Beyond the Wrench
How can automotive and diesel shops run a better business and be more profitable? How can we make the aftermarket and dealerships more attractive to younger generations? Each week, Jay Goninen, Co-Founder & President of WrenchWay, will sit down with shop owners, technicians, instructors, and professionals in the automotive and diesel industries to have them share their stories and insights. We’ll dive deep into what’s going on in shops and dealerships and what we can do to help drive the industry forward.
The Beyond the Wrench Podcast is powered by WrenchWay.
Episodes
277 episodes
Turning Wrenches for the Secret Service
Lenny Fumarolo shares his journey from working in NASCAR to becoming a Protective Armored Specialist for the United States Secret Service (USSS). He breaks down how others can follow in his footsteps, what daily repairs and maintenance look lik...
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1:15:13
Helping Shop Owners Build Profitable, Fulfilling Businesses
Darrin Barney shares his journey from running a family-owned shop with his brother to becoming CEO of Elite Worldwide. He talks about the early struggles of building a profitable business and the importance of having the right team in the right...
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1:07:26
Building the Future Technician Workforce
Lauren Reinhold, Director of Training & Education at Kirk NationaLease, shares her journey from technician to teacher to leading a technician training and apprenticeship program. She discusses how connecting with students on a personal leve...
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1:04:59
Career Survival Tips for New Technicians
Curtis Gardner, Audi Master Guild Technician at Sewell Audi of North Houston and Founder of Gnarred LLC, shares what young technicians need to know to build a respectful and lasting career. With 15+ years of experience, he covers common mistake...
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1:05:51
Mentoring vs. Training Technicians
John Roberts, Shop Foreman at Metro Toyota, didn’t plan to be on the podcast—but his insights were too good not to share. In this episode, John breaks down the powerful difference between training and mentoring, shares how he builds confidence ...
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1:05:17
Where Racing Passion Meets Customer Trust
Marc Erickson, National Sales at AutoMeter Products, Inc., grew up in a drag racing family and naturally found his way into the automotive world. Over 20 years ago, he started at AutoMeter, and his passion for the brand has only grown. In this ...
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58:00
How Mentors & Mindset Unlock Technician Career Growth
In this episode, Dan Aldrich, Director of Automotive Technical Training at Christian Brothers Automotive, dives into what sets top technicians apart—a growth mindset paired with strong mentorship. Dan explores why soft skills are just as crucia...
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1:00:15
Taking Auto Shop Online: How to Reach More Students Virtually
Bryan Robbins, Owner & Lead Instructor of Hot Rod High School, is bringing auto tech education to students at home through online lessons and take-home kits. What started during COVID now reaches homeschooled students and beyond. Bryan shar...
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1:09:38
ADAS Calibrations Changing Auto Repair
Joel Adcock, Director of Partnerships & Business Development at Revv, joins us to talk about the growing demand for ADAS calibrations in today’s vehicles. He explains how often calibrations are needed—even after basic repairs—and why presca...
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1:02:39
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...
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1:05:09
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 i...
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1:00:11
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, tacklin...
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58:59
Beyond the SEMA Show
Mike Spagnola, President & CEO of Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), joins us to talk about the iconic SEMA Show and the important work the organization is doing behind the scenes to support the automotive, diesel, and parts ind...
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1:01:15
WrenchWay and ASE Launch School Assist All-Star Awards
In this webinar recording, WrenchWay and ASE introduce the School Assist All-Star Awards—a new program recognizing schools and shops making a real impact in promoting automotive and diesel careers. David Johnson, President & CEO of ASE, joi...
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1:01:02
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, ...
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1:04:08
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,...
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59:49
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...
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58:48
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...
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1:01:31
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 tip...
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1:06:03
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, embra...
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1:00:31
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 t...
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1:06:50
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 a...
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54:22
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 pers...
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58:32
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 off...
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1:18:56