What if the biggest risk to your dealership isn’t what you don’t know… but what you’ve gotten used to overlooking?

In this episode of the Fixed Ops Roundtable, Sarah Vantine and I sit down with our good friend Paul Elliott from Insurance Office of America (IOA), and let me tell you, this conversation goes way beyond “insurance talk.”

Paul pulls back the curtain on what risk actually looks like inside today’s dealership. From mobile service fleets operating in customer driveways, to technicians recording MPI videos on their phones, to employees lifting tires the same way they’ve always done it (until one day, they can’t)—this episode is a wake-up call in the best possible way.

And here’s the thing: none of this is about fear. It’s about awareness, protection, and leadership in a business that’s changing faster than most of us want to admit.

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What we discuss in this episode:

• Why insurance shouldn’t be a once-a-year renewal conversation—and what happens when it is
• How evolving customer expectations (mobile service, off-site work, digital inspections) create brand-new exposures for dealers
• The real role of risk management: protecting people first, profits second
• How technology (yes, even AI) is being used to prevent injuries—not punish people
• Why the best dealer-broker relationships look more like partnerships than transactions
• And Paul’s refreshingly honest take on compliance, consulting, and doing business the right way

This episode isn’t about selling you a policy.

It’s about helping you sleep better at night, knowing your people, your customers, and your assets are protected as your operation grows and evolves.

If you’re a dealer, GM, fixed ops leader, or department head trying to future-proof your business heading into 2026—this is one of those episodes you don’t half-listen to.

Hit play. Take notes. And ask yourself one simple question along the way:

“Are we truly protected… or just hoping nothing goes wrong?”

Listen to the episode featuring Paul Elliott for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Paul Elliott

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement

What if the biggest opportunity in your fixed ops department isn’t working harder… but seeing clearer?

In this episode of the Fixed Ops Roundtable, I’m joined by Pete Carusone, President & CEO of VisionAST, and Ed Roberts, COO of Bozard Ford Lincoln, for a real, no-nonsense conversation about why how we look at our numbers matters just as much as what we’re measuring.

We dig into a hard truth many dealers don’t want to admit: most of us are still managing fixed operations in the rearview mirror. Monthly reports. Lagging indicators. Emotional decisions. And then wondering why nothing changes.

This conversation challenges that thinking.

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What we discuss in this episode:

• Why real-time metrics beat monthly scorecards every single time
• How to avoid analysis paralysis by focusing on just 3–5 numbers that actually move the needle
• The danger of running your department on emotion instead of data
• How visual dashboards can become powerful coaching and training tools
• Why “keeping score” fuels healthy competition and better performance
• What mobile service profitability really looks like when you track it van by van
• And how data helps you stop justifying results… and start improving them

Ed shares practical, boots-on-the-ground insights from Bozard Ford Lincoln, including how his team uses data to create accountability, uncover opportunity, and make smarter decisions today—not next month or next year. Pete breaks down how dealers can simplify the chaos, align their teams, and build momentum by making the numbers visible, relevant, and actionable.

If you’re tired of reacting, guessing, or explaining away results—and you’re ready to lead your fixed ops department with clarity and confidence—this episode is for you.

Listen to the episode featuring Pete Carusone & Ed Roberts for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Pete Carusone & Ed Roberts

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement

If you think video MPIs are “just another tool,” this episode might completely change how you see fixed ops.

In this episode, I sat down with Joe Shaker of TruVideo, alongside Sarah Vantine, and what unfolded was less about software… and more about human behavior. Trust. Transparency. Communication. The stuff we all talk about, but rarely execute at scale.

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What we discuss in this episode:

Joe isn’t just a vendor voice. He’s a dealer. And in classic Michael Cirillo–style truth-telling, this episode peels back the curtain on why video has quietly become table stakes in modern dealerships, and how the smartest operators are using it to drive real revenue, real retention, and real relationships.

What we get into on this episode:

• Why transparency without execution is just marketing fluff, and how video finally closes that gap
• The surprising stat that revealed dealers often aren’t even talking to the real decision-maker
• How fixing communication (not workflows) can unlock massive gains in CSI, labor dollars, and trust
• The role of AI-powered noise cancellation and sentiment analysis in solving problems before bad surveys and reviews happen
• How dealers are using video quality—not just video quantity—as their next fixed ops growth lever
• Practical, real-world strategies for getting technicians on board, including incentives that actually work
• Why video isn’t a “trend” anymore—it’s a language customers already speak

There are moments in this conversation where you can almost feel the lightbulb go on, especially when Joe explains how video doesn’t just build trust with customers, but also fixes broken trust inside the dealership itself. That alone is worth the listen.

