Kaylee Felio sits down with Steve Fishel, Parts Manager at Titus-Will Toyota in Tacoma, WA, for a deep-dive into the evolving world of dealership parts departments. With nearly four decades in the business—most of it with the Toyota brand—Steve shares his journey from his early days after the Air Force to leading inventory parts operations through massive industry and technology shifts.

In this episode, Steve discusses the importance of adapting to change, embracing new inventory management tools, and building trust in both technology and your team. He explains the transformative impact of expanding from a handful of inventory “sources” to a data-driven, multi-source approach—saving time, money, and stress, while dramatically improving efficiency, stock order review, and returns.

Steve also opens up about the realities of department culture, why collaboration with service and sales teams is vital, and how embracing outside expertise (like PartsEdge) brought fresh energy and measurable results to his operation.

Whether you’re a seasoned parts manager or new to dealership operations, Steve’s story offers actionable insights on thriving amidst change and unlocking the full potential of your parts department.

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. Leverage Technology & Data

2. Trust the System

3. Collaboration Drives Result

   
   

Chapters

00:00 "Toyota Enthusiasm in Diverse Dealership"

05:27 Adapting to Changing Car Parts

08:45 Optimizing Inventory through Dynamic Coding

10:40 "Outsourcing Tech: A Game Changer"

14:11 Optimizing Inventory for Efficiency

18:20 Streamlined Stock Ordering Process

20:09 Trusting Chuck's System

24:44 "Teamwork and Management Alignment"

28:10 Reflecting on Self and Progress

32:41 Inventory Management Efficiency Boost

35:14 "Highlighting Parts Pros"

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Kaylee Felio, the dynamic and relatable host known as "the parts girl," steps out from behind her usual interview format for a heartfelt solo episode. In this candid conversation, Kaylee shares her personal journey of balancing motherhood, sales leadership at PartsEdge, and life’s messy realities—yes, even poopy diapers in between Zoom calls! She dives into the unique pressures of running sales and marketing for a growing business, the “imperfect balance” of work and life, and what it truly means to operate with an owner’s mindset—even if you don’t own the company.

Kaylee also recounts memorable client stories and unexpected wins, like landing a referral-driven client from a webinar she thought had flopped due to a time zone error. This episode is a must-listen for anyone leading from the trenches in fixed ops, juggling the demands of family and career, or craving a little honest encouragement on their own journey.

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. There’s no perfect work-life balance

2. Operate with ownership

3. Don’t fear missteps

   
   

Chapters

00:00 – Kaylee’s solo debut: nerves, encouragement, and mindset pep-talk

01:28 – Juggling leadership, marketing, motherhood, and the illusion of balance

02:17 – Candid stories: webinar listening, diaper changing, and parent guilt

03:01 – Running things “like you own it”: misconceptions and reality at PartsEdge

03:38 – Fix Ops Roundtable highlights, parts managers getting out to network

04:06 – ChatGPT assists with self-interview questions; the chaos of back-to-school

05:15 – Lessons from Kaylee’s mom: gratitude and emotional support

06:47 – Unexpected wins: client referral story from a “flopped” webinar

08:04 – Client signs up live in the meeting—unique experiences in sales

08:40 – Closing thoughts: The messy, rewarding journey of growth at PartsEdge

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Today, Kaylee Felio interviews Sheila Pogue, who shares her journey from working in restaurants to becoming a parts manager and eventually transitioning to a vendor role at Dealer OMG. 

Together, they take on one of the industry’s big conversations: why fixed ops is treated like the “redheaded stepchild” of dealerships, and how better marketing, internal buy-in, and creative partnerships can help change that. Sheila draws on her deep boots-on-the-ground experience to share practical strategies for getting buy-in from decision-makers, why being vendor-savvy pays off, and the overlooked potential of accessories and wholesale parts.

