Johnny G & Friends

Nate Zolman, president of Zolman Tire, is known for hard work, smart decisions, and adaptability. He transformed the company into a regional powerhouse in tires and truck repair.The Origins of Zolman TireThe story of Zolman Tire begins with Bud Zolman. He built the Indiana-based tire shop from scratch with grit. Nate practically grew up in the shop, changing tires and fixing cars. He learned firsthand what running a business takes. When his time came, he didn't just follow in his father's footsteps—he forged his own path.Expanding Under Nate's LeadershipUnder Nate's leadership, Zolman Tire has expanded to eight retail locations and four commercial truck centers. He has competed with national chains, online retailers, and industry giants. Instead of backing down, he focused on building a team that treats customers like family.Cultivating Team Culture and Integrity at Zolman TireToday, Nate joins Johnny G & Friends. He discusses growing Zolman Tire, challenges for independent tire dealers, and staying ahead in the industry. Nate also reflects on pivotal moments that earned him respect, including a memorable standoff that marked his leadership rise.  He also explores how he cultivates a strong team culture and his non-negotiable stance on integrity. This sets the business tone at Zolman Tire.

Bauer Built Tire & Service has been a family name in the tire business since 1944. Sam Bauer founded the company in Durand, Wisconsin. It started as a small operation and grew into a powerhouse with 35 locations across nine states. Today, the rich Bauer Built Tire history shows the company's dedication to growth, service, and community.Jerry Bauer stepped into leadership at just 24 years old. He guided Bauer Built Tire & Service through its substantial growth. Along the way, he balanced family ownership with smart business strategy. Under Jerry's leadership, Bauer Built became one of the most respected independent tire dealers in the country. Jerry's impact doesn't stop there, though. Today, he mentors the next generation of leaders. Tad and Mandy, his children, are now key leaders in the business.Jerry joins us on Johnny g & Friends. He talks about the lessons he's learned and shares the challenges of running a family business. He also explains how Bauer Built has stayed strong for 80 years. The story of Bauer Built Tire history highlights resilience, vision, and family values.For more episodes of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, click here.Tire Review: www.tirereview.comFirestone: www.firestonetire.com

Throughout the year on episodes of Johnny g & Friends, Johnny would ask each guest: How do you work on the business instead of in the business? In this Season 4 wrap-up, find out how each guest answered that.In this episode, hear from this year's guests including Andrew Firestone; Bridgestone Golf CEO Dan Murphy; Bubba, Kim and Pat McMahon of McMahon's Best-One; Sally Thomas, owner of J.P. Thomas & Company; Stacey and Frankie Pugh of Pugh's Tire; John Quirk, executive chairman of VIP Tires & Service; and Tim Tallman, president of Tallman's Tire & Auto.

From humble beginnings changing tires in New York snowstorms outside his single-bay corner gas station to becoming President of Tallman's Tire and Auto Repair, based in Utica, New York, Tim Tallman is cultivating a legacy that beautifully integrates family values with his sharp business acumen.His journey began immediately after high school, fueled by a passion for cars and a keen mechanical aptitude. With his wife's encouragement and a timely opportunity to buy his first business, Tim unknowingly embarked on a 44-year career in the tire industry that would not only shape his future, but also the landscape of tire and auto services in his community. Under his leadership, Tallman Tire and Auto has today expanded to six locations, a warehouse and a Quick Lube, and his story proves that with the right mix of passion and perseverance, small beginnings can lead to substantial achievements.Tire Review: www.tirereview.com

John Quirk is a fourth-generation tire dealer with a storied history. His grandfather started in the tire industry opening Quirk Tire in Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1926. Back then, the business grew with the advent of the Interstate Highway System and serviced mainly commercial and off-the-road tires.But as transportation evolved, so did the business. By 1985, John's father, Edward S. Quirk, retired, and in June of that year, John left the computer sales industry, returned home to Boston from Manhattan and took over the business as President & CEO. Two weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, Quirk Tire purchased VIP Discount Auto Center and the two firms were merged. John decided to keep the VIP name thanks to its tremendous brand recognition throughout New England, changing the name in 2004 to VIP Parts, Tires & Service, and again in 2012 to VIP Tires & Service when the parts division of VIP was sold to O'Reilly Auto Parts. Today, VIP Tires & Service operates 70 locations, with 50 of those co-occupied by both VIP Tires & Service and O'Reilly Auto Parts, and on March 1, 2024, VIP opened its first store in Connecticut with the acquisition of Joe's Tire Shop in Waterbury, CT. Tire Review: www.tirereview.com

