Beyond The Bay

Are your shop’s systems working for you—or are you working overtime to make up for the gaps?In this episode, Peter Cooper sits down with Filip Jovicic of TAG Repair Center to explore how mentorship, cultural adjustments, and clear systems can transform the way truck repair shops operate. From the power of canned jobs and checklists to leadership strategies, employee incentives, and proven sales techniques, Filip shares hard-earned lessons on how to create efficiency without sacrificing culture.They discuss why systems save time, how structure empowers techs, and why consistency drives growth. Packed with practical takeaways, this episode is designed to help shop owners streamline operations, motivate employees, and build a business that thrives on clarity and control.

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.

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.

Are fear and gut feelings running your business—or are facts and strategy leading the way?In this episode, Peter Cooper and Mark Hagen reveal their journeys through the automotive industry, sharing how mastering the numbers, building genuine customer relationships, and embracing failures can transform a shop from surviving to thriving.They explore why inspections matter, how to create a culture people love to work in, and why fear should never dictate your decisions. Mark also shares powerful lessons from his own path to building successful businesses—offering actionable insights to help you grow with confidence, not hesitation.

Get ready for real conversations, fresh insights, and practical strategies to help you run and grow your shop with confidence. From tackling everyday challenges to scaling with data-driven decisions, this podcast brings you stories and solutions straight from the people who’ve been there. Here’s a snippet of what’s ahead: Handling tough customers, making the shift from intuition to data, managing growth without losing quality, and Real-world tips from experienced shop owners. This is more than a podcast—it’s your go-to resource for building a stronger, smarter business.

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.

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

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.

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.

our shop isn't just a place to fix trucks—it's a place to build people. This chapter explores the competitive advantage small shops have: the human touch. Go beyond checklists and schedules to learn how to truly connect with your employees, understand their unique strengths, and cultivate a culture of trust. Find out why leading people is the most powerful way to build a productive and engaged team, and how to know when it's time to let someone go for the greater good of your business.