Beyond 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|

What Attracts Technicians to Auto Collision

Joe Burda, I-CAR Instructor, surveyed over 100 auto collision technicians to understand what motivates them to join the industry. In this episode, he shares insights from the survey, explores common trends among respondents, and discusses how the industry can attract the right talent to address the ongoing workforce shortage. Download Auto Collision Face-to-Face Industry Survey

2025-03-26T07:43:51-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Celebrating Technician Talent at the Audi Twin Cup

Mollie Hughes, Service Operations Program Lead at Audi, discusses the Audi Twin Cup competition, which highlights the industry's top technicians, service advisors, and brand specialists. Mollie shares insights into the competition's structure and memorable moments from past events. Watch the Full Episode  Show Notes About Our Guest Mollie Hughes Service Operations Program Lead, Audi

2025-03-19T07:29:42-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Improving Habits as a Flat Rate Technician

Josh Arnold, Team Lead at Subaru of Austin, joins us again for his fifth appearance on Beyond the Wrench. Nearly a year has passed since Josh moved to a new shop out of state, and during that time, he’s made several key changes in both his personal and professional life. In this episode, he shares

2025-03-12T07:51:01-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Intentionally Recruiting Today’s Auto Technician

Brad McKinney, Director of Talent Acquisition at Cavender Auto Family, shares a crash course on recruiting technicians in today’s market. With the technician shortage and technicians having the upper hand, your shop needs to stand out. Brad offers tips on effective communication during the hiring process, avoiding overselling candidates, and preparing managers for interviews. Watch

2025-03-05T08:24:28-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Building True Leadership in the Shop

Chris Craig, Fixed Operations Content Owner at RockED, shares insights from his new white paper and upcoming book on technician training and leadership. He discusses the difference between an appointed leader and a true leader, understanding younger generations, and how to balance multiple personalities in the shop. Chris also highlights the importance of communication and

2025-02-26T08:46:43-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Thriving as a Young Technician

Naomi Kraemer, a first-generation technician, shares her journey from overcoming insecurities as a young tech to becoming a Main Line Technician at Subaru of Olathe. She reflects on the challenges of landing her first shop job, the invaluable experience gained while shadowing master technicians, learning about when to ask questions, and the initial shock of

2025-04-03T12:42:13-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Shop Software 101

Joe Toscano, keynote speaker, author, and technology expert of “The Social Dilemma” Netflix documentary, discusses his journey of returning to his automotive roots to become COO of Gateway Auto. He touches on tips for choosing the right shop software, protecting customer data, and creating strong passwords for better online security. Watch the Full Episode 

2025-02-14T15:24:57-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

The Walser Way

We took the Beyond the Wrench Podcast live with Walser Automotive Group to explore how they earned their reputation as one of the nation’s top dealership employers. We dive into their commitment to continuous improvement, workplace culture, and why being a top employer is central to their mission. Watch the Full Live Video  Show

2025-01-27T13:33:31-05:00Beyond the Wrench|
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