If you’re planning for the year ahead, questioning profitability, or wondering how to protect and grow your fixed ops foundation in uncertain times, this episode gives you clarity, direction, and a playbook grounded in real dealer results.

Listen to the episode featuring Joe Shaker for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Joe Shaker

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement

What if the biggest growth opportunity in your dealership isn’t on the showroom floor… but already sitting in your service drive?

In this episode of the Fixed Ops Roundtable, I’m joined by Tej Soni, CEO of FrogData, alongside Sarah Vantine, for a conversation that quietly challenges how most dealers think about service, marketing, and growth.

👉 Register for the upcoming Fixed Ops Roundtable Event

What we discuss in this episode:

We get into Fixed Ops Velocity, not as a buzzword, but as a very real shift in how dealers attract, convert, and retain service customers in today’s market. From post-warranty behavior to online search intent, this episode connects dots most stores don’t even realize are disconnected.

Tej shares how data is revealing blind spots in fixed ops marketing, why service departments are expected to perform without the same support as sales, and what happens when dealers stop guessing and start listening to what their data is actually telling them.

This isn’t a “do more marketing” conversation.

It’s a do the right things, at the right time, for the right customer conversation.

If you’re rethinking your plans for the year ahead, or you’ve felt that service should be doing more but couldn’t quite pinpoint how, this episode will get you thinking differently.

Listen to the episode featuring Tej Soni for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Tej Soni

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement

There are moments in this industry when you can almost see tomorrow walking toward you. This conversation, recorded at Northwood University’s International Auto Show and CAMS Industry Summit, is one of those moments.

Ted Ings and Sarah Vantine sit with two respected voices in automotive. Ed Roberts, Chief Operating Officer at Bozard Ford Lincoln, and Maureen Martin, Vice President at Dynatron Software. What makes this episode truly compelling is how both of them responded to a single shared experience. Being surrounded by hundreds of articulate, driven and highly engaged students who are already shaping what the future of automotive will become.

👉 Register for the upcoming Fixed Ops Roundtable Event

What we discuss in this episode:

• A surprising insight from Maureen about the one characteristic that predicts long-term success in both business and life, and why most people resist it.
• Ed’s candid reflection on a moment at Northwood that shifted his understanding of what “raw talent” really looks like today.
• A subtle but powerful theme that emerged from the panels, a theme none of them expected, but all agreed could redefine how dealerships build teams in the coming years.
• A real-time example of leadership behavior from the students themselves that left all four of us rethinking how the industry traditionally identifies potential.
• And perhaps most interesting… what inspired two seasoned veterans to say they felt “rejuvenated” after decades in the business.

This episode is a reminder of why we love this business, who we do it for, and what’s possible when experience meets fresh perspective.

Listen to the episode featuring Ed Roberts and Maureen Martin for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Ed Roberts and Maureen Martin

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement

What if the most important conversations in fixed ops are the ones happening outside the service bay? In this episode, recorded at the CAMS Industry Summit at Northwood University, we sit down with two industry voices who bring fresh clarity to where the business is headed: Curtis Gardner, Technician Extraordinaire, and David Reinicke, President of Automotive Warranty Network.

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What we discuss in this episode:

This conversation opens a window into the technician experience, the realities of warranty work, and the rapid changes shaping the service department. Curtis shares what he discovered at Northwood and why the future for technicians may look different than most expect. David offers a straightforward look at the growing gaps in warranty processes and why documentation can make or break accuracy and pay. Together, they reveal how AI is beginning to influence diagnosis, communication, and workflow in ways that are already happening in today’s shops.

If you work in fixed ops or lead a team that depends on it, this episode gives you a thoughtful, honest look at the shifts coming your way and the opportunities they create.

Listen to the episode featuring Curtis Gardner & David Reinicke for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Curtis Gardner & David Reinicke

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement

What if the biggest threat to your dealership wasn’t the economy, the OEM, or even EV adoption… but the opportunities you’re not seeing yet?

Today on the Fixed Ops Roundtable, we’re coming to you from the CAMS Industry Summit at Northwood University with someone who never fails to shake the room. I’m sitting down with Brian Benstock of Paragon Honda, alongside the always brilliant Sarah Vantine, and Brian just finished delivering one of the most energizing keynotes of the entire summit.

This conversation will change the way you think about Fixed Ops, students entering the industry, and the future of service.

