U-R-G On the Go

A great yard isn’t built on luck; it’s built on discipline. We sit down with David Gold of Standard Auto Wreckers to unpack how a third-generation operator navigated expansion, a public roll-up, and an uncommon buyback to rebuild momentum with people, process, and profit at the center. From the early days of turning a “junkyard” into an environmentally responsible recycler to leading industry boar...

A good goodbye doesn’t end a story—it reveals why it mattered. We gathered with DJ Harrington, the voice who helped shape URG On The Go, to celebrate the lessons, laughs, and leadership that lifted automotive recycling and the people who power it. Amanda shares a deeply personal tribute, Michael steps in with warmth and respect, and DJ opens the playbook that built his legacy: simple phone scripts...

A high-performing recycler website is more than a logo and a phone number—it’s a 24/7 salesperson that turns searches into paid orders. We sit down with Andy Alonso from URG Web Services to unpack how yards across the U.S. and Canada are modernizing outdated sites and unlocking real e-commerce with clean structure, secure hosting, and tools built for this industry. We start with the foundation: Wo...

Want a real playbook for running a sharper, more profitable recycling operation? We sit down with industry leader and past ARA president Marty Hollingshead to unpack the exact moves that cut returns, speed delivery, and keep body shops coming back. Marty traces his journey from parts puller to owner, then breaks down how consolidation, technology, and shifting buyer behavior reshaped the business—...

A blown engine, a rodeo barn, and a dirt lot aren’t the usual ingredients for a thriving auto recycling business—unless you’re David Markham. We sit down with the founder of EAT Partz to unpack how grit, mentorship, and the right tech stack turned a side hustle into a disciplined, growing yard in Middletown, Ohio. We trace the path from that first teardown to buying property, laying gravel, instal...

  Shops are buying parts online every day through the TraxCollision platform. We invited Bryan Holzinger from OEConnection to walk through how the new URG and TraxCollision direct integration gets recycled parts in front of 15,000 buyers daily, right at the decision point: online. If you have ever lost a sale due to a slow quoting process, missed emails, or uncertain vehicle fitment, this integrat...

Warranties aren’t the enemy of profit—bad accounting and fuzzy reporting are. We sit down with Bret Buike of National Reinsurance to unpack a simple shift that helps automotive recyclers stop bleeding cash on claims and start building a durable revenue stream: move the warranty risk into a reinsurance company you own and pair it with clean, actionable reporting. We walk through the nuts and bolts...

Dave Young of WHI Solutions shares a compelling story about transforming automotive recycling through e-commerce innovation. Having celebrated 31 years with the company, Young's journey parallels the evolution of digital parts sales, particularly since WHI's acquisition by eBay in 2012. What started as a technology gap has blossomed into a game-changing partnership. While WHI excelled at...

Ever wonder how a small-town auto recycling business thrives in today's complex market? Sherri Smith takes us behind the scenes at Smith Auto Inc in Pawnee City, Nebraska, revealing how a field of leftover parts cars evolved into a multi-faceted operation with 26 employees serving a town of fewer than 800 people. What began as a collision repair center in the late 1980s naturally progressed t...

Are excessive auction fees eating away at your profits? Meet the company that's challenging the status quo in salvage vehicle sourcing and putting more money back in recyclers' pockets. When Dan Oscarson walks into a recycling yard and mentions Salvato Auctions' business model, he typically gets two reactions: "You guys must be crazy" immediately followed by "I hope y...

Cyber criminals have significantly stepped up their game, with attacks costing businesses $22.5 billion in 2024 – a staggering increase from just $1 billion in 2022. For auto recycling yards, this presents a new frontier of security challenges that can't be solved with traditional measures like fences and security cameras. VGM Forbin's Jeremy Heideman and Nick Gerrans join the URG On the...

What happens when life forces you to step up and lead? Shan Latham never expected to find herself at the helm of Cocoa Auto Salvage, but following family tragedy, this second-generation recycler transformed from financial manager to industry leader. Her journey reveals powerful lessons about resilience, adaptability, and the unexpected paths we sometimes must navigate. "Treat everybody fairly...

