Beyond the Wrench

Milwaukee Pipeline Series: Transitioning From Technician to Shop Owner

Recorded live at Milwaukee Pipeline 2025, Chris Enright—Founder & Owner of Enright Automotive and content creator—shares his journey from technician to shop owner and the lessons learned along the way. In this episode, we dive into making the transition from tech to owner, the ROI of technician training, the power of clear communication, and more.

Milwaukee Pipeline Series: Hand Tools Designed with Technicians in Mind

Recorded live at the Milwaukee Pipeline 2025 event, Leah Balto, Group Manager of Product Marketing at Milwaukee Tool, joins host Jay Goninen to walk us through Milwaukee’s latest hand tool kits, explain how the team studies technicians in real-world settings to inspire smarter innovations, and share how Milwaukee Tool is investing in solutions that support

2025-09-10T07:45:44-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

When Service Advisors Put Technicians First, Everyone Wins

Rena Rennebohm, CEO of Empowered Advisor, shares why shops thrive when service advisors put technicians first. With years of experience coaching advisors, Rena explains how stronger collaboration between advisors and technicians leads to better shop culture and performance. She also dives into challenges such as high service advisor turnover, the lack of respect advisors often

2025-09-02T15:40:15-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Leading with Accountability & Influence

In this episode, Dave Anderson, President of Learn to Lead, gives leaders actionable strategies for handling tough situations while earning trust and respect. He shares practical advice on holding even high-performing team members accountable, making confrontation conversational, and avoiding the loss of credibility. Watch the Full Episode  Show Notes About the Episode Host: Jay

2025-09-02T15:39:53-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Turning Wrenches for the Secret Service

Lenny Fumarolo shares his journey from working in NASCAR to becoming a Protective Armored Specialist for the United States Secret Service (USSS). He breaks down how others can follow in his footsteps, what daily repairs and maintenance look like in such a high-security role, and how tools, uniforms, and the overall environment differ from typical

2025-09-02T15:39:11-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Helping Shop Owners Build Profitable, Fulfilling Businesses

Darrin Barney shares his journey from running a family-owned shop with his brother to becoming CEO of Elite Worldwide. He talks about the early struggles of building a profitable business and the importance of having the right team in the right roles. Darrin also opens up about buying the company that changed his life and

2025-08-14T13:24:20-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Building the Future Technician Workforce

Lauren Reinhold, Director of Training & Education at Kirk NationaLease, shares her journey from technician to teacher to leading a technician training and apprenticeship program. She discusses how connecting with students on a personal level helps them succeed, and she breaks down key parts of the program she's building. Lauren also highlights the disconnect between

2025-08-14T13:24:42-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Career Survival Tips for New Technicians

Curtis Gardner, Audi Master Guild Technician at Sewell Audi of North Houston and Founder of Gnarred LLC, shares what young technicians need to know to build a respectful and lasting career. With 15+ years of experience, he covers common mistakes, how to survive your first months in the shop, and why discipline and strong workflows

2025-08-14T13:24:47-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Mentoring vs. Training Technicians

John Roberts, Shop Foreman at Metro Toyota, didn’t plan to be on the podcast—but his insights were too good not to share. In this episode, John breaks down the powerful difference between training and mentoring, shares how he builds confidence in his team, and explains why becoming a top-tier technician takes more than just skill—it

2025-08-14T13:24:51-05:00Beyond the Wrench|

Where Racing Passion Meets Customer Trust

Marc Erickson, National Sales at AutoMeter Products, Inc., grew up in a drag racing family and naturally found his way into the automotive world. Over 20 years ago, he started at AutoMeter, and his passion for the brand has only grown. In this episode, Marc discusses the importance of credibility and honesty with customers, offers

2025-08-14T13:24:56-05:00Beyond the Wrench|
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