Technician recruiting is broken, and Sheila Pogue has seen it from both sides.In this episode of The Wrench Turners Podcast, Sheila shares how she went from a parts counter rookie to leading teams across service, warranty, marketing, and now talent acquisition in RV, Marine, Power Sports, and Automotive.She’s placed techs, she’s hired techs, she’s BEEN the tech’s backup when things went sideways. Now, she’s sounding the alarm: if your dealership can’t recruit techs, it’s not a shortage, it’s a systems problem.In this episode:✅ Why most techs don’t even have a resume✅ What top technicians actually want (and what they don’t)✅ How LinkedIn is “word of mouth on wide open throttle” for hiring✅ What shops should be doing right now✅ Why RV, Marine might just be the next big hiring poolWhether you're a GM, Fixed Ops Director, or recruiter trying to fill your bays, or a tech thinking about your next move, this episode will change the way you think about hiring and getting hired.📌 Like, comment, and subscribe to support smarter recruiting and better technician careers.🔧 Follow Sheila Pogue on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilapogue713/🔔 Subscribe to the Wrench Turners Podcast for more in-depth conversations with industry innovators.#morethancarsSubscribe for episodes on:Service advisor trainingTechnician productivityRepair order accuracyDealership leadership and cultureFixed Ops coaching and managementAutomotive Content CreationEvent Media and PublicationEvent FilmographyListen to The Wrench Turners PodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45ebInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/FixedOPS Marketing — Service marketing tools for dealershipshttps://www.fixedopsmarketing.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@fixedopsmarketinghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/fixed-ops-marketing

Mindy Williams is the definition of a powerhouse. A five-time Subaru Stars winner, Sparkplug Award champion, and the top service advisor at CMA’s Myers team, Mindy knows what it takes to rise from part-time receptionist to full-blown service manager.

In this episode of the Wrench Turners Podcast, Mindy shares her journey into automotive, what it means to lead a team while raising two kids, and the exact customer service mindset that’s built her a loyal customer base.

She talks real talk about selling with heart, parenting while managing a busy shop, and how care—not—commission, is what keeps customers coming back.

🔧 What You’ll Learn:

– Why selling the appointment matters more than selling the repair

– How to build unforgettable customer experiences

– What every manager should learn from CliftonStrengths

– How parenting teaches you to be a better leader and vice versa

– Why trust and laughter are the real metrics of success

💬 Mindy also drops this 🔥 question for the next guest:

"How do you handle negative feedback?"

🔔 Subscribe to the Wrench Turners Podcast for more in-depth conversations with industry innovators.

#morethancars

If this helped, comment with your next video idea or tag someone who needs to press record. Better yet, go make something. I would love to see it.

Subscribe for episodes on:

Service advisor training

Technician productivity

Repair order accuracy

Dealership leadership and culture

Fixed Ops coaching and management

Automotive Content Creation

Event Media and Publication

Event Filmography

Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

FixedOPS Marketing — Service marketing tools for dealerships

https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com

https://www.youtube.com/@fixedopsmarketing

https://www.linkedin.com/company/fixed-ops-marketing

ASOTU - More than Cars - Where Innovative Ideas In Auto Are Born

https://www.asotu.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@asotu/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu

Toma - "We care about our customers."

https://www.toma.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomavoice/

Chapters

00:00 Intro to Mindy Williams

01:39 Falling into automotive by accident

03:47 What appointment setting teaches you

05:46 Handling objections like a pro

07:39 Why Mindy loves selling

10:00 Relationship-based selling

12:30 Using a calendar to build loyalty

14:34 Customer care beyond the bay

17:33 What parenting taught her about leadership

19:30 What makes CMA different

21:50 How to make your team feel appreciated

23:13 How to find joy in your job

25:41 Advice to technicians: speak up

27:46 Mindy’s take on work-life balance

On this episode of the Wrench Turners Podcast, I sit down with Canadian technician David Rodrigues. For nearly 20 years, David has been mastering his craft on Hondas and Acuras. This is not just a career recap. It’s a deep dive into legacy, leadership, and the reality of working flat-rate.

David shares how he started through co-op, landed a rare apprenticeship, and became the go-to diagnostic tech. But then he left. Why? Leadership that didn’t fight for his time. And when he returned, everything changed.

In this episode, we cover:

🙋‍♂️ Why being the best technician in the shop can feel like a curse

🙋‍♂️ How he diagnosed a TLX that only failed in the rain

🙋‍♂️What real support from a service manager looks like

🙋‍♂️How a good shop foreman can make or break a dealership

🙋‍♂️Why boring jobs make the best money

This is for the tech who wants more. More respect. More growth. More meaning in the work. Don't miss this conversation if you’re leading techs or trying to become one worth following.

Chapters:

0:00 The technician’s legacy

3:00 Hot Wheels to Hondas

10:00 Earned Apprenticeship

17:00 Dealership promised everything, delivered nothing

26:00 Diagnosing the impossible TLX

33:00 Shop foremen make or break it

42:00 The boring jobs pay the best

45:00 Best advice for every tech

49:00 Work-life balance isn’t one-size-fits-all

If you're a fixed ops director, service manager, Technician, BDC trainer, SaaS Founder, Service Advisor, or automotive professional looking to understand the future of dealership operations, this discussion offers valuable insights.

🔔 Subscribe to the Wrench Turners Podcast for more in-depth conversations with industry innovators.

#morethancars

If this helped, comment with your next video idea or tag someone who needs to press record. Better yet, go make something. I would love to see it.

Subscribe for episodes on:

Service advisor training

Technician productivity

Repair order accuracy

Dealership leadership and culture

Fixed Ops coaching and management

Automotive Content Creation

Event Media and Publication

Event Filmography

Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

Sponsored by The Bearded Brotherhood

Premium beard care products built for technicians.

Use code WRENCH15 at checkout: https://thebeardedbrotherhood.co

https://www.youtube.com/@TheBeardedBrotherhood

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bearded-brotherhood

Powered by:

FixedOPS Marketing — Service marketing tools for dealerships

https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com

https://www.youtube.com/@fixedopsmarketing

https://www.linkedin.com/company/fixed-ops-marketing

The Lion Partnership — Consulting for service department performance

https://www.lionpartnership.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-lion-partnership

DCS - Digital Communication Solutions — Digital Sales and Service Tags

https://www.dicoso.us

https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-communication-solutions/

ASOTU - More than Cars - Where Innovative Ideas In Auto Are Born

https://www.asotu.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@asotu/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu

Toma - "We care about our customers."

https://www.toma.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomavoice/

This isn’t another how-to-fix-a-car video.

This is how to fix yourself in the trade before the trade breaks you.

In this Wrench Turner's Podcast compilation, five technicians and leaders drop hard-earned wisdom, not about tools, not about pay plans, but about mindset, ownership, growth, and survival in the bay.

💬 "No one’s coming to save you."

That’s the wake-up call running through every clip in this episode.

You’ll hear real stories and raw advice from:

Technicians who've fought burnout

Leaders who've turned mistakes into mentorship

Wrench turners who chose growth over gossip

If you’ve ever felt stuck, pissed off, or like you’re the only one who cares, this one’s for you.

j.

Subscribe for weekly episodes on:

Service advisor training

Technician productivity

Repair order accuracy

Dealership leadership and culture

Fixed Ops coaching and management

Automotive Content Creation

Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast

Spotify: https://wrenchturnerspodcast.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

Sponsored by The Bearded Brotherhood

Premium beard care products built for technicians.

Use code WRENCH15 at checkout: https://thebeardedbrotherhood.co

Powered by:

FixedOPS Marketing — Service marketing tools for dealerships

https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com

The Lion Partnership — Consulting for service department performance

https://www.lionpartnership.com

DCS - Digital Communication Solutions — Tools for service and BDC teams

https://www.dicoso.us

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

03:16 Dealing with Bad Days (Derek Scherer)

06:30 Understand Before You Diagnose (Daniel Lee)

09:14 Take Ownership of Your Training (Clinton Cruz)

11:48 Positivity is a Survival Tool (Brooklynne Morse)

13:22 Invest in Your Growth (Jeremy Stephens)

16:46 Final Message

From Parts Ninja to Shop Coach and Service Director of Multiple stores | Robert Migliaccio | Wrench Turners Podcast

Today’s guest didn’t just work his way up; he built his way up. Robert Migliaccio started as a teenage car detailer, dropped out of high school, and never looked back. With decades in the trenches of fixed ops, Robert’s story is the kind you don’t hear often, and the kind you don’t forget.

