Michael Chung is the Director of Market Intelligence at the Auto Care Association. Michael has worked in molecular biology research, environmental consulting, marketing and communications, and market research. He writes about industry trends and key factors influencing the health of the automotive aftermarket to help businesses throughout the supply chain make better decisions. In this episode… So much has happened in the auto industry in the last year and a half. How can you make sense of all t...
Dec 01, 2021•19 min•Ep. 19
Marc Pons is the President of Chapel Hill Tire, a multi-location tire dealer based in North Carolina. Thanks to Marc’s leadership, Chapel Hill Tire has become one of the nation’s premier tire shops by focusing on its customers, staff, and core values. Chapel Hill Tire was founded in 1953 by Sion Jennings and was purchased in 1964 by Marc’s father, Al Pons. Marc worked in the tire shop as a teenager but began his professional career as a Sales Assistant for Chase Manhattan Foreign Exchange in New...
Nov 24, 2021•22 min•Ep. 18
Jody DeVere is the Founder and CEO of AskPatty.com, a training program for automotive retailers on attracting, selling, retaining, and marketing to women. AskPatty.com has been featured by The New York Times , Forbes , The Wall Street Journal , CNN, O, The Oprah Magazine , and Woman’s Day . Jody is also a Professional Speaker for the National Automobile Dealers Association, the COO of Women’s Automotive Association International, and a Founding Member of the Board of Directors of the Women in Au...
Nov 17, 2021•32 min•Ep. 17
Jeffry Gardner is the Vice President of Marketing for Sun Auto Tire & Service. Jeffry came to GB Auto Service Inc., which is now rebranded to Sun Auto Tire & Service, with the first acquisition of BRAKEmax in late 2017. Since then, he has taken responsibility for the marketing of the entire company and all acquisitions. Before Sun Auto, Jeffry was the Director of Marketing for BRAKEmax and a Store Manager for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Outside of work, Jeffry loves cycling and c...
Oct 20, 2021•19 min•Ep. 16
Jenn Mello is the Project Manager at Tire Outlet, a 13 store chain in Jacksonville, Florida. Jenn handles social media, email marketing, website design, strategic management, brand management, promotions, market research, and public relations. Jenn started at Tire Outlet as a Marketing Manager in 2017 and expanded her role as the company grew. Previously, she was a Training Advisor at New Horizons Computer Learning Center and an Advertising Intern at Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center. In this ep...
Oct 13, 2021•18 min•Ep. 15
Fernando Miranda is the Vice President of Transformers Institute. Transformers Institute brings together automotive shop owners to leverage each person’s knowledge and experience to improve the industry. Fernando brings a wealth of automotive expertise to the Transformers organization through his 24 years of management experience. Previously, he was the Vice President of Professional Sales at Advance Auto Parts and the District Manager for O’Reilly Auto Parts. Fernando was also the Regional Vice...
Oct 06, 2021•21 min•Ep. 14
Dennis McCarron is a Partner at Cardinal Brokers. Cardinal Brokers offers full brokering services with a focus on the tire, service, and automotive-related industries. Their partners have over 40 years of combined experience working in the tire and automotive service industry at nearly every level of the business. Dennis is widely known for his teaching on finance, sales, and leadership, as well as his contributions to Modern Tire Dealer magazine. Previously, Dennis was the Executive Director fo...
Sep 29, 2021•26 min•Ep. 13
George Fandos is the Managing Partner of The James Agency, a business consultancy that helps startups and established B2B businesses innovate and bring new ideas to life. They offer strategies, plans, and hands-on assistance for operations, pricing, financial modeling, and more. George has over 30 years of experience as a customer-facing executive and strategic consultant. He brings a unique combination of strategy and practical execution to every situation. In addition to his work at The James ...
Sep 22, 2021•22 min•Ep. 12
Mike Allen is the CEO of Carfix, a growing group of auto repair shops in North Carolina. A third-generation tire dealer, Mike grew up working in his father’s auto repair shop and has since grown his own shop into a three-location business. Carfix has been named one of the 10 ‘Top Shops in America’ by Motor Age Magazine twice. Mike is an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certified Service Consultant and is also the Director of the Independent Garage Owners Association of North Carolina. Before ...
Sep 15, 2021•20 min•Ep. 11
Jeff Tucker is the CEO of Triple T Tire and Tapps. Jeff grew his family’s tire business from a single location specializing in tires to three full-service auto repair and tire shops. Jeff also developed the Tapps App to help retailers implement payment plans for their customers. Using data, analytics, and customization, the Tapps App helps to improve consumer engagement which allows businesses to flourish. In addition to his roles at Triple T Tire and Tapps, Jeff is also a Business Development C...
