November 25, 2023

Becoming a Shop Owner with Meg Richards [AW 185]

28 minutes

Meg Lewis, BJ’s Automotive Diagnostic Center, Belfast, ME, NAPA Auto Care Technician of the Year 2022.

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Carm and Meg discuss the shop's transition to a four-day workweek to promote work-life balance, the challenges of finding and retaining skilled technicians. Meg shares her experience as a female technician. They also discuss the need to change the perception of the automotive industry and attract more women. The episode concludes with a discussion on succession planning and the shop's community involvement

The decision to move to a four-day workweek (00:03:14)

Meg discusses the idea of transitioning to a four-day workweek and the process of deciding which day to take off.

The role of a diagnostician as a technology specialist (00:07:55)

Carm suggests renaming the role of a diagnostician to a technology specialist, highlighting the importance of technology in automotive diagnostics.

The collaboration between a technology specialist and a mechanical specialist (00:08:48)

Carm and Meg discuss the complementary roles of a technology specialist and a mechanical specialist in automotive repair and the importance of their collaboration.

Challenges with staffing during COVID-19 (00:10:02)

The impact of COVID-19 on staffing, including layoffs, struggles to find new technicians, and the use of apprenticeship programs.

The decision to pursue automotive technology (00:17:36)

Meg discusses her early interest in working with cars and her decision to pursue automotive technology in high school and college.

The importance of attracting more women to the automotive industry (00:18:09)

Carm suggests changing the perception of the industry and highlights the unique traits that women can bring to the workplace.

Overcoming physical challenges as a female technician (00:19:31)

Meg talks about how she adapts and finds creative solutions to overcome physical challenges in her work as a female technician.

Importance of communication in internal succession (00:27:14)

The significance of regular and effective communication between the owner and the successor in a business's internal succession process.

Thanks to our Partner, Dorman Products.

Dorman gives people greater freedom to fix vehicles by constantly developing new repair solutions that put owners and technicians first. Take the Dorman Virtual Tour at www.DormanProducts.com/Tour

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By Carm Capriotto, AAP

4.9

6969 ratings