Fixed Ops Roundtable

David Spisak is the founder and CEO of Disruptive Growth Solutions and the podcast host of The David Spisak Show. In this show episode, David delves into auto sector trends. What will the future of the automotive industry be? How has COVID-19 changed the auto industry and many more.

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What we discuss in this episode:

David talks about the positive and negative effects of Covid 19 in relation to automotive industry, it’s natural to wonder what the “next normal” for the auto sector will look like. Over the past few months, we’ve seen the first indicators of this automotive future becoming visible, with the biggest industry changes yet to come.

 At the operational level, the pandemic has accelerated developments in the automotive industry that began several years ago. Many of these changes are largely positive, such as the growth of online traffic and the 100% restoration of brand value. Some, on the other hand, can have bad effects, like the fact that the number of units in use has gone down because we haven't had enough inventory for over two years and that the number of warranty tickets has gone down.

As dealers try to get out of this crisis, people in charge of the auto industry might be able to gain an advantage by rethinking their organizations and how they work. Don't worry about what we can't control. Let's focus 100% of our energy on doing what we do best, and that's figuring out, again, how to reinvent and, as always, remain forever resilient. "

Listen to the episode featuring David Spisak for even more insights!

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

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

Thanks, Guest Name

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

1. Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
2. Ted Ings on LinkedIn
3. Center for Performance Improvement

Chris Saraceno is the Vice President and Partner at Kelly Automotive Group and the best-selling author of the Theory of 5. In this episode of The Fixed Ops Roundtable podcast, Chris provides an look inside at what is driving Kelly Automotive Group's success.

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What we discuss in this episode:

Chris explains that people are the most precious commodity because it's impossible to create a culture without them. It all starts with the recruiting process for Kelly Automotive Group. "The way we recruit, hire, and train people really helps how they are invited into our culture and help grow one another. We make sure that they have everything they need before they even start the job so that they are well equipped to perform."

Listen to the episode featuring Chris Saraceno for even more insights!

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

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

Thanks, Chris Saraceno

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

Art Shaw is the CEO of RepairPal, the leading online marketplace for consumers to find a trusted place to get their cars fixed. In this show episode, you'll hear Art's keynote presentation from the Fixed Ops Roundtable Roaring Twenties event.

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During his keynote presentation, Art shares his thoughts about providing the best after-sales experience for car buyers so that they aren't forgotten about and that dealers can continue to provide more value to the customer while increasing their ability to obtain recurring profits.

Dealers run complicated businesses with many moving parts. Art offers his best advice about how car dealers can navigate the miscellany of daily work while remaining focused on the consumer.

Listen to the episode featuring Art Shaw 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, Art Shaw

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

1. Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
2. Ted Ings on LinkedIn
3. Center for Performance Improvement

Marco Zwanenburg is a service technician from Naples Luxury Imports and is also one of the founding members of the Fixed Ops Roundtable.

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What we discuss in this episode:

1. Marco understands the importance of service technicians and departments in the community. It's not just about fixing vehicles, it's about making sure that ambulances run, and that firetrucks are available and ready — something that we tend not to think about from day to day.
2. On the retail side of the business, there was a lot of conversation about how supply shortages really affected ones ability to sell vehicles, overlooking the fact that it also meant technicians in many areas were completely overworked. 

Listen to the episode featuring Marco Zwanenburg 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, Marco!

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

1. Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
2. Ted Ings on LinkedIn
3. Center for Performance Improvement

Owen Moon is the Chief Executive Officer of Fixed Ops Digital, an agency devoted to helping dealership fixed ops departments grow their online presence. In this episode of the Fixed Ops Roundtable podcast, Owen shares some valuable insights about Google Analytics 4 (GA4) for car dealers.

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What we discuss in this episode:

Car dealers need to control their analytics accounts and have a baseline understanding of what's available inside of Google Analytics to understand how they perform online. Google is revamping their entire analytics offering to make it more streamlined and intelligent so that companies can understand even more about their online performance.

