Road to NAPA Auto Care Gold Certified: From Technician to Owner of 6 Locations [RR 946]

carmcapriotto · April 16

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Auto Care Brad Updegraff's transition from a general service technician to a visionary business owner of 6 NAPA Gold Certified locations is a story of dedication and strategic planning. Discover the milestones and the speed bumps he encountered along the way. Brad Updegraff, Dave's Ultimate Automotive, 6 locations, Austin, TX. Show Notes

Learn more about NAPA Auto Care Gold Certified and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care
Transition to the automotive field (00:01:55) Brad's transition from managing a pizza delivery company to becoming a general service technician in a small gas station repair shop.
Seizing the opportunity (00:05:06) The unexpected opportunity that led Brad to become a partner in 2012 and the risks and steps involved in his journey.
Building a successful partnership (00:06:15) The partnership with a former homebuilding executive and the successful merging of their expertise for store growth and development.
Learning the business side (00:07:25) Brad's learning curve in understanding the business side, seeking help, and investing in personal and business development.
Challenges in growth and expansion (00:10:52) The challenges in advertising, customer base, and geographical analysis that impacted the decision to halt further expansion.
Recruitment and training strategies (00:12:29) Brad's recruitment strategies, including internal referrals and partnerships with local vocational schools for technician training.
Promoting the industry to youth (00:14:32) The need for industry professionals to promote the technical nature of the automotive industry to young people and engage with vocational schools.
Advisory Board Representation (00:17:10) Importance of representation on advisory boards for independent dealers and community colleges.
Community Involvement and Giving Back (00:18:13) Support for charitable foundations, including Make-A-Wish and suicide prevention organizations.
NAPA Gold Certification (00:21:28) Benefits and significance of achieving NAPA Gold certification for automotive businesses.
Engagement in Training (00:23:18) Strategies for encouraging staff to participate in training and the value of owner involvement.
Perpetual Learning and Magic Makers (00:27:16) The importance of perpetual learning, the concept of "magic makers," and the impact on the organization.
Employee Retention and Team Building (00:29:55) Strategies for retaining employees, team building, and celebrating milestones within the organization.
Work-Life Balance and Store Visits (00:32:02) Balancing work and personal life, commitment to family, and the importance of store visits for management.
Intuition and Common Sense (00:33:14) The importance of intuition and common sense in business decisions and management.
Succession Planning (00:34:12) Discussing internal succession planning and opportunities for employees to grow within the company.
Industry Challenges and Opportunities (00:34:53) Cyclical nature of the industry, market correction, and fighting for market share.
Market Trends and Customer Conversion (00:36:12) Impact of market trends, potential for customer conversion, and the impact of economic factors.
Financing Repair (00:38:00) The increasing use of financing options for vehicle repairs and its impact on the industry.
Work-Life Balance and Reflection (00:38:54) The importance of work-life balance and reflecting on career choices and experiences.
Overcoming Struggles and Mistakes (00:40:49) The journey to success, overcoming struggles, and learning from mistakes.