Fixed Ops Mastermind

Dave Foy
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“Leaving the industry better than I found it”-Dave Foy Each week, Dave sits with a panel of guests to discuss the topic of the week. From Coaching for Success to Sales vs. Service, Dave talks to the industry and professional leaders that can bring their insight and knowledge to the viewers. Our W.E. A.R.E Feature airs on the third Thursday of the month and spotlights Women in Fixed Ops and how they are changing the industry and leading the charge to a better customer experience.

  1. Leadership Lessons with Joe Clementi

    3H AGO

    Leadership Lessons with Joe Clementi

    In this conversation, Dave Foy and Coach Joe Clementi explore the real-world mechanics of leadership inside dealerships—what it takes to move beyond titles, buzzwords, and “rah-rah” management toward real influence and growth. Joe, a former dealer leader turned coach, breaks down the evolution of leadership in Fixed Ops: how vulnerability, accountability, and consistency separate managers from leaders. The discussion covers the ripple effects of communication breakdowns, the danger of ego-led management, and the daily grind of setting a tone through example—not emails. Joe emphasizes that culture isn’t declared; it’s observed in how leaders show up when things go wrong. The episode mixes practical wisdom with candid stories from the service drive and leadership trenches, ending with a challenge to every listener: stop managing people and start developing them. 5 Key Takeaways Leadership is consistency, not charisma. Being steady in words and actions builds trust faster than any motivational speech.Coaching beats correcting. When leaders only step in after mistakes, they’re managing fear, not performance.Accountability must flow both ways. A leader who demands it but doesn’t live it erodes credibility.Your culture lives in the smallest behaviors. Advisors and techs mirror how their leaders react to pressure.Ego kills team growth. When leaders need to be right more than effective, development stalls.5 Leadership Insights Feedback is fuel. Joe reminds that “silence is confusion’s best friend”—clear feedback keeps progress visible.Emotional control sets the tone. Leaders who lose composure teach chaos; calm is contagious.Time with your people is the real KPI. Metrics matter, but showing up on the drive says more than reports ever will.Ownership starts at the top. Leaders who take responsibility for results—good or bad—teach others to do the same.Legacy leadership is intentional. The best leaders build systems that thrive long after they’re gone.5 Discussion Prompts Where does “leadership by example” break down most in our own stores?What’s one area where we manage performance instead of coaching growth?How can we teach accountability without using fear or shame?What would change if our managers’ success was measured by team development, not just profit?How do we identify and eliminate ego-driven decisions from leadership behavior?

    59 min
  2. How to Really Reach Dealers Part 1

    3D AGO

    How to Really Reach Dealers Part 1

    The episode brings together Dave Foy, Shaun Raines, and Charity Dunning for a candid and often humorous conversation about leadership, innovation, and culture in automotive retail. They explore what authentic leadership looks like in a post-pandemic industry, how women continue to redefine automotive retail, and why emotionally intelligent workplaces outperform those driven purely by numbers. Charity steers the dialogue toward empowerment and inclusion, while Dave and Shaun draw from decades of dealership experience to challenge stale operating models and celebrate the human side of Fixed Ops. 5 Key Takeaways Authenticity outperforms authority — Leaders who admit what they don’t know earn deeper trust.Empowerment requires structure — Representation matters, but so do mentorship programs and equitable advancement paths.Psychological safety fuels innovation — Teams speak up when they know their ideas won’t be punished.AI must serve people, not replace them — Technology amplifies empathy when implemented with intent.Listening is leadership’s most underused tool — Transformation begins with consistent, open dialogue.5 Action Items Hold monthly listening sessions where advisors and techs share uncensored feedback directly with leadership.Launch cross-department mentorships, pairing women in leadership with new hires to accelerate inclusion.Evaluate communication tone across management for transparency and consistency.Schedule quarterly “culture checks” — private, judgment-free discussions modeled after this WE ARE conversation.Document and publicize small wins that resulted from empathetic leadership decisions.5 Quotes “Better than we deserve—that’s how I’d describe it today.” – Shaun Raines“I like what Russell says: I’m living the great American dream.” – Charity Dunning“Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about creating a space where people want to find them with you.” – Dave Foy“You can’t scale culture through software; you scale it through people who believe in the mission.” – Shaun Raines“Women aren’t changing automotive—they’re reminding it what humanity looks like.” – Charity Dunning

