Wrench Turners Podcast

  1. 2d ago

    Why Good Mechanics Quit Jobs They Still Love - Bobby Beltz on Wrench Turners Podcast

    Bobby Beltz didn’t leave because he stopped loving the work. He left because everything surrounding the work slowly stole the joy from it. In this episode of the Wrench Turners Podcast, Bobby shares what dealership life was really like, from flat rate pressure and favouritism to unsafe decisions, bureaucracy, burnout, and the lack of teamwork inside the shop. But this isn’t simply an argument against flat rate or the automotive industry. It’s a conversation about why the same technician can struggle under one leader and thrive under another. We also explore why fleet work gave Bobby the stability he was looking for, what trade schools aren’t telling future technicians, and why leaving a bad shop doesn’t always mean leaving the trade. Maybe the work isn’t the problem. Maybe it’s the shop, the system, or the leader you’re working for. If you’re a technician questioning your future in the industry, watch this conversation before deciding what comes next. Subscribe to the Wrench Turners Podcast for more honest conversations about helping mechanics live happier, healthier, and more productive lives. Negative pushes. Positive pulls. God Bless j. Follow Bobby ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 00:00 Why Technicians Quit 01:48 Bureaucracy Stole the Joy 06:22 Leadership and Safety 12:06 Bobby’s Automotive Beginning 14:55 The First-Year Reality 21:21 Flat Rate and Favouritism 27:08 The Industry’s Broken Promise 32:28 Why Fleet Work Wins 39:18 Safety Over Productivity 45:14 Hope for Burned-Out Technicians

  2. Sep 18

    Flat Rate Is Costing Mechanics More Than Money - Bryan Collins on Wrench Turners Podcast

    Flat rate teaches technicians to treat every minute like money. But what happens when that thinking follows you home? Bryan Collins is a BMW Shop Foreman at Braman Miami and a former Lexus technician with more than 15 years in automotive. He shares the early mistakes most technicians are afraid to admit, how a supportive shop helped him learn instead of quit, and why he left Lexus to pursue a greater technical challenge with BMW. We discuss why technicians need processes, what it takes to move into leadership, how to motivate people who want different things, and why aspiring leaders should begin doing the next job before receiving the title. Bryan’s final message may be the most important: flat rate can program technicians to see every doctor’s appointment, family responsibility and hour away from the shop as lost income. Learning to mentally clock out matters just as much as being productive at work. If you’re a technician, apprentice, shop foreman or service leader, this conversation is for you. Subscribe to the Wrench Turners Podcast for honest conversations designed to help mechanics live happier, healthier, and more productive lives. Negative Pushes. Positive Pulls. God Bless j. Follow Bryan https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-collins-743893b1/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 0:00 Meet Bryan Collins 2:19 Choosing The Trade 8:34 First Year Mistakes 14:41 Mentorship Builds Technicians 19:40 Why Bryan Chose BMW 23:46 Becoming A Team Leader 27:19 Leading Different Personalities 30:57 Understanding Dealership Business 41:14 Foreman Leadership Challenges 45:30 Escaping Flat Rate Thinking

  3. Sep 11

    The Automotive Industry Is Bigger Than The Bay | Jacki Lutz on Wrench Turners Podcast

    There’s more to automotive than the bay. A lot of technicians spend their careers seeing pieces of this industry. The repair. The RO. The part. The customer concern. The comeback. The warranty line. The job in front of them. But automotive is a lot bigger than what we see from inside the shop. In this episode of The Wrench Turners Podcast, I’m joined by Jacki Lutz, Content Director at the Auto Care Association and host of Auto Care On Air, for a conversation about the bigger world surrounding technicians, service advisors, parts people, shop foremen, and fixed ops leaders. Jacki brings a perspective that a lot of dealership technicians don’t always get to hear. The aftermarket isn’t just parts. It’s training, education, content, marketing, technology, e-commerce, community, leadership, and opportunity. We talk about how employee-generated content can help shops build real trust, why personal branding matters more than people think, how simple social media guardrails can give employees freedom instead of fear, and why AI should support the human side of the business instead of replacing it. We also get into parts e-commerce, the importance of product detail, the difference between franchise and independent marketing, and why professional development matters for anyone who wants to grow beyond the job they’re currently doing. This episode is for the technician who knows there’s more out there. It’s for the advisor trying to communicate better. It’s for the parts person who wants to understand the digital side of the business. It’s for the foreman, manager, or fixed ops leader trying to build a team that can grow. Because your career can be bigger than the bay too. Negative pushes. Positive pulls. God Bless. j. Follow Jacki https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackilutz/ Check out Auto Care On Air https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@autocareorg⁩ Check out Auto Care Association https://www.linkedin.com/company/autocareorg/ https://www.autocare.org/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 00:00 Soft Skills Matter 01:33 Meet Jacki Lutz 02:22 Finding Automotive 09:27 Leadership Changes Careers 10:48 Employee Content Works 17:59 Simple Social Guardrails 22:41 Better Parts E-Commerce 24:48 Marketing The Shop 26:22 AI Needs Humanity 28:23 Invest In Yourself

  4. Sep 4

    Documentation isn't PAPERWORK, it's PROFIT. Better notes build better careers Wrench Turners Podcast

