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.
Beyond the Wrench
SkillsUSA's Real Impact on the Next Generation
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Christian Spell, a recent high school graduate and SkillsUSA National Officer, joins Jay to share how a serious injury redirected his path—straight into automotive class and SkillsUSA. He opens up about competing, leading, and developing the professional skills most techs never learn in a shop.
About the Episode
- Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, jayg@wrenchway.com
- Guest: Christian Spell, SkillsUSA, cspell@skillsusanationalofficer.org
Links & Resources
- Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list
- 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) June 1–5
Join the ASE Connects Community
ASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more:
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