    50 min
  3. The Job Search Journey

    OCT 15

    The Job Search Journey

    This episode of WE ARE: Women Empowering Automotive Retail Excellence brought together a group of women leaders from across the industry—including Jessica Smith, Stephanie Wedgeworth, Melissa Marlatt, and Dave Foy—to explore authentic leadership, vulnerability, and growth in a male-dominated space. Over the course of an hour, the group shared stories of professional setbacks, resilience, and the ongoing challenge of balancing performance with authenticity. From learning to speak up in rooms that once felt intimidating to supporting one another through burnout and self-doubt, the conversation captured what it means to lead with empathy and confidence. The theme that echoed throughout: women in automotive don’t need permission—they need each other. Five Quotes from the Episode “I’m in an organization, I’m performing, I’m building a brand, I’m doing all the things of every corporate America book that I’ve read and every mentor that I had. Surely this won’t happen to me again, and I was wrong. And it happened again.” – Jessica Smith“You don’t have to worry about where yours is gonna come from. And that’s been a big thing, too—I’ve been working with a lot of people that are in the same situation I’m in, and I’m so busy trying to help them.” – Russell“It doesn’t have to be negative. My question is, was there any feedback? Because feedback isn’t failure—it’s fuel.” – Jessica Smith“Thank you. I receive that. I appreciate those words.” – Stephanie Wedgeworth“Special guest Jessica Smith—she’s gonna kick us off, and she’s the perfect person to start this conversation.” – Dave FoyFive Key Takeaways Authenticity beats perfection. The most powerful leaders are those who are honest about what they’ve learned the hard way.Feedback is a gift, not an attack. Growth happens when we stay curious instead of defensive.Mentorship is everywhere. Real guidance doesn’t require a title—it comes from genuine connection.Women need visibility and voice. Advocacy matters most when it happens in rooms we’re not in.Resilience grows through repetition. Confidence is built by continually stepping into discomfort.Five Actionable Steps for Tomorrow Reach out to another woman in your network and share genuine encouragement or recognition.Post or share one failure and what it taught you—to model vulnerability and leadership.Ask for feedback from a peer or leader this week, then thank them—don’t defend.Mentor in micro-moments. Offer five minutes of advice, connection, or encouragement to someone starting out.Track your wins. End each week by writing down three things you accomplished, no matter how small.

    57 min
  4. Free Money! Recall's Bring in Revenue and Reduce Liability

    OCT 13

    Free Money! Recall's Bring in Revenue and Reduce Liability

    Join Ryan Maher of Bizzycar

    1 hr
  5. Powerful Partnerships Make All The Difference

    OCT 9

    Powerful Partnerships Make All The Difference

    CallRevu and ScaleVoice team up to provide the best customer experience possible

    1 hr
  6. Gaining and Edge on the Competition

    OCT 6

    Gaining and Edge on the Competition

    This episode dives into Kaylee’s journey from managing a Subway store to becoming the Sales & Marketing Director at PartsEdge, a company focused on helping dealerships optimize their parts operations. Kaylee shares how her nontraditional path gave her unique perspectives on leadership, customer service, and process efficiency. She emphasizes the often-overlooked value of parts departments in dealership profitability and highlights how culture, education, and proactive strategies can transform fixed ops. The conversation is equal parts personal growth story and operational playbook for dealerships, showing how transferable skills, discipline, and curiosity can reshape an entire department.  5 Memorable Quotes “I didn’t know what I was getting into—but the parallels between running a restaurant and running a dealership were surprisingly close.”“The parts department is the heartbeat of fixed ops, but too often it’s treated like a storage room instead of a profit center.”“Inventory isn’t just numbers on a screen; it’s customer trust sitting on a shelf.”“If you’re not educating advisors on how parts flow through your system, you’re creating friction instead of speed.”“You don’t need to reinvent the wheel—just commit to doing the basics consistently better than anyone else.” 5 Takeaways Transferable skills matter – Leadership and management lessons from other industries (like food service) directly apply to automotive.Parts drive retention – Having the right part at the right time builds customer trust and supports service efficiency.Culture of respect – Treating parts departments as partners instead of back-office silos changes how dealerships perform.Education is leverage – Training advisors and techs on parts processes reduces errors and delays.Data + discipline = profitability – Using tools to track inventory and enforcing simple processes can unlock hidden revenue. 5 Strategies You Can Use Tomorrow Audit your inventory flow – Check where delays or double-handling occur between parts, advisors, and techs. Fix one bottleneck immediately.Run a cross-department huddle – Bring parts, service advisors, and techs together for a 10-minute daily sync. It builds alignment and respect.Reframe the parts department – Stop calling it “the back.” Start calling it a profit center in team meetings to shift perception.Create a quick-reference guide – A one-page cheat sheet for advisors on parts ordering rules and timelines can cut down mistakes.Review one parts metric daily – Instead of drowning in reports, pick one KPI (like fill rate or obsolescence) and track progress as a team.

