You don’t need me to tell you about the struggles and challenges we’ve faced with the COVID-19 pandemic; its front and center and apparent to everyone. But...
From the CEO
2020 is a year that most of us will never forget. It reminds me of the opening paragraph from Charles Dickens’ classic historical novel, A Tale of Two...
I’m writing this from my office at ATRA, a complex that was once bustling with activity. I say, once bustling because to comply with the order imposed by...
Over the past couple of years, we’ve looked into ways to get new people into the industry. There are technical services, organizations, and automotive...
Each January we set out to make some new goals or reflect on the previous year or just think about a few changes and improvements we’d like to work toward...
So much of what we do is by habit. Each morning we jump into our car and head to work. We don’t think about turning onto Main Street then going three blocks...
It’s around this time that I begin to create and assemble my presentation for POWERTRAIN EXPO. Considering that I’ve done over 30 of these, I know what to...
I recently gave a management presentation in Vancouver, Canada. I’ve presented a few of these so far this year and it’s something I really enjoy; mostly...
Over the years I’ve looked at a lot of ways to establish meaningful goals, quit bad habits and just live better. My book shelves are bursting with volumes...
You might know Steve Bodofsky as the editor of GEARS Magazine but for me he was a dear friend. I met Steve in 1988 while working at AAMCO Inc. in Philadelphia...
Back when you opened your business, one of your first considerations was probably, “How am I going to get customers in the door?” It’s a reasonable thing...
Last year, ATRA conducted a survey of both consumers and shop owners across the USA and Canada. For the industry survey, we were looking for the differences...
The transmission industry, like so many other things, is constantly changing. And that change breeds differing opinions on how to operate a shop. If you put a...
Every year, hundreds of shop owners and technicians make their way to ATRA’s Powertrain Expo: the largest collection of transmission specialists to get...
For the past few years, I’ve heard from many of you about the lack of qualified technicians. For some, this isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s become a...
Over the past forty years, I’ve seen a lot of changes to our industry. In many cases, those changes left people saying, “What’s happening to this...
Every few years Rodger Bland and I set out to learn more about this industry through a series of surveys and focus groups. Since the first What’s Working...
Much of our waking moments are spent with exchanging ideas with others. And much of that is trying to convince people of the merits of our thinking. That is...
Finding people who can rebuild transmissions has been difficult for a number of years. But this is something you may not be aware of until your rebuilder quits...
You’re at a friend or relative’s house for dinner. After about an hour of chit chat, dinner’s served. You’re starved, but then a sinking feeling comes...
