Steve Mancinelli is a third-generation shop owner who's spent more than half a century in the automotive industry and he's still pushing his team to stay ahead of where the market is going.

Steve runs Mancinelli's Auto Repair Center in downtown Denver, a family shop that's operated out of the same location since 1950. In this episode, Steve shares how a shop with deep roots avoids getting stuck in the past, by combining old-school relationship service with modern execution: thorough digital inspections, factory-level tooling, and a serious commitment to ongoing training (including 60+ hours per tech each year).

You'll also hear Steve's personal turning point, he originally considered becoming a doctor, but realized he couldn't separate the emotion from the work. Instead, he brought that same care into the bays and built a reputation for solving the vehicles other places can't, especially late-model European and electrified (hybrid/EV) platforms.

If you want a real look at what "staying relevant" actually means for independent shops, without losing the human side, this episode is packed with perspective.

Links:

Honest Mechanic Marketing (HMM): https://honestmechanicmarketing.com/

Steve's shop: https://mancinellis.com/

Darrell Weddell is the kind of operator who doesn't chase hype, he builds the business brick by brick.

🚗 https://hinsdaleauto.com/

In this episode, Darrell shares how he took a struggling Hinsdale Automotive in Littleton, Colorado and steadily turned it into a 7-figure shop known for honest diagnostics, clear communication, and top-quality work on both gas and diesel. He talks about the real path that led him there, tech school, dealership experience, independent shops, even time supporting a construction fleet, and the moment he realized shop ownership wasn't just a dream, it was a plan.

You'll also hear Darrell get practical about what actually matters at the growth stage: building systems knowledge, tightening your process, making smarter marketing decisions, and approaching hiring like a long-term investment, not a panic move. If you're trying to scale without losing your standards (or your sanity), this one delivers.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with real shop owners.

➡️ https://honestmechanicmarketing.com/

Dennis Goodhue built Diamond G Repair in Montrose, Colorado the hard way—through long days, constant reinvestment, and an obsession with doing the job right even when nobody's watching.

https://www.diamondgrepair.com/

In this episode, Dennis breaks down what it takes to run a high-trust, high-accuracy shop in a smaller market—where word travels fast, one bad review can outrun the truth, and your reputation has to be earned every single day. You'll hear why Dennis invests heavily in training and tooling, how his team leans on inspections + clear communication to help customers actually understand what they need, and why educating the public is part of the job if you want the industry to win long-term.

If you're trying to level up your diagnostics, build a team that keeps improving, and grow a shop that customers believe in—Dennis's interview is packed with real operator perspective.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with real shop owners.

https://honestmechanicmarketing.com/

Corry Brown didn't stumble into leadership, he earned it the old-school way: starting at the bottom, getting coached by strong mentors, and stacking reps until he knew how a great shop should actually run.

Now Corry is the co-owner of McCormick Automotive Center and McCormick Quality Tires & Lube in Fort Collins, Colorado, operating two different business models under one roof of standards, a full-service AAA-approved repair shop and a quick-service tire/lube store just minutes away.

https://www.mac1auto.com/

In this episode, Corry gets extremely practical about the real problem most shop owners are facing: finding and developing technicians who want a career, not a job. He breaks down the structured system he built to create a pipeline: including GS-level progression, hourly-to-performance pay, tool support, and bonuses that reward senior techs for training the next generation. He also shares why he hires for attitude + punctuality, how he thinks about controlling comebacks, and what it takes to build a team that takes pride in doing it right.

If you're tired of hiring roulette and want a repeatable way to grow talent inside your shop, this one will give you ideas you can actually use.

🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations with real operators.

https://Honestmechanicmarketing.com

Steve Horvath literally grew up in the automotive business—then spent decades evolving a family legacy into a modern, trusted operation.

Steve is the owner of Gino's Auto Service in Littleton, Colorado, a AAA-approved shop that's been serving the community since the early 1980s. In this episode, Steve breaks down what it really looks like to expand and modernize a long-standing facility—without losing the "neighborhood shop" feel that built the reputation in the first place.

https://www.jenosautoservice.com/

You'll hear Steve's real-world lessons from adding space and bays (including the stuff nobody tells you about: timelines, banks, inspectors, architects, electrical surprises, and why you "can't fight City Hall"). He also shares how building a strong operator network—through ASA Colorado, shop groups, and even Denver radio—shaped his decisions, improved communication, and helped him see problems through the customer's eyes.

