Beyond The Bay

You Cannot Scale a Business Without Fixing Leadership, Hiring and Culture with Joe Gallaher

In this episode of Beyond The Bay Podcast, Peter Cooper [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-468367133/] sits down with Joe Gallaher [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-gallaher-b1b599a3/], the Chief Executive Officer of Gallaher Fleet Solutions [https://www.linkedin.com/company/gallaher-fleet-solutions/], a diesel truck and trailer repair company. Joe shares how he started in 2019 with a single service truck and grew into a business with two shop locations and a mobile service team. He talks about the importance of offering benefits to attract skilled technicians, building a strong company culture, and leading with transparency. Joe also explains the lessons he learned while scaling his business, including hiring for behavior, developing leaders, and creating systems to support long term growth. Joe shares the challenges he faced while growing his business, including the struggle of finding good talent and the cost of offering health benefits. He talks about the transition from being a technician to a business owner and the need to delegate tasks to scale. Joe also highlights how focusing on transparency, hiring for the right behaviors, and creating a winning playbook for every role have helped him build a successful company. Key Takeaways: 1. Shifting from Technician to Business Owner: Joe talks about moving from being a technician to a business owner to scale the company and improve people's lives.   2. Investing in People and Benefits: Joe shares how offering health insurance and benefits helped him attract the best technicians and compete with larger fleets.   3. Transparency in Business: Joe highlights the importance of being open with his leadership team about finances and problems to help them solve issues together.   4. Hiring for Behaviors: Joe explains that hiring people with the right attitude and then training them for skills is the key to building a strong culture.   5. Leading with Vision and Purpose: Joe shares how having a big dream and a clear mission helps keep his team aligned and motivated to win as a group. Episode Breakdown with Timestamps: [00:00] - Teaser [01:05] - Introduction to Robert Patritti & Rapid Diesel Repair [01:14] - Transitioning from Technician to Shop Owner [03:22] - Navigating the Cost of Health Insurance [06:19] - Building Culture Beyond Pay and Family [09:24] - Practicing Openness and Financial Transparency [11:23] - Implementing Profit Sharing and Mindsets [16:37] - Hiring for Behaviors Over Technical Skills [22:54] - Training with Playbooks and Apprenticeships Follow the Guest and his Companies: 👉 Joe’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-gallaher-b1b599a3/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-gallaher-b1b599a3/] 👉 Gallaher Fleet Solutions: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gallaher-fleet-solutions/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/gallaher-fleet-solutions/] Follow Host Peter Cooper on: 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-ascend-consulting-468367133/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-ascend-consulting-468367133/] 👉 Website: https://ascendconsulting.help/ [https://ascendconsulting.help/] 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570030967745 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570030967745] 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascendconsulting.help/ [https://www.instagram.com/ascendconsulting.help/] 👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopconsulting [https://www.tiktok.com/@shopconsulting] 👉 X: https://x.com/PeterCooper9084 [https://x.com/PeterCooper9084] Listen to Beyond the Bay Podcast: 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1IH2SSXjGRDqzP3p0Ie5C3 [https://open.spotify.com/show/1IH2SSXjGRDqzP3p0Ie5C3] 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bay/id1834168994 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bay/id1834168994] 👉 YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@petercooperAC [https://www.youtube.com/@petercooperAC]

How Mechanics Become Successful Business Owners by Building Systems and Structure - Robert Patritti