    Everyone complains about paperwork. The best technicians, advisors, and managers understand something different: documentation isn't paperwork... It's profit. In this episode of the Wrench Turners Podcast, Justin Gonzalez shares his journey from Apple and Lexus to leading warranty support for a growing RV manufacturer. Along the way, he learned that documenting repairs, telling better stories, and proving your value doesn't just improve warranty approvals. It can change your entire career. We discuss: • Why documentation is one of the highest ROI skills in the industry • How selling service starts with understanding the product • The mistakes shops make with onboarding • Lessons from rebuilding a struggling Jaguar Land Rover service department during COVID • How to present your value when asking for a raise • The realities of warranty administration across 24 dealerships • Why taking a moment to reset can make you a better technician and teammate Whether you're a technician, service advisor, foreman, warranty administrator, or service manager, this episode will change how you think about the notes you write every day. Negative Pushes. Positive Pulls. God Bless. j. Follow Justin https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinremotevans/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:14 Why Automotive? 05:51 Learning The Product 11:28 Onboarding Matters 16:28 Warranty Career Journey 27:50 Documentation Creates Value 38:06 Warranty Mistakes 48:13 Mental Health Matters 53:48 Final Thoughts

  5. Aug 28

    What Service Managers DON'T know about PROFIT - Pete Fisher CFO on Wrench Turners Podcast

    What’s the biggest expense inside a dealership? According to CFO Pete Fisher, it’s people. Not because people are the problem, but because payroll, compensation, benefits, and personnel costs make up one of the largest pieces of the dealership P&L. In this episode of Wrench Turners Podcast, Pete breaks down dealership finances in a way service managers, fixed ops directors, advisors, and technicians can actually use. We talk about month-end pressure, open ROs, payroll, comp plans, forecasts, gross profit, expenses, and why service advisors need to understand that their job is sales, not order-taking. The biggest takeaway is simple: if expenses are too high, you only have two real options. Cut, or sell more. And in a service department, selling more starts with increasing hours per RO, growing gross profit, and building a team that understands how the business actually works. This is a tactical conversation for anyone in fixed ops who wants to understand the numbers behind the store. The Wrench Turners Podcast is about improving the life, well-being, and productivity of mechanics everywhere. Negative Pushes Positive Pulls God Bless j. Follow Pete https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-robinson-1b216b370/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:47 Getting Into Automotive 03:43 Accounting Office Reality 07:15 Month-End Pressure 09:16 Tracking Open ROs 15:47 Payroll Problems 19:12 Do Hard Things 22:18 People Matter Most 29:51 Comp Plans Explained 35:06 Reading The P&L

  6. Aug 21

    why dealerships lose their best technicians and how to keep them - Nicholas Martin on WTP

    What happens when a dealership develops an exceptional technician but gives them nowhere to go next? Nicholas Martin began his automotive career pushing a broom, cleaning tools, and learning from every technician in the workshop. He eventually became a Mercedes-Benz Certified Diagnostic Technician before moving into OEM technical support and dealer advisory, helping dealerships solve difficult technical and business problems across Australia. In this episode, Nicholas explains why dealerships often lose their best technicians and what leaders can do to keep them. The answer isn’t always more money. Experienced technicians need meaningful progression, greater responsibility, continued development, and opportunities to use their knowledge beyond producing hours in a service bay. Joshua and Nicholas also discuss apprenticeship, mentorship, advanced diagnostics, technical documentation, customer trust, OEM support cases, and the value of using a whiteboard to work through complicated vehicle problems. Nicholas closes with an important reminder for every technician: nobody will advocate for your career more strongly than you will. This conversation is for technicians, shop foremen, service managers, fixed operations leaders, dealer principals, and anyone responsible for developing and retaining automotive talent. Subscribe to the Wrench Turners Podcast for more conversations designed to help technicians live happier, healthier, and more productive lives. Follow Nicholas https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-martin-3779b4249/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 00:00 From Apprentice to Advisor 02:31 Falling in Love With Cars 07:38 Learning the Workshop 11:48 Becoming a Diagnostic Technician 16:10 Physics Behind Better Diagnostics 22:48 Why Top Technicians Leave 27:55 Communicating With Technical Support 32:21 Technical Decisions, Business Consequences 42:41 Whiteboarding Difficult Diagnoses 46:58 Advocate for Your Career

  7. Aug 14

    He wanted to quit, so he became world #2 - Jamie Robinson on Wrench Turners Podcast

    Jamie Robinson almost left the trade in his first year. He hated it. He felt like he wasn’t good enough. He wanted out. Then everything changed. Jamie found the right people. He asked for help. He chased the hard jobs. He learned diagnostics. He got better one day at a time. Years later, he won the UK skills contest and went to Seoul to compete for Hyundai on the world stage. He finished second in the world. This episode is about what happens when a young tech is almost pushed out of the trade, but keeps going anyway. We talk about bad first years, shop culture, mentors, foremen, apprentices, diagnostics, and why the best techs slow down before they speed up. Jamie's best advice is simple: Don't be too proud to seek guidance. The Wrench Turners Podcast is about improving the life, well-being, and productivity of mechanics everywhere. Negative Pushes Positive Pulls God Bless j. Follow Jamie https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-robinson-1b216b370/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 00:00 Meet Jamie Robinson 00:53 First Year Was Brutal 03:39 Building Or Bullying 04:42 Protecting Young Apprentices 09:33 From Tires To World #2 15:30 Slow Down To Win 18:28 Diagnose Before Touching Cars 23:21 Notes Get Techs Paid 28:29 Using Pain As Fuel 37:12 Seek Guidance