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What we discuss in this episode:

Brian breaks down the real story behind all the chaos in the world and why the data tells a very different, very encouraging truth about our business right now. We get into:

•  Why today’s market conditions are actually setting up the biggest Fixed Ops opportunity of the next decade
•  The real competitor dealerships are overlooking
•  How pickup and delivery became Paragon’s unfair advantage
•  The math that opened everyone’s eyes
•  The message he delivered to students worried about AI replacing them
•  A major new collaboration between Paragon and Northwood
• Leadership development, cross-pollination, and creating the industry’s next generation of leaders.

This episode is a front-row seat to how one of the industry’s most influential fixed ops leaders thinks about opportunity, innovation, and the future.

If you’ve been looking for a conversation that sparks new ideas, challenges your assumptions, and gives you a reason to get fired up about the next few years… this is the one to hit play on.

Listen to the episode featuring Brian Benstock for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Brian Benstock

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when the automotive industry’s brightest thinkers sit down in one room, buckle up. This conversation feels like stepping into the control room of a rocket that’s already taking off.

In this episode, joining the conversation are two heavy hitters who are right at the center of that momentum: Mike Cavanaugh of Lithia and Driveway and Dr. Matt Bennett of Northwood University.

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What we discuss in this episode:

You’ll hear why the CAMS Industry Summit has quickly become Northwood’s Super Bowl. Matt breaks down the original vision behind bringing industry and education together, and why this bridge matters more now than ever. Mike gives us a behind the scenes look at Lithia’s DART program, career development pipelines, and what it really feels like to work inside the world’s largest automotive group. He calls it holding onto a rocket ship for a reason.

We dive into the power of partnerships, why friendships beat transactions every time, and how a simple alignment of values can create programs that shift entire career paths. You’ll get an inside look at the evolution of Northwood’s automotive executive MBA, the leaders who helped build it, and the global impact this program is already making. There’s talk of legacy, of leadership, of passing the torch to the next wave of innovators who will shape mobility for decades to come.

If you're in automotive today and want to understand where the industry is heading, this is the conversation you listen to. If you're a leader, educator, or aspiring professional, this gives you a front row seat to the people designing the future. And if you're simply someone who loves seeing what happens when collaboration becomes the catalyst, you’re going to want to hit play.

Listen to the episode featuring Mike Cavanaugh and Dr Matt Bennett for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Mike Cavanaugh and Dr Matt Bennett

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement

What happens when you mix the next generation of automotive leaders with a campus that breathes innovation and free enterprise?

You get something electric.

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What we discuss in this episode:

In this episode of the Fixed Ops Roundtable, I sit down with CDK Global’s Mike Stoll, alongside Sarah Vantine, from the heart of Northwood University during the International Auto Show, and let me tell you, the energy here is contagious.

Mike shares how CDK is helping shape the future of Fixed Ops by mentoring and empowering students who are already asking the right questions — questions about what consumers actually want, how to make dealership service experiences simpler, and how to bring genuine hospitality into the car business.

We talk about the Fixed Operations class Mike leads, why he keeps driving hours just to spend time with these students, and what it’s really like to build a pipeline of passionate young professionals who are ready to rethink how dealerships operate from the inside out.

There’s something truly special happening at Northwood, an entrepreneurial spark that’s redefining what it means to serve customers, lead with integrity, and innovate for the future of automotive.

If you’ve ever wondered how we can attract, train, and retain the next generation of talent who care deeply about people, this episode is your sign to hit play.

Because as Mike says, “Our best is yet to come.”

Listen to the episode featuring Mike Stoll for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Mike Stoll

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement

What if the future of automotive doesn’t depend on AI—but on how humans learn to work with it?

That’s exactly what we dive into in this episode of the Fixed Ops Roundtable, recorded live at the Northwood University International Auto Show. Ted Ings and Sarah Vantine sit down with Cobi Collins of Go Trego, a leader who’s helping the industry rethink what it means to find, train, and retain top talent in a tech-driven world.

👉 Register for the upcoming Fixed Ops Roundtable Event

What we discuss in this episode:

Cobi brings powerful insight into how dealerships can uncover the right people for the right roles, and why not everyone is built to be a GM (and that’s okay). You’ll hear how Go Trego’s data-driven approach is helping educators and dealers close skills gaps before students even graduate, giving them a head start in the real world.

We also talk about the human side of technology, why people, not machines, will continue to drive automotive forward, and how creating an environment where talent and innovation work together is the real competitive edge.

If you’ve ever wondered how to future-proof your dealership’s people strategy, or what it really takes to attract next-generation talent, this conversation will open your eyes to what’s coming next.

🎧 Hit play to hear how Go Trego is changing the way the industry thinks about people, progress, and purpose.

Listen to the episode featuring Cobi Collins for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Cobi Collins

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement