Ratchet+Wrench Radio

Every shop owner wants a healthy, profitable business. But does that always mean adding more employees, opening more locations and chasing higher gross profit? Kendall Warnock, owner of A1 Automotive, with three locations in Lincoln and Seward, Nebraska, joins Christine Schaffran to explore the harder question: When is enough actually enough? They’ll discuss the risk-reward equation behind growth, the personal motivations that can drive owners to keep pushing and how to determine whether the next step is truly worth taking.

The automotive service industry continues to face questions about technician recruitment, workforce development, and the skills shops will need in the years ahead. Jay Goninen’s move from WrenchWay to ASE brings a new perspective to those challenges. In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, Goninen discusses his transition, ASE Connects, a Department of Labor grant, and how ASE is preparing for its 55th anniversary and the future of automotive service.

SEMA is big enough to be overwhelming—especially if you're trying to squeeze everything into four days. So, what should independent shop owners actually see and do? Tom Gattuso, vice president of events for SEMA, joins us to break down the show floor, education, technology, networking, and the experiences shop owners won't want to miss.

R-1234yf is already in the service bays, but is your shop ready to make the most of the opportunity? Natalie Dixon of Chemours explores what shops need to know about R-1234yf service, the potential to retrofit eligible R-134a vehicles, and the importance of proper procedures and preventing refrigerant cross-contamination. Plus, learn what Chemours has planned for AAPEX, including a chance to win an R-1234yf recovery, recycle and recharge machine and Opteon™ YF refrigerant.

AAPEX can be overwhelming for any shop owner — thousands of exhibitors, hundreds of education sessions, new technology, networking opportunities and plenty to see on the show floor. So how can independent shop owners make the most of their time in Las Vegas? In this episode, we preview AAPEX 2026 with Mark Bogdansky and look at how owners can approach the show with a plan, find education and resources that address their business needs, and come home with ideas they can actually put to work.

Finding technicians is hard. Keeping them is even harder. This episode explores why the most successful shops are shifting their focus from recruiting alone to creating careers employees don't want to leave.

Every shop owner has wondered why a technician really left. Was it the pay? The culture? The workload? Or something they never heard about? After nearly three decades recruiting technicians, Joe Henry has heard the stories candidates don't tell their employers. He joins Ratchet+Wrench Radio to reveal the red flags that drive technicians away, what today's candidates actually want and how shops can become employers technicians recommend instead of leave.

Many shop owners set out to build a business but end up building themselves a job. Chris Knuth knows that trap firsthand. In The Owner's Manual, he shares the lessons he learned moving from technician to shop owner to entrepreneur and investor — and explains why the biggest obstacle to a shop running without its owner may be the owner himself. In this episode, Knuth breaks down the mindset shifts, systems and leadership practices that can help shop owners stop being the bottleneck and start building a business that can thrive without them.

Training shouldn't end when the class does. Ellie Pentland of Throttle Muscle shares how repair shop owners can build more effective training programs by setting clear goals, keeping employees focused and following up consistently.  

Your parking lot is full. Your sales look good. So why does it feel like your shop isn’t moving forward? Jim Saeli explains how owners can spot the difference between activity and real growth, identify the bottlenecks holding their shops back and build the systems, teams and habits needed to reach the next level.