  8. Aug 13

    What great shops do DIFFERENTLY - Earned Influence S4E3

    What separates a great shop from everybody else? Patty Ruggia has spent years seeing dealerships from the recruiting side. Jade Price sees the industry from inside the workshop. Their answers point back to the same things: leadership, recognition, communication, customer experience, and the culture created inside the shop. We also get into why constantly correcting people can destroy trust, why great shops make customers feel like part of the community, and how the attitude of one leader can spread through an entire team. What did the best shop you’ve ever worked in do differently? Drop it in the comments. Negative Pushes. Positive Pulls. God Bless. j. Featuring: Patty Ruggia https://www.linkedin.com/in/patty-ruggia-07913863/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/autocanada Jade Price https://www.linkedin.com/in/jade-price-4675016b/ https://www.instagram.com/theautomotivecapture/ https://www.tiktok.com/@theautomotivecapture Hosted by Joshua Taylor Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Chapters 00:00 Season 4 Finale 01:05 What Great Shops Do 02:08 Leadership Starts at Top 03:42 Praise Before Criticism 06:49 Make Customers Feel Welcome 08:49 Your Shop Has a Vibe 09:57 Leadership That Spreads 11:47 Negative Culture Costs 12:27 The Biggest Change 13:28 Closing Season 4

  9. Aug 12 ·  Bonus

    What’s actually getting BETTER in Automotive? - Earned Influence S4E2

    We spend a lot of time talking about what’s wrong with the automotive industry. So Jade Price asked a different question: What’s actually gotten better? Patty Ruggia talks about the growth of dealership support teams and the increased respect being given to technician education. Jade shares what she’s seen from more women entering the trade and how social media has created a much bigger community of technicians willing to help, share knowledge, and support each other. And the conversation eventually comes back to something simple: Maybe we need to spend a little more time recognizing what’s improving. What’s the biggest positive change YOU’VE seen in automotive? Drop it in the comments. Negative Pushes. Positive Pulls. God Bless. j. Featuring: Patty Ruggia https://www.linkedin.com/in/patty-ruggia-07913863/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/autocanada Jade Price https://www.linkedin.com/in/jade-price-4675016b/ https://www.instagram.com/theautomotivecapture/ https://www.tiktok.com/@theautomotivecapture Hosted by Joshua Taylor Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Earned Influence 00:50 What’s Getting Better? 01:29 Better Dealership Support 03:36 Supporting Technician Education 06:25 More Women in Automotive 07:26 Mechanics Helping Mechanics 08:40 Looking for the Positive 11:14 Change Your Mindset 11:53 Final Thoughts

  10. Aug 11 ·  Bonus

    We keep promoting Technicians who were NEVER taught to LEAD - Earned Influence S4E1

    Being the best technician in the shop doesn't automatically make someone ready to lead it. But across the "we fix things" industries, that's often exactly how shop foremen are chosen. They're great diagnosticians. They're productive. They're experienced. They know the vehicles. Then one day they're responsible for leading people. In this episode of Earned Influence, Patty Ruggia, Jade Price, and Joshua Taylor dig into what actually separates a technically capable shop foreman from an effective leader. We talk about why communication matters just as much as diagnostic ability, why empathy should be treated as an operational tool, how trust is earned through action, the importance of one-on-one conversations, and why the difference between saying “my team” and “our team” might matter more than you think. Jade also shares a personal example of what happened when a leader took the time to listen, understand what she was dealing with, and create an environment where the rest of the shop supported her too. The question isn't whether your shop foreman can fix the hardest car in the building. It's whether anyone ever taught them how to lead the people fixing them. This is Earned Influence on The Wrench Turners Podcast. Send this episode to a service manager, shop foremen, advisor, technician, or fixed-operations leader who wants their departments to work better together. Negative pushes. Positive pulls. God Bless j. Featuring: Patty Ruggia https://www.linkedin.com/in/patty-ruggia-07913863/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/autocanada Jade Price https://www.linkedin.com/in/jade-price-4675016b/ https://www.instagram.com/theautomotivecapture/ https://www.tiktok.com/@theautomotivecapture Hosted by Joshua Taylor Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Chapters 00:00 Earned Influence 01:11 Are Soft Skills Operational Tools? 03:49 You Can't Checklist Leadership 06:55 Trust Is Earned Through Action 09:12 Leaders Have to Listen 12:43 Why Foremen Get Promoted 16:20 Communication Reveals Priorities 19:04 “My Team” vs “Our Team” 21:06 The Words Leaders Use 23:31 Humans Are Complicated 24:41 Teaching Foremen to Lead 26:15 Are We Training Leaders?

