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

The Engine Failure Secrets for Drivers to Extend Car Life using Maintenance Rules with Kevin Roberts

In this episode of Beyond The Bay Podcast, Peter Cooper [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-468367133/] sits down with Kevin Roberts [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-roberts-201381136/], President of Roberts Repair Inc [https://www.linkedin.com/company/roberts-repair-inc/], a repair shop owner with 37 years of experience working on everything from lawn tractors to emergency vehicles and classic cars. Kevin shares how he built his business from a one-bay shop into a specialised operation and explains the importance of maintenance systems, technician training, and critical thinking in the repair industry. He also discusses shop culture, hiring the right people, and the challenges modern vehicle technology creates for technicians and business owners.  Kevin shares the challenges facing the repair industry, including the growing gap between modern vehicle technology and the skill level of new technicians entering the field. He talks about the importance of critical thinking, proper training, and following best practices to improve safety and repair quality. Kevin also explains how strong shop culture, clear systems, and hiring people with the right attitude have helped him build and maintain a successful business for nearly four decades. Key Takeaways: 1. Building Strong Maintenance Systems: Kevin explains how proper maintenance schedules helped emergency vehicles last longer and reduced major repairs. 2. The Importance of Critical Thinking: Kevin shares why technicians need to understand facts, basic principles, and best practices instead of relying only on habits or opinions. 3. Hiring for Attitude and Character: Kevin highlights the value of hiring people with the right mindset and training them to become skilled technicians. 4. Creating a Strong Shop Culture: Kevin discusses how clean shops, clear systems, and strong leadership help businesses operate more successfully. 5. Adapting to Modern Vehicle Challenges: Kevin talks about the growing complexity of vehicle technology and the need for ongoing training in the repair industry. Episode Breakdown with Timestamps: [00:00] - Teaser [01:12] - Introduction to Kevin Roberts & Roberts Repair Inc [02:15] - Working on Emergency Vehicle Fleets [05:48] - Extending Vehicle Life with Maintenance Systems [08:27] - Emissions Systems and Emergency Vehicles [14:30] - Using Facts and Data in Repair Decisions [17:22] - Creating Better Shop Systems and Standards [29:01] - The Challenges Facing Modern Technicians [33:31] - Hiring Technicians with the Right Attitude Follow the Guest and his Companies: 👉 Kevin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-roberts-201381136/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-roberts-201381136/] 👉 Roberts Repair Inc: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roberts-repair-inc/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/roberts-repair-inc/] 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 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