In this episode of the Endeavor to Discover series, Louie Sharp, owner of Sharp Auto Body in Chicago, joins hosts Chris Messer and Mike Jones for a discussion about giving up what you don’t need. Sharp shares his journey of building his business and why it was important to let go of negativity, emotional baggage, and limiting beliefs. Sharp, Messer, and Jones also explore the idea that choosing curiosity over reaction leads to better leadership outcomes and explain how understanding employees’ underlying issues can foster trust and better performance.  

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As National Oil and Lube News begins its 40th anniversary celebration, the NOLN Podcast welcomes Solid Start CEO Amber Kossak and President Crystal Mathews to reflect on the quick lube and fast maintenance industry’s evolution. Kossak, who has more than 30 years of experience in the business, and Mathews, who joined the industry in 1999, share insights on game-changing moments, major developments, short-lived fads, and common threads that have defined the industry for decades.

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Even when business is running smoothly, it is still worth evaluating the services offered to customers to determine what is working and where a shop might find better efficiency and improvement. In some cases, the answer might be to grow the business by moving some services to a second location. In other instances, cutting a service because it takes time away from other tasks might be necessary to tune up the shop.

This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on June 4, 2025.

Read by Brittany Duncan 

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Having grown to more than 900 locations, including company owned, franchise, and licensees, FullSpeed Automotive recently rolled out a new training program that puts a greater emphasis on the customer experience and consistency from shop to shop. At the forefront of this launch is Jason Johnsey, the company’s director of training and development. Johnsey joins the NOLN Podcast to dig into FullSpeed’s mission to revitalize its customer experience, collecting data on where improvement was needed, the importance of listening to both guests and internal feedback, and what the company hopes to accomplish with its revamped training initiative.

Johnsey also shares tips for how shop operators can evaluate their own customer experience and determine whether its time for a tune up their protocols.

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For the automotive service industry, location is crucial to building a solid customer base, ensuring easy access to the shop, and, notably, community acceptance. All three are critical to any service business. Even as a community will want convenience, there are concerns about increased traffic, noise, parking, market saturation, and cultural considerations. Those are among the many issues quick lube operators face when building new facilities.

This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on Jan. 13, 2026.

Read by Brittany Duncan

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Modern Tire Dealer managing editor Sara Welch and Mike Mooney, a speaker, coach, author, and strategist, discuss strategies for motivating teams, aligning personal and company goals, and tips for building commitment from your employees. 

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In this installment of the Endeavor to Discover series, Chris Messer and Mike Jones welcome president/founder James Baxter and store manager Hunter Barton of Neighborhood Tire Pros in Atlanta. By 2008, Neighborhood Tire Pros had grown to 14 locations before the nation’s economic downturn put a strain on the business that led to the sale of 10 stores.

Baxter and Barton discuss the climb back, putting a focus on the remaining four core stores with an emphasis on growth, people, financial transparency, and clear vision-setting to reach a level of profitability that is triple what Neighborhood Tire Pros achieved with 14 shops. The conversation underscores the difference between fearlessness and courage, as well as the power of intentional, people-centered leadership.

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>> Click here to take the 2026 NOLN Operator Survey

As a skilled leader who is known for lifting up those around him, Brian Morrison has thrived as the operator of 19 quick lube facilities. Once an executive in the food service industry, Morrison now oversees a burgeoning network of franchise locations for FullSpeed Automotive’s SpeeDee Oil Change & Automotive Service and Grease Monkey brands. A skilled business leader, a charitable boss, and a proud family man, Morrison is the NOLN Operator of the Year for 2025.

This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on Sept. 2, 2025.

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Do you know a quick lube operator who excels in all aspects of shop ownership—from business performance to staff leadership to community involvement? Nominate them for the 2026 NOLN Operator of the Year Award.

>> Click here to submit a nomination today

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With iFLEX shifting to AAPEX this year, Jenn Bochnowski, vice president of PAMA’s board of directors, and Mark Bogdansky, vice president of trade shows and community engagement for the Auto Care Association, visit the NOLN Podcast to discuss the move. Bochnowski and Bogdansky explain why the move was made, what will look familiar to past AAPEX and iFLEX attendees, and the ways in which the two parties aim to create a better overall experience for those in the quick lube industry.

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This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on April 23, 2025.