Automotive News Canada - June 2022 - F20

FIXED OPS JOURNAL
ONLINE: Learn how some auto industry
veterans found their way into podcasting
at autonews.com/fi xedopspodcasts.
PARTS, STREAMED
I
M.L. ELRICK
foj@autonews.com
t is tempting to say the COVID-19 pandemic
gave rise to an epidemic of fi xed
ops podcasts, but that wouldn't be quite
right.
While there has been a surge in the
number of podcasts about the service, parts
and collision aspects of a dealership since the
pandemic hit in early 2020, the word " epidemic "
has a negative connotation. And these
shows are all about solving problems.
" At fi rst, it was a way that I could talk to people
that I wanted to talk to, " says Dave Foy,
host of " Th e Fixed Ops Mastermind " podcast.
Foy's show was one of the fi rst fi xed ops
podcasts, and it is one of the few that existed
before the pandemic. Foy, a consultant who
got his start as a technician in 1987, says his
goal is to " leave the industry better than I
found it. "
Corey Smith says National Auto Care's
" Fixed Ops 5 " podcast, which he hosts, is " designed
to help and reach a broad audience on
how the service team and sales team can work
together. "
Smith is a former radio DJ who became a
service adviser and, eventually, service manager
before joining National Auto Care. Th e
podcast allows Smith to bring all his talents
together in one place. He believes his show is
not part of a trend but rather part of a wave
that will not recede anytime soon.
" Th e industry is saying, 'We need to focus on
fi xed ops,' " Smith says, adding that a key objective
is to help sales and service employees
work together better.
" I think these podcasts will really shine a light
on where we'll be able to develop a more cohesive
team and have equal training, " he says.
'Have to pivot'
Ted Ings, host of " Fixed Ops Roundtable, "
invites industry leaders on his podcast to
share ideas and best practices. He also had Jay
Leno - who is almost as well known for his
love of cars as he is for his comedy - on his
show.
Th ere were no podcasts in 1981, when Ings
got his fi rst job as a salesperson at a Ford dealership
in Clifton, N.J. Th ere was no Internet
either, for that matter.
" We're in the automotive business, " he says.
PAGE 20 JUNE 2022
Catch the wave
Here is a sampling of some fi xed ops-focused podcasts and shows. All can be found
on Apple, Amazon, Audible or Spotify. " Service Drive Live " is a Sunday morning Zoom
conference; message the hosts on LinkedIn for a link to the show. " 60- Second SALT "
can be found on YouTube and the SALT Automotive LinkedIn page.
 " The Fixed Ops Mastermind "
Host: Dave Foy
 " Fixed Ops 5 "
Host: Corey Smith
 " Fixed Ops Roundtable "
Host: Ted Ings
 " Service Drive Live "
Hosts: Joe Chambers and Erick Jauregui
 " The Parts Girl Podcast "
Host: Kaylee Felio
 " What the Fixed Ops?! (WTF?!) "
Hosts: Russell Hill and Charity Dunning
 " Service Drive Revolution "
Host: Chris Collins
 " Beyond the Wrench "
Host: Jay Goninen
 " 60- Second SALT "
Host: Russ Mann
Kaylee Felio, host of " The Parts Girl
Podcast, " made her debut May 5.
Dave Foy, who hosts " The Fixed
Ops Mastermind " podcast, says
his goal is to " leave the industry
better than I found it. "
Experts shine a light on fi xed ops industry in growing wave of podcasts
http://www.autonews.com/fixedopspodcasts
Automotive News Canada - June 2022

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