  11. Aug 10 ·  Bonus

    More Tools, Worse Service: Are Service Advisors Overloaded? | 10 Mill Mastery

    Dealerships have added BDCs, technician videos, digital inspections, AI, warranty processes, new software, and more administrative responsibilities. So why does the customer experience often feel the same—or even worse? In this Ten Mil Mastery conversation, Marshall, Josh Arnold, Brent Osmond, and Joshua Taylor compare automotive and heavy-duty service departments, examine how the service advisor role has changed, and discuss the administrative work increasingly being pushed onto technicians. The problem may not be the technology itself. The problem is adding tools without delivering the training, expectations, leadership, and measurement required to use them successfully. The practical takeaway for dealers is straightforward: Map every task your advisors and technicians perform. Separate customer relationship work from purely administrative work. Train each process clearly. Measure whether the process improves communication, productivity, customer satisfaction, and profitability. Every new tool should make it easier for your people to care for the customer. It shouldn’t simply become another task they’re expected to manage. What’s one process in your store that has become more complicated than it needs to be? Leave it in the comments and join the conversation. Subscribe for more conversations about technicians, leadership, fixed operations, and the people responsible for keeping the world moving. Negative Pushes Positive Pulls God Bless j. Follow Brent Osmond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-osmond-7b8302149/ Dynamic Diesel Solutions https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamic-diesel-solutions-canada/posts/?feedView=all Follow Marshall Sheldon https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshall-sheldon-981349176/ Briggs Industrial Solutions https://www.linkedin.com/company/briggs-industrial-solutions/ Follow Josh Arnold https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-arnold-%F0%9F%A7%B0-aa249b349/ Continental Automotive Group https://www.linkedin.com/company/continentalautomotivegroup ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 0:00 The advisor role changes 3:34 Should administration be separated? 5:22 More tools, worse results 6:23 Has service gone backwards? 6:55 Automotive versus heavy duty 7:37 The service mindset 8:58 Why customer trust matters 10:21 How dealers can improve

  12. Aug 7

    Customer Satisfaction Is NOT the Goal | Attilio Guidetti on Wrench Turners Podcast

    Attilio Guidetti has gone from automotive school and race-team work in Bologna to leading Ducati service operations across 15 Asia-Pacific markets. Along the way, he’s worked as a technician, service advisor, international trainer, business owner, and aftersales leader. In this episode, we discuss why skilled technicians can still struggle inside poorly managed shops, why customer experience and profitability must work together, and why service improvement has to begin with ownership, leadership, clear expectations, and meaningful KPIs. Attilio also shares how he learned English in three months to earn an international training opportunity, why technicians should begin developing for their next role before they feel ready, and what it actually takes to move from the workshop into management. This conversation is for technicians, foremen, service advisors, service managers, fixed operations leaders, and shop owners who want to build stronger careers, teams, and businesses. Subscribe to the Wrench Turners Podcast for conversations designed to help technicians live happier, healthier, more productive lives. Negative Pushes. Positive Pulls. God Bless. j. Follow Attilio https://www.linkedin.com/in/service-manager/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:35 The Crash That Started Everything 09:41 Racing Teams And Service 14:44 Learning English In Three Months 22:47 Building Businesses Worldwide 24:35 Joining Ducati Across Asia 33:45 Customer Satisfaction Is A Tool 38:42 Leadership Starts At The Top 47:59 Begin Before You Are Ready 52:48 Final Thoughts

  13. Aug 5 ·  Bonus

    Your Customer Doesn’t Care Which Department Failed | S3E3 Earned Influence

    Your customer doesn’t experience your dealership as service, parts, sales, and BDC.They experience one dealership.When an appointment is mishandled, a call isn’t returned, a part update never arrives, or departments blame one another, the customer doesn’t care which team caused the problem. They only know the dealership failed to solve it.In the season finale of Earned Influence Season 3, Mindy Williams, Kaylee Felio, Wendy Reeves, and Joshua Taylor discuss how service, parts, and the BDC can stop working in silos and start winning together.Wendy explains why dealerships are underusing their BDC teams. Beyond setting appointments, the BDC can support advisor overflow, missed calls, special-order parts updates, recall communication, customer retention, and relationship building.Kaylee discusses the importance of understanding the person behind the department. The parts employee who appears difficult may be managing technicians, advisors, warranty claims, inventory, and customer requests simultaneously. Sometimes the most useful question is simply, “Are you okay, and how can I help?”Mindy brings the conversation together with one clear message:“Just seeing each other as a whole rather than breaking it up into departments.”This episode covers departmental silos, internal communication, BDC utilization, employee workload, customer follow-up, cross-department relationships, and why every dealership must organize around the customer instead of its org chart.Send this episode to a service manager, parts manager, BDC manager, advisor, technician, or fixed-operations leader who wants their departments to work better together.Negative pushes. Positive pulls.God Blessj.Featuring:Wendy Reeves of BDC Angelshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-reeves/https://www.linkedin.com/company/bdcangels/Mindy Williams of Carter Myers Automotivehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-williams-700b791b7/https://www.linkedin.com/company/carter-myers-automotive/Kaylee Felio of PartsEdgehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio/https://www.linkedin.com/company/partsedge-inc-/Hosted by Joshua TaylorListen to The Wrench Turners Podcast:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45ebInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/⚠️ Disclaimer:I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence.Chapters00:00 Why Departments Become Silos02:18 BDC as the Glue03:14 Parts Communication Gaps03:56 Service Call Overflow05:11 Help Us Help You06:54 Helping Departments Win07:21 See the Human09:18 The Cost of Silos