If you're thinking about expanding your building, leveling up your systems, or simply making smarter owner decisions faster, Steve's episode is packed with practical perspective.

https://honestmechanicmarketing.com/auto-repair-marketing/

Chris Whited doesn't talk about his shop like it's just a business — he talks about it like it's a responsibility.

Chris is the managing partner (and future sole owner) of Community Auto in Fort Collins, Colorado, and his path to leadership is anything but typical: he started in automotive as a teenager under a mentor, stepped away for 11 years to serve as a full-time pastor, then came back to the bays with a totally different perspective on people, money, and what "success" should look like.

[https://www.communityautoinc.com/]

In this conversation, Chris breaks down what it means to run an employee-first shop in a tough industry — including the real decisions behind a four-day work week, hourly pay with bonuses instead of flat rate, 100% paid health insurance + HSA, profit sharing, and even plans designed to help team members become homeowners.

You'll also hear why Chris believes integrity is a growth strategy, how it shows up in the way they diagnose and communicate, and why sometimes the "right choice" costs money — but earns something bigger.

If you're trying to build a shop that wins long-term by taking care of people first, this episode will challenge (and sharpen) how you lead.

🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations with real operators.

Honest Mechanic Marketing - [https://honestmechanicmarketing.com/]

Robert Blaes didn't just build a repair shop — he built a family operation, a training ground for young techs, and a community hub rooted in a lifelong love for Mustangs.

Robert is the owner of Stang Auto Tech in Broomfield, Colorado (serving the area since 1980), and in this interview he gets extremely practical about what it takes to scale trust beyond the owner. He shares how defining clear core values + a real mission helped him stop micromanaging, empower his team, and maintain quality without "looking over everyone's shoulder."

Then he gets into one of the most interesting moves you'll hear from an independent shop owner: when he couldn't find an apprentice the traditional way, he partnered with local schools and Front Range Community College to build a paid internship + state-recognized apprenticeship pipeline—complete with an in-house mentor—so students can go from classroom to productive technician.

You'll also hear how Robert uses a community appreciation day + car show (BBQ, band, giveaways, 100+ cars) to turn customers into real relationships — not transactions.

If you care about building a shop that lasts — with values, people development, and community baked in — Robert's story is worth hearing.

Austin Hatchell has worked his way through the industry the hard way—turning wrenches, working the counter, and even stepping into car sales long enough to realize the "sell it at all costs" mindset wasn't for him.

Now he's the General Manager at Lake Arbor Automotive & Truck in Westminster, Colorado, leading a team through the kind of transition most shops struggle with: stepping into leadership, earning trust, and improving operations without burning people out or lowering standards.

In this episode, Austin breaks down:

• What it takes to lead a shop when you're not the owner

• Why silos form between advisors and techs—and how to tear them down without drama

• The operational shift from "advisor + two techs" to centralized dispatching

• How to keep work flowing based on capability and availability, not turf and bottlenecks

If your shop feels busy but not efficient—or you're trying to scale without losing the culture that got you here—Austin's story will give you real, practical clarity.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations built for real operators.

The Honest Garage Podcast exists for one reason: to bring honest conversations back to the automotive industry — the kind that help good shops become great without losing their integrity.

In this episode, David sits down with Wiley Faris, owner of Landmark Automotive in Conifer, Colorado, to talk about taking over a small mountain-town shop and building a reputation strong enough that people will tow past the big chains to get to his bay.

You'll hear Wiley's take on what "honest" actually looks like day-to-day: no collecting money before a car is truly finished, quality control that includes road testing, and being a straight shooter with customers—even when the truth is uncomfortable. He also breaks down one of the most practical hiring plays in today's market: stop chasing the unicorn tech and start hiring for attitude, then training for skill.

If you're trying to grow a shop the right way—through trust, standards, and community—this one's a must-listen.

🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations with real operators.

The Honest Garage Podcast exists for one reason: to bring honest conversations back to the automotive industry, the kind that help good shops become great without losing their integrity.

In this episode, David sits down with Ryan Masterson, owner of Phoenix Auto Repair in Colorado Springs, to talk about rebuilding a life, rebuilding a reputation, and building a shop where trust is earned—one decision at a time. Ryan shares what it looks like to lead with humility, drop the ego, and put transparency at the front of the process, especially when you're trying to win back your community.

You'll hear practical, shop-level takeaways like why Phoenix inspects 100% of vehicles, how they use DVIs and in-shop walk-throughs to help customers see the truth, and why "tell them the whole picture up front" is the fastest path to long-term trust.

If you're serious about running a shop you're proud of—and building something that lasts—this episode is a must-listen.

🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations with real operators.