In this episode of Beyond The Bay Podcast, Peter Cooper [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-468367133/] sits down with Robert Patritti [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-patritti-2856aa293/], the CEO of Rapid Diesel Repair [https://www.linkedin.com/company/rapid-diesel-repair/], a fleet maintenance and repair business located in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Robert shares his journey from working at various dealerships to starting his own mobile service truck business. Over time, he expanded his operations, grew to a team of 10, and now runs a full-service shop. Robert discusses the challenges of business ownership, the importance of building systems, and how he successfully transitioned from technician to business owner. Robert shares the challenges he faced as he grew his business, including the struggles of managing change and the importance of creating systems to ensure smooth operations. He talks about the difficulty of transitioning from being a technician to a business owner and the need for discipline in running the company. Robert also highlights how focusing on structure, maintaining a clean shop, and setting clear expectations for his team have helped him build a successful business. Key Takeaways: 1. Shifting from Technician to Business Owner: Robert talks about moving from working as a technician to focusing on the bigger picture as a business owner. 2. Managing Growth Effectively: Robert shares how creating systems helped him handle growth and overcome challenges as his business expanded. 3. Empowering the Team: Robert highlights the importance of giving his team the space to work independently and solve problems on their own. 4. The Value of Structure: Robert explains how maintaining strong business structure and systems has been key to running his operation smoothly. 5. Fostering a Clean and Organized Shop: Robert shares how a clean, organized shop helps attract quality clients and keep employees happy. Episode Breakdown with Timestamps: [00:00] - Teaser [01:10] - Introduction to Robert Patritti & Rapid Diesel Repair [01:23] - From Dealerships to Mobile Service Truck [03:44] - Balancing Business Growth & Family Life [06:59] - Giving Technicians Space to Solve Problems [10:04] - Specializing in RAM Trucks & Niche Services [12:56] - The Value of Maintaining a Clean Shop [15:40] - Developing a Customer-Focused Service Approach [18:02] - Morning Meetings & Aligning the Team Follow the Guest and his Companies: 👉 Robert’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-patritti-2856aa293/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-patritti-2856aa293/] 👉 Rapid Diesel Repair: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rapid-diesel-repair/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/rapid-diesel-repair/] Follow Host Peter Cooper on: 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-ascend-consulting-468367133/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-ascend-consulting-468367133/] 👉 Website: https://ascendconsulting.help/ [https://ascendconsulting.help/] 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570030967745 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570030967745] 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascendconsulting.help/ [https://www.instagram.com/ascendconsulting.help/] 👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopconsulting [https://www.tiktok.com/@shopconsulting] 👉 X: https://x.com/PeterCooper9084 [https://x.com/PeterCooper9084] Listen to Beyond the Bay Podcast: 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1IH2SSXjGRDqzP3p0Ie5C3 [https://open.spotify.com/show/1IH2SSXjGRDqzP3p0Ie5C3] 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bay/id1834168994 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bay/id1834168994] 👉 YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@petercooperAC [https://www.youtube.com/@petercooperAC]

You Cannot Scale Your Business Until You Stop Thinking Like a Tech & Start Leading with Tom Sessoms

