Ratchet+Wrench

In his closing keynote, David Suk Brown of DSB Leadership Group encouraged attendees to follow the SPEAK Playbook. S - See (take the blinders off) P - Prepare (know what you have to do) E - Enthusiasm (be excited about the work) A - Allyship (have people to help you) P - Keep Preaching (don't stop talking) He reminded attendees to use their voices and allow others to use theirs in order for everyone to feel valued and for all to grow together.

Doug Grills of AutoStream Car Care led an clinic on AI tools to enhance auto repair shop marketing. From handling calls and identifying KPIS to optimizing ad targeting and spends and analyzing marketing capaign data, AI is revolutionizing efficiency and shop owners need to harness its power. "It levels the playing field for all of us," he said. #RWMC2025

You set the tone for your shop’s culture. What doesn’t get measured doesn’t get improved. Pay attention and know your people. Sometimes all it takes is just being human that matters more than being the boss. Shop owner Michelle Tansey shares how to build and maintain a high-performing team at the Ratchet+Wrench Management Conference in Glendale, Arizona.

"Leaders must keep learning and talk about what they're learning," said Phil Carpenter of Urban Autocare, adding that it shows your team your commitment to growth. In his session, Carpenter guided attendees through a journey of understanding the multifaceted dynamics of being a leader and offered examples and reading material to help anchor in his points. He added that leaders across the shop don't all have to have the same personality type, just be aligned in mission, purpose, and outcome. #RWMC2025i

"Are you a business owner or a high-paid employee?" That's the question Hunt Demarest, CPA/ABV put before shop owners at the start of his session this morning. Demarest added that it's about finding the right levers to pull and making the right decisions to get the results you want. Financials should do two things, he said—"show past performance and show us what levers we need to pull to achieve our goals" #RWMC2025

Begin scheduling your bay flow the night before to lay out your car count, labor hours, diagnostics, oil changes, and inspections to maximize your shop floor. Thank you, Jake Conwell, of Schmidt Auto Care for leading a discussion on how to train and lead a loyal team.

“When we have structure in an onboarding system, it builds confidence,” says Samantha Higdon of ShiftPoint Training. Onboarding should be repeatable and trackable to ensure consistency. Providing team members with procedure handbooks offers a point of reference in handling issues. Think of it as a tool to help streamline communication and create an excellent customer experience. After all, isn’t that your job as a shop owner … to provide the right tools for the job? Thank you, Samantha, for a fantastic message at the Ratchet+Wrench Management Conference.

Cowboy up! 🤠 Our 2025 Ratchet+Wrench Management Conference "Best Dressed" winner is Alex Noll of ABR Houston! #yeehaw

What is there to know about hiring and recruiting well? Use the power formula. Don’t disconnect or it will bring about catastrophe, says Jimmy Alauria, CEO of 3A Autumotive & Diesel Repair. This doesn’t mean you can never take a vacation as a shop owner. It just means you need someone to stand in to ensure continuity in your processes. Thanks for a powerful message, Jimmy.

Walk through your processes to see where you need improvement. If you don’t have good flow in your shop, find out why by walking through your process. “Visual aesthetic matters so much,” she stresses. Learning how to go from average to excellent this afternoon with Lola Schmidt of Schmidt Auto Care. Always an inspiration. #RWMC