Stacey and Frankie Pugh, president and VP of Pugh's Tire in Greenville, North Carolina, are the embodiment of what happens when four generations commit to hard work, customer care, community involvement, and adapt to change. Their Grandpa George Pugh founded Pugh's Tire & Service Center in 1945 as a corner gas station known as George Pugh Shell Station, and in 1962 their father Sammy Pugh became the mastermind in expanding the tire and automotive service side of the business.Today, with five retail locations, the third- and fourth generations continue to grow the business the same way the founder did. Pugh's continues to thrive thanks to leadership and employees fueled by family spirit, a customer-first philosophy, and an unyielding commitment to quality.www.tirereview.com

Sally Thomas is a second-generation tire dealer with ambition, grit, and heart for the tire industry. Her father, Paul, founded the business in 1981 out of the driveway of their family home, and he and his wife, Sandra, soon blossomed the company into a full-blown tire and service location in Asheboro, North Carolina.Sally grew up working in the business but pursued a career in nursing before making her way back. In 2012, Sally, with her business-savvy, and her brother, Bryan, with his tire and service-know how, took over J.P. Thomas & Company, which had grown significantly into a multi-division corporation. They have since added several locations and have more than tripled their revenues over the past decade. Today, they operate eight retail stores known as Thomas Tire & Automotive, two commercial locations, three wholesale distribution warehouses known as East Coast Tires, a Mighty Auto Parts franchise, and an e-commerce business. They are also distributors for Hunter Engineering, Challenger Lifts, Atlas Copco and CPS Products. 

Community makes McMahon's Best-One stand out from the competition. The company was founded in 1969 by Pat McMahon, who bought out a local independent tire dealer in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, with the help of Paul Zurcher.Pat built a strong foundation for the business, and today, his son, Bubba, who grew up in the tire industry, now owns it with Randy Geyer, a longtime employee. Bubba's wife, Kim, is now president of McMahon's Best-One, and together they are pushing the limits on what it means to be an independent tire dealer.With 13 locations and counting, McMahon has close-knit ties to the communities it serves and is elevating the professionalism in our industry to thrive in the future. 

Tiger Woods, Jason Day and Freddie Couples are just a few of the names linked to the quality and precision behind Bridgestone Golf – but the man behind the scenes who helped create and catapult the Bridgestone Golf brand to PGA grounds is Dan Murphy, the company's current president and CEO.Dan has a long history in the golf business and is a golf fanatic himself. However, it wasn't until the early 2000s when he was recruited to help launch the Bridgestone Golf brand, and he quickly distinguished it for its golf ball fitting capabilities.  Since then, Bridgestone Golf has manufactured golf balls and accessories for everyone from PGA tour pros to weekend warriors teeing up with their buddies. Bridgestone Golf also serves as the premium lifestyle link to the Bridgestone Tire brand.In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, Dan and Johnny g discuss: Jason Day's involvement with Bridgestone Golf's new MindSet golf ball (1:06);Tiger Woods' involvement with Bridgestone Golf's golf ball R&D (3:35);Details on Bridgestone Golf's golf ball testing technology (6:18);How tire development influences tire design and vice versa (8:28);Experimenting to see how golf balls with different dimple patterns fly (11:15);An inside look at how golf balls are made at Bridgestone Golf's factory in Covington, GA (14:47);Dan's vision for Bridgestone Golf in the future (16:49);Rapid fire questions (19:06).

Tiger Woods, Jason Day and Freddie Couples are just a few of the names linked to the quality and precision behind Bridgestone Golf – but the man behind the scenes who helped create and catapult the Bridgestone Golf brand to PGA grounds is Dan Murphy, the company's current president and CEO.Dan has a long history in the golf business and is a golf fanatic himself. However, it wasn't until the early 2000s when he was recruited to help launch the Bridgestone Golf brand, and he quickly distinguished it for its golf ball fitting capabilities.Since then, Bridgestone Golf has manufactured golf balls and accessories for everyone from PGA tour pros to weekend warriors teeing up with their buddies. Bridgestone Golf also serves as the premium lifestyle link to the Bridgestone Tire brand.In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, Dan and Johnny g discuss: Dan explains how he found himself with Bridgestone Golf (1:58);What was Bridgestone's marketing strategy to emerge from its underdog status as a golf ball maker in the early 2000s? (4:11);Bridgestone Golf's mandates for success (6:24);Johnny g and Dan discuss the ad campaigns developed to promote both Bridgestone tires and Bridgestone golf balls (8:36);How COVID changed golf (10:57);The importance of Bridgestone Golf's approach to golf ball fitting (14:04);Touring the Bridgestone Golf test center (16:36);Dan's fondest memories at Bridgestone Golf (19:00);Behind the curtain of when Bridgestone Golf signed the contract to manufacture Nike golf balls (22:31).This is PART 1 of a two-part episode with Johnny g and Dan Murphy. Come back to Tire Review tomorrow to watch PART 2!

Andrew Firestone is the great-grandson of Harvey S. Firestone, the founder of Firestone Tire & Rubber Company. Andrew's last name appears on signs in tire stores around the world, but it wasn't until the early 2000s that Andrew began to delve into his Firestone roots after rising to fame on the series “The Bachelor.” Since then, Andrew has developed a love and appreciation for the tire industry and the Bridgestone-Firestone company and brands.Today, Andrew continues his great-grandfather's legacy as an entrepreneur, founding his own development company in the hospitality industry.

Welcome to Johnny g & Friends. Today, we have a special episode for you: The Greatness Round-Up of Season 3. In this episode, we take one question I asked all of our guests this year and compile their answers into one episode of never-before-heard audio.This year, I asked our guests, “How do you work on the business instead of in the business?” In this episode, you'll hear from:Marc Pons, owner of Chapel Hill Tire;Beth Barron, president and CEO of Chabill's Tire & Auto Service;Paul Sullivan, vice president of Sullivan Tire & Auto;Matt Jensen, president of Jensen Tire & Auto;TJ Beroth, president of Beroth Tire & Automotive;Dennis King, president of Dunlap & Kyle.We appreciate all of our Season 3 guests sharing their knowledge about the tire business with us this year. Be sure to be on the lookout next year for Season 4. Have a Happy New Year!

You know when someone loves what they do when they speak about it with passion and excitement. With an engineering background and a passion for racing, Cara Krstolic, executive director, race tire engineering and manufacturing and chief engineer, motorsports, at Bridgestone Americas, is one of those people. A native of Akron, Ohio, Cara started her career at Bridgestone as a vehicle dynamics engineer. But her curiosity for learning goes farther back than that. As the daughter of two teachers, Cara remembers growing up with an interest in science and the outdoors. She would do experiments with her mom, a science teacher. Later as a college student at the University of Akron, she participated in Formula SAE challenges, where she and a team designed and competed with small formula-style racing car. Soon after graduating, she started at Bridgestone and hasn't looked back. Her story of making her way to the motorsports side of the business is one of grit and a strong work ethic. Those traits and more are what allowed her to work her way up to become the head engineer for all race tires for the Bridgestone and Firestone brands, building tires for storied races like the Indy 500. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, Cara and Johnny g discuss: Cara's career trajectory at Bridgestone (0:53)A typical race weekend for Cara –the schedule, data collection and all (3:52)Data points collected at a typical race weekend (5:39)Johnny g's first encounter with guayule in the early 90s, which is a plant Bridgestone is using a sustainable alternative to natural rubber (11:35)Future application for guayule in racing tires (14:24)The atmosphere and race day and Cara and Johnny g's favorite part about it (17:27)How more women are involved in racing and Cara's advice to young women for achieving a career in racing (19:59)Rapid Fire Questions (22:51)For more episodes of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, click here.

Dennis King has deep roots in the tire industry at Dunlap & Kyle Tire Company. His dad, Denny started out at Dunlap & Kyle in Jackson, Mississippi, working in distribution for Hesselbein Tire. When Dennis finished his computer science degree at Ole Miss in 1990, he planned to work in IT for the federal court system, yet the universe had other plans. After a conversation with Bob Dunlap, founder of Dunlap & Kyle, Dennis would go on to make a career in the tire business. Over the years, he worked his way up from the adjustments department to vice president of operations to president of Dunlap & Kyle, overseeing the company's 19 distribution warehouses in Arkansas, Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee, and 41 retail stores, under the Gateway Tire & Service brand across those states as well as Oklahoma and Alabama. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, Dennis shares: How he started in the tire business with Dunlop & Kyle (1:28) - The greatest lessons he has learned from Bobby Dunlap and his dad over the years (4:07) - Two concerns Dennis has about tire distribution and retail (6:07) - Why his outlook is positive when it comes to the future of the tire industry (9:34) - How Dunlap & Kyle created a vision statement with eight core values and the significance of them for employees (12:08) - Advice for the next generation of tire industry professionals (16:07) - Best memories from tire industry trips and the people that made them great (19:13) - New ways D&K is communicating with its employees and adapting to digitally (23:29) - Rapid Fire Questions (25:07) More from Firestone Tires: www.firestonetires.comMore Johnny g & Friends:https://www.tirereview.com/category/video/johnny-g-friends-video/

TJ Beroth comes from a long line of proud independent tire dealers that have demonstrated passion for serving their community. And TJ is no exception. TJ's grandfather, Tom, started Mock-Beroth Tire & Automotive in 1966 with the Mock brothers in the greater Winston-Salem area. It started as a recapping business and has evolved to 11 retail locations today. TJ's dad, T, took over for Tom in the late 70s and developed the motto of “do more, give more” within the communities the business serves. After T passed away from ALS last year, TJ took over the helm as president, overseeing the operations of seven stores under Beroth Tire & Automotive, as he continues his family's legacy. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, president by Firestone, TJ delves into: His earliest memories of the family business (1:38)The origin story of the business (3:02)How TJ utilizes the wisdom and expertise of his grandfather, Tom Beroth (6:28)His unwavering faith and how his family brings it into the business (8:12)The ways his father, T, influenced him in business and in life (11:51)How his father prepared him to take over the family business, especially during his battle with ALS (15:21)What he is doing differently and the changes he has made in the business as a third-generation tire dealer (18:24)Lessons from playing college football that TJ brings to the business today (22:40)Rapid Fire questions (28:26)More from Firestone Tires: www.firestonetires.comMore Johnny g & Friends: https://www.tirereview.com/category/podcasts/johnny-g-and-friends/

Matt Jensen grew up in the industry under the tutelage of his father, W.R., who founded Jensen Tire & Auto in 1973 with his wife. In the mid-90s, Matt bought out his father's share of the business and focused on its growth in Omaha, Fremont and Lincoln, Nebraska. In 10 years' time, he took Jensen Tire from 10 locations to 21. Throughout the years, Jensen Tire has stayed true to its mission of maintaining long-lasting relationships with friends and neighbors who seek out their products and services. Today, Matt's sons, Mike and Nick, have joined the business in leadership roles. Mike serves as vice president of operations, and Nick is vice president of retail operations. As Matt transitions more duties to his sons, he's looking to grow Jensen Tire's footprint and reach the next level.EPISODE OVERVIEW- Matt describes how his parents founded Jensen Tire & Auto and how he worked his way up in the business (1:51) - The trait Matt learned from his father that helped him grow the business to 21 locations (5:09)- How Matt and his wife, Diane, grew the business together from 10 to 21 locations (6:34)- Mike details how he worked his way up in the business, "earned his stripes" and became vice president of operations (10:20)- Mike explains why Jensen Tire is investing in mobile tire service and what the benefits have been for the business (12:24)- Why Mike lives by the motto of "staying ahead of the game" (15:01)- Nick takes Johnny g through his start in the tire business and his role as president of retail operations, managing 220 employees (16:22)- Nick describes how he's working to grow a workforce for Jensen Tire (19:02)- The most important lesson Nick has learned from his dad (23:32)- Matt describes his role as president and CEO today compared to 10 years ago and the challenges he and other dealers face when looking to open new locations (24:51)- What Jensen Tire's 50th anniversary means to Matt (27:52)Check out more episodes of Johnny g & Friends: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVkqUUE022sfk413J6lVAaPFH4Wc2ORLyMore from Firestone Tires: https://www.firestonetire.com

Sullivan Tire is a name synonymous with the tire business. Yet when Bob Sullivan decided to take a risk and start the business in 1955, he was working out of a little red garage in Rockland, Massachusetts, that he rented for $150 per month. At that time, the Sullivan family had eight kids—eight mouths to feed—yet Bob was determined to go in business for himself and pursue the American dream. Fast forward 68 years, and now his kids have taken over and are shareholders in the business, which has grown to 117 locations, across its retail, wholesale and commercial divisions in New England. Bob's son, Paul, now the company's vice president, started as a young lad in the business and worked his way up under the tutelage of his father and older siblings. He not only has helped grow Sullivan Tire's footprint but also its brand recognition in the markets it serves. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, find out how Paul lives out Bob's mission of treating everyone—customers and employees—like they're a part of the Sullivan Tire family. EPISODE OVERVIEW The story of how Bob Sullivan started Sullivan Tire and why Bob's employees referred to him as “The Chef” (1:57)One of the biggest lessons about business Bob taught Paul, who carries it out to this day (6:07) Paul's memories of working in the tire business—complete with props! (8:35)Ways the Sullivan family maintains relationships with Sullivan Tire's 1,400-plus employees (10:17)Challenges of growing Sullivan Tire in the 70s (12:38)With Sullivan Tire sponsoring major New England sports teams, Paul details his favorite athlete he's worked with and how these partnerships help the Sullivan Tire brand (15:21)How Paul feels Joe Zaccheo, president of CEO of Sullivan Tire, will lead the business into its third generation (21:19)Future growth plans for Sullivan Tire (24:13) Rapid Fire Questions (16:01)More Johnny g & Friends: https://www.tirereview.com/category/video/johnny-g-friends-video/More from Firestone: www.firestonetires.com