He’s run parts counters like a silent assassin, coached technicians with empathy and clarity, and now oversees multi-store service operations across states. And he does it all while mentoring new techs, giving back to local schools, and living what it means to be a leader in the service lane.

💥 Topics we cover:

👉 How Robert found opportunity after dropping out of high school

👉 What it really takes to run a winning parts department

👉 The question every tech should ask during an interview

👉 Why the best leaders treat their stall like a franchise

👉 How to bring entrepreneurship into a dealership

👉 The myth of the “dead-end” parts job

👉 Leading a shop while raising a family on one income

👉 What basketball taught him about leadership and peace

If you’re in fixed ops, this is one of the most well-rounded voices you’ll hear. And if you’ve ever felt stuck in your role, this episode might be the spark you need to keep going.

📌 Don’t forget to:

👍 Like

💬 Comment with your biggest takeaway

🔔 Subscribe for more real, raw conversations from the world of automotive

👍 Work with me:

Want to be on the show, be a sponsor of any show that I host or produce? Do you need a content creator for your business or automotive event filmography? Reach out: joshua@justworkhard.com

🎙️ Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast

🌍 More episodes and resources:

https://wrenchturnerspodcast.com

https://wrenchturners.online

📸 Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

💼 Connect with Joshua Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

🧔‍♂️ Sponsored by The Bearded Brotherhood

Premium beard oils, balms, and waxes made for the blue-collar man.

Use code WRENCH15 at https://thebeardedbrotherhood.co for 15% off.

💻 Powered by:

FixedOPS Marketing — Service Department Marketing https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com

The Lion Partnership — Strategic Dealership Consulting https://www.lionpartnership.com

DCS - Digital Communication Solutions for Dealerships

https://www.dicoso.us

Connect Convert Close - Sales and BDC Workshop

May 22, 2025

https://www.connectconvertclose.us

Writing accurate, detailed repair orders isn't just paperwork—it's how shops get paid, protect themselves from chargebacks, and deliver exceptional customer service.

In this episode of The Wrench Turners Podcast, host Joshua Taylor is joined by Alec Ruffini, a Navy vet turned Fixed Ops leader, and Clemente Dominguez, a fast-rising shop foreman. Together, they break down why most service departments struggle with RO documentation and how to fix it, starting today.

Whether you're a technician frustrated by bad write-ups or a service advisor getting frustrated with poor "stories" from the shop floor, this episode shows you how to bridge the gap.

In this episode, we cover:

👉 Why a clear customer concern, cause, and correction (3C) matters

👉 How bad RO stories cause warranty claim denials and chargebacks

👉 Why do missing details like location, duplication steps, and verification notes ruin the work

👉 The technician's side of the story and how to fix the "I hate typing" problem

👉 Tools and processes to improve RO writing without slowing down the shop

👉 Real-world examples of bad and better ROs

👉 How to drive better communication between advisors and techs

👉 Voice-to-text workflows to streamline documentation

👉 What a 1% improvement in RO stories means to your bottom line

If you manage, write, or work on repair orders, this is your blueprint for better documentation, fewer comebacks, and higher approvals.

Subscribe for weekly episodes on:

Service advisor training

Technician productivity

Repair order accuracy

Dealership leadership and culture

Fixed Ops coaching and management

Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast

Spotify: https://wrenchturnerspodcast.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

Sponsored by The Bearded Brotherhood

Premium beard care products built for technicians.

Use code WRENCH15 at checkout: https://thebeardedbrotherhood.co

Powered by:

FixedOPS Marketing — Service marketing tools for dealerships

https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com

The Lion Partnership — Consulting for service department performance

https://www.lionpartnership.com

DCS - Digital Communication Solutions — Tools for service and BDC teams

https://www.dicoso.us

Chapters:

00:00 Why repair order writing matters

01:07 RO example: “Customer is here for the recall”

03:33 RO example: “Vehicle is making a whooping noise”

13:07 RO example: "Rough idle and no check engine light"

16:48 What’s missing from most repair orders

17:41 Enforcing better RO habits

23:49 Voice-to-text tips for faster, better documentation

From Navy Veteran to Coaching Service Teams | Alec Ruffini & Clemente Dominguez | Wrench Turners Podcast

Today’s guests didn’t stumble into leadership; they forged their way there. Alec Ruffini, a Navy veteran turned automotive coach, and Clemente Dominguez, a rising shop foreman, join host Joshua Taylor to talk about what it really takes to run a high-performing dealership service department.