Listen to the episode featuring Owen Moon 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, Owen Moon

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

1. Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
2. Ted Ings on LinkedIn
3. Center for Performance Improvement

Sarah Vantine is the vice president of business development strategy at Quantum 5, and is still fresh from retail, having worked for a large dealer group in North Carolina, USA. She's a great friend of the fixed operations community and is a previous best practice award winner.

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What we discuss in this episode:

Modern dealerships are a people business. People are the main differentiator from one dealership to another, and it's with the belief that people matter that Sarah Vantine shapes the narrative of this podcast episode.

"We really believe that it's the people in your organization and the people in your business development center that are the difference between what a customer experiences and having a memorable one that is impactful, that then drives retention and loyalty to your store."

Listen to the episode featuring Sarah Vantine 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, Sarah Vantine

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

1. Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
2. Ted Ings on LinkedIn
3. Center for Performance Improvement

Tully Williams (a.k.a. the John Madden of the Car Business) is the Fixed Operations Director of the Niello Group. He joins the podcast to give a play-by-play breakdown of a successful fixed operations department.

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What we discuss in this episode:

Tully breaks down what a successful fixed operations department should and can look like including the people and skillsets required. It's one thing to hire people, it's another thing to ensure that they are empowered to do their jobs and achieve growth.

Listen to the episode featuring Tully Williams 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, Tully Williams!

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

Scott Simons is the President and Managing Partner at Valley Group, part of the CMA auto group. Scott sees the car business from a different vantage point than most dealers. He's willing to get his fingers in the dirt, so to speak, and never requires his team to do something that he's not willing to commit to himself.

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What we discuss in this episode:

• Scott provides an inside look at his organization which spans several franchises, including Chrysler, Dodge, Honda, Jeep, Nissa, Ram, Subaru, and VW. He has stewardship for over 170 employees and is keenly focused on creating a high-achievement culture.
• Scott shares that sometimes it's easy to get fixated so much on accomplishing a goal that we lose who we are as individuals. We lose focus on what truly matters because we forget what can help us drive goals forward: relationships of trust with other people!
• Scott's organization is an ESOP, which means that employees own 25% of the organization. They take 10% of the company's net profit and distribute it amongst their people. In addition, they've created a program for employees where they will pay to send them to college. Scott attributes much of their success to that heavy investment in their people.

Listen to the episode featuring Scott Simons 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, Scott Simons!

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

1. Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
2. Ted Ings on LinkedIn
3. Center for Performance Improvement

Michael Weldon is the Fixed Operations Director at the Hansel Automotive Group in Santa Rosa, California. In his role, he oversees the fixed operations department of 8 rooftops and leads a team of 146 members.

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What we discuss in this episode:

Michael speaks about the importance of counseling one another at the leadership level to determine what will drive the business to grow. He offers that at Hansel, it's about the community, it's about the customers, and it's about the employees.

When asked about the challenges he faces, Michael explains that the name of the game is people. When dealing with people and different personalities, the leader needs to stay connected and spend time with each team member.

"We've now introduced into our climate a lot of younger people, different generations that don't always think the same that we did in our youth. You have to adjust and pivot and come up with new techniques to get them engaged and enjoy doing their job and to get the desired outcome by their performance."

Listen to the episode featuring Michael Weldon 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 Weldon

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

Holden Scott is the fixed operations director at Regal Nissan and is one of the up-and-coming new players we are seeing on social media. He leads an impressive organization and thinks outside the box as the industry moves into a new era of automotive retail and fixed operations.

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What we discuss in this episode:

• Holden started working for Regal right out of the Marine Corps in 2011 with his first job being a dispatcher and helping book warranty work. After doing that job for a few months, he became a service advisor.
• Holden admits that his time as a service advisor was not his favorite, especially coming from a structured environment like the Marine Corps and then sort of getting thrown into the service department. There wasn't any structure — each day the job looked completely different. Holden recalls that at one point, he seriously considered going back to the military.
• Today, Holden encourages automotive professionals to control what they can control. Create process and structure that is scaleable and predictable. A lot of that comes down to mindset and attitude. "A lot of things can go wrong, but I can always choose to have a good attitude about it. And I can always choose how I treat people."

Listen to the episode featuring Holden Scott 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, Holden Scott!

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