Growing up, Beth Barron watched her father, Charley Gowland and his business partner, Billy Parker, open the first Chabill's Tire & Auto Service in Morgan City, Louisiana. in the late ‘60s. For Charley, he looked at it as a huge business opportunity, which has blossomed into 19 stores over the past 55 years. Yet if you asked a college-aged Beth at the time if she'd take over the business one day, her answer would have been “No.” But when you have rubber in your veins, it's hard to escape. As the business grew, Beth grew with it, and Charley began grooming her to take over the helm. In 2019, Beth was named president and CEO of the business, and soon after, Charley passed away. The next year, COVID hit and Beth was met with unprecedented times. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, hear from Beth about how she grappled with the loss of her father, who was her mentor, changes she has made since and how she's grooming the next generation of leaders at Chabill's Tire & Auto Service. EPISODE OVERVIEW: Beth's memories of her dad, Charley, and what she learned from him (1:37)How Beth dealt with the passing of her father one year and then COVID the next (4:57)Ways Beth has changed the business and how she has approached it with a “people-first mindset” (6:12)How Beth and her son, Charlie, are focusing on creating more training opportunities for Chabill's team members and ways Beth is looking to grow its fleet business (10:13)Charlie Barron, Beth's son and the company's technical director and overall “utility player” on how he has helped improve the company's analytics reporting to make tire ordering more efficient (13:15)Ways Charlie is helping implement employee appreciation platforms as well as various training and creating career paths for Chabill's team members (17:22)Charlie reflects on memories of his grandfather (19:17)Beth details future plans for the business's growth (22:13)The Rapid-Fire Round

What every independent tire dealer wants is for their customers to drive away happy—satisfied with their vehicle, the quality of repair, and the staff that made it all happen. Living that out is another story, but at Chapel Hill Tire, owner Marc Pons has created a foundation for the business's slogan, “Drive Happy,” which is plastered through its 10 stores in North Carolina's Research Triangle. To support its “Drive Happy” philosophy, Marc created a set of five values that his staff works to live out each day; “Say ‘Yes' to Customer and Each Other,” “Be Grateful and Helpful,” and “Win as a Team,” are just a few. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, get to know how Marc and his team live out their core values and why they make a difference in growing the business. EPISODE OVERVIEWHow Marc's dad, Al Pons, purchased Chapel Hill Tire and what learned about running a tire business from his father (1:45)Why Marc didn't initially want to go into the tire business and take it over from his father (3:47)The sudden death of Marc's father and how Marc grappled with being thrust into the role of president of Chapel Hill Tire at the age of 26 (4:38)What happened when Chapel Hill Tire hit a “growth ceiling” in 2015 (6:07)How creating core values was an investment in Chapel Hill Tire's Culture (7:38)Ways in which Chapel Hill Tire lives out its values in giving back to the community (9:34)How Mark created the business's “Work Happy Manifesto,” which aligns each employee with the company's mission (14:12)What made Chapel Hill Tire an early adopter of EV and hybrid training (16:03)Mark's vision for the future of Chapel Hill Tire and its footprint (18:55)NEW: Rapid Fire Questions! Get to know Marc through this lightening round (21:23)More from Tire Review: www.tirereview.comMore from Firestone: www.firestonetires.com

Today's tire business is rapidly changing: you're seeing new vehicle technology in your bays daily, and our digital world has changed the way you do business. Yet as you'll find in this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, running a successful tire business starts with the basics. What are those and how do you get there? This year's guests on Johnny g & Friends have some advice. You may remember our “Greatness Wrap-up” from last season, where Johnny g asked each guest: “What motivates you to achieve greatness?” Well, this season, he has a different query:What advice would you give your younger self or what advice would you give someone starting out in business today?In this episode, you'll hear responses from:- Myron Boncarosky, founder of Virginia Tire with 17 locations outside in the greater Washington D.C. area (0:50)- Aaron Telle, fourth-generation CEO and president of Telle Tire & Auto Centers with 18 locations in Missouri (2:37)- Wendel Burt, founder of Burt Brothers Tire & Service in the greater Salt Lake City area, and his son and current partner in the business, Jake Burt (4:12)- Jarid Lundeen, owner of four Tires Plus locations and two Valvoline Instant Oil Change locations in Minott, North Dakota (8:00)- K&M Tire's Founder Ken Langhals, who started more than a half decade ago, and his daughter, K&M's President, Cheryl Gossard (8:50)- Jamie Ward, president of Tire Discounters (10:58)- Gordon Leffler, owner of Suburban Tire's Glendale Heights location outside of Chicago (11:45)- Doug Miller, president of St. Lucie Battery & Tire (13:58)Watch this season's full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYMvk37Opls&list=PLVkqUUE022sfk413J6lVAaPFH4Wc2ORLyYou can also subscribe to this podcast. You can also subscribe to Johnny g & Friends on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. This podcast is sponsored by Firestone.