In this episode of Beyond The Bay Podcast, Peter Cooper [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-468367133/] sits down with Tom Sessoms [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomsessoms], the President of Ardamas Fleet Services [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ardamas-fleet-services/], a thriving fleet maintenance and repair business based in Panama City, Florida. Tom is also a Customer Advisory Board Member of Kayo [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kayoauto/]. He shares his journey from his early career in diagnostics as Senior Workshop Consultant with Bosch [https://www.linkedin.com/company/bosch/] to building his own successful fleet service company. They discuss the challenges of scaling a small operation, growing from mobile services to a fully-equipped shop, and the importance of maintaining high standards even as a business expands. Tom opens up about the mistakes he’s made along the way, including the struggle of managing growth and the challenge of hiring and retaining the right talent. He offers valuable insights into how fleet owners can set themselves apart from the competition by focusing on the quality of their services, building strong relationships with their customers, and constantly evolving their business strategies. Key Takeaways: 1. Breaking the Owner Bottleneck: Owners often become their own biggest obstacle; empowering employees creates stronger teams. 2. Scaling with Clear Goals: This episode explores expansion planning and sustainable scaling instead of rushed growth. 3. Hiring with Intention: Tom shares recruitment lessons, including multi-step interviews and manager-led hiring. 4. Building a Customer-First Culture: Tom explains how prioritizing customer experience over price drives long-term success. 5. Transitioning from Technician to Owner: Tom discusses the shift from hands-on technician to business owner. Episode Breakdown with Timestamps: [00:00] - Teaser [01:15] - Fleet Service Business Overview & Capabilities [02:46] - Starting Mobile & Transitioning Into a Shop [03:53] - Early Growth & Key Business Mistakes [05:22] - Hiring Challenges & Letting Go of Employees [06:46] - Recruiting Talent & Building a Strong Team [06:55] - Attracting Technicians & Employer Value Proposition [09:21] - Leveraging Location & Competitive Hiring Advantages [10:37] - Controlled Growth Strategy & Service Standards [12:50] - Mobile Service Advantage & Equipment Investment [14:14] - Speed vs. Price & Fleet Customer Expectations [17:24] - Knowing Your Value & Charging for Quality Service [19:34] - Process Efficiency & Fast Turnaround Systems [22:19] - Using KPIs to Manage Performance & Growth [26:18] - Gamifying Performance & Team Accountability [29:02] - Career Background & Path Into Business Ownership [31:45] - Technician vs. Business Owner Mindset Shift [34:33] - Growth Plateaus & Evolving as a Business Leader [35:24] - Scaling Through Niche Services & Cross-Selling. Follow the Guest and his Companies: 👉 Tom’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomsessoms [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomsessoms] 👉 Ardamas Fleet Services: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ardamas-fleet-services/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ardamas-fleet-services/] 👉 Kayo: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kayoauto/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kayoauto/] 👉 Bosch: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bosch/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/bosch/] Follow Host Peter Cooper on: 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-ascend-consulting-468367133/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-ascend-consulting-468367133/] 👉 Website: https://ascendconsulting.help/ [https://ascendconsulting.help/] 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570030967745 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570030967745] 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascendconsulting.help/ [https://www.instagram.com/ascendconsulting.help/] 👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopconsulting [https://www.tiktok.com/@shopconsulting] 👉 X: https://x.com/PeterCooper9084 [https://x.com/PeterCooper9084] Listen to Beyond the Bay Podcast: 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1IH2SSXjGRDqzP3p0Ie5C3 [https://open.spotify.com/show/1IH2SSXjGRDqzP3p0Ie5C3] 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bay/id1834168994 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bay/id1834168994] 👉 YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@petercooperAC [https://www.youtube.com/@petercooperAC]

Unlocking Growth: Essential Tips for Small Shop Owners | Beyond the Bay Podcast w/ Richard Birch

In this episode, Richard walks us through his journey of scaling a one-man shop, highlighting the hidden costs and overlooked opportunities. You'll discover actionable strategies for assessing when to hire your first or next technician, including simple yet powerful ratios like billing support and workload indicators that signal it's time to grow.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction02:15 The Growth Mindset Shift10:45 Evaluating Cash Flow for Hiring18:30 Defining Your Vision: Shop vs. Office25:00 Breaking the Boom and Bust Cycle32:45 Pricing Strategies for Profitability40:00 Conclusion and Key TakeawaysWe break down:- How to evaluate if your current cash flow- The importance of defining your vision- The "boom and bust" cycle- Practical tips on pricing diagnostics, parts markup, and quoting jobsWhether you're just starting out or preparing for your next big step, this conversation will give you the tools and mindset to turn your small operation into a thriving enterprise. Don’t let hesitation or unseen barriers hold you back any longer—hit play and start growing smarter today!Follow the Guest and his Companies:👉 RHF Truck and Auto: www.rhftruckandautomotive.com/👉 RHF Truck and Auto LinkedIn: /rhf-truck-and-automotive/👉 RHF Truck and Auto IG: @rhftruckandauto👉 RHF Truck and Auto Facebook: @RHF22Follow Me, Peter Cooper:👉 LinkedIn: /peter-cooper-ascend-consulting-468367133/👉 Website: www.ascendconsulting.help/👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570030967745👉 Instagram: @ascendconsulting.help 👉 TikTok: @shopconsulting 👉 X: @PeterCooper9084 Listen to Beyond the Bay:👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1IH2SSX...👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...👉 YouTube: @petercooperac