From ethical sales and technician development to team dynamics and trust-building, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom. Alec shares lessons from decades of turning around underperforming shops, while Clemente offers a fresh perspective from someone who went from independent repair to managing a 25-person dealership team.

💥 Topics we cover:

👉 Alec’s unexpected career path

👉 Why integrity matters

👉 What Clemente learned

👉 How to build technician trust

👉 What it actually means to be a steward

👉 Communication shapes team performance

👉 The one mindset every technician needs

👉 Managing stress

If you're in Fixed Ops, an aspiring leader, or a technician wondering how to level up, this is your playbook. This is how leaders get built.

📌 Don’t forget to:

👍 Like

💬 Comment with your biggest takeaway

🔔 Subscribe for more real, raw conversations from the world of automotive

🎙️ Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast

🌍 More episodes and resources: https://wrenchturnerspodcast.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

💼 Connect with Joshua Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

🧔‍♂️ Sponsored by The Bearded Brotherhood

Premium beard oils, balms, and waxes are made for the blue-collar man.

Use code WRENCH15 at https://thebeardedbrotherhood.co for 15% off.

💻 Powered by:

FixedOPS Marketing — Revolutionizing dealership service marketing. https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com

The Lion Partnership — Strategic Dealership Consulting https://www.lionpartnership.com

DCS - Digital Communication Solutions

https://www.dicoso.us

Chapters:

00:00 Leadership that changes Fixed Ops

01:55 Navy to service director

03:45 Clemente’s path

07:26 The big transition: smol vs large

10:10 Coaching culture: “More or better”

12:04 Alec’s leadership test

17:03 Mentorship wins

21:29 How great leaders build trust

27:13 Clemente’s “shop equality”

32:30 Advice for techs

35:46 How Alec and Clemente manage anxiety

The Hard Truth Every Mechanic Needs to Hear in 2025

Feeling stuck in the shop? This video will change how you think about your career.

Auto technician pay is flat. Tariffs are rising. Leadership feels clueless. And you are still expected to fix cars, deal with customers, hit your hours, and somehow stay sane.

In this unfiltered message from the cold seat of his motorcycle, Joshua Taylor breaks down exactly what every automotive technician, service advisor, and tradesperson needs to hear right now.

You will learn:

✅ Why your mindset is the most valuable tool in your toolbox

✅ How to start earning what you are actually worth

✅ What to do when management ignores your value

✅ Why training apprentices is still your responsibility

Whether you are a new tech, a shop foreman, or a veteran mechanic, this video is your call to stop blaming the economy, stop waiting on permission, and start leveling up.

WATCH THIS IF YOU:

Are not making enough money as a mechanic

Feel stuck in your technician career

Want to learn how to communicate better in the shop

Need real talk about pay, training, and leadership

Believe in personal responsibility and growth

Mechanics are the backbone of society. You fix what breaks. But you cannot fix your paycheck, your stress, or your future by complaining. You fix it by getting better. Starting today.

👀 Want to improve but not sure where to start? Drop a comment. I will reply.

💬 Like what you heard? Share this with your team or someone who needs to hear it.

Subscribe for regular episodes on:

Shop Floor Mental Health

Service advisor training

Technician productivity

Repair order accuracy

Dealership leadership and culture

Fixed Ops coaching and management

Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast

Spotify: https://wrenchturnerspodcast.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

Sponsored by The Bearded Brotherhood

Premium beard care products built for technicians.

Use code WRENCH15 at checkout: https://thebeardedbrotherhood.co

Powered by:

FixedOPS Marketing — Service marketing tools for dealerships

https://www.fixedopsmarketing.com

The Lion Partnership — Consulting for Dealerships and Independants, Automotive, Powersports, Motorcycle, Marine, and more. Sales and Service department performance improvements.

https://www.lionpartnership.com

DCS - Digital Communication Solutions — Tools for service and BDC teams

https://www.dicoso.us