131 - Struggling to Hire? Imagine Recruiting in the Last Frontier with Mike Simard
April 28, 2025 - 00:32:39

 

Show Summary:

Recorded at the Institute Summit, Mike Simard dives into the challenges of recruiting and developing talent, especially in a unique setting like Alaska. He shares his innovative strategy of acquiring lube centers as entry points for new team members and highlights the critical role of strong company culture and leadership. Mike also emphasizes the importance of building the right team, balancing the visionary and integrator roles, and the need to continuously adapt in the ever-evolving automotive industry.

 

Host(s):

Carm Capriotto, Remarkable Results Radio

 

Guest(s):

Mike Simard, owner of Simard Automotive

 

Show Highlights:

Mike Simard's Background (00:00:00 )

Acquisition of Lube Centers (00:02:10 )

Energy and Problem-Solving (00:02:43 )

Vision for Training Talent (00:03:41 )

Geographic Logistics (00:05:12 )

Talent Development and Apprenticeship (00:05:41 )

Industry Comparison (00:06:32 )

Recruitment Challenges (00:09:04 )

Relocation and Recruitment Process (00:12:31 )

Motivation for Policy Writing (00:16:03 )

Understanding Unique Selling Points (00:18:05 )

Building a Strong Team (00:19:20 )

Learning from Coaches (00:21:52 )

Delegating Responsibilities (00:22:30 )

Building Company Culture (00:25:47 )

Understanding the 'Why' (00:27:09 )

Finding the Right People (00:28:34 )

Balancing Inner Voices (00:30:04 )

Breaking Barriers in the Industry (00:30:35 )

In every business journey, there are defining moments or challenges that build resilience and milestones that fuel growth. We’d love to hear about yours! What lessons, breakthroughs, or pivotal experiences have shaped your path in the automotive industry?
Share your story with us at info@wearetheinstitute.com, and you might be featured in an upcoming episode.

 

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Episode Transcript Disclaimer

This transcript was generated using artificial intelligence and may contain errors. If you notice any inaccuracies, please contact us at marketing@wearetheinstitute.com.

 

Episode Transcript:

Carm Capriotto: This is the Aftermarket Radio Network everybody. Carm Capriotto Remarkable Results Radio in Amelia Island. We're here at the Institute Summit. We are the institute.com. Thank you so much to Kent and Cecil and the entire team from the institute to be here just a few hours ago. Michael, were you in the room when I gave my little speech?

Mike Simard: I was not. 

Carm Capriotto: You weren't? I was not. Okay. Well, they'll do it right now for you.

Mike Simard: Let's hear it. 

Carm Capriotto: No. It's a little longer than this podcast will warrant. Yeah, and it was great doing that and a lot of great friends, top tier shop owners that are here, and glad you're here with me. So we appreciate everything from the institute and how they're growing and how they have these incredible groups.

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Carm Capriotto: We'll prove to you that TRACKS is the single best shop management system in the business. Find NAPA tracks on the web at N APA TRA cs.com. Also, thanks to aftermarket management network.com for information that can help you move your business ahead. And for the free and informative labor rate tracker.com.

Carm Capriotto: With me is Mike Simard. You were on a couple of years ago at the same event. That's right. Wow. Two, three. 

Mike Simard: That you even pronounced my name right? Still. So, 

Carm Capriotto: all right, throw the dollar over. I've been practicing it seven locations, but there's a couple of really unique things about Michael that you all need to know while you're driving down the highway on your treadmill.

Carm Capriotto: Listening to this, because you're here to listen, to learn. Just one thing from Michael Smart. It's got seven locations, but they're in Fairbanks, Alaska, Fairbanks, and Anchorage. And Anchorage. Now you see I got an incredible update. Last time I knew you, you 

Mike Simard: had four I. So I met you in Florida and at that time I had four locations, comprehensive models in Fairbanks, and then we a few months later had bought three lu and tire stores and a tire warehouse and two are in Anchorage.

Mike Simard: So we're now in the Anchorage market as 

Carm Capriotto: well is the tire warehouses just like they do in Canada where they store the tires for people or you distributor of tires too 

Mike Simard: distributor. So, ah, we have more buying power through this point S group that we join a tire buying group co-op, and we need to house the tires.

Mike Simard: Got it. 

Carm Capriotto: So. Amazing. Where the hell do you find the energy to do this? 

Mike Simard: Well, my wife says if I wasn't doing something, I'd break things just to. Just to stay going, so I like to 

Carm Capriotto: You're the Energizer bunny. 

Mike Simard: Yeah. I like to solve problems. I like to do different things. Oh God. I like to. Oh, I so love that. 

Carm Capriotto: Yeah.

Mike Simard: You know, I sleep good at night most of the time. Do you invent problems so you can fix 'em? That's what I said. Yeah. She said if you didn't go find something broken to fix I know. Or build something new. I'm so much like that. Yeah. I really, 

Carm Capriotto: does it still continue to work? Okay. Which 

Mike Simard: parts 

Carm Capriotto: I know Think about it and 

Mike Simard: can it do it better?

Mike Simard: You know? Can we get a better mousetrap? Teresa says, dad, it's fine. 

Carm Capriotto: Well, yeah, it's fine, dad, because I've always been this perpetual upgrader, you know, 2.0, 2.1 2 3, 3 0.0. I've always been, you never stay stagnant, right? 

Mike Simard: Well, our purpose, our vision is always try to elevate others the highest potential, so you better live that yourself.

Carm Capriotto: Michael, it seems crazy for you to go and buy some lube centers 

Mike Simard: and did you have a purpose to do that was the deal, right? The biggest thing, you know, I discovered a lot of new things, so I love learning and it's a new challenge and one of the things we need to do is continue to find great talent and grow our own by buying.

Mike Simard: I always had this vision many years ago, didn't quite understand what it meant, but the vision was like over on that side of town we'd have this teaching training shop. A place that maybe we can find talent, find people that want to come into this industry and train them up. People need to come in for a convenience oil change.

Mike Simard: They need to get some basic services and then get on their way. It's a wonderful place to teach people a better industry and kinda get them started, you know, and make sure they have their basic hygiene, make sure they really want to go down that road, and when we find out that they're a value fit, that there's somebody that wants to learn.

Mike Simard: That somebody we can maybe take all the way into our four year apprenticeship program. And so I had that vision and that just happens to be that one of the stores I bought in Fairbanks was in that same side of town and never thought that'd be the place, this one particular location. 'cause I was like, that's something I can't do.

Mike Simard: I. Had a limiting mindset there for a while. Yeah, sure. And then all of a sudden we did it and then we grew in the Anchorage market. 'cause they're really thirsty for, we believe what we have. And now we actually have promoted, hopefully next month will be the third apprentice. Out of that same location I.

Carm Capriotto: Apprentice out there into, 

Mike Simard: so that's into our general service shops. Into your, okay. And then we can grow them to a level master tech. 

Carm Capriotto: I just logistically need to understand how far away is Fairbanks and Anchorage? 

Mike Simard: Six hours unless, 

Carm Capriotto: oh, okay. You're