Auto Service Leader

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An independent event, created by an independent small business, to serve independent small businesses.That line has beco...
06/03/2026

An independent event, created by an independent small business, to serve independent small businesses.

That line has become the heartbeat of the Auto Service Leader Conference.

Every event answers to someone.

A parent company.

A product.

A sales goal.

A specific way of thinking.

We answer to one group: The independent shop leaders in the room.

That’s why there’s no trade show floor.

That’s why speakers were chosen for substance, not sponsorship.

That’s why the agenda is built around implementation.

That’s why this event feels different.

We’re not trying to build the biggest event in the industry.

We’re trying to build the most useful one.

September 17–19. Dallas.

One-on-Ones Aren’t OptionalMost shops treat one-on-ones like this: Something you do when there’s a problem.That’s backwa...
06/03/2026

One-on-Ones Aren’t Optional

Most shops treat one-on-ones like this:

Something you do when there’s a problem.

That’s backwards. They’re not reactive. They’re preventative.

Like maintenance.

Jacob Radomski treats them like regular check-ins and real conversations. No scripts

Just:

• What’s going well?
• What’s frustrating you?
• What’s changed?
• What do you need?

That’s how you catch problems early.

Before they become culture issues.

06/03/2026

A lot of technology in this industry gets built around features.

More buttons.

More dashboards.

More things customers have to figure out themselves.

Adam Miller made an important distinction: The goal shouldn’t just be adding functionality.

It should be creating experiences that help customers make smarter decisions.

That’s a completely different mindset.

Because most customers don’t want:
-More complexity
-More data
-More confusion

They want clarity. Confidence. Guidance.

A process that helps them understand what to do next.

The best technology doesn’t overwhelm people with information.

It removes friction and helps good decisions happen naturally.

That’s where real customer experience comes from.

| Bolt On Technology

06/03/2026

Nothing can replace genuine human interaction—and Bill Nalu says to never underestimate the value you and your team provide.

Today’s Tip: Own the Outcome—Good or BadWhen Adam Preusser looks at his business—even the near-disaster of his second lo...
06/03/2026

Today’s Tip: Own the Outcome—Good or Bad

When Adam Preusser looks at his business—even the near-disaster of his second location—he doesn’t blame the lease, the road construction, or bad luck.

“Every decision you’ve made got you exactly where you are.”

That mindset is what allowed him to:

-Learn from costly mistakes
-Tighten future leases and site selection
-Build a stronger, more disciplined operation

The takeaway: progress starts with ownership.

If you want a different result, you have to make different decisions.

Read about how Adam and his business partner overcame early expansion issues to turn Motor Works into a Minnesota powerhouse in Issue 23 (available as a digital edition).

4 Bays. $3.4 Million.After the fire, James Scotto went from 12 bays to 4 bays.Most shops would shrink. He didn’t. They d...
06/02/2026

4 Bays. $3.4 Million.

After the fire, James Scotto went from 12 bays to 4 bays.

Most shops would shrink. He didn’t. They did $3.4M while rebuilding.

Same market. Less space. Less capacity.

So how? Not magic.

Alignment.

“Everybody was on the same page.”

That’s it. Same direction. Same standards. Same expectations.

Here’s the takeaway: Your building doesn’t determine your ceiling. Your culture does.

Most owners try to scale space. The best operators scale alignment first.

Read James's full story in Issue 25.

06/02/2026

One of the biggest hidden risks in a shop?

Building the entire business around one person.

The one who knows everything. Handles every fire. Fixes every problem. Keeps the place moving.

Lisa Coyle pointed out the danger in that: If one person becomes the solution to everything, the business becomes vulnerable.

Because what happens if they leave? Burn out? Get sick? Decide they’re done?

That vulnerability eventually affects everyone:

- The team
- The customers
- The business itself

Strong operators constantly ask a different question: “How do we make the business less dependent on any one person?”

That’s where systems come in. Cross-training. Documentation. Leadership development.

Because a healthy business shouldn’t rely on heroics to survive.

| Promotive

06/02/2026

Empower with boundaries: Stay in your lane or risk hitting a tree! 🌳🚧

Clarity increases when distractions decrease. What you eliminate often matters more than what you add.
06/02/2026

Clarity increases when distractions decrease.

What you eliminate often matters more than what you add.

You Can’t Scale What Isn’t DefinedA lot of owners say they want a second location.But if we’re being honest, they don’t ...
06/01/2026

You Can’t Scale What Isn’t Defined

A lot of owners say they want a second location.

But if we’re being honest, they don’t even have one location fully defined.

Ask them: What happens every single time a car comes in?

You’ll get different answers depending on the day.

That’s the problem.

“You can’t scale something you haven’t clearly defined.”

Before Thomas Andrews expanded, he locked this in:

• Inspection process
• Recommendation process
• Follow-up process
• Quality control

Every time. No debate. That’s what actually scales. Not your building. Not your brand. Your standards.

If you don’t have this nailed down, comment DEFINE, and we'll send you Thomas's guide to defining your standards before you scale.

Address

6524 WALKER Street, STE 215
Saint Louis Park, MN
55426

Website

https://theaslconference.com/

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