  14. Aug 4 ·  Bonus

    A Leadership question that changes EVERYTHING | S3E2 Earned Influence

    Who loses if you don’t win? That question changed how Mindy Williams thinks about leadership, responsibility, and every decision she makes. Because when a leader isn’t performing at the level their people need, the consequences rarely stop with the leader. Employees can lose. Customers can lose. Families can lose. The business can lose. In this episode of Earned Influence Season 3, Mindy, Wendy Reeves, Kaylee Felio, and Joshua Taylor discuss the questions that changed how they lead. Wendy explains why giving instructions isn’t enough. Leaders must verify that people actually understand what was communicated, give them opportunities to apply it, and avoid overwhelming them with information they can’t yet use. Kaylee discusses the courage required to lead up, clearly communicate what needs to change, and move leadership conversations beyond repeatedly discussing the same problems. The conversation also explores why leaders must see the person behind the employee, why generic questions create generic answers, and how specific follow-up questions prove that you were actually paying attention. Good leaders don’t just provide answers. They ask questions that create understanding, uncover what their people need, and turn conversation into action. So, before your next important leadership decision, ask yourself: Who loses if you don’t win? Subscribe to The Wrench Turners Podcast and share this episode with someone responsible for leading people, whether leadership appears in their job title or not. Negative pushes. Positive pulls. God Bless j. Featuring: Wendy Reeves of BDC Angels https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-reeves/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/bdcangels/ Mindy Williams of Carter Myers Automotive https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-williams-700b791b7/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/carter-myers-automotive/ Kaylee Felio of PartsEdge https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/partsedge-inc-/ Hosted by Joshua Taylor Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Chapters 00:00 Earned Influence Returns 00:36 A Leadership Question 00:56 Verify Understanding 04:06 Listening Isn’t Enough 05:48 Learning to Lead Up 07:17 Turn Talk Into Action 11:07 Who Loses? 13:11 See Your People 14:18 Ask Specific Questions 15:27 Questions Build Trust

  15. Jul 31

    Parts Counter Truths Technicians Need To Hear | Shawn Parrett on Wrench Turners Podcast

    Parts can make or break the rhythm of a service department. In this episode of The Wrench Turners Podcast, Shawn Parrett joins me to talk about the real life of the parts counter, how parts leaders support technicians, and why communication between parts, advisors, and the shop matters more than most dealerships admit. Shawn has nearly 30 years in automotive parts, from wholesale parts to parts manager, and he brings a direct message for technicians, advisors, parts people, and fixed ops leaders: Always have an answer. We talk about obsolescence, lost sales, inventory decisions, technician trust, service advisor communication, leadership, humility, consistency, and why the best parts departments remove friction instead of creating it. This episode is for anyone in dealership fixed operations who wants the shop, parts counter, and service drive to work better together. Shawn explains how a strong parts department helps technicians stay moving, helps advisors sell with confidence, and helps the dealership win. Negative Pushes Positive Pulls God Bless j. Follow Shawn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-parrett-48390b79/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 0:00 Meet Shawn Parrett 1:52 Getting Started in Automotive Parts 7:00 Humility, Drive, and Consistency 11:38 Learning Through the 2008 Recession 21:11 What Technicians Need to Know About Parts 27:46 How Parts Managers Think About Inventory 32:17 Training Green Parts People the Right Way 37:28 The Best Parts People Always Have an Answer 40:59 How Parts Helps Service Sell More Work 42:26 Shawn’s Advice for Technicians

  16. Jul 29 ·  Bonus

    AI can help, but it can’t be YOU - Earned Influence S3E1

    AI can improve your writing, organize your thoughts, analyze reports, and remove hours of repetitive work. But what happens when everyone starts sounding the same? In Season 3, Episode 1 of Earned Influence, Wendy Reeves, Mindy Williams, Kaylee Felio, and Joshua Taylor discuss how leaders can use AI without losing their authenticity, judgment, privacy, or connection with the people they serve. Kaylee explains why she stepped away from social media after AI-assisted content started feeling too polished and predictable. Mindy shares how she uses AI for training, reporting, KPIs, and customer follow-up while making sure the final message still sounds like her. Wendy breaks down practical dealership applications, including BDC coaching, performance reporting, data analysis, and the risks of employees entering dealership or customer information into unsecured tools. The conversation also explores how AI can reduce administrative work, summarize overloaded inboxes, improve leadership preparation, and help technicians turn frustrating processes into prototypes that management and engineering can understand. AI should eliminate repetition, not responsibility. It should help organize your thoughts, not manufacture your beliefs. And it should make you more capable without slowly teaching you to sound like everyone else. Negative pushes. Positive pulls. God Bless j. Featuring: Wendy Reeves of BDC Angels https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-reeves/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/bdcangels/ Mindy Williams of Carter Myers Automotive https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-williams-700b791b7/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/carter-myers-automotive/ Kaylee Felio of PartsEdge https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/partsedge-inc-/ Hosted by Joshua Taylor Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Chapters 00:00 Earned Influence Returns 00:53 Why Kaylee Stopped Posting 02:41 Using AI Authentically 03:36 AI Inside the Shop 05:11 Humanity Builds Trust 06:47 Wendy’s AI Workflow 09:30 Dealership AI Integration 11:51 Writing With Less 13:55 Automating Daily Work 15:26 AI Creates Opportunity

