Beyond the Wrench

Donald Favors, Auto Tech Instructor at Lowell High School, joins us to talk about the five steps he developed for technician retention in his “Pathway to Retention” program. In the episode, he walks through each step in detail—from connecting with local schools to providing technicians with financial education—and shares his journey from working in the automotive industry to transitioning into education.

Watch the video podcast on YouTube

About the Episode

• Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, [email protected]
• Guest: Donald Favors, Lowell High School, [email protected]

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• Pathway to Retention: A 5 Step Process to Train and Retain New Technicians

Join the ASE Connects Community

ASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more:

• ASE Connects Memberships for Shops & Dealers
• ASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free!)

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Gerrot Jacobson, Automotive Instructor at Hawkeye Community College, joins us to talk about how he challenges and motivates students in the classroom every day—giving them a safe place to fail so they can learn, grow, and keep moving forward! He also shares his path into the automotive industry and why it’s so important for shops to show up and build relationships with their local schools.

Watch the video podcast on YouTube

About the Episode

• Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, [email protected]
• Guest: Gerrot Jacobson, Hawkeye Community College, [email protected]

Links & Resources

• Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list

Join the ASE Connects Community

ASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more:

• ASE Connects Memberships for Shops & Dealers
• ASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free!)

Connect with us on social:

• Facebook
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• LinkedIn
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David Kocher, Automotive Instructor at Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, joins us to explain how he introduced a simulated flat rate pay plan to help students understand how flat rate works early in their careers. David walks us through his background, the ins and outs of the incentive-based system he’s developing for his class, and how students are responding to the experience.

Watch the video podcast on YouTube

About the Episode

• Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, [email protected]
• Guest: David Kocher, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, [email protected]

Links & Resources

• Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list

Join the ASE Connects Community

ASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more:

• ASE Connects Memberships for Shops & Dealers
• ASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free!)

Connect with us on social:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• X
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• TikTok

Brad Templin, COO at Scott's U-Save Tires & Auto Repair, discusses his journey into second generation shop ownership and what the transition looked like taking over his family’s business. He shares why he chose not to take the easy path back into the industry, the importance of proper succession planning, and why owners must continue growing themselves to help their business and people reach their full potential.

Watch the video podcast on YouTube

About the Episode

• Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, [email protected]
• Guest: Brad Templin, Scott's U-Save Tires & Auto Repair, [email protected]

Links & Resources

• Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list
• Episode Sponsor: Jasper Engines & Transmissions

Join the ASE Connects Community

ASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more:

• ASE Connects Memberships for Shops & Dealers
• ASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free!)

Connect with us on social:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• X
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• TikTok

Dwayne Myers, CEO of Dynamic Automotive, discusses why mentorship is the foundation of leadership and how his team focuses on growing their own technicians through a structured apprenticeship program. From investing in local schools to intentionally developing and nurturing talent, he explains why this approach is key to addressing the technician shortage.

Watch the video on YouTube here

About the Episode

• Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, [email protected]
• Guest: Dwayne Myers, Dynamic Automotive, [email protected]

Links & Resources

• Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list

About WrenchWay:

• For Technicians & Students: wrenchway.com/solutions/technicians/
• For Shops & Dealerships: wrenchway.com/solutions/shops/
• For Instructors: wrenchway.com/solutions/schools/

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In this recorded webinar, WrenchWay leaders Mark Wilson and Jay Goninen, along with Dave Johnson from ASE, share highlights from the 2026 Voice of Technician Survey. Based on more than 5,500 responses across the automotive and diesel industries, they discuss what technicians value most.

Watch the video and follow the slides here

About the Episode

• Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, [email protected]
• Guests: Mark Wilson, WrenchWay, [email protected]; Dave Johnson, ASE, [email protected]

Links & Resources

• Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list
• Download the full 2026 Voice of Technician Survey Report: https://wrenchway.com/resources/2026-voice-of-technician-survey-report/ 

About WrenchWay:

• For Technicians & Students: wrenchway.com/solutions/technicians/
• For Shops & Dealerships: wrenchway.com/solutions/shops/
• For Instructors: wrenchway.com/solutions/schools/

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Cindy Barlow, Director of Industry Relations at WyoTech, joins us to talk about how, as an industry, we’ve neglected training young and entry-level technicians. In this episode, she discusses how shops can better support and develop young talent, why early exposure helps students decide if the industry is the right fit, and how fundamentals, soft skills, and early training are essential to improving retention.

Check out the full video version of the podcast on YouTube!

About the Episode

• Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, [email protected]
• Guest: Cindy Barlow, WyoTech, [email protected]

Links & Resources

• Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list

About WrenchWay:

• For Technicians & Students: wrenchway.com/solutions/technicians/
• For Shops & Dealerships: wrenchway.com/solutions/shops/
• For Instructors: wrenchway.com/solutions/schools/

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Jessica Weaver, Auto Body Collision Technology Instructor at Dakota County Technical College, shares how adapting to different learning styles, using visuals, and hands-on play can make a real impact in the collision repair classroom. She explains what it means to truly meet students where they’re at, how she keeps up with rapidly changing vehicle technology as an instructor, and why educators shouldn’t be afraid to ask industry partners for help.

Check out the full video version of the podcast on YouTube!

About the Episode

• Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, [email protected]
• Guest: Jessica Weaver, Dakota County Technical College, [email protected]

Links & Resources

• Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list

About WrenchWay:

• For Technicians & Students: wrenchway.com/solutions/technicians/
• For Shops & Dealerships: wrenchway.com/solutions/shops/
• For Instructors: wrenchway.com/solutions/schools/

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Jeff DeCarlis, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Alliant Power, joins us live from HDAW in Texas to share a major announcement: Alliant Power has acquired Capital Reman. In this episode, Jeff walks through the strategy behind the move, how the team is being integrated, and how the new distribution model delivers a “total package” that helps shops reduce downtime, turn bays faster, and improve long-term reliability.

Note: This episode was recorded live at HDAW. We apologize for the background noise and minor audio issues.

Check out the full video version of the podcast on YouTube!

About the Episode

• Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, [email protected]
• Guest: Jeff DeCarlis, Alliant Power, [email protected]

Links & Resources

• Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list

About WrenchWay:

• For Technicians & Students: wrenchway.com/solutions/technicians/
• For Shops & Dealerships: wrenchway.com/solutions/shops/
• For Instructors: wrenchway.com/solutions/schools/

Connect with us on social:

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Renee Crisler, Owner and Founder of the Reilly Crisler Jumpstart Memorial Fund, joins us to share how she turned the loss of her son into a mission to help other “Reillys” explore careers in the skilled trades. She shares Reilly’s story, the purpose behind the fund, what Draft Day looks like, and how others can get involved.

Check out the full video version of the podcast on YouTube!

About the Episode

• Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, [email protected]
• Guest: Renee Crisler, Reilly Crisler Jumpstart Memorial Fund, [email protected]

Links & Resources

• Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list

About WrenchWay:

• For Technicians & Students: wrenchway.com/solutions/technicians/
• For Shops & Dealerships: wrenchway.com/solutions/shops/
• For Instructors: wrenchway.com/solutions/schools/

Connect with us on social:

• Facebook
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• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• TikTok