On this episode we are focusing on the importance of building a strong paint team. Joining us is John Melendez, Owner of JDM Collision. John has built a reputation for his leadership in the industry, his partnership with I-CAR, and his dedication to fostering the next generation of technicians. In this episode, we’ll discuss John’s approach to building a successful paint team, the impact of his recent hires, and how his efforts with industry associations are shaping the future of collision repair.

Connect with John Melendez:

Email: [email protected]

Website:

https://www.jdmcollision.com/

https://aaspi.org/

This episode is sponsored by: Thryv

Ready to hit the gas on growth? Meet Thryv, the do-it-all small business software that can save you over 20 hours a week. Attract customers, manage day-to-day tasks, and keep communication simple with one powerful tool made for your auto business. Rev up your revenue today and let Thryv save you time so you can get back to doing what you love.

Schedule a demo today by visiting https://www.thryv.com/ 

Joining us for this episode is Bruce Sorensen Jr., a master paint technician with years of experience working on luxury vehicles. Bruce is also an expert in OEM-certified refinishing, tackling the unique challenges of precision, advanced technology, and the high standards expected in this segment of the industry. We’ll dive into the talent, tools, and certifications that set high-end refinishing apart. Enjoy the show!

Connect with Bruce Sorenson:

Website: https://www.no1collision.com/

Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/no1_refinish_tech/

https://www.instagram.com/no1abrbellingham/ 

This episode is sponsored by: Thryv

Ready to hit the gas on growth? Meet Thryv, the do-it-all small business software that can save you over 20 hours a week. Attract customers, manage day-to-day tasks, and keep communication simple with one powerful tool made for your auto business. Rev up your revenue today and let Thryv save you time so you can get back to doing what you love.

Schedule a demo today by visiting https://www.thryv.com/ 

For this episode, we continue our Safety First: Prioritizing Health in the Workshop series with a discussion on lift safety and ergonomically designed equipment. Joining us is Dave Wiederschall, National Account Manager at BendPak, a leader in designing lifts and other shop equipment that prioritize both safety and efficiency. Dave will walk us through the importance of proper lift usage, best practices for safety and maintenance, and how ergonomically designed equipment can improve technician health and shop performance.

Connect with Dave & Bendpak:

Website: BendPak.com

Phone: (800) 253-2363

Find an ALI Certified Lift Inspector in your area, consult the Directory of Certified Lifts and learn how to “Lift It Right” on the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) website autolift.org. 

This episode is sponsored by: Thryv 

Ready to hit the gas on growth? Meet Thryv, the do-it-all small business software that can save you over 20 hours a week. Attract customers, manage day-to-day tasks, and keep communication simple with one powerful tool made for your auto business. Rev up your revenue today and let Thryv save you time so you can get back to doing what you love.

Schedule a demo today by visiting https://www.thryv.com/ 

For this episode, we’re diving into one of the most important topics in EV repair—safety and personal protective equipment (PPE). Our guests are Baily Soto and Mavrick Knoles from Legacy EV, leaders in EV education and technology. Baily and Mavrick share best practices for protecting technicians working on electric vehicles and insights into how Legacy EV is helping shops create safer environments for EV repairs. From specialized PPE to essential safety protocols, we’ll cover it all. Enjoy the show!

Connect with Legacy EV:

Websites:

https://legacyev.com/

https://legacyev.com/collections/education

https://academy.legacyev.com/

Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/legacy.ev/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/company/legacy-ev/

This episode is sponsored by: Thryv

Ready to hit the gas on growth? Meet Thryv, the do-it-all small business software that can save you over 20 hours a week. Attract customers, manage day-to-day tasks, and keep communication simple with one powerful tool made for your auto business. Rev up your revenue today and let Thryv save you time so you can get back to doing what you love.

Schedule a demo today by visiting https://www.thryv.com/ 

For this episode, we have an essential discussion on personal protective equipment (PPE) and how innovation is shaping workplace safety in collision repair shops. Our guests for this episode are Scott Shinn, advanced technical service specialist in the Personal Safety Division for 3M, and Jason Scharton, global industry relations leader for 3M. Scott and Jason bring a wealth of knowledge about the latest advancements in PPE, how 3M is addressing the unique safety challenges in our industry, and what shops can do to keep their teams safe and productive. Enjoy the show!

Connect with Scott and Jason:

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/collision-repair-us/

This episode is sponsored by: Thryv

Ready to hit the gas on growth? Meet Thryv, the do-it-all small business software that can save you over 20 hours a week. Attract customers, manage day-to-day tasks, and keep communication simple with one powerful tool made for your auto business. Rev up your revenue today and let Thryv save you time so you can get back to doing what you love.

