Operating Partner, Fixed Operations Director, Coach - David Sparks

Join us as we explore the career journey of David Sparks, a leader whose path in the automotive industry started with detailing, rustproofing, and window tinting and evolved into a deep-rooted passion for technical excellence, leadership, and mentorship.

David’s story is one of continuous learning and adaptation. He transitioned from technician to service advisor, warranty administrator, dispatcher, and ultimately, service manager and fixed-ops director. His experience spans CDJR, Toyota, independent shops, and now Bar Automotive, where he coaches and trains service professionals nationwide.

In this episode, David explains what it takes to thrive in automotive leadership, from technician success to fixed-ops strategy.

He shares practical wisdom on:

👉 Proactive learning is essential: technicians must be responsible for their training and career growth.

👉 Respect and trust fuel operational excellence: leaders who personalize their communication get the best results.

👉 Conflict resolution is a leadership skill: handling technician and advisor challenges effectively builds a stronger team.

This conversation isn’t just about David’s professional journey; it’s a blueprint for automotive professionals looking to turn everyday workplace challenges into opportunities for growth and leadership.

For technicians, mechanics, service advisors, service managers, and fixed ops leaders aiming to increase their impact, develop leadership skills, and improve shop culture, this episode delivers insightful, actionable advice you won’t want to miss.

Let’s get into it.

PS: Always looking for guests and sponsors!

Reach out by email: joshua@justworkhard.com

j.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:30 David Sparks’ Career Journey

05:10 Owning Your Technician Training

08:50 Attitude vs. Aptitude in Growth

12:40 Climbing the Fixed Ops Ladder

17:30 Leadership Through Communication

23:15 Managing Change in the Shop

26:50 Trust and Personal Leadership

29:10 Self-Reflection for Technicians

33:50 90-Day Rule for Career Growth

38:00 Defining Strong Leadership

41:30 Career Planning for Techs

43:10 Final Takeaways and Wrap-Up

David Sparks

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sparks-b6031119/

Michael Barich

https://www.fixedopsdoc.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-barich-75210648/

All Things Fixed Ops Clubhouse - Wednesdays 9 am EST

https://www.clubhouse.com/house/all-things-fixed-operations

If you found the following insightful, please consider commenting, liking, subscribing, and sharing it as we develop Mechanics into Leaders. Wrench Turners Podcast with over 160 Episodes helps Mechanics become happier, healthier, and more productive.

Wrench Turners Podcast Socials

https://wrenchturners.online

https://wrenchturnerspodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

https://www.tiktok.com/@mrjoshuataylor

https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

Wrench Turners Podcast on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=9305ecd058f84eb4

General Manager, Fixed Operations Director, Coach - T.C. Coleman

Join us as we delve into the compelling career journey of T.C. Coleman, a seasoned leader whose roots in automotive passion were planted in childhood, nurtured by his father's engineering role at Nissan. T.C.'s early exposure to the mechanics of car maintenance and the automotive industry's inner workings ignited a lifelong passion, steering him away from his initial interest in sports to a dynamic path in automotive leadership.

With over two decades of experience, T.C. reflects on his evolution from an enthusiastic car enthusiast to a revered leader in the automotive sector. His career, marked by significant stints with prominent brands, showcases his adeptness in mentoring, team-building, and strategic leadership.

In this episode, T.C. unravels the layers of effective leadership within the high-stakes environment of automotive dealerships. He shares practical wisdom on:

Takeaways:

👉 Cultivate a culture of proactive learning

👉 Respectful communication achieves operational excellence

👉 Learn conflict resolution to harness individual strengths

This conversation is not just an exploration of T.C.'s professional milestones but also an instructional guide on transforming everyday workplace challenges into opportunities for growth and leadership.

For automotive service professionals aiming to elevate their career trajectory or anyone interested in the nuances of impactful leadership, this episode offers a wealth of insights and actionable advice.

Let's get into it.

PS. Always looking for guests to be on the show. Reach out by email, link in bio!

j.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

03:00 Gearhead to Automotive Leader

08:30 Listening to and Respecting Technicians

14:10 Effective Communication

20:00 Strategies for Building Team Unity

27:00 Insights on Balancing Career

36:20 Empowering Technicians to Speak Up

If you found the following insightful, please consider commenting, liking, subscribing, and sharing it as we develop Mechanics into Leaders. Wrench Turners Podcast with over 160 Episodes helps Mechanics become happier, healthier, and more productive.

Wrench Turners Podcast Socials

https://wrenchturners.online

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

https://www.tiktok.com/@mrjoshuataylor

https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

Wrench Turners Podcast on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=9305ecd058f84eb4