training, transparency, and protecting culture can turn...

If hiring and retention have been a challenge, you’ll want to hear how Ski Country Auto approaches it. Laura Lewark explains why culture comes first, how they “grow their own” technicians, and why closing the shop for team training can pay back in better performance and stronger loyalty. She also shares practical ideas for keeping a team connected, including family-inclusive events, monthly celebr...

If you’ve been thinking about specializing, this episode is worth a listen. Joe Goacher explains how Alliance Auto Care evolved into a boutique-style operation serving high-end European vehicles, including why niche marketing attracts better customers and higher ARO conversations. He also shares his approach to culture: hire for fit, pay hourly instead of flat rate, protect work-life balance with...

If you’ve been thinking about hiring, training, or getting your shop more dialed in operationally, this episode is for you. Mike Martin breaks down what changed most in the last decade: customers keeping cars longer, inspections and DVIs becoming more important, and diagnostics taking more time than ever. He also shares how he approaches technician training requirements, why culture is built on te...

If you’re looking for better ways to recruit techs, this episode is packed with practical ideas. Mark Lowe breaks down how Yecks Tire and Auto builds a technician pipeline through local schools, community college partnerships, and internship programs that let students shadow and actually work alongside experienced techs. He also shares how customer service and retention strategies like loaner cars...

If you want a real perspective on longevity, this conversation delivers. Dale Wiken breaks down the financial discipline that helped him survive lean years, why spending less than you make matters in both life and business, and how having the right CPA and business structure can save you from painful surprises. He also shares why coaching would have helped him sooner, how to keep up with new syste...

Houston is one of the most competitive markets in the country, and Petros Skoumpourdis has kept West End Auto Works thriving for over 26 years by learning the business side early. In this episode, Petros shares how coaching helped him price correctly, market smarter, and build a shop that can compete as dealerships push harder into quick service, tires, and maintenance. He also breaks down how tec...

If you’ve ever felt like the industry changed faster than your shop systems, this one will hit home. Kirt Knoedler talks about what it takes to keep a shop strong in a community of about 3,500 people, including treating customers like people, making training a priority, and using DVIs to remove confusion and increase confidence in recommendations. He also shares a candid take on work-life balance...

If you’ve been struggling to hire or keep technicians, you’ll relate to this conversation. Demeny Pollitt explains how Girlington Garage approaches retention through pay, full benefits, and a culture built on weekly one-on-ones, real feedback, and working interviews that let the whole team weigh in. She also shares why the industry needs apprenticeship-style development, how EV and hybrid training...

If you’ve been thinking about ownership or you’re trying to protect your shop culture while the industry shifts, you’ll relate to this conversation. Mat Ducat breaks down what’s changed most in the last few years, including parts quality issues, counterfeit parts showing up online, and why ongoing training and association involvement are non-negotiables. He also shares a real approach to work-life...

If you’ve been feeling the pressure of faster-changing vehicles, rising costs, and customers who expect answers immediately, this episode will hit home. Andrew Knudsen of Coventry Motors talks about the major changes he’s seen in the industry, where AI may help and where it may replace jobs, and why strong systems and financial discipline matter more than ever. You’ll also hear how he keeps the sh...

If you’ve been curious about the mobile repair model, this conversation gives a real look behind the scenes. Andrew Guise breaks down how Willis Auto balances mobile convenience with full-service capability, including towing coordination, deferment planning for non-urgent items, and financing options that help customers keep older vehicles on the road longer. Practical insights on customer communi...