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PODCAST

Maximum Octane

Maximum Octane is the high-performance podcast for automotive shop owners ready to accelerate their leadership, culture, and profitability. Hosted by industry veterans Kim Hickey and Jason Patel from Automotive Training Institute (ATI), each episode takes you under the hood of the nation"s most successful auto repair shops to uncover the tools, tactics, and mindset shifts fueling next-level results.This season, Maximum Octane brings raw, real conversations from ATI SuperConference 2025 in

business self-improvement

All Episodes

36:21

Rebuilding from the Inside Out: How Chris Darmody...

Maximum Octane ·

2025/10/28

When leadership breaks down, processes fall apart fast. But rebuilding doesn’t start with systems. It starts with people.In this episode of Maximum Octane, Kim Hickey and Jason Patel sit down with Chris Darmody, General Manager at Graham Auto Repair, to explore what it takes to turn around a struggling organization. When Chris joined the shop, leadership gaps, inconsistent processes, and fading accountability had left the team adrift. Instead of walking away, he leaned into the fire.Drawing on 22

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36:31

Analysis Paralysis Is Costing You Customers! Doug...

Maximum Octane ·

2025/10/14

Many shop owners know they need marketing, but too often they get stuck thinking about it instead of doing it. Between SEO, social media, websites, and ads, it’s easy to fall into analysis paralysis; spending so much time comparing options that no real progress happens.In this episode of Maximum Octane, Kim Hickey and Jason Patel sit down with Doug Robison, Director of Sales and Partnerships at Optimize Digital Marketing, to cut through the noise and get practical about marketing. Doug explains that

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27:20

Fixing the Unseen: The Tools Every Shop Owner Needs...

Maximum Octane ·

2025/09/30

Trigger Warning: This episode contains open and personal discussion about suicide, grief, and mental health.In the automotive industry, we never hesitate to buy the latest equipment or the right tool for the job. But when it comes to our own mental health, too many of us resist using the tools available to help us heal. Therapy, medication, or calling someone for a chat aren’t weaknesses. They are tools, just like the ones we use every day in the shop.In this powerful and deeply personal episode of

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33:00

The Struggle Years That Shape Entrepreneurs: Josh...

Maximum Octane ·

2025/09/16

What does it really take to build a business from scratch when you don’t have a roadmap? For Josh Oberlander, the answer has been equal parts grit, trial and error, and the discipline to keep sharpening himself along the way.In this episode of Maximum Octane, Kim Hickey and Jason Patel talk with Josh Oberlander, co-founder and CRO of Detect Auto, about the unconventional path that shaped him as an entrepreneur. At 24, Josh launched a tree service business with $500 and a rope. That led to a foray

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37:25

Stop Wasting Your DVIs: How to Increase ARO, Build...

Maximum Octane ·

2025/09/02

What if you could transform every first-time customer into a loyal fan who tells everyone they know about your shop? According to Bruce Nation, owner of Westlake Independent Automotive in Southern California, the key lies in doing digital vehicle inspections (DVIs) right.In this episode of Maximum Octane, Kim Hickey and Jason Patel sit down with Bruce Nation to uncover the overlooked power of DVIs. Bruce shares how a thorough, well-communicated inspection doesn’t just build trust, it creates fans

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38:03

The Delegation Wake-Up Call: How Connor Tracy Went...

Maximum Octane ·

2025/08/19

What would it take for you to finally let go of the death grip on your business? For Connor Tracy, it took two flaming cars, a smashed customer vehicle, and missing his son’s homecoming photos.In this episode of Maximum Octane, Kim Hickey and Jason Patel sit down with Connor Tracy, Kikui’s Director of Partner Development, for a candid conversation about the art and necessity of delegation. Connor shares his hard-earned lessons from years of doing everything himself, the breaking point that forced

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35:48

The Succession Shift: How Planning Now Saves Your...

Maximum Octane ·

2025/08/05

What happens when your shop's future depends on more than just hustle?In this episode of Maximum Octane, Kim Hickey and Jason Patel sit down with ATI President Ron Greenman for a masterclass on succession planning, leadership evolution, and building a sustainable future for your business.Ron shares real-life examples from his own unexpected path to leadership and how ATI’s growth exposed the cracks in traditional succession models. From the overlooked pitfalls of leadership transitions to the

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38:44

Building, Battling, and Letting Go: The Journey to a...

Maximum Octane ·

2025/07/22

What if everything you built over decades hinged on just a few key decisions and a whole lot of grit?In this episode of Maximum Octane, hosts Jason Patel and George Zeeks sit down with Gilda Dyckman to hear the incredible journey she and her husband Mike experienced while building and eventually selling a multi-million dollar auto repair business. From taking over a humble muffler shop and growing it into a full-scale operation, to overcoming legal battles, raising twins with special needs, and

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34:14

Your Exit Plan Isn’t a Back-Burner Task: What If Your...

Maximum Octane ·

2025/07/08

What would happen if you or one of your company’s key leaders suddenly couldn’t come back?In this episode of Maximum Octane, hosts Kim Hickey and Jason Patel sit down with Tony Mercury, Vice President of Operations at Auto Shop Solutions, to talk about the moment his company had to face the unthinkable. When their CEO was suddenly out due to a serious illness, the team had to respond quickly and confront the gaps in their leadership transition strategy.Tony shares the real story of what that moment

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42:47

Your Brand Is Costing You Talent: Use This 2.5-Year...

