Episodes

  • The Business Tips for Technicians to Stop Wrenching and Start Leading with Tyler Anderson

    The Business Tips for Technicians to Stop Wrenching and Start Leading with Tyler Anderson
    Jan 14 2026
    In this episode of Beyond the Bay Podcast, host Peter Cooper talks with Tyler Anderson, Founder and owner of Elite Truck & Auto Repair in Greenville, Ohio. Tyler shares his journey from opening his shop at just 19 years old to becoming the 2022 U.S. Auto Tech National Champion. The discussion looks into Tyler’s evolution from technician to business owner, the growing pains of leadership, and the mindset shift required to run a successful and scalable auto repair business. He opens up about the importance of hiring the right team, building a positive shop culture, and creating an environment that attracts top talent through clean facilities, air conditioning, and employee support programs like tool and clothing allowances. The conversation also touches on personal challenges, such as maintaining a healthy work-life balance and learning to delegate effectively, offering a transparent look into the realities of entrepreneurship in the automotive industry.Key Takeaways:- From Wrenching to Leading: Tyler’s biggest shift was moving from technician to business owner letting go of micromanaging and trusting his team to grow.- Hire the Person, Not Just the Skill: He emphasizes hiring for attitude and culture fit over technical ability, noting that some of his best advisors started with no industry experience.- Delegation Drives Growth: By delegating tasks like payroll, customer calls, and service operations, Tyler was able to work on the business, not in it, and avoid burnout.- Facility & Culture Matter: Clean, organized, air-conditioned shops with proper allowances aren't perks; they're essentials for attracting and retaining top talent.- Work-Life Balance Matters: Tyler highlights the personal cost of entrepreneurship and the importance of protecting faith, family, and healthEpisode Highlights and Timestamps:[00:00] - Teaser[01:03] - Tyler Anderson, US Auto Tech Champion, on Elite Truck and Auto[01:34] - US Auto Tech National Championship Competition 2022[02:41] - Overview of Elite Truck and Auto Operation[03:35] - Challenges of Starting a Business at 19[04:30] - From Technician to Business Owner[08:48] - Building Trust and Confidence in Staff[14:27] - Hiring Right and Building Team Culture[26:23] - Work-Life Balance and Entrepreneurial Struggles[32:07] - Overcoming Business Challenges and Growing Leadership[38:52] - Delegation and Time Management TipsFollow Guest Tyler Anderson:👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-anderson-3a3999179/ 👉 Guest Company Website: https://www.elitetruckandauto.net/ 👉 Guest Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elitetar Follow Host Peter Cooper:👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-ascend-consulting-468367133/👉 Website: https://ascendconsulting.help/👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570030967745👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascendconsulting.help/👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopconsulting👉 X: https://x.com/PeterCooper9084 Listen to Beyond the Bay:👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1IH2SSXjGRDqzP3p0Ie5C3👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bay/id1834168994
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    41 mins
  • The Diesel Technicians Become CEOs to Build Scalable Shops and Lead Teams with Adam Smith

