Remarkable Results Radio Podcast

Thanks to our Partners, Shop Dog Marketing, NAPA TRACS, Today's Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty Watch Full Video Episode Recorded live at AAPEX 2025, this episode brings together leaders from Australia’s Jax Tyres and Auto to show just how closely the Australian automotive aftermarket mirrors the U.S. market. Featuring CEO Steve Grossreider, franchise owner Dan Spiteri, future franchisee Will Attard, and Autoflow’s Chris Cloutier and Craig O’Neill, the conversation underscores shared global challenges—most notably the technician shortage—and the reassurance that the industry is moving along a parallel path worldwide. Rather than chasing quick fixes, the discussion centers on culture-driven solutions: expanding diversity, building clear career paths and succession plans, and advocating for the industry at the grassroots level. Jax's customer-first mindset is a recurring theme, with every team member accountable for the client experience and a strong emphasis on clear communication to help customers underst

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Watch Full Video Episode Eric Svedberg breaks down a smarter, more profitable way to price diagnostic work—what he calls the Level Testing Sales Amplifier. At its core, the system tackles a problem most repair shops quietly accept: testing is often a loss leader. When technicians are tied up diagnosing complex issues, shops miss out on parts sales. A-level technicians can earn less than their B-level counterparts doing routine work, and the rising cost of software and tools goes unpaid. Svedberg reframes the conversation by using the word “testing” instead of “diagnostics,” a term he believes is clearer and more intuitive for customers. Testing implies a process, not a guarantee—setting expectations from the start. The Level Testing system uses a tiered structure tied to the shop’s base labor rate: Level One – Basic Testing:Single, constant, duplicable issues (like a check engine light that’s always on).Level Two – Intermediate Testing:Multiple concerns

Thanks to our Partners, Shop Dog Marketing, NAPA TRACS, Today's Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty Watch Full Video Episode Recorded live at AAPEX 2025, ASE President Dave Johnson and AAPEX Shop of the Year winner Tom Palermo discuss the value, impact, and future of ASE certification. A major highlight: the U.S. Secret Service joined ASE on the AAPEX show floor, promoting technician careers and showcasing armored vehicles. Johnson notes that the Secret Service requires ASE certification for maintenance roles—proof that if it’s “good enough for the president’s car,” it matters for the whole industry. Key topics include ASE’s updated test content based on real shop feedback, powerful data showing certification improves productivity and reduces comebacks and attrition, and the ongoing challenge of boosting consumer awareness. They also discuss increasing industry requirements for ASE, new certification efforts for Vehicle Security Specialists, and the continued push for professionalism in today’s high-tech auto

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Recorded Live at ASTA 2025, we explore the rise of the automotive specialist and why the industry needs a language shift—calling instructors “educators” instead of “trainers” to reflect the complex, continuing education modern technicians require. We also dive into the mobile diagnostics and repair market, discussing strategies for growth, high-complexity work, and the investments needed to compete. Looking ahead, the industry faces a technological turning point by 2030, with new vehicle architectures and ADAS calibration requirements threatening shops that fail to keep up. The episode closes by emphasizing the power of networking, connecting with peers, and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. https://astausa.org/pages/asta-expo Rich Falco, Diag on Demand, Instructor at Carquest Technical Institute. Listen to Rich’s previous episodes HERE Keith Perkins, L1 Automotive Training, Listen to Keith’s previous episode HERE. Thanks to our Partners, NA

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, Today's Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty Watch Full Video Episode Shop owners, are you feeling burned out or stuck in the grind? This episode is for you. Shop owners Jimmy Alauria and Dave Kusa dive into how to pause, reflect, and reignite your passion for the business you built. Key takeaways: Think Bigger:Grow your business beyond what you can manage alone—empower your team and expand your vision.Evolve as a Leader:Stop being just a manager—step into the CEO role and watch your business thrive.Culture Matters:Set the tone, share your dream, and build a positive environment your team can rally around.Delegate & Recharge:Offload the hats you wear, hire strategically, and take time off to see the big picture.Balance Family & Business:Set boundaries to protect both your shop and your relationships. The truth? Falling in love with your business again starts with falling in love with your ability to lead it. Jimmy Alauria, 3A Automotive and Diesel Repair, Phoenix, A