  17. Jul 27

    Why dealerships treat parts people like an afterthought and how to FIX IT - 10 Mill Mastery on WTP

    The parts department is expected to identify the right components, manage inventory, prevent obsolescence, handle warranty returns, navigate supply chains, source emergency parts, and keep technicians productive. Yet in many dealerships, parts people are still treated like an afterthought. Marshall, Brent Osmond, and Josh Arnold discuss what changes when parts becomes a recognized skilled trade rather than a position people are expected to learn through trial and error. Brent explains how Canada’s Parts Technician apprenticeship can include component identification, engines, transmissions, hydraulic systems, inventory control, logistics, customs documentation, customer communication, and Red Seal certification. The conversation then moves into the larger dealership problem: inconsistent training, limited mentorship, low professional recognition, and compensation that may not attract or retain highly capable people. A great parts person can understand what a technician is asking for, recognize related service information, anticipate required bolts and consumables, reduce mistakes, and prevent unnecessary downtime. The question is not whether parts people affect the repair process. They clearly do. The question is whether dealerships are willing to train and treat them accordingly. Subscribe for more conversations about technicians, dealership operations, leadership, training, and the people responsible for keeping the industry moving. Negative Pushes Positive Pulls God Bless j. Follow Brent Osmond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-osmond-7b8302149/ Dynamic Diesel Solutions https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamic-diesel-solutions-canada/posts/?feedView=all Follow Marshall Sheldon https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshall-sheldon-981349176/ Briggs Industrial Solutions https://www.linkedin.com/company/briggs-industrial-solutions/ Follow Josh Arnold https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-arnold-%F0%9F%A7%B0-aa249b349/ Continental Automotive Group https://www.linkedin.com/company/continentalautomotivegroup ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 00:00 The Parts Credentialing Debate 02:18 Inside Red Seal Training 03:44 Inventory and Obsolescence 04:30 Emergency Parts Logistics 05:58 Great Parts People 08:36 Certification, Talent, and Pay 11:11 The Missing Apprenticeship 13:03 Parts Pay Versus Technicians

  18. Jul 24

    Tech Support ISN'T there to save you | Wrench Turners Podcast Special Panel

    In this special panel episode of Wrench Turners Podcast, we sit down with Dale Pettigrew and Nicholas Martin, two former technicians who moved into OEM technical support, to talk about what actually makes a support case easier or harder to solve. This conversation gets into the stuff technicians deal with every day: vague repair orders, skipped diagnostic steps, intermittent concerns, “no fault found” visits, missing values, customer descriptions, communication gaps, and the pressure to fix complex problems quickly. Dale and Nicholas explain why “all good” isn’t good enough, why exact numbers matter, why documentation can protect you years later, and why tech support isn’t there to fix the car for you. They’re there to help you build the process, ask better questions, and become stronger at diagnosing the hard stuff. This one is for technicians, advisors, shop foremen, service managers, warranty admins, and anyone who wants to understand how to get better answers from technical support. Negative Pushes. Positive Pulls. God Bless j. Featuring: Dale Pettigrew https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-pettigrew-1532165a/ Nicholas Martin https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-martin-3779b4249/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

  19. Jul 23 ·  Bonus

    You’re NOT stuck - you’re surrounded by the WRONG People | S2E4 Earned Influence

    What if you’re not stuck because you lack talent, ambition, or discipline? What if you’re surrounded by people who cannot help you become the person you’re trying to become? In the final episode of Earned Influence Season 2, Kathleen Long, Kelli Verdi, and Kaylee Felio share the hurdles that forced them to rethink their careers, environments, health, relationships, and definitions of success. Kathleen explains how an outside coach and a new peer group helped her understand what she needed to change to move from the VP level into the C-suite. Kelli discusses the importance of finding leadership that recognizes the value of having several connected skills instead of forcing someone into a narrowly defined role. Kaylee shares why achieving her professional goals still left her questioning what came next, and how focusing on her health, children, family, and personal development became part of reaching the next level. Joshua also shares how losing his clients and career direction during the beginning of COVID humbled him, brought him back to his faith, and helped him build a life centred around purpose, family, friendship, and service. Sometimes you don't need to work harder. Sometimes you need a different perspective, a healthier environment, and people who will challenge, support, and trust you. That's Earned Influence. Earned Influence is a roundtable series featuring women leaders in service who have earned trust the hard way through their character, actions, relationships, and results. Subscribe for more conversations about leadership, trust, service, communication, and the people working inside the automotive industry and skilled trades. Negative pushes. Positive pulls. God Bless. j. Featuring: Kelli Verdi of Team MXS https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliverdi/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-mxs Kathleen Long of RepairPal//Yelp https://www.linkedin.com/in/longkathleen/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/yelp-com/ Kaylee Felio of PartsEdge https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/partsedge-inc-/ Hosted by Joshua Taylor Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Chapters 00:00 Perspective Changes Everything 01:22 Reaching the C-Suite 04:07 Finding the Right Environment 07:45 Kaylee’s Current Hurdle 10:18 Boring Things Create Results 11:48 The People Around You 12:18 Humbled by COVID 14:23 What Earned Influence Means