    59 min
  7. Aligning People and Culture for Long Term Success

    SEP 29

    Aligning People and Culture for Long Term Success

    Episode Overview In this episode of Fixed Ops Mastermind, Kyle sits down with Liam Snell to explore the realities of recruiting in the automotive industry. From transferable skills gained in insurance to the real factors driving retention, Liam offers candid insights that dealerships need to hear if they want to hire smarter and keep their teams longer. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction Karl introduces the episode and welcomes guest Liam Snell. 00:04 – Meet Liam Snell Liam shares his role at Holt Automotive Staffing and what’s been happening in his world. 01:00 – From Motor Insurance to Automotive Staffing How Liam’s customer-facing insurance background gave him skills that fuel his success in recruitment. 05:20 – What Candidates Really Want Breaking down common misconceptions dealers have about pay, culture, and job expectations. 10:15 – Recruitment as Retention Why the hiring process sets the tone for how long employees stay. 15:45 – Employer Branding in Automotive How candidates research dealerships like consumers research products. 21:00 – Honesty vs. Hype Why overselling roles leads to disillusionment and turnover. 26:30 – Practical Tips for Dealers Actionable advice on job ads, interview training, and onboarding metrics. 30:00 – Closing Thoughts Liam’s final insights on how dealers can shift from replacing people to developing them.

    46 min
  8. Maybe We’ll Get It Right: The Truth (and Humor) Behind Running Parts

    SEP 15

    Maybe We’ll Get It Right: The Truth (and Humor) Behind Running Parts

    Episode Overview The parts department is often the most misunderstood and underappreciated corner of the dealership — until something goes wrong. In this episode, Kyle sits down with Peter Penev, a parts manager with nearly two decades in the business, who shares the lessons, challenges, and leadership strategies that transformed his department into a true driver of dealership success. Peter’s story starts at the counter with a hard lesson on accountability, and evolves into a philosophy of visibility, cross-training, and inclusion. He challenges stereotypes of “bean counters,” explains why five-minute quotes can change everything, and makes the case that parts deserves a permanent seat at the table in dealership decision-making. What You’ll Learn in This Episode The career-shaping moment that taught Peter the real meaning of accountability.Why KPIs don’t tell the whole story — and what actually defines efficiency in a parts department.How a simple five-minute turnaround standard can boost advisor confidence, technician productivity, and customer satisfaction.The misconception that “parts is just inventory management” — and how visibility changes everything.Why cross-training between parts, service, and sales is the fastest way to build stronger Fixed Ops teams.The role AI and automation can play in speeding up quotes, improving warranty compliance, and freeing techs to do what they do best.Quotes Worth Sharing “Your parts department can be your biggest enabler — or your biggest bottleneck — for Fixed Ops growth.”“Customers don’t care if it’s parts, service, or sales. They see one dealership. Fix the problem first, figure out the process later.”“KPIs are surface deep. Real efficiency comes from visibility and relationships.”“Five-minute quotes aren’t impossible. They’re the standard that makes advisors confident and techs efficient.”“Numbers don’t lie, but if you don’t know your people, the numbers don’t mean much either.”Episode Links & Resources Connect with Peter Penev on LinkedInLearn more about Fixed Ops MastermindExplore sponsors mentioned in this episode:PartsEdge.com – smarter inventory, better margins.Spiffy – mobile service management.UVeye.com – automated vehicle inspection.Automotive Warranty Network - AWNinc.com – warranty compliance and recovery.Targit Automotive - Targit.com – real-time fixed ops intelligence.Why Listen? If you’re a service manager, advisor, or GM who thinks “parts is just numbers,” this episode will change your mind. Peter proves that when parts gets the visibility and inclusion it deserves, the entire dealership wins.

    57 min
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About

“Leaving the industry better than I found it”-Dave Foy Each week, Dave sits with a panel of guests to discuss the topic of the week. From Coaching for Success to Sales vs. Service, Dave talks to the industry and professional leaders that can bring their insight and knowledge to the viewers. Our W.E. A.R.E Feature airs on the third Thursday of the month and spotlights Women in Fixed Ops and how they are changing the industry and leading the charge to a better customer experience.

Information

  • Creator
    Dave Foy
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    112
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Dave Foy
  • Show Website
    Fixed Ops Mastermind

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