Maximum Octane ·

2025/06/24

Is your shop's logo doing all the heavy lifting? Spoiler alert: it's not even close.In this episode of Maximum Octane, branding expert and Director of Business Development at Silver Lake Auto, Krista Oldenburg, teams up with Jason Patel to deliver a masterclass on brand strategy, AI-powered marketing, and the real reason customers (and employees) choose your shop over the competition.You'll learn how to clarify your mission, stop wasting time on outdated social media posts, and turn ChatGPT into

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43:19

Cutting the Surcharge Cord: Customer-First Payments...

Maximum Octane ·

2025/06/10

How about saving your auto repair shop thousands of dollars a month and offering your customers a faster, smoother checkout experience? And the best part: without touching your rates?In this episode, Kim Hickey and Jason Patel sit down with Dr. Mark Hale, a payments innovator and former QuickBooks CTO, to discuss one of the most overlooked leaks in auto repair shops' profitability: credit card surcharges.Dr. Hale introduces Express by FacePay, a modern, secure, and customer-friendly alternative to

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32:28

From Wrenching to Leading. The Power of...

Maximum Octane ·

2025/05/27

Have you ever looked around your shop and wondered, "Am I really running this place, or just surviving in it?" Many shop owners start as top techs, but once the bays are theirs, the leadership grind hits differently.In this episode, co-hosts Jason Patel and Mike Bennett sit down with Clinton Jones, owner of Accomplished Auto, who opens up about the messy, expensive lessons he learned transitioning from technician to shop leader. Clinton shares how a hands-off approach, hiring the wrong manager,

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33:49

How to Stop Tool Hunts, Boost Accountability, and Run...

Maximum Octane ·

2025/05/13

One of your technicians needs a tool and doesn't know where it is. So he goes and asks another, who doesn’t know either, so they go and ask a third tech, who, by the way, also doesn’t know where that tool is. Now you have a group of people roaming around your auto shop, and you're losing money. All this hassle could’ve been avoided with one word: organization.In this episode, Reiny Salmen joins us to talk about one of the most overlooked topics in the automotive industry: organization. Reiny is the

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46:51

How To Turn Tech Training Into Your Auto Shop's...

Maximum Octane ·

2025/04/29

Is it possible to turn constant training into part of your auto shop's culture?In this episode, we explore how to make technicians' development a core part of any auto repair shop culture with Angie and Ken Rocha from Rocha's Automotive. From incentivizing techs to stay engaged with rapidly evolving technology to viewing training as an investment rather than a cost, Angie and Ken have found that ongoing learning is key to delivering top-notch customer service.Throughout this episode, you'll learn

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34:54

Throwback To Ep# 91 | How To Maximize Your Auto...

Maximum Octane ·

2024/10/01

Honest question: What does your auto shop's social media look like? Is it there because "you have to have it," or does it reflect who you are and what your business is all about?This week, we revisit my conversation with Corey Perlman about the dos and don'ts of social media for auto repair shop owners, and why you should view socials as an excellent tool for growth and not a burden. Corey is a Keynote Speaker and Executive Consultant on Social Media and Digital Marketing, the Best-selling Author of

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27:33

Throwback to Ep# 30 | Breaking Things Down Into...

Maximum Octane ·

2024/09/17

Do you have a notebook filled with valuable information you wrote during a seminar or training that was never opened again? If yes, today's episode is a must-listen for you.This week, we revisit our conversation with the extraordinary Wendy Hawks, General Manager of Riverside Auto Center. After attending an ATI Conference, Wendy decided the notes, the valuable information, and the brilliant ideas born at the conference wouldn't sit in a notebook, covered by dust on a shelf. Instead, she came up with

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35:48

Little-known Benefits of Specializing in the...

Maximum Octane ·

2024/09/03

Is specializing the inevitable path for auto repair shops?This week, we discuss specialization within the automotive industry with Chris Fraser, Co-owner of TLS Motorwork. For years now, Chris and his partners at TLS Motorwork have been working exclusively on Japanese and hybrid cars and, most recently, EVs. Chris is a seasoned automotive professional with over two decades of experience dedicated to pushing the boundaries in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle sector.Throughout this episode,

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28:32

A Quantum Leap to Mental Wellness. Lessons from Eric...

Maximum Octane ·

2024/08/20

Mental health issues lead people to believe they are alone in their suffering, and that is, perhaps, one of its trickiest traits.In this episode, we hear about Eric Gibson's victory over the mental health issues that held him hostage inside a dark cloud for years. Eric is the CEO of 5th Gear Automotive, located just outside Denver, Colorado. Despite making good money as an equipment mechanic in California, Eric wasn't happy. His dream of opening his own shop went quickly from a gentle whisper in his

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37:06

Make it Sticky. How To Turn Your Auto Shop into...

Maximum Octane ·

2024/08/06

The lack of affordable housing, the younger generation's tendency to adopt dogs instead of having children, and other challenges of the modern world are slowly changing employees' expectations. From the environment in the workspace to their relationship with management, what used to make an auto shop "sticky" for internal customers has evolved. Younger generations now seek workplaces that serve as their "third place," providing a sense of community and belonging beyond just a job.In this episode,

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35:32

Total Gain. How To Take Your Collision Shop To the...

Maximum Octane ·

2024/07/23

Are you aware of the power of coaching and strategic planning to help you elevate your collision shop to the next level?In this episode, we learn from Jeff Zalis' innovative views on how to take collision shops to the leading edge. Jeff is the Owner of "Specialized Auto Craft, Collision Specialists" and a tireless entrepreneur constantly looking to improve his auto shop through transparency with the customer, polishing processes and procedures, and putting the latest technological advances to the

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128 results

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