  20. Jul 21 ·  Bonus

    People Trust What You Live, Not What You Promote | Earned Influence S2E3

    What happens when showing up online begins taking more from you than it gives back? In Episode 3 of Earned Influence Season 2, Kaylee Felio opens an honest conversation about social media burnout. After years of consistently sharing her career, podcast, and life online, she’s reached a point where she has to ask: What am I doing, and do I still want to do it? Kathleen Long and Kelli Verdi join Kaylee and Joshua Taylor for a candid discussion about the pressure to remain consistent, the hidden workload behind content creation, and the fear of building something you may eventually want to leave. The conversation also explores why taking care of yourself is an act of generosity, how curiosity can restore creativity, and why your work doesn’t have to become your entire identity. Then the discussion turns practical: capturing the conversations you’re already having, creating content without constantly manufacturing topics, and showing people what actually happens inside your business. Because people don’t build trust by seeing only what you want them to see. They build trust by seeing what you live. Earned Influence is a Wrench Turners Podcast series featuring honest conversations with leaders who have earned the trust required to influence what happens next. Subscribe for more conversations about leadership, trust, service, communication, and the people working inside the automotive industry and skilled trades. Negative pushes. Positive pulls. God Bless. j. Featuring: Kelli Verdi of Team MXS https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliverdi/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-mxs Kathleen Long of RepairPal//Yelp https://www.linkedin.com/in/longkathleen/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/yelp-com/ Kaylee Felio of PartsEdge https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/partsedge-inc-/ Hosted by Joshua Taylor Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. 0:00 Social Media Burnout 0:57 What Matters Most 2:35 Consistency Becomes Pressure 5:03 The Hidden Content Workload 8:16 Give Back To Yourself 11:49 Create From Real Life 18:37 Marketing Without Constant Selling 20:48 Raw Content Builds Trust

  21. Jul 17

    How a $3.5M Service Advisor Became a Fixed Ops Director - Tanner Neal on Wrench Turners Podcast

    Tanner Neal didn’t grow up dreaming about a career in automotive.In fact, cars weren’t really on his radar.His path started with necessity. From damage appraisals across West Texas to becoming a service advisor with $3.5 million in gross sales and a top-rated CSI, to now leading fixed operations at a luxury store, Tanner’s story is a reminder that automotive can become a career path for people who are willing to work, listen, communicate, and keep growing.In this episode of The Wrench Turners Podcast, Tanner Neal shares what he learned moving from the appraisal side of the business into the service drive, why communication is the real skill behind great advising, how advisors can build trust without over-talking, and what technicians can do to protect their body, mind, money, and career longevity.We also get into the relationship between advisors and technicians, how poor communication creates chaos in the shop, why service advisors need to listen more than they speak, and why the best fixed ops leaders understand both the customer and the technician experience.This episode is for technicians, service advisors, shop foremen, service managers, and fixed ops leaders who care about getting better at the people side of the business.Negative pushes.Positive pulls.Always clean your toys before you put them away.j.Find Tanner:LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tannerneal1⚠️ Disclaimer:I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence.Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45ebInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/Chapters00:00 Damage appraisals to fixed ops01:23 Getting into automotive04:54 Baptism by fire07:01 The skill that made Tanner a $3.5M advisor10:08 Promoting a shop foreman14:02 Why service advisors need to stop over-explaining16:15 Service advising is mostly listening21:03 Fixing communication breakdowns26:45 How technicians can train advisors29:50 Tanner’s advice for technicians34:43 Why solving upset customers can be rewarding36:03 Final thoughts and closing quote

  22. Jul 16 ·  Bonus

    What Makes Someone Trust You? Earned Influence | S2E2

    What makes someone trust you? In Season 2, Episode 2 of Earned Influence, Kathleen Long brings that question to Kelli Verdi, Kaylee Felio, and Joshua Taylor. The conversation explores how trust is built through curiosity, honest communication, vulnerability, generosity, consistency, and the willingness to admit that you don’t have every answer. Kaylee explains how providing useful resources helped her earn credibility in an industry she didn’t originally come from. Kelli shares why fast, direct, and honest communication matters more than delivering a perfectly crafted response. Joshua discusses how leaders can build trust by asking their teams for help. Kathleen explains why curiosity has been one of the biggest career unlocks she has experienced. The group also examines why people choose to work with certain leaders, companies, and solutions when there are countless alternatives available. Sometimes trust isn’t built by knowing more. It’s built by asking better questions, listening carefully, giving without expectation, and doing what you said you would do. Earned Influence is a Wrench Turners Podcast series featuring honest conversations with leaders who have earned the trust required to influence what happens next. Subscribe for more conversations about leadership, trust, service, communication, and the people working inside the automotive industry and skilled trades. Negative pushes. Positive pulls. God Bless. j. Featuring: Kelli Verdi of Team MXS https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliverdi/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-mxs Kathleen Long of RepairPal//Yelp https://www.linkedin.com/in/longkathleen/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/yelp-com/ Kaylee Felio of PartsEdge https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/partsedge-inc-/ Hosted by Joshua Taylor Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Chapters 00:00 What Makes Someone Trust You? 00:28 Kathleen’s Trust Question 01:38 Trust Through Useful Resources 03:40 Leaders Build Trust Through Vulnerability 05:04 Honest Communication Builds Trust 09:21 Ask Questions, Then Listen 10:08 Curiosity, Generosity, and Trust