    The Diesel Technicians Become CEOs to Build Scalable Shops and Lead Teams with Adam Smith
    Dec 31 2025
    In this episode of Beyond the Bay Podcast, Peter Cooper sits down with Adam Smith, Co Owner of Premier Service Center, Inc., to discuss his remarkable journey of growing a truck repair business from the ground up. Adam started his shop in 2010 as a one-man operation, and through hard work and dedication, it has grown into a thriving business with 30 employees and a purpose-built facility. In this candid conversation, Adam shares the lessons he's learned along the way, from overcoming the challenges of managing people and procedures to navigating the complexities of scaling a business. They explore the importance of creating a strong shop culture, attracting and retaining top talent, and understanding the financial side of growth. If you’re a shop owner or looking to scale your business, Adam’s insights will inspire you to take your operation to the next level.Key Takeaways:- Rising Costs: Adam's biggest challenge is managing increasing HR and benefit costs, which makes it tough to compete with larger operations. - Transitioning Roles: Moving from technician to business owner required Adam to focus on creating processes and managing people effectively.- Culture Over Skill: A great attitude often outweighs technical skill, and building a positive, employee-focused culture is key to success. - Small Efficiencies Matter: Tracking hidden costs, like cleaning time or truck intake, has significantly improved productivity and profitability.- Financial Clarity: Solid financial practices and a good accounting team have been crucial for Adam’s business growth and stability.Episode Highlights and Timestamps:[00:00] - Teaser[01:08] - Intro to Adam Smith on Growing a Truck Service Business[03:31] - From Technician to Business Owner[07:34] - Billing for Efficiencies and Hidden Costs[12:28] - Overcoming HR Challenges in Growth[14:30] - Delegating Payroll for Business Growth[19:33] - Leveraging Vendor Terms for Financial Growth[23:54] - Managing Payment Terms and Reducing Risk[29:15] - Raising Rates and Charging for Diagnostics[33:37] - Charging for Shop Supplies to Boost Profits[38:09] - Ensuring Profitability Through Fair Rates[42:42] - Networking and Joining the Chamber of CommerceFollow Guest Adam Smith:👉 Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-smith-786bb877 Follow Host Peter Cooper:👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-ascend-consulting-468367133/👉 Website: https://ascendconsulting.help/👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570030967745👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascendconsulting.help/👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopconsulting👉 X: https://x.com/PeterCooper9084 Listen to Beyond the Bay:👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1IH2SSXjGRDqzP3p0Ie5C3👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bay/id1834168994
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    44 mins
  • Extending Lifecycles, Reducing Risk v1

    Extending Lifecycles, Reducing Risk v1
    Dec 29 2025

    Join us for an insightful webinar, "Extending Lifecycles, Reducing Risk," where industry experts delve into the challenges and strategies of managing fleet operations amidst a prolonged freight recession.

    Discover how extending truck and trailer replacement cycles impacts repair costs and risk profiles, and learn from seasoned professionals like Brian Antonellis, Peter Cooper, and Adam Wolk as they share their experiences and data-driven insights.

    Sponsored by FullBay, this session is a must-watch for fleet managers looking to optimize their operations and make informed decisions.
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    56 mins
  • The Hiring and Healthcare Challenges for Auto Shops to Build Real Value with Nate Taylor

    The Hiring and Healthcare Challenges for Auto Shops to Build Real Value with Nate Taylor
    Dec 17 2025
    In this episode, Peter Cooper sits down with Nate Taylor, the owner of New England Fleet Services, celebrating its ten-year anniversary. Nate shares his journey in running a successful commercial truck repair operation, which includes both mobile capabilities and a 6,000 square foot shop in Connecticut. The conversation digs deep into the primary challenges facing the industry today, particularly the high costs of employee benefits, the shifting dynamics of the hiring process, and the non-negotiable role of relationships and reputation in long-term success. They also explore the factors that create value in a business - like mobile service capacity and real estate ownership - especially in the context of industry consolidation by private equity.Key Takeaways:The Number One Challenge is HR Costs: For Nate's shop, the biggest struggle is the rising cost of healthcare and other HR-related expenses, which makes competing with larger companies and dealerships difficult.The Hiring Shift: The job market has changed; employers must now actively court candidates and pay top dollar, often spending thousands of dollars on the hiring process.Culture Over Skill: A key lesson learned is that an "BTech with an awesome attitude" is better than an A-Tech with a terrible attitude, underscoring the importance of a healthy, employee-centric shop culture.Relationships are King: In an age of technology and AI, reputation and relationships with customers, vendors, and even "competition" (seen as resources) are the most important assets that cannot be replaced.Long-Term View & Honesty: Choosing to run an honest shop with a long-term view builds a powerful reputation, often involving "short-term pain for long-term gain" when rectifying mistakes with customers.Episode Highlights and Timestamps:[00:00:00] - Introduction, Nate Taylor's 10-year anniversary, and the question of where he sees himself in five years.[00:01:39] - Nate's journey from the automotive world to commercial truck repair and the shop's mobile and 6000 sq ft facility capabilities.[00:06:59] - The number one challenge facing the industry: HR-related costs, specifically healthcare, and the difficulty in competing with large companies.[00:11:16] - The dramatic change in the hiring process: employers must now sell themselves to the employee.[00:15:40] - The enduring importance of reputation and relationships with customers, vendors, and even competitors as resources.[00:21:07] - Nate's five-year plan: focusing on real estate ownership and increasing mobile service capability to grow the business's value.[00:23:23] - Discussion on industry consolidation, what private equity looks for (profitability and mobile repair), and the value of owning the real estate.[00:27:06] - The value of having a brick-and-mortar shop to establish legitimacy, especially for mobile services.[00:29:41] - The importance of upfront honesty and integrity as a core value in the repair trade, exemplified by the "three B's" of running a shop.[00:39:26] - A "B-Tech with an awesome attitude" is better than an A-Tech with a terrible one, and the danger of managing from a place of fear.Follow Guest Nate Taylor:👉 Website: https://nefleetservices.com/Follow Host Peter Cooper:👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cooper-ascend-consulting-468367133/👉 Website: https://ascendconsulting.help/👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570030967745👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascendconsulting.help/👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopconsultingListen to Beyond the Bay:👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1IH2SSXjGRDqzP3p0Ie5C3👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bay/id1834168994
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    44 mins
  • Shop Owner Roundtable Liberty Fleet Solutions

