Ratchet+Wrench Radio

Grow: No Business is an Island

Robert Ohlman's shop was struggling. He found a mentor, however, and things started to change—he listened, learned, and turned his process around. Now Tony's Brake & Alignment is thriving. Hear his story today on Ratchet+Wrench Radio. 

Lead: Don’t Wait ’til the End of the Month

"Don't wait 'til the end of the month!" This is great advice for just about anyone. In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, shop owner and R+W columnist Aaron Stokes describes the challenges and opportunities when month-end rolls around and your numbers aren't where you want them to be. Football fans will appreciate his AFC title match comparison to running a shop, and bonus: Stokes shares his Super Bowl prediction.

How I Did It: Treat Your Staff

Matthew Roayaee, owner of Auto Check Elite in Katy, Texas, boosts company morale by providing breakfast, lunch, and focusing on traditions around his business. 

Innovate: Brian Bowersock & Ask the AutoMan Radio Show

Brian Bowersock is the owner and operator of West Automotive Group, a three-store California operation located in San Diego county with shops in Escondido, El Cajon, and Kerney Mesa. Ask the Auto Man, which airs on San Diego Channel 6. Bowersock's show focuses on a different automotive topic every week, ranging from how often drivers should service automatic transmissions to what it means when a vehicle’s check engine light comes on and everything in between. The goal of Ask the Auto Man is to educate drivers on the many topics related to the automotive industry and keep them up-to-date on the latest industry news. Listen to Brian discuss his experience with the radio show and how he channels his passions, hobbies, and goals into his shop for himself and every WAG employee.   

Lead: Look Ahead to 2019 With a Vision and a Plan

Aaron Stokes discusses his 2019 goals: the whiteboard vision, the shop floor implementation, and how he motivates his staff to get there. 

How I Did It: Leon Anderson

Leon Anderson, owner of Integrity Auto Care in South Beliot, Ill., opened his business in order to provide an answer for those who lost jobs at a local dealership. Today, he's in the process of opening his second location, and talks with Ratchet+Wrench on the lessons he learned from his first year in business. 

Grow: Running a Family Business

Rissy Sutherland talks to Michael Brewster, president of Gil's Garage Inc., about the challenges and opportunities of his thriving family auto shop. 

Innovate: Stubbornness to Persevere

Stephen Reinarts, Dean of Automotive Programs at Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis, Minnesota, discusses the challenges and opportunities of educating and hiring young employees in the body shop industry as well as the current technician shortage. 

Disrupt: Preparing Entry-Level Employees for Success

Charlie Robertson, president of the Collision Career Institute, explains what shop operators can do to set their entry-level employees up to be assets at their facility. 

Innovate: Creating an Off-Site Office

Creating an off-site location can bring about change throughout the shop, the separation creates independence among staff members. The location can serve as a separate meeting hub for the shop, and it provides owners with space away from the business. Gary Pontious Jr. of Toledo Auto Care discusses how his business recently took the leap into establishing a separate office location and how it's brought positive change to the establishment.