Joseph Pehanick is the Co-owner and incoming CEO of East Bay Tire, a family-owned independent tire distributor and commercial service provider for over 75 years. Under his leadership, East Bay Tire has expanded its reach with multiple locations in California, Arizona, and Hawaii and has been recognized for its low employee turnover rates and robust community culture. With a background in agriculture and experience working internationally in Uruguay, Joseph brings a unique perspective to the tire industry. As he prepares to take on the CEO role in January 2025, Joseph is focused on growing East Bay Tire's presence in the mining and agricultural sectors through both organic growth and acquisitions.

In this episode…

What does it take to sustain and grow a multi-generational family business? How does a company manage to thrive across different markets and withstand the test of time while continually expanding its operations? A tire industry veteran delves into the fascinating journey of a tire business that has achieved just that.

Joseph Pehanick shares insights on how East Bay Tire has not only survived, but flourished in the competitive tire industry. He recounts his experiences growing up in the business, from working in the warehouse in his early teens to his travels and work experience in South America. Joseph delves into the company’s strategy for successfully managing its operations across various locations, including California, Hawaii, and Arizona. By focusing on niche markets like agriculture, mining, and fleet solutions, East Bay Tire’s growth demonstrates how heritage, adaptability, and strategic vision can propel a business to new heights.

In this episode of Gain Traction, Mike Edge chats with Joseph Pehanick, Co-owner and incoming CEO of East Bay Tire, about sustaining and evolving a family business in the tire industry. Joseph discusses the company’s ambitious growth plans, his approach to managing employee retention, and how East Bay Tire’s innovative strategies have kept them at the forefront of the industry. Tune in for insights on entrepreneurship, the impact of family legacy, and the creation of lasting memories for employees.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• [00:18] Joseph Pehanick’s evolving role in East Bay Tire's leadership team
• [01:47] Joseph's early entry into the family tire business and his hands-on experience
• [03:31] A unique international perspective stemming from Joseph's time working in South America's tire industry
• [07:05] The historical ties of East Bay Tire to the Hawaiian market and Bridgestone’s origins
• [08:20] An interesting backstory of East Bay Tire's expansion into Hawaii and the challenge of remote market support
• [11:30] East Bay Tire's future under Joseph's leadership, with a focus on mining and agricultural tire distribution
• [13:33] Employee appreciation and retention efforts in building a successful company culture
• [19:13] How Joseph's personal mantra of "progress over perfection" drives continuous improvement within the business

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Joseph Pehanick on LinkedIn
• Mike Edge on LinkedIn
• Tread Partners
• East Bay Tire Co.
• “Revolutionizing Tire Service With Derek Naidoo, CEO of USA GoMobile” on the Gain Traction podcast

Quotable Moments: 

• "Progress over perfection. If we just make incremental progress, we're going to get to where we want to go."
•  "Our retention numbers and low turnover numbers are easily our proudest numbers that we would present over the last five years."
• "It's about effort, how much you care, and how much you put in every single day."
• "Giving a memory is what really matters, like when we send our team and their families to sports events."
• "In South America, I learned numerous life lessons that I now apply in our family business."

Action Steps: 

1. Foster a culture of employee retention programs: Implementing initiatives like team outings and personalized appreciation can significantly reduce employee turnover, building a sense of community and loyalty.
2. Encourage entrepreneurial thinking: Fostering entrepreneurial spirit in your team can lead to innovative solutions and market expansions, helping find new opportunities in competitive markets.
3. Prioritize incremental progress: Adopting the motto "progress over perfection" can help teams focus on achievable goals and reduce burnout.
4. Leverage historical strengths for modern growth: Businesses can identify and leverage their historical strengths to explore new growth opportunities.
5. Enhance cultural competency through international experience: Encouraging or facilitating international experiences for team members can enhance cultural competency and open up new market opportunities.

Sponsor for this episode...

This episode is brought to you by Tread Partners. 

At Tread Partners, we provide digital marketing for multi-location tire dealers and auto repair shops. 

By using our strategy, branding, and marketing services, we help shops sell more tires and put more cars in bays.

We’ve helped companies like Action Gator Tire, Colony Tire and Service, and Ulmer’s Auto Care Center bring extreme growth in paid leads, ROI, and searches. 

So, what are you waiting for?

Visit www.treadpartners.com or email [email protected] to learn more.