What does it really take to scale a collision repair business without losing your culture, or your people?

In this episode of BodyShop Leaders, Daniel Burkholder sits down with Jordan Beshears, Vice President of Steve’s Auto Body, to unpack the real journey from working on the shop floor to helping lead a growing, multi-location operation.

Jordan shares how hands-on experience shaped his leadership philosophy, why technicians are the soul of the business, and how Steve’s Auto Body used lean thinking and process—not chaos—to fuel sustainable growth. From navigating family-business dynamics to building replicable systems, managing change, and becoming a Tesla-approved collision center, this conversation goes deep into what modern leadership really looks like in collision repair.

If you’re a shop owner or leader thinking about growth, struggling with culture, or trying to lead better from the front—not the office—this episode is packed with insights you can apply immediately.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
•Why leading from the shop floor creates stronger teams and better results
•How lean processes helped Steve’s Auto Body scale with intention
•What most shop owners get wrong about growth and complacency
•How to support technicians while improving production and profitability
•What it truly means to be a BodyShop Leader

The BodyShop Leaders Podcast is powered by BodyShop Marketing, the agency helping collision industry leaders grow smarter and lead stronger.

What does it really take to build a collision repair business that lasts—not just financially, but culturally?

In this powerful episode of BodyShop Leaders, host Daniel Burkholder sits down with Dave Dunn, founder of Dave’s Auto Body in Galesburg, Illinois, and co-founder of the Master’s School of Autobody Management—one of the most influential educators in the collision repair industry.

Dave shares his journey from a high school dropout and struggling 19-year-old shop owner to building one of the most respected body shops in the country, retiring from day-to-day operations by age 29, and helping thousands of shop owners lead better businesses.

This conversation goes far beyond tactics. Dave breaks down the core principles that allowed his shop to thrive for nearly five decades—including:

• Why culture starts with something as simple as a clean floor
• How to build a team that works for more than just money
• The power of quarterly employee reviews (and why avoiding pay conversations is a mistake)
• How to step out of the shop without losing control (yes—he literally rolled his toolbox out)
• What “Principles over Policies” really means through his Liquid Amalgam philosophy
• How palm trees, gator sauce, and a “purple cow” mindset helped his shop dominate local mindshare
• Why hiring for character over skill is non-negotiable in today’s technician shortage

If you’re a shop owner who wants to stop being the bottleneck, build a team you’re proud of, and create a business that can thrive without burning you out—this episode is required listening.

🔗 Guest Contact

Dave Dunn
📧 dave@masters-school.com

The BodyShop Leaders Podcast is powered by BodyShop Marketing, the agency helping collision industry leaders grow smarter and lead stronger.

What makes a great collision repair leader? For Chris Ray, owner of One Twenty-Two Collision and one of Georgia’s fastest growing MSOs, the answer comes down to one simple idea: people fix cars, not numbers.

In this inspiring conversation, Chris shares the moment he realized he was helping build someone else’s dream and why that pushed him to create a shop where pride, craftsmanship, and culture truly matter. After two decades in the consolidator world, he learned firsthand that KPIs and cycle times can easily overshadow the humans doing the work. That lesson shaped the foundation for one of the most intentional growth stories in the collision repair industry.

We talk about how he built mission, vision, and values that guide real decisions instead of sitting on a wall. We dig into how he scaled from one location to eight in only three years while protecting the culture that made the first shop successful. Chris explains how to stay centered when the whirlwind of growth is trying to pull you in every direction.

You will also hear:

• Why perfection slows growth and how Chris opened his first shops before everything was “ready”
• How to hire for character instead of relying on resumes
• How to choose certifications that actually serve your market
• The biggest leadership shift required to move from one shop to many
• Why the collision industry is still full of opportunity for owners who want to grow the right way
• The advice Chris wishes he had known ten years ago
• The one decision that completely changed the direction of his business

This episode is full of powerful lessons for shop owners who want to scale with purpose, lead with confidence, and build a brand that stands the test of time.

If Chris’s story motivates you, make sure to hit Subscribe so you never miss an episode of The BodyShop Leaders Podcast.

The BodyShop Leaders Podcast is powered by BodyShop Marketing, the agency helping collision industry leaders grow smarter and lead stronger.