Regional Coverage
Berkeley, Calif.—Steve Torp still recalls when someone decades ago called him to say there was an ad in the San Francisco Chronicle that listed his business, Classic Auto Body in Berkeley. Surprised, Torp found the ad, which had been placed in the newspaper by Consumers Checkbook, an independent...
Carbondale, Ill.—The Automotive Department at Southern Illinois University (SIU) in Carbondale recently hosted the Illinois College Automotive Instructors Association (ICAIA) conference on March 7-8, at the SIU Transportation Education Center. The 187,000-square-foot facility welcomed 157 secondary...
Lakewood, Colo.—Has your customer come back to your shop with a battery that won’t hold a charge a mere months after replacing it, maybe more than once? If so, a small parasitic drain may likely be the culprit. And as more computer modules make their way into vehicles for safety, convenience, and...
Rochester, Wash.—While diagnostics and digital inspections are vital to maintaining vehicle health, Leon Martin also promotes his “Know the TRUTH about your VEHICLE” program, which strengthens the shop’s mission statement that promotes keeping customers in a trustworthy, “no worries” vehicle, among...
Ontario, Calif.—Brian and Laurie Noppert are off to a fast start this year.
Since increasing their shop’s diagnostics capabilities and hiring experienced service manager, Rob Neil, the repair shop is already on target to have a “great 2019” with higher AROs.
“Our car count is on the uptick and our...
Alameda, Calif.—As Caeser once said, “Fortune favors the bold.”
Through a lucky stock tip from a savvy mobile truck salesman and other personal friends, Eric Quan bought a penny stock that went from 25 cents to $17 a share — it helped bank the launch of his current business.
“I’m pretty good at...
Salem, Ore.—Brent Gilmour wanted to make an equipment purchase at the end of last year, so I asked one of his journeyman technicians for an opinion on what to buy.
“He said, ‘If you buy one of these, you just gave me a raise,’” Gilmour said, pointing to Hyacinth Collision Centre’s new Chief...
St. Peters, Mo.—Lou Craven, owner of DTI (Design Technology Inc.) has long been known as a pioneer in the diagnostics and programming community. His facility in St. Peters has been home to some of the most advanced diagnostics and technical training anywhere in the country, he says. As Craven...
Overland Park, Kan.—It’s no secret how important customer satisfaction is.
“When the customer says, ‘I love doing business with you guys,’ that’s where the payoff comes from. That’s where the money comes from, that’s where the word-of-mouth comes from, and that’s where the forgiveness factor comes...
Hemet, Calif.—About seven months after becoming director at Gosch Toyota Collision Center, Rudy Romero points to a transition to the Axalta Coating Systems’ Spies Hecker paint line at the company’s three body shops as among the biggest changes he’s made.
“That was a major undertaking, not only for...
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Parts & People
Parts & People is published monthly by Automotive Counseling and Publishing Company, Inc., a Colorado corporation, P.O. Box 18731 Denver, CO 80203, 303-765-4664. President-Lance Buchner. Founded by Lance Buchner and Dave Lucia.