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Watch Full Video Episode Recorded Live at ASTA 2025, Ryan Ragan, Executive Director of ASTA, discusses the explosive growth of the event, Ragan’s long-term vision, the wildly creative opening-night party, and the industry-wide push to elevate professional language in the automotive field. Episode Highlights Record-Breaking Growth:ASTA 2025 moved to a larger venue and saw a 34–35% increase in registrations, reaching four-digit attendance. Ragan restructured the expo for better vendor ROI, including a shop-owner-only show-floor window on opening night. His biggest hurdle wasn’t logistics—it was convincing people that such a massive upgrade was even possible on a tight timeline. The payoff came when an attendee told him the show felt like the “SEMA of the East.”“Out of This World” Theme:ASTA’s first themed expo featured an alien-inspired opening night with a mechanical bull, giant dartboard, sumo matches (announced by Carm), and 10-ft champagne-serving alie

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, Today's Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty Watch Full Video Episode Craig Noel, Nicole Bennecoff, and Brad Updegraff share actionable strategies for reducing turnover and creating workplaces where employees genuinely want to stay. Their discussion focuses on hiring for culture, adapting to generational expectations around flexibility, and investing personally in the people who make the business run. Turnover Prevention Starts in the Interview Preventing turnover begins long before a new hire steps into the shop. The panel emphasized hiring for culture above all—seeking candidates who align with the organization’s values and want to contribute to its long-term success. Key hiring insights: Culture Fit Over Experience:Skills can be taught; mindset cannot.Process Buy-In:Especially with experienced technicians, owners must clearly communicate that systems are established and expected to be followed. A growth mindset is crucial.Onboarding & Accountability:Culture discussio

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Watch Full Video Episode Recorded Live at ASTA 2025, Dutch Silverstein delivers a powerful reframing of how the automotive industry can approach customer interaction—shifting from high-pressure sales tactics to a relationship-first model built on the idea that “People hate to be sold, yet they love to buy. Advocates, Not SalespeopleDutch’s relationship-based shop model stands in stark contrast to transactional sales environments. No Salespeople:Dutch does not employ “salesmen,” he employs “advocates.”Role of an Advocate:Advocates collaborate with customers to understand what they want for their vehicle and their long-term plans, then help design solutions that support those goals.Eliminating Pressure:The shop enforces a strict “no pressure, ever” philosophy. There are no commissions, no sales quotas, no whiteboards, no competitive bonuses—removing any incentive that could create a conflict of interest. The episode also dives into several controversial bu

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, Today's Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty Watch Full Video Episode It’s time to dig into real-world strategies for managing debt and strengthening the financial foundation of your auto repair business. Shiju Thomas,Hotchkiss Auto RepairDustin Brown,Brown Auto ExpertsHunt Demarest, CPA,Paar Melis and Associates The first big takeaway: Cash is king.Our panel emphasizes the power of maintaining healthy cash reserves—ideally three to six months of operating expenses—to safeguard your shop against unexpected disruptions. If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that cash on hand can be the difference between surviving and scrambling. Another core theme is recognizing the difference between good debt and “bad debt.” Good debt includes real estate and other collateral-backed loans that appreciate, add stability, and support long-term growth. Bad debt includes high-interest burdens like merchant cash advances or short-term credit card loans—products that drain cash flow fast and

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Watch Full Video Episode Recorded Live at ASTA 2025, keynote speaker Jim Knight dives into leadership and organizational culture through his signature “edutainment” style—a high-energy blend of music, education, and hospitality. Knight is a professional speaker, writer, and former Head of Training and Development for over two decades at Hard Rock International, which he calls one of the "greatest cultures in the history of culture." Jim stresses that the most important responsibility of any leader is hiring the right person. Too often, leaders get distracted by product, pricing, or aesthetics, while the true differentiator is the human element. He recommends evaluating candidates through the Three C’s: Competence – Can they do the job?Character – Are they kind, respectful, and easy to work with?Culture Fit – Do their values align with the organization? Leaders who fail to make employees feel seen, heard, and appreciated, he warns, will continue to strugg

