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
270 episodes
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
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 yo...
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55:27
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 e...
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1:05:12
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 so...
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41:38
The Walser Way: Part 2
The highly anticipated final part of our live Beyond the Wrench episode with Walser Automotive Group is here! In this episode, we dive deeper...
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45:17
The Walser Way: Part 1
For the first time, we took the Beyond the Wrench Podcast live on social media with our friends at Walser Automotive Group. In this episode, ...
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1:05:41
WrenchWay 2024 Year in Review
WrenchWay Co-Founders, Jay Goninen and Mark Wilson, reflect on 2024, sharing highlights, challenges, and what’s to come in 2025. They discuss proud moments, lessons learned, and future plans—all while focusing on WrenchWay’s mission to promote ...
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1:05:25
Shaping Collision Careers Through Mentorship
Max Sorensen, Senior Vice President of Operations at Caliber discusses the critical role mentorship and structure play in shaping successful auto collision technicians. He shares insights on Caliber’s Technician Apprentice Program (TAP), the ri...
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59:45
Breaking Down Barriers in the Diesel Industry
Jessica McAllister, Lead Technician, shares insights on attracting young technicians to the industry. As a young technician herself, she talks about the challenges of breaking into the diesel and trucking fields, the power of a great mentor, st...
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58:45