Beyond the Wrench

Growing an Auto Shop with Social Media

Miles Bell, General Manager of Dave’s Auto Center, shares how his family’s shop built a combined following of over 4 million on social media to help grow their independent auto shop. He talks about how he and his dad, Dave Bell, have learned to work together by playing to each other’s strengths, their “secret sauce”

2025-06-11T07:50:38-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

The Many Phases of Shop Ownership

Dave Bell, Founder of Dave’s Auto Center, joins us to share his real journey from growing up in poverty to starting a successful shop and building a loyal social media following. He walks us through how he made the leap from being an operator in the business to becoming a true owner, why mentorship matters

2025-06-06T08:31:49-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Investing in Technicians Builds Better Shops

Erik Fagerstrom, Director of Training and Talent Development at GreatWater 360 Auto Care, explains how supporting your technicians’ growth helps the whole shop succeed. He discusses growing your team through regular one-on-one meetings, tackling tough culture challenges head-on, and the value of providing clear career paths with real examples of technicians advancing. Watch the Full

2025-05-28T08:17:38-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Inside BMW’s Approach to Developing Top Technicians

Gary Uyematsu, National Technician Training Manager at BMW North America, joins us to discuss the continuous learning it takes to succeed as a technician and how BMW approaches technician training. He also highlights some industry disconnects, like career counselors not fully understanding technician careers, along with the unique challenges of teaching and developing today’s technicians.

2025-05-23T08:45:36-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

What Top-Performing Shops Do Differently

Darin Damron, SE Regional Vice President at Jasper Engines & Transmissions, is back to share what he’s seeing from the highest-performing shops. He highlights the common traits these shops share—like their commitment to continuous learning, focus on hiring and keeping the right people, and putting people first. Darin also covers valuable training resources and materials

2025-04-30T07:43:23-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

How ASE is Shaping Automotive Education

Jennifer Holland, Assistant Vice President of Marketing at ASE, walks us through the incredible growth ASE has experienced over the years as a staple in the automotive industry. She highlights how ASE has reimagined its marketing efforts, gives an inside look at the organization today, and shares the impact their annual Instructor Training Conference has

2025-04-23T07:57:50-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Habits, Mindset, and Leadership Lessons for Big Growth

Victoria Thomas, CFO & Owner of Kellymoss Inc., talks about how dreaming bigger has helped drive their business success. She shares her morning routine, why leaders can’t outwork their to-do lists, and how she’s learned to delegate parts of the business to focus on bigger goals. Watch the Full Episode  Show Notes About Our

2025-05-23T08:46:09-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Riding the Wave of EV & ADAS in Auto Repair

Kurt Fenzel, EV & ADAS Instructor at I-CAR, shares how he's staying ahead of the rapidly evolving automotive technology by providing the right education to technicians. He reflects on his time as a high school automotive teacher, offers tips on managing the challenges of ADAS and other advanced technologies, and discusses the space and equipment

2025-04-09T07:59:07-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Dealership Success Through Intentional Leadership

Bill Demaree, Corporate Director of Fixed Operations at Tom Wood Automotive Group, shares how intentional habits have helped grow their stores. He discusses the importance of hiring and firing based on company values to shape the culture, embracing technology to improve staff efficiency, and how stepping into different roles at stores has helped him identify

2025-04-02T07:59:33-05:00Beyond the Wrench|
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