Behind the 17 locations of St. Lucie Battery & Tire is a family of immigrants who moved to southeast Florida in the 1940s. Initially, the Miller family started a poultry and egg business in Fort Pierce, yet one of the oldest boys, Joey, saw a need for batteries in the area. So, after he delivered eggs and poultry to the locals, he'd pick up old batteries from service stations, clean them up and re-sell them as reconditioned batteries. Later on, he'd sell new batteries and then add Farm Bureau tires. And before he knew it, he had created St. Lucie Battery & Tire. Now a sprawling urban area, Florida's Treasure Coast is dotted with multiple locations of St. Lucie Battery & Tire, which boasts more than 240 employees in five counties today. With Joey's son, Doug Miller, serving as president of the business, Doug has maintained his father's credo of “Home of Honest, Reliable Service,” yet has adapted the business to change with the times and its customers. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, Doug shares his journey in the tire industry and how he has been able to grow the business with his business savvy and forward-thinking mindset to keep employees engaged while providing world-class customer service. EPISODE OVERVIEW- How Doug's family settled in Fort Pierce in the early 1940s and why Doug's father, Joey, created a side hustle in the battery business (1:14)- How the business's culture has been shaped around its slogan, “Home of Honest, Reliable Service” (7:07)- How Doug became involved in management at a young age (12:01)- The ways St. Lucie Battery & Tire has been able to grow and add locations amid the pandemic (14:26)- Why Doug rewards his team with performance-based bonuses (19:03)- Doug's mentors in the tire business (20:33)- What's in store in the five-year plan for St. Lucie Battery & Tire and how Doug is looking at new technologies, like EVs, that are coming down the line (21:45)Subscribe to this podcast on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/johnny-g-friends/id1575371575Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/51HCGxJxYmRvUC48iiKXJWGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3ByZWFrZXIuY29tL3Nob3cvNDk5NTE0Ny9lcGlzb2Rlcy9mZWVkStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/johnny-g-friendsMore on Firestone Tires: https://www.firestonetire.com/More from Tire Review: www.tirereview.com

When you walk through the doors of Suburban Tire & Auto Centers in Glendale, Heights, Illinois, you're walking into one of the cleanest and most organized tire dealerships on the east coast. “I could eat off the floors,” says Johnny g about the tire store this month's guest has made into a superstore in the suburbs of Chicago. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, meet Gordon Leffler, owner of Suburban Tire's Glendale Heights store. Attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to strive for excellence define how Gordon has run his business ever since going off on his own in 2012. The floors are immaculate, each tire and part is meticulously put back into its place and expectations of the staff and their professionalism are communicated and carried out each day. In this episode, learn how Gordon has designed his location of Suburban Tire to run at maximum efficiency while still keeping true to the lessons his father taught him about the tire business. EPISODE OVERVIEW:- How Johnny g met Gordon and his brother, Steve (1:19)- The start of Suburban Tire, Gordon's early memories of the family business and what he learned from his father, Duke, about the tire business (3:13)- How Gordon, his brothers and mother were thrust into management at an early age after his father's death and the changes they made to streamline operations (8:16)- Gordon's mentors in the tire industry and what he has learned from them (13:45)- The meticulous organization at Gordon's story and how he has baked in attention to detail and cleanliness into the culture of his store (18:03)- The hardest thing to teach new employees entering the tire business (21:30)- The step-by-step hiring and onboarding process for new employees – both technicians and service advisors—at Gordon's store (23:32)More from Tire Review: www.tirereview.comSubscribe to this podcast on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/johnny-g-friends/id1575371575Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/51HCGxJxYmRvUC48iiKXJWGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3ByZWFrZXIuY29tL3Nob3cvNDk5NTE0Ny9lcGlzb2Rlcy9mZWVkMore on Firestone Tires: www.firestonetire.comMore from Suburban Tire: https://www.suburbantire.com/