If you’re looking for real talk and actionable ideas to empower your parts team—and maybe a laugh or two about dealership life—this episode delivers. Whether you’re on the counter, in the GM’s chair, or working to support the automotive world, Kaylee and Sheila’s conversation will remind you why the parts department is really the flywheel that keeps the dealership engine running.

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. Fixed ops drives dealership success.

2. Customer service is a key focus.

3. There are many opportunities within fixed ops that dealerships often miss.

   
   

Chapters

00:00 Mentorship and Success in Dealership

03:35 Transitioning to Remote Work

07:19 Strategizing Dealer Operations Relationships

11:14 Meta Founder Recalls Early Recruitment

13:48 Passion for Automotive Client Support

18:00 "Unique Store Branding Focus"

19:41 Maintaining Customer Engagement in Auto Sales

24:36 Boosting Service Revenue Strategies

26:44 "Maximize Budget with Petty Card"

30:35 Dealership Leadership and Inventory Changes

35:17 PartsEdge: Streamlining Parts Management

36:45 "Direct Approach to Self-Solutions"

42:06 NCM Bender 20 Group Overview

42:59 Vetted Vendor Association's Impact

Kaylee Felio sits down with Christian Lafferty and Cliff Honeycutt from the Chris Collins Group—industry thought leaders, coaches, and co-hosts of the Parts Hold Podcast. Kaylee, Christian, and Cliff dive deep into the evolving dynamics of dealership fixed operations, uncovering what makes parts managers uniquely equipped for leadership, how to break down dealership silos, and why embracing new sales channels like Amazon is a must for forward-thinking auto dealerships.

Along the way, they draw thought-provoking parallels between parenting and leadership, highlight the power of exceptional customer experiences, and unpack the shifting dynamics of fixed operations.

Blending industry insights with personal stories, offering a well-rounded look at today’s automotive world and the exciting opportunities ahead.

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. Parts managers: the unsung heroes driving dealership success

2. Strong parts–service teamwork boosts performance

3. Parts departments hold untapped sales potential

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

01:41 Meet the Hosts: Christian and Cliff

03:29 The Importance of Parts Managers

06:29 Bridging the Gap: Parts and Service Collaboration

11:12 Understanding the Parts Department's Role

14:33 Positive Trends in the Industry

19:58 Parenting and Management: Similarities Explored

24:07 Opportunities in the Automotive Industry

26:10 Wrestling Memories and Industry Insights

28:14 Amazon's Impact on the Automotive Industry

31:57 The Evolution of Customer Experience

34:02 Fixed Operations: A Growing Focus

38:51 Creating Raving Fans and Generational Value

41:14 Fun Questions and Hidden Talents

Like what you hear? Review the show for us: https://ratethispodcast.com/ratethepartsedgepodcast

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Jim Oliveri, Parts Director at West Herr Auto Group. With 31 years at the 75-year-old company, he promotes empowerment, operational excellence, and profitability through logistics, people, and metrics. Jim mentors leaders, drives performance via structure and wholesale strategies, and prioritizes local ownership and customer satisfaction. He balances financial success with employee well-being, cherishing their career growth.

Jim Oliveri discusses his automotive industry experience, focusing on parts operations, dealership challenges, customer service, inventory management, and fixed operations opportunities. He offers advice for new leaders, emphasizing collaboration and learning. 

The conversation ends with insights into the evolving automotive industry.

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. Dealership success hinges on often-overlooked parts operations.

2. Customer service is a key focus.

3. There are many opportunities within fixed ops that dealerships often miss.

   
   

Chapters:

00:00 Unexpected Career in Park Services

05:56 Automotive Repair Challenges Today

06:32 Supply Chain Challenges in Snowbelt

10:54 "Monthly Internal Inventory Audits"

12:57 Fred Beans: Different Warehouse System

16:22 "Maximize Profit Within Your Business"

21:54 Lifetime Lessons on Friendship & Growth

25:18 Challenging Year but Staying Strong

25:44 Leases Returning in Buffalo

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Brian "Mac" McIntosh joined an established group and recognized a desire for change alongside comfort in the familiar. He understands that change can be unsettling but values supportive colleagues in easing transitions, encouraging growth despite discomfort.