  23. Jul 14

    When Growth Starts Killing Customer Service | Earned Influence S2E1

    What happens when a business becomes so focused on growth that it stops listening to the people it serves? In Season 2, Episode 1 of Earned Influence, Kelli Verdi asks how businesses can scale without sacrificing customer service, culture, or trust. Kathleen Long shares why leaders sometimes need the courage to walk away from profitable ideas when customers say no. Kaylee Felio explains how PartsEdge uses direct feedback from parts managers to improve its technology. Kelli explores why every customer interaction should help guide leadership, product development, and the decisions being made behind the scenes. The conversation reveals one of the greatest risks facing growing companies: The further that leadership gets from the customer, the riskier every decision becomes. Featuring: Kelli Verdi of Team MXS https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliverdi/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-mxs Kathleen Long of RepairPal//Yelp https://www.linkedin.com/in/longkathleen/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/yelp-com/ Kaylee Felio of PartsEdge https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/partsedge-inc-/ Hosted by Joshua Taylor Subscribe for the remaining episodes of Earned Influence Season 2. Negative Pushes. Positive Pulls. God Bless. j. Chapters 00:00 Earning Influence 02:24 Growth Without Losing Service 03:59 Customer-Led Growth 07:49 Building From Feedback 10:38 Leadership Must Stay Close ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

  24. Jul 10

    She was 1 MONTH Postpartum; Then asked to be Service Manager - The importance of Mentorship on WTP

    Mindy Williams had just come back from having her second baby. One month postpartum, with two kids at home and every reason to wait, she still put her name in for the service manager role. In this conversation, Mindy shares how mentorship, trust, accountability, and one leader’s belief helped her move from receptionist to advisor to service manager at CMA’s Colonial Subaru. Her mentor Ron didn’t just encourage her. He challenged her, taught her, trusted her, called her out when needed, and gave her the confidence to step into leadership before she felt fully ready. This episode is for every woman in automotive who’s ever wondered if the timing was wrong, if the responsibility was too much, or if she was allowed to want more while carrying everything else too. Mindy’s story is proof that leadership isn’t always built in perfect conditions. Sometimes it’s built when life is already full, messy, and demanding. Her line says it best: she may not have had the confidence to do it without someone pouring into her the way her mentor did. Negative Pushes Positive Pulls God Bless j. Follow Mindy https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-williams-700b791b7/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 00:00 The Missed Conversation 00:42 Meet Mindy Williams 03:12 One Month Postpartum 06:31 Reception To Advisor 09:52 Real Mentorship 13:11 Accountability That Works 18:14 Trust Builds Leaders 20:15 Permission To Decide 23:00 Final Takeaway

  25. Jul 3

    The Care Level Becomes the Culture Level - Kelli Verdi on Wrench Turners Podcast

    Kelli Verdi joins The Wrench Turners Podcast for a conversation about faith, family, automotive, customer trust, dealership culture, and why care is never just a soft skill.Kelli’s story starts long before her career in automotive marketing. Her grandfather owned an automotive repair shop in Tampa, and without realizing it at the time, she was learning some of the most important lessons in the industry: how to treat people, how to earn trust, and how much the smallest details matter.That idea became one of the biggest lines from this episode:“Care levels become culture levels.”We talk about how that applies inside dealerships, service departments, websites, customer experiences, technician leadership, and even vendor relationships. From Google Analytics and dealership websites to service scheduling, reviews, AI search, OEM programs, and real conversations with people on the ground, Kelli brings a rare mix of marketing intelligence, automotive experience, and genuine human care.This episode also goes deeper than business. We talk about faith, burnout, leadership, personal loss, and the importance of taking care of yourself before you try to keep pouring into everyone else.In this episode, we cover:Kelli’s early connection to automotive through her grandfather’s repair shopWhy trust is built through tiny detailsHow care levels become culture levelsWhat dealership websites get wrong about customer experienceWhy service departments need better contentHow technicians and service leaders can help build trust before the customer arrivesWhy AI search and website content matter more than everHow Team MXS is approaching automotive website visibilityWhy taking care of yourself matters in this industryThe role faith has played in Kelli’s storyThis is a conversation for technicians, advisors, service managers, fixed ops leaders, vendors, marketers, and anyone who still believes this industry is about people first.Follow Kelli:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliverdi/Team MXSLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-mxs/postsWebsite: https://www.teammxs.comPhone: 1-866-665-4669Subscribe to The Wrench Turners Podcast for real conversations with technicians, shop foremen, service leaders, trainers, and automotive professionals who are working to make this trade healthier, happier, and more productive.Negative pushes.Positive pulls.God Blessj.⚠️ Disclaimer:I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence.Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45ebInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/Chapters0:00 Prayer before the episode1:38 Kelli’s unexpected path into automotive7:38 Care levels become culture levels11:11 How customers feel the little details19:09 Kelli’s first year fully in automotive marketing24:25 CDP, SRP, and VDP explained for service leaders28:11 From analytics and events to Team MXS38:03 Why service leaders need to understand vendors44:12 OEM approvals, AI search, and website visibility1:00:12 Kelli’s advice: take care of yourself