Jamie Ward is a true tire guy. He learned automotive service work at an early age and had the skills equivalent to an ASE Master Tech by age 15. As he grew in the business, his passion and energy for the industry has catapulted him to president and CEO of TireDiscounters where he has been an instrumental part of growing the business from eight stores to the over 175 locations the dealership has today…including its foray into the car wash business. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, Jamie shares his journey in the tire industry, mentors he'd had along the way, the work it takes to grow a multi-location business and what he enjoys most about being in the tire industry. EPISODE OVERVIEW- What Jamie learned working from his grandfather, a Cincinnati firefighter who ran an auto shop out of his garage on the side (1:41)- How Johnny g helped Jamie's first employer, Tony Michel of Michel's Tire Co., expand his business (4:03)- Jamie's start at Tire Discounters and what he found attractive about the business and Chip Wood's leadership style (5:34)- How Jamie helped open 60 Tire Discounters locations in about 10 years and what the programs and systemized processes he helped the business adopt throughout its growth (5:44)- Jamie's role in helping Tire Discounters double down on growth, opening 10-15 locations per year starting in the early 2010s (9:26)- Tire Discounters' growth strategy and goals for the business's growth this year (12:51)- Challenges that have come with rapid growth and why it's important to have people from non-tire backgrounds work in a tire store (15:04)- Why Jamie considers himself a “student of the business” (17:35)- What Jamie thinks is the hardest thing to teach others about the tire business (20:11)- The biggest challenges that exist for independent tire dealers, including Tire Discounters, today (24:14)More on Tire Discounters' growth: https://www.tirereview.com/?s=Tire+DIscountersSubscribe to Johnny g & Friends on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/johnny-g-friends/id1575371575Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/51HCGxJxYmRvUC48iiKXJWGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3ByZWFrZXIuY29tL3Nob3cvNDk5NTE0Ny9lcGlzb2Rlcy9mZWVkStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/johnny-g-friendsThanks to our sponsor, Firestone Tires: https://www.firestonetire.com/

Even when Jarid Lundeen worked in the restaurant and banking industries, one thing about the customer experience always stood out to him: Consistency. Early on, he learned consistency creates success, which is what he looks to instill in his four Tires Plus locations in Minott, North Dakota. But how do you do that?Jarid tells Johnny g in this latest episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone. Jarid not only touts consistency in the tire business but also diversity and scaling up as a means to success as a businessman. As the CEO and president of JETT Management, Jarid has four Tire Plus locations plus four Valvoline Instant Oil Change stores and a barbecue restaurant under his belt and is an example in each of his businesses of how a consistent customer experience can lead to repeat business.Jarid got the hang of the automotive industry as a young boy hanging out with his dad at his father's body shop. Over the years, he strayed away from the industry, yet was called back after his father asked him to partner with him on a Tires Plus location Since then, he bought his father out and has grown his footprint with much more on the way.EPISODE OVERVIEW- How Johnny g and Jarid first met (1:40)- What Jarid learned working in the banking and restaurant industries and how he applies that to his businesses today (3:00)- Why Jarid has diversified his portfolio to not only include tire stores and why he feels that will benefit him down the line (4:13)- Jarid describes his early years growing up in his father's body shop and skills he learned, such as creating conversation, from the experience. (5:47)- Why Jarid was attracted to invest in Valvoline Instant Oil Change stores and his view on how the oil change should work in relation to his tire shop (7:08)- Jarid's goals for his businesses, including his tire business, oil change business and Bones BBQ restaurant and why the need for replication is paramount across processes at all three (8:54)- Mentors Jarid has had in the tire industry (12:40)- Why Jarid thinks it's important to scale up in business and grow (14:49)You can also watch this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgfm_UrqXz4&list=PLVkqUUE022sfk413J6lVAaPFH4Wc2ORLy

With opportunities for growth, many businesses add to their bottom line, but it also becomes more complex and complicated to keep things running. With so many balls in the air, it gets harder to stick to your mission– why you even started in the first place–as well as your vision for the business and the values you want the business to carry out on a daily basis. It's truly a juggling act, but one business that has been able to do this as it has grown over the last 52 years is K&M Tire.Founded in 1970, Ken Langhals started K&M Tire with $100. It was originally a two-bay gas station in northwest Ohio. However, over the years, Ken left tire retail, tried his hand at retreading and ultimately, locked in tire distribution as his area of focus. Since then, the business has grown to 32 distribution centers in more than 25 states.But through it all, Ken, now CEO of the business, and his daughter, Cheryl Gossard, the business's president who handles day-to-day operations, have kept in focus the mission, vision and values of how they'd like to run the business. Has it changed over the years? Of course! Cheryl will tell you that when K&M acquired a tire distributor and doubled in size, those three guiding principles went into question. However, they've always come back (and at times redefined) their mission, vision and values, as each employee knows the standards in which K&M operates its business.In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, Johnny g sits down with Ken and Cheryl to talk about the business's humble beginnings, how it has evolved over the years with the handover from father to daughter in leadership, the improvements it has made as its grown and what it's growth strategy is for the future.Listen to this episode below or subscribe to Johnny g & Friends on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/johnny-g-friends/id1575371575Google Podcasts:https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3ByZWFrZXIuY29tL3Nob3cvNDk5NTE0Ny9lcGlzb2Rlcy9mZWVkSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/51HCGxJxYmRvUC48iiKXJWYou can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

