Honest Garage Podcast

Collin Ettienne built RI Automotive in Tampa the hard way, starting with one lift in a storage unit, wrenching nights and weekends, and (for a season) balancing the shop while working as a firefighter.

But the real turning point wasn't opening the doors, it was having the guts to reinvent the business.

For years, RI was heavily performance-focused: big builds, fast parts, fun projects… and brutal cash flow. In this episode, Collin breaks down the pivot he made after getting around other operators and training environments, shifting toward a sustainable general repair model that could support a team, systems, and long-term growth.

You'll hear Collin get honest about what made the change hard: ego, the need to be "the guy," and learning how to lead without doing everything himself. He also shares what they've put in place to build real A-players; training rhythms, team communication, and using tools like DVIs to drive clarity and trust.

If you're stuck in "busy-but-chaotic," or you've built a shop around what's exciting instead of what's scalable, Collin's story will hit home.

Links:

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

RI Automotive: https://riautomotive.net/

Preston Callahan's shop story starts the way a lot of real ones do: wrenching at 16 in the shade of a tree in front of his parents' house, then making the leap to ownership at 23, working out of the driveway and betting on himself.

Today, Preston runs Callahan Auto & Diesel in downtown Mesa, Arizona, plus a separate arm focused on 24-hour emergency roadside service for trucks and RVs. In this interview, Preston walks through what it actually took to grow, moving from a small 1,850 sq. ft. space to a facility of 10,000+ sq. ft.—and the lessons that only show up once you're responsible for payroll, margins, and the "everything breaks at once" reality of running a shop.

You'll hear him get candid about the mistakes that happen when you don't know your numbers fast enough, the constant balancing act between parts margin, labor margin, and staffing, and why even years in, he's still experimenting and learning (including what he calls his "Google business degree").

Links:

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

Callahan Auto & Diesel:

https://callahanautoaz.com/

Erik Rud built Big Thompson Diesel & Automotive in Loveland, Colorado by doing the opposite of what he saw in too many shops: rushing work, chasing clock-time, and treating people like numbers.

In this episode, Erik breaks down how he went from frustrated employee to trusted problem-solver and why his shop has become a go-to destination for diesel and diagnostic work that other places can't quite nail down. He talks candidly about building a culture that prioritizes fixing it right the first time, why he pays his techs hourly with profit-based bonuses (not flat rate), and why he keeps his "foot on the brake" with growth to protect quality.

You'll also hear Erik's perspective on the training gap in our industry, what's broken, what techs actually need, and what he's doing to develop people instead of constantly shopping for unicorn hires.

Links:

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

Big Thompson Diesel & Automotive: http://www.btdaa.com/

If hiring feels like a fire drill this one is your reset.

In this Expert Spotlight episode, David sits down with Chris Lawson, founder of Technician Find, to break down what actually works when you're trying to hire great techs (and why most shops keep losing candidates even when the pay is solid).

Chris walks through the recruiting framework he's used with shops across the country:

• How to create a consistent flow of applications (and why you "can't optimize zero")

• Why most technician ads look identical and how to write ads that stand out and convert

• The reality that only about 1 in 4 applicants will be qualified and how to filter fast

• The backend mistakes that cause ghosting (slow follow-up, weak rapport, messy process) and how to tighten your systems + offer so good candidates don't slip through the cracks

• Why speed-to-lead matters more than most owners think because top techs are talking to multiple shops at once

If you want a real hiring system instead of another "post-and-pray" cycle, this episode will give you a playbook you can implement immediately.

Links:

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

Technician Find: https://www.technicianfind.com/

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/]