The automotive recycling industry thrives on connection, collaboration, and community – three elements perfectly embodied in the Florida Auto Dismantlers & Recyclers Association's upcoming 50th anniversary celebration. This milestone event, taking place July 17-20 at Clearwater's beautiful Sheraton Sand Key Resort, promises to deliver extraordinary value for recyclers seeking growth...

Auto recycling stands at a crossroads where education and adaptation determine who thrives in tomorrow's market. In this thought-provoking conversation with industry veteran Mike Kunkel of Profit Team Consulting, we explore how the once-stigmatized "junkyard business" has transformed into a sophisticated industry attracting major investment and mainstream acceptance. The landscape i...

Few stories in automotive recycling capture the essence of American entrepreneurship quite like Shannon Nordstrom's journey. From the "funny farm" where cows, crops, and cars coexisted to running an industry-leading operation spanning three generations, Shannon's path reveals how vision, faith, and hard work transform businesses—and lives. Shannon's candid storytelling tak...

The electric vehicle revolution isn't coming—it's already here. Automotive recyclers across North America are increasingly encountering high-voltage vehicles, yet many lack the training, tools, and confidence to handle them properly. In this enlightening conversation, Greg Aguilera of International Automotive Consulting shares his journey from early EV technician to industry consultant,...

What happens when automotive recycling industry leaders gather to share their wisdom? Pure gold for anyone connected to this unique business community. The latest episode of URG On The Go podcast delivers exclusive conversations recorded live from the URG Team PRP Conference in Orlando, Florida. Host DJ Harrington sits down with Marty Hollingshed, past president of the Automotive Recyclers Associa...

The automotive recycling industry is experiencing a remarkable transformation as once-separate organizations discover the power of collaboration. In this enlightening episode recorded live at the URG Conference in Orlando, we capture conversations with key industry leaders who are reshaping how recyclers work together. Shan Latham, past president of ARA and owner of Coco Auto Salvage, shares how h...

The heartbeat of the auto recycling industry pulses through every conversation in this special edition of URG On the Go, recorded live from the vibrant URG Team PRP conference in Orlando. DJ Harrington welcomes old friends and industry leaders who share candid insights about their businesses, relationships, and commitment to advancing the industry. Matthew of Honeycomb Converters reveals how their...

At the heart of the auto recycling industry lies a profound commitment to service that extends far beyond business operations. The special edition of URG On the Go podcast from Orlando, Florida captures this spirit perfectly as URG announces their partnership with Tunnel to Towers Foundation to donate much-needed passenger vans for homeless veterans. Matthew Milazzo shares the powerful origin stor...

Casey Cornell never planned to become an auto recycler. Working at State Farm Insurance with a side business in construction, he stepped in temporarily when his father fell ill, thinking he'd manage the small parts yard until his dad returned. Twenty-two years later, Casey has transformed Cornell's Auto Parts from a modest operation with Hollander books and minimal inventory into a power...

Family. The word comes up repeatedly when URG CEO Kristy Werner describes what makes the automotive recycling industry special and why the annual URG Conference matters so much. "I never would have expected to have so many people in this industry as close friends," she explains, highlighting the connections that drive business growth and professional development. From April 10-12, 2024,...

Auto recycling isn't just about selling parts—it's about building a legacy. In this captivating episode, we're joined by Brian Bachand, CEO of Westover Auto Salvage and a second-generation auto recycler who's transforming his family business through innovation, education, and industry advocacy. Brian takes us through his remarkable journey from a child sweeping floors and stack...

The automotive recycling industry has hit a challenging period, and JC Cahill doesn't sugarcoat it. As he shares with URG On The Go hosts, recyclers across the country are experiencing significant margin compression - with parts prices dropping roughly 30% while vehicle acquisition costs remain stubbornly high. This financial squeeze marks a stark reversal from the pandemic-era boom when supp...

The auto recycling landscape is undergoing a remarkable transformation from what Mike Kunkel calls "our grandfather's industry" into a sophisticated business sector attracting mainstream financial players and consumer acceptance. This eye-opening conversation with one of the industry's most respected consultants reveals both the tremendous opportunities and significant challeng...