    Shop Owner Roundtable Liberty Fleet Solutions
    Nov 2 2025

    This episode focuses on implementing a pay structure that incentivizes technicians to improve their performance and engagement in their work. By providing a base rate of pay and additional bonuses for billed hours, the company aims to motivate employees to work more efficiently and take ownership of their tasks.
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    55 mins
  • Season 1 Episode 5: Myles Truck Repair Scaling a Family Business Overcoming Growth Challenges

    Season 1 Episode 5: Myles Truck Repair Scaling a Family Business Overcoming Growth Challenges
    Oct 19 2025

    In this episode of Beyond the Bay, Peter Cooper speaks with Myles, Danny, and Vincent about their journey in the trucking industry, the challenges of growing a family business, and the importance of implementing effective management strategies. They discuss the significance of accountability, building a strong company culture, and the impact of coaching on their business. The conversation also covers financial management, labor optimization, and parts management to enhance profitability.
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    28 mins
  • Season 1 Episode 4: Driving Change in Automotive HR with Mandy Deveau

    Season 1 Episode 4: Driving Change in Automotive HR with Mandy Deveau
    Oct 5 2025

    In Episode 4 of Beyond the Bay, Peter Cooper sits down with Mandy Deveau of DriveHRIS to dive deep into the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the automotive industry today.

    From technician retention and hiring practices to employee engagement and company culture, Mandy shares actionable insights that every dealership and repair shop leader needs to hear.

    Key takeaways include:

    • Why technician turnover is a growing issue — and how to fix it.

    • The role of Net Promoter Score in gauging employee satisfaction.

    • How onboarding and culture shape long-term retention.

    • Why HR is more than paperwork — it’s the heartbeat of your organization.

    If you’re a shop owner, manager, or HR leader in the automotive space, this episode is packed with strategies to create a thriving workplace.

    👉 Tune in now and take the first step toward building a stronger, more engaged team.
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    55 mins
  • Season 1, Episode 3: Reviving Trust & Leadership in the Automotive Industry

    Season 1, Episode 3: Reviving Trust & Leadership in the Automotive Industry
    Sep 21 2025

    In this episode of Beyond the Bay Podcast, Peter Cooper and Joshua Taylor dive deep into the challenges and opportunities facing the automotive industry today. From technician mental health to the trust deficit between leaders and teams, this conversation sheds light on what truly drives employee motivation and workplace culture.

    Joshua emphasizes that listening—not just talking—is the most powerful leadership tool. Together, they explore how accountability, communication, and empathy can transform management, inspire employees, and improve customer experiences. The episode also touches on the importance of mentorship, the dangers of toxic employees, and why soft skills will define the future of leadership.

    Whether you’re a business owner, team leader, or technician, this episode offers valuable takeaways on building trust, balancing professional and personal life, and leading with humanity in a rapidly changing industry.
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    1 hr and 7 mins