Together, Kaylee and Mac explore why dealership parts operations often resist change and how bringing in solutions like PartsEdge helped Mac’s team regain clarity, reduce obsolescence, and shift from survival mode to growth-focused leadership. You’ll hear straight from Mac about the challenge of tracking inventory health, the value of dynamic problem-solving (versus cookie-cutter consulting), and how empowering your parts team can truly move the needle for the whole dealership.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like behind the parts counter—or you’re looking for fresh strategies to lead your department through industry shifts—this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Let’s dive in!

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. Adaptability is key

2. Data clarity matters

3. Clear, actionable reporting saves time, reduces obsolescence

   
   

Chapters

00:00 "Brian's and Auto Journeys"

06:03 Embracing Change Amid Comfort

07:36 Navigating Career Overhaul Challenges

11:23 "Obsolescence Challenges and DMS Transition"

14:59 Return Policy Confusion Issues

16:53 Assessing Inventory Obsolescence

20:15 Dynamic Problem-Solving Over Textbook Approaches

22:17 "Successful Translation and Impact"

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

With over 30 years of experience in the automotive parts industry, Mike Kraft is a seasoned Parts Manager at Suburban Chevrolet in Minneapolis. He recounts his journey from manual parts management to overseeing a thriving department that boasts over 100 employees and more than $90 million in annual sales.

In today’s episode, Mike shares the evolution of his dealership’s parts operations, how technology has transformed his daily workflow, and the pivotal role PartsEdge plays as an “assistant manager” in the background.

Together, they dig into lessons from decades in the business, the impact of automation and expert support, and creative strategies for managing a fast-growing parts department.

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. Automate to elevate.

2. Delegate for accuracy and peace of mind.

3. Continuous improvement and collaboration is a must.

   
   

Chapters

00:00 – Mike Kraft’s backstory and evolution as a parts manager

01:05 – How PartsEdge automates daily reporting and “takes the work out of the work”

03:02 – The push to adopt PartsEdge and handling dealership growth

04:34 – Real-world impact of automation and PartsEdge support during CDK outages

06:39 – The value of delegating routine tasks for accuracy and peace of mind

08:25 – Customizing inventory sources for creative strategies

09:40 – Reflecting on the comfort blanket of having PartsEdge in the background

12:11 – Integrating with RIM and the challenges of system alignment

15:00 – Opportunities for further automation and partnership innovation

17:05 – Mike’s advice and humorous metaphor for ongoing process improvement (“bald tires”)

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Mitch Brady partnered with PartsEdge to refine his company’s parts inventory. He uncovered and resolved issues with broad phase-in/phase-out criteria by customizing categorization for each part. This optimized stock, improved team clarity, and fine-tuned parts management.Together,

Kaylee and Mitch dive into how using PartsEdge not only enhanced inventory efficiency at Ressler Toyota but also uncovered hidden challenges and gave Mitch the tools to be creative with inventory management. Hear about actionable strategies for reducing obsolescence, tailoring phase-in and phase-out criteria, and leveraging data to make smarter decisions—all while maintaining a perfectly balanced inventory.

If you’re a parts manager looking for practical insights and real-world success stories, you won’t want to miss Mitch’s honest take on the impact of PartsEdge and the value of having a true partner in your corner. Let’s get into it!