Schedule a demo today by visiting https://www.thryv.com/ 

Today, we’re continuing our Safety First: Prioritizing Health in the Workshop series by diving into best practices for workplace safety. Joining us today is Stephany Birkholz, regulatory project manager at KPA. Stephany is an expert in workplace safety and compliance, helping collision repair shops implement tools and strategies to protect their employees and improve operations. Today, we’ll explore practical steps shop owners can take to build safer workplaces and ensure long-term compliance with industry standards. We hope you enjoy!

Connect with Stephany:

Website:

https://kpa.io/

Social:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/birkholzs/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/kpa-llc/

This episode is sponsored by: Thryv

Ready to hit the gas on growth? Meet Thryv, the do-it-all small business software that can save you over 20 hours a week. Attract customers, manage day-to-day tasks, and keep communication simple with one powerful tool made for your auto business. Rev up your revenue today and let Thryv save you time so you can get back to doing what you love.

Schedule a demo today by visiting https://www.thryv.com/

Our guest for this episode is Andrew Batenhorst, Body Shop Manager at Pacific BMW. In addition to being all over the industry and very active in his volunteer work, Andrew is a leader with a vision for how to embed safety into the day-to-day practices of auto body shops. Today, we’ll discuss his strategies for building a strong safety culture, reducing risks on the shop floor, and how prioritizing safety can ultimately improve business performance.

Connect with Andrew:

Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-b-1119a4186/

This episode is sponsored by: Thryv 

Ready to hit the gas on growth? Meet Thryv, the do-it-all small business software that can save you over 20 hours a week. Attract customers, manage day-to-day tasks, and keep communication simple with one powerful tool made for your auto business. Rev up your revenue today and let Thryv save you time so you can get back to doing what you love.

Schedule a demo today by visiting https://www.thryv.com/

We’re kicking off our brand-new series, Safety First: Prioritizing Health in the Workshop. In this first episode, we’re diving into a critical aspect of workplace health—employee well-being and the role of benefits in collision repair shops.

Joining us is Richie Seaberry, Vice President of Business Development and Enterprise Portfolio Manager at Decisely. Richie is here to talk about how offering comprehensive health benefits—like medical, dental, and vision coverage—can have a tremendous impact on both your employees' well-being and your shop's success. We’ll explore the connection between employee health, workplace performance, recruiting and retention, and why investing in benefits can be a game-changer for collision repair businesses.

Connect with Decisely:

https://scrsbenefitscenter.decisely.com/

This episode is sponsored by: Thryv

Ready to hit the gas on growth? Meet Thryv, the do-it-all small business software that can save you over 20 hours a week. Attract customers, manage day-to-day tasks, and keep communication simple with one powerful tool made for your auto business. Rev up your revenue today and let Thryv save you time so you can get back to doing what you love.

Schedule a demo today by visiting https://www.thryv.com/ 

On this episode, we’re diving into one of the most exciting and highly anticipated events of the year for the automotive industry: SEMA 2024. Our guest today is RJ de Vera, Vice President of Marketing at SEMA, and an influential figure in the world of car culture, customization, and the aftermarket industry. RJ has seen it all at SEMA, and we’ll discuss what attendees can expect from this year’s show, the trends shaping the industry, and the builds that will blow everyone away. Enjoy the show!

More information and to register:

www.SEMAShow.com  

www.SEMAFest.com  

Download the SEMA App: https://www.semashow.com/app/

This episode is sponsored by: Thryv 

Ready to hit the gas on growth? Meet Thryv, the do-it-all small business software that can save you over 20 hours a week. Attract customers, manage day-to-day tasks, and keep communication simple with one powerful tool made for your auto business. Rev up your revenue today and let Thryv save you time so you can get back to doing what you love.

Schedule a demo today by visiting https://www.thryv.com/

We are continuing our Art of Restoration series by talking with Ryan Basseri, founder of Rywire Motorsport Electronics. Ryan’s known for his work in high-performance custom builds and his expertise in wiring and electronics. More recently, he’s been making waves with his EV conversion builds, a couple of which he will be showing at SEMA 2024. Today, we’ll discuss his journey, the evolving world of custom builds, and what’s next for Rywire. We hope you enjoy the show!

Connect with Ryan:

Website:

https://www.rywire.com/default.asp

Social:

https://www.instagram.com/rywire_motorsport/?hl=en

This episode is sponsored by: Thryv 

Ready to hit the gas on growth? Meet Thryv, the do-it-all small business software that can save you over 20 hours a week. Attract customers, manage day-to-day tasks, and keep communication simple with one powerful tool made for your auto business. Rev up your revenue today and let Thryv save you time so you can get back to doing what you love.

Schedule a demo today by visiting https://www.thryv.com/