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, Today's Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty Watch Full Video Episode The automotive industry faces a growing crisis: as veteran trainers and educators retire, there’s no clear path for the next generation to replace them. Creating quality training is time-intensive — often taking months to develop just one class — and the personal sacrifices required have deterred many from stepping up. This episode explores the urgent need to evolve automotive education, from rethinking long-form classes to developing shorter, high-impact sessions that better fit today’s learning styles. At the heart of the conversation is a proposed solution: an industry “Trainer Boot Camp” designed to teach aspiring educators not only technical knowledge but also the art of presentation — structure, flow, delivery, and audience engagement. Another proposed solution is the creation of a Train the Trainers Scholarship to fund legacy educators like John Thornton and Scot Manna to design and lead this new in

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Watch Full Video Episode In this fireside conversation, Joe Hanson of Gordie’s Auto and Tire shares how a clear purpose—“Helping people do life”—guides every part of the business. This mission shapes both the customer experience and the culture within the shop, ensuring the team feels supported, valued, and equipped to build meaningful careers. Joe walks through the realities of growing the business, from navigating permits and environmental requirements to expanding fleet services and managing tire sales intentionally. Issues such as leadership team dynamics, marketing, and phone call audits are management problems—they are never permanently "fixed," but instead require continuous coaching and management. He also emphasizes the importance of communication, setting clear expectations, and educating customers about the complexity of modern testing and ADAS calibration—not just “plugging in a scanner.” Joe remains committed to the work for as long as it’s m

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, Today's Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty Watch Full Video Episode David Boyes, CEO of Today’s Class, and Lola Schmidt, Schmidt Auto Care, explore how short, personalized, and gamified training is transforming team development in the automotive industry. The discussion centers on how Today’s Class delivers 3–5 minute, mobile-friendly training sessions that fit seamlessly into daily shop routines, often completed right after morning huddles. This consistent “daily drip” of learning minimizes workflow disruption while fostering a culture of continuous growth. Gamification drives engagement through points, badges, and friendly competition, sparking team conversations and collaboration. Shops like Schmidt Auto Care have seen measurable improvements in technical knowledge, such as increased proficiency in brake systems, wheel alignment, and HVAC performance. Lola shares how her team’s enthusiasm for competition has built deeper learning habits, while David explains how the pla

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Watch Full Video Episode Stress is inevitable, but how we respond to it can make or break our leadership. In this episode, Dr. David Weiman, psychologist at Weiman Consulting, dives into the science of stress and practical strategies for managing it, especially in the fast paced world of automotive repair. What You’ll Learn: The fight or flight response and why modern stress feels just as intense as physical danger.The three types of stress: Normal, Training (Eustress), and Excessive, and how recognizing them can improve decision-making.Simple, powerful tools for recovery: micro breaks, diaphragmatic breathing, and mindful routines.How stress affects leadership, team dynamics, and strategic thinking—and what to do about it.Practical tips to avoid burnout, maintain energy, and enhance focus. Dr. Weiman emphasizes that the key isn’t eliminating stress, it’s managing it effectively so you can think clearly, lead confidently, and take action. Dr. David Weima

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, Today's Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty Watch Full Video Episode This episode takes a deep dive into the evolution of digital marketing in the automotive repair industry, with a strong focus on Google’s Local Service Ads (LSAs), website performance, and empathetic customer engagement. Connor Tracy and Jeff Jackson unpack how LSAs are transforming how shops attract and convert customers. They explain Google’s rigorous verification process and how LSAs differ from traditional pay-per-click models by emphasizing verified leads, call monitoring, and actual revenue generation over vanity metrics like clicks. Beyond advertising, the discussion touches on ways to stand out, like adding live scheduling, using empathetic CRM communication instead of constant sales pitches, and avoiding wasted ad spend that doesn’t deliver results..