Truck Shop Owners Must Get Out of the Bay to Scale and Lead a Real Business with Ricky Kuntz

In this episode of Beyond the Bay Podcast, host Peter Cooper [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-ascend-consulting-468367133/] sits down with Ricky Kuntz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricky-kuntz-627106233/], Business Owner at Kuntz Truck Repair LLC, Shop Manager at Rick Kuntz Trucking Inc. to discuss what it really takes to scale a heavy-duty repair shop at an aggressive pace. Ricky shares how he went from working in his father’s dump truck fleet to building his own operation in Northeast Ohio growing from a two-man weekend side business to a thriving shop with multiple technicians in a short period of time.Together, they dive into the realities of rapid growth, stepping out of the bay and into leadership, and the hard lessons that come with hiring, communication, and building the right culture. Ricky opens up about overcoming the fear of not having enough customers, learning to trust his team, and creating systems that allow the business to function without him turning wrenches every day. This episode is a must-listen for shop owners who want to grow beyond survival mode and build a business that can scale sustainably. Key Takeaways: - Stepping Out of the Bay: Ricky shares the critical mindset shift required to move from technician to true business owner and how spending intentional time in the office directly accelerated growth and stability. - Breaking the Owner Bottleneck: Learn how owners often become the biggest obstacle in their own business, and why empowering employees to make decisions leads to smoother operations and stronger teams. - Scaling with Clear Goals: The episode explores expansion planning, including mobile service growth and adding future locations, while challenging traditional long-term timelines. - Hiring with Intention: Ricky discusses hard lessons in recruitment, implementing multi-step interviews, and allowing managers to take ownership of hiring decisions to improve retention and accountability. - Building a Customer-First Culture: From empathy in diagnostics to maintaining strong Google reviews, Ricky explains how prioritizing customer experience, not just price, creates sustainable success in a competitive industry. Episode Breakdown with Timestamps [00:00] - Teaser [01:25] - Kuntz Truck Repair Origins & Fast Growth [02:55] - General Repair vs. Developing Specialties [03:32] - Transitioning from Technician to Owner [07:04] - Recognizing the Owner as the Bottleneck [09:12] - Empowering Employees to Make Decisions [11:30] - Planning for Multi-Location Expansion [12:35] - Challenging Traditional Growth Timelines [17:34] - Overcoming Fear & Building Customer Flow [22:03] - Creating a Customer First Culture [29:02] - Hiring Strategy & Retention Lessons Follow the Guest and his Companies: 👉 Ricky’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricky-kuntz-627106233/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricky-kuntz-627106233/] 👉 Kuntz Truck Repair LLC: https://kuntzrepair.com/ [https://kuntzrepair.com/] 👉 Rick Kuntz Trucking Inc.: https://www.rickkuntztrucking.com/ [https://www.rickkuntztrucking.com/] 👉 Kuntz Truck Repair Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KuntzTruckRepair [https://www.facebook.com/KuntzTruckRepair] Follow Host Peter Cooper: 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-ascend-consulting-468367133/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-ascend-consulting-468367133/] 👉 Website: https://ascendconsulting.help/ [https://ascendconsulting.help/] 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570030967745 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570030967745] 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascendconsulting.help/ [https://www.instagram.com/ascendconsulting.help/] 👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopconsulting [https://www.tiktok.com/@shopconsulting] 👉 X: https://x.com/PeterCooper9084 [https://x.com/PeterCooper9084] Listen to Beyond the Bay: 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1IH2SSXjGRDqzP3p0Ie5C3 [https://open.spotify.com/show/1IH2SSXjGRDqzP3p0Ie5C3] 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bay/id1834168994 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bay/id1834168994] 👉 YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@petercooperAC [https://www.youtube.com/@petercooperAC]