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. Customize inventory processes

2. Actionable reporting matters

3. Collaboration fuels creativity

   
   

Chapters

00:00 Optimizing Inventory with PartsEdge

05:07 Optimized Phase In/Out Strategy

06:50 Customized Parts Source Management

10:13 Managing Obsolescence in Inventory Returns

13:22 Custom Reports on Obsolete Parts

16:30 Effective Collaboration in Service Management

Connect

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Courtney Paschal is the Client Success Manager at Ellison Automotive Strategies and a seasoned automotive professional who began her career at Street Toyota in 2013. A passionate leader in both the automotive industry and her Amarillo community, Courtney is a Top 40 Under 40 honoree in Automotive News and actively serves with No Boundaries International. She’s also a proud dog mom to Cash, Tipper, and Penny.

Brad Paschal is the Market President at Dynatron Software and President of Brad Paschal Consulting. Starting his career in sales at Street Volkswagen, he worked his way up to e-Commerce Director before moving into consulting. Brad has spent the last 8+ years solving complex challenges across both variable ops/sales and fixed ops sides of the automotive business.

In today’s episode, they discuss the challenges and rewards of sharing both a home and career in auto retail, the importance of charity and giving back, and the unique dynamics of running dealership ops with a partner. Listeners get an inside look at vendor management best practices, the vital role of service and parts departments, and why gratitude and perspective matter for long-term success.

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Their strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. Work-life balance boundaries matter

2. Recognize & empower parts/service teams

3. Gratitude & community givebacks

   
   

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Work-Life with Three Dogs

03:51 Mindset Anchors for Productivity

06:20 "Building Community Through Dealership Events"

11:20 "Highlighting Courtney's Career Achievements"

14:23 Lead Quality and Quota Concerns

16:52 "Sales vs. Service: Industry Divide"

19:49 Building Relationships with Service Teams

24:20 "Effective Communication in Relationships"

27:21 "Building Customized Workflows with AI"

31:58 Secret Floor Renovation Plans

35:41 Empowering Through Financial Growth

36:27 Passion for Problem-Solving in Dealerships

40:29 Walking Away from Success

43:52 "Helping Anytime, Anywhere"

Quote

“If you focus on helping people, all other stuff comes.” – Brad Paschal

“Survey your dealership and include everyone in the conversation—parts and service especially.” – Courtney Paschal

Connect

Courtney Paschal 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-paschal-39bb5a23/

Brad Paschal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bpaschal/

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.partsedge.com⁠

Chuck Hartle is the President and co-founder of PartsEdge, with over 42 years of experience in the automotive industry. Starting as a parts delivery driver, he rose to Fixed Operations Director and has since led over 300 seminars, including workshops for the National Auto Dealers Association. Chuck’s deep industry knowledge helps PartsEdge tackle key dealership challenges. Outside of work, he’s a dedicated family man, marathon runner, and loyal Seattle Seahawks fan.

Chuck breaks down the real challenges dealerships face with source management, why most DMS vendors fall short in education and default settings, and how properly leveraging sources can drive smarter parts inventory control, more accurate accounting, and easier pricing strategies.

Kaylee and Chuck also unpack the origin story of PartsEdge—why the platform was built, what it aims to fix, and how it takes the heavy lifting and guesswork out of inventory management.

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Their strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com.

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Takeaways

1. Don’t fear more sources

2. Education is power

3. Manage Your Inventory, Don’t Work Around It

   
   

Chapters

00:00 "Source Management & Pricing Strategies"

05:43 Parts Management Requires Organization

06:31 "Tire Source Management Challenges"

10:30 Optimizing Inventory Management

14:37 Intentional, Structured Development Yields Success

18:09 Managing Aging Special Orders

19:56 Techeon's Inventory Misunderstandings

23:34 Embrace Improvement Through Education

Quote

"Accessories, you know, nobody matrixes accessories. If you do, you don't sell them."

"The biggest failure for most parts managers and their fear of adding a new source to their system is it's just not as easy as, oh, I want to copy this to this. And you know, it takes some work.”

Connect

Chuck Hartle

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-hartle-1923ab14

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chuck.hartle.39/

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Kaylee Felio

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/partsedge

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Phone Number: (800) 825-7562

Email: [email protected]