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[Podcast] RR 425: Ray Fisher – Networking Just May Be Your Secret Weapon


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Ray Fisher is the Executive Director of ASA. Ray has ben on the job since January 2018. He has served the industry in varied roles, has been president and executive director of ASA-Michigan since 2010. In addition, he served as a body shop manager for more than 20 years, assistant parts manager, and an expert witness for a local law firm regarding collision repair and processes.

Fisher is an Accredited Master Automotive Manager (AMAM). He has extensive legislative experience, driving key issues for ASA-Michigan members on sales tax issues and shop licensing. His recognition and contributions to the organizations he served have resulted in numerous awards, including the ASA Affiliate of the Year Award in 2018, ASA Legislative Award in 2015 and 2016, as well as the I-CAR Founder’s Award.

We talked professionalism, the fear of the unknown and our aging workforce. Look for Ray’s other episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points:

  • Ray is excited about his new position/opportunity as Executive Director of ASA National
    • He is doing a road trip to meet many members in the local chapters (networking)
  • Professionalism is critically important for the growth of our independent aftermarket
  • Fear of the unknown is gripping our shop owners – business acumen and technology changing at rapid speed
    • Owners staying ahead of curve and seek opportunities- running a better business
    • Increased specialization
    • Where do service professionals get their ‘credible’ information to help their business
      • Networking is an important tactic
  • Finding time in your life to do all that is important up to and including networking
  • Networking is a broad term and means different things to people. It can be a powerful tool for a successful business person
  • Association- join to get involved
    • Value for the industry- listening to members and moving forward with concerned issues
    • Prioritize time for training and associations- investment into future
    • Benefits of networking
    • Country club golf analogy- country club provides an opportunity for golf but can’t be a better golfer if you don’t use the opportunity to play and practice
  • The aging workforce will have a huge impact on the industry.  

Resources:

  • Thanks to Ray Fisher for his contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
  • Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
  • Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.

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Learn more about NAPA AutoCare, Gold Certification, and the hundreds of other benefits the NAPA family has to offer by talking with your servicing NAPA store or visiting www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         5 comments
      I recently spoke with a friend of mine who owns a large general repair shop in the Midwest. His father founded the business in 1975. He was telling me that although he’s busy, he’s also very frustrated. When I probed him more about his frustrations, he said that it’s hard to find qualified technicians. My friend employs four technicians and is looking to hire two more. I then asked him, “How long does a technician last working for you.” He looked puzzled and replied, “I never really thought about that, but I can tell that except for one tech, most technicians don’t last working for me longer than a few years.”
      Judging from personal experience as a shop owner and from what I know about the auto repair industry, I can tell you that other than a few exceptions, the turnover rate for technicians in our industry is too high. This makes me think, do we have a technician shortage or a retention problem? Have we done the best we can over the decades to provide great pay plans, benefits packages, great work environments, and the right culture to ensure that the techs we have stay with us?
      Finding and hiring qualified automotive technicians is not a new phenomenon. This problem has been around for as long as I can remember. While we do need to attract people to our industry and provide the necessary training and mentorship, we also need to focus on retention. Having a revolving door and needing to hire techs every few years or so costs your company money. Big money! And that revolving door may be a sign of an even bigger issue: poor leadership, and poor employee management skills.
      Here’s one more thing to consider, for the most part, technicians don’t leave one job to start a new career, they leave one shop as a technician to become a technician at another shop. The reasons why they leave can be debated, but there is one fact that we cannot deny, people don’t quit the company they work for, they usually leave because of the boss or manager they work for.
      Put yourselves in the shoes of your employees. Do you have a workplace that communicates, “We appreciate you and want you to stay!”
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