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Watch Full Video Episode Tonnika Haynes, owner of Brown’s Automotive in Chapel Hill, North Carolina—a family business founded by her father, William Brown, in 1980—joins us for a conversation recorded live at the ASTA Conference in Raleigh, NC. Together, we explore the powerful and defining mentorship that shaped both her leadership and her legacy. Tonnika shares that she never worked for her “dad,” she worked for William Brown, the business leader. That separation became clear when, early in her ownership, she faced her first major crisis: losing a key employee. When she called her father for guidance, it wasn’t “Dad” who picked up; it was William Brown. His advice was blunt but transformative. Instead of sympathy, he challenged her: “What would you do if they got hit by a bus?  You can’t sit in it, move forward.” It was a defining moment that taught her the importance of separating emotion from action. As William often reminded her: “We don’t have t

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, Today's Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty Watch Full Video Episode Three industry coaches, Chris Cotton, Brian Gillis, and Clint White, are redefining leadership by returning to shop ownership. They chose to re-engage, believing that staying in the trenches keeps their coaching grounded and relevant in a rapidly changing industry. They view ownership as a “learning lab,” testing strategies in marketing, staffing, and technology firsthand, then bringing real-world insights back to their clients. As they plan for the future, each is focused on sustainable growth, exploring private equity opportunities, and developing strong succession plans, all while keeping culture and quality at the core of their mission. Chris Cotton, AutoFix Auto Shop Coaching, and the Chris Cotton Weekly Blitz Podcast Brian Gillis, You Net-Results Clint White, Coaching with Integrity Thanks to our Partner, NAPA TRACS NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and si

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Watch Full Video Episode Joe Marconi, former shop owner, Elite Worldwide coach, is defining the challenge in today’s automotive aftermarket: the need for specialization. The End of the Generalist Era - Modern vehicles are too complex for the “all makes, all models, all repairs” approach. Marconi shared that when he tried doing everything—from transmission rebuilds to diagnostics—profitability disappeared. The time, training, and tooling required simply didn’t make sense. Specialization: The Smarter Path Forward - Like medicine’s cardiologists and neurologists, automotive professionals must focus their expertise. Specialization boosts productivity, profit, and performance while creating better outcomes for customers. Redefining Professionalism and Language - Replace “mechanic” or “tech” with “technologist” or “specialist.” - Use precise titles like “calibration specialist” to build client confidence. - Adopt “Essential Skilled Occupation (ESO)” to better

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, Today's Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty Watch Full Video Episode How much should you invest in your shop? Forget the spreadsheets! We’re challenging the conventional wisdom of ROI with three industry titans who discuss building resilience, culture, and high-tech expertise in any market. We sat down at ASTA 2025 in Raleigh with Matt Fanslow, Tommy Markham, and Zeb Beard to dive deep: - The Constableville Paradox: Hear from Tommy Markham about investing in full ADAS calibration equipment for a town that "has exploded to 300 people" and has no stoplights. His motivation? Simply "doing the job right" and ensuring local body shops don't have to flatbed cars 35 miles away. Tommy also stands firm on pricing, refusing the "$99 alignment dilemma." - The Zeb Beard Investment Strategy: Zeb Beard reveals why traditional ROI calculations are sometimes useless: you can "talk yourself out of buying anything". His massive 62,000 square foot shop (which once had clouds inside and includ

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Watch Full Video Episode Scott Brown shares his insights on key challenges in the automotive aftermarket, including ADAS, EV maintenance, and industry adoption. ADAS Calibration and LiabilityScott emphasizes the importance of proper ADAS calibration, required by manufacturers after certain repairs. Skipping it exposes shops to liability, and he advises refusing jobs if required calibration is declined. Despite its necessity, the industry adoption is low. EV Tooling and SafetyWhile basic shop tools suffice for many EV services, high-voltage work demands safety training and PPE. Looking ForwardUsing his aviator metaphor of “runway,” Scott stresses that shops must evolve, specializing in ADAS and EV maintenance to stay competitive as EVs become the future of mobility. Scott’s insights make one thing clear: the automotive industry is changing fast, and shops that embrace ADAS and EV expertise now will be the ones leading the market tomorrow. Staying informed,