Sep 08, 2021•26 min•Ep. 10
Jarid Lundeen is the President of Tires Plus of North Dakota. After earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management, Jarid started his career in the hospitality industry. Now, he’s been in the tire industry for over 20 years and currently operates a total of four tire locations and two stores. Outside of the tire world, Jarid enjoys spending time with his family of six children and coaching youth football. In this episode… Are you curious about trying a new career path but ...
Sep 01, 2021•28 min•Ep. 9
Matt Peters is the Business Development Manager at Tireweb Marketing, a full-service agency that creates retailer and e-commerce websites, as well as software, for the tire and automotive industry. Matt has been in the tire and marketing industries since 1999 and uses his expertise to craft websites that succeed. Before joining Tireweb Marketing, Matt was the Business Development Manager at Icon Internet Media, Inc. and the Division Director at E-Solution Professionals. In this episode… Websites...
Aug 18, 2021•17 min•Ep. 8
Tommy Gaynor is the President and CEO of Gaynor’s Automotive, a full-service auto repair facility located in Vancouver, Washington. The business started with his parents, and now there are five locations across the state. He has over 25 years of experience in the automotive industry and has a proven track record of being a multi-business entrepreneur, problem solver, and leader. When Tommy is not spending time with his family, he can be found drag racing. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: T...
Aug 11, 2021•22 min•Ep. 7
In this episode of the Gain Traction Podcast, Mike Edge talks with President and CEO of Rad Air Complete Car Care, Andy Fiffick, about all aspects of the auto care industry from a management level. They discuss how to ensure customer satisfaction, the benefits of franchising, tips for marketing your auto care company, and much more. For the last 35 years, Andy Fiffick has been the President and CEO of Rad Air Complete Car Care, an auto shop that provides quality auto repairs and was rated number...
Aug 04, 2021•30 min•Ep. 6
In this episode of the Gain Traction Podcast , Mike Edge talks with Vice President of Marketing and Franchise Development at Rad Air Complete Car Care, Bill Snow, about franchising in the auto care industry. They discuss tips on crafting an impactful customer experience, the trade secrets behind franchising, building your network in the industry, and much more. Buckle up and stay tuned! For many years, Rad Air has provided quality auto repairs for customers and was rated number one in Ohio for c...
Jul 19, 2021•23 min•Ep. 5
Dan Molloy is the President and CEO of Molloy Sales Development Group, a company that teaches and implements successful strategies to achieve growth and gain more sales from the top down. Dan started Molloy Sales in 2001 when he was a Partner and Owner of ProCare Automotive, and realized sales were at the core of every successful business. Dan has been in the sales and automotive industries since the start of his career, spanning more than four decades. In this episode… On this episode of the Ga...
Jul 19, 2021•17 min•Ep. 4
Neal Maier and David Christopher are Co-founders of Tread Partners, a digital marketing agency focused on using SEO, marketing, and branding to help tire companies and auto-repair shops grow and thrive. Neal was previously a Partner at 3VE and COO of TexTivia, which rebranded into 3VE. He has worked for multiple automotive companies such as Autoshop Solutions and Auto Pro To Call. David was previously also a Partner at 3VE and was the Founder of TexTivia, which rebranded into 3VE. He has over 20...
Jul 19, 2021•26 min•Ep. 3
Neal Maier and David Christopher are Co-founders of Tread Partners, a digital marketing agency focused on using SEO, marketing, and branding to help tire companies and auto-repair shops grow and thrive. Neal was previously a Partner at 3VE and COO of TexTivia, which rebranded into 3VE. He has worked for multiple automotive companies such as Autoshop Solutions and Auto Pro To Call. David was previously also a Partner at 3VE and was the Founder of TexTivia, which rebranded into 3VE. He has over 20...
Jul 19, 2021•26 min•Ep. 2
Neal Maier and David Christopher are Co-founders of Tread Partners, a digital marketing agency focused on marketing, strategy, and branding for tire dealers and auto-repair shops to help them grow and thrive in an ever-changing landscape. Neal was previously a Partner at 3VE, which rebranded into Tread Partners in 2021. In addition to having owned and operated repair shops, he’s helped to market and grow shops all across the country. David was also previously a Partner at 3VE and was the Founder...
Jun 17, 2021•29 min•Ep. 1