Wendel Burt, co-founder of Burt Brothers Tire & Service, attributes his success in the tire industry to two words: Hard work. It's that simple yet also challenging and complicated when you're the one that's the owner, service advisor, trainer, technican, HR department and… should we go on? We know other tire dealers out there get the grit it takes to start your own tire business. So, when Wendel Burt and his brother, Ron, started Burt Brothers Tire & Service in 1991, they set out to sell one tire per day and stay committed to the business. Thanks to this, their business has blossomed into a 14-location dealership in the Greater Salt Lake City, Utah area, and the second generation has taken the helm. In fact, under the leadership of Wendel's sons Jake, Jason and Jeremy, and Ron's sons, Cory and Brandon, the business was named the winner of Tire Review's prestigious 2021 Top Shop Award.In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, Wendel and his son, Jake, delve into how the first generation was able to pass down the passion for the business to the second generation and why Wendel says tire dealers need to constantly evolve their business in a competitive tire retail landscape. EPISODE OVERVIEW - How Burt Brothers' relationship with Firestone actually started out of the Firestone recall in 2000 [1:25]- Wendel describes his start in the industry and he and his brother, Ron, learned “the meaning of hard work” quickly by vowing their dedication to the business' success [3:05]- Wendel and Jake share the business advice Johnny g has taught them over the years in their partnership with Bridgestone [5:10]- Jake explains how he, his two brothers and two cousins divvy up ownership roles within the business today [7:01]- How Wendel and Ron prepared their sons to take over the business [9:20]- Burt Brothers' business today and what Jake and his second-generation partners changed when they look over the business [12:00]- Wendel explains why it's dangerous for a tire business to “stay the same” and how a business can automatically grow if it gives room for employees to grow [17:38]- Why Burt Brothers shaves tires for customers and how it's become a competitive advantage for the Utah independent tire dealer [19:00]- Jake details the biggest challenge in the business today and how he and his partners are working to solve it [21:08]- Why Burt Brothers is investing in RoboTire, tire-changing robots, and how Jake and Wendel plan to use them in their “shops of the future.” [22:41]Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/johnny-g-friends/id1575371575Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/51HCGxJxYmRvUC48iiKXJWGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3ByZWFrZXIuY29tL3Nob3cvNDk5NTE0Ny9lcGlzb2Rlcy9mZWVkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgfm_UrqXz4&list=PLVkqUUE022sfk413J6lVAaPFH4Wc2ORLy

Expanding from one store to two is hard enough, but imagine expanding from one to 19 stores in the span of 10 years. If you think that sounds like a daunting task, you're not alone, but that's the feat Aaron Telle, owner of Telle Tire & Auto Centers based in St. Louis, Missouri, accomplished after taking over his family's business in 2009. The fourth-generation owner of Telle Tire & Auto Centers, Aaron began his career in the tire industry at Telle Tire sweeping floors and shuttling customers in high school. With business savvy at a young age, Aaron began to form strategic relationships in the industry and chart his vision for the company's growth. When his father, Scott Telle, passed away suddenly in 2009, Aaron was thrust to the helm of the business to carry on its customer-centric, family-focused values and a year later, taking the dealership to new heights. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, Aaron reveals his toolkit for rapid expansion of his family business that's celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. In this episode, Johnny g and Aaron delve into: - 1:56: Aaron describes how his great-grandfather, Arthur, started the business during World War II as a recapping business, and Johnny g describes how he met Aaron's grandfather, Chuck.- 3:50- Lessons Aaron has learned from his grandfather, Chuck, and his father, Scott. - 5:32- The growth strategy behind Telle Tire's expansion from one store to 19 stores in 10 years and how Aaron helped his employees care and think “like a Telle” about the business.- 7:49: The employee-focused reason Aaron decided to close all Telle Tire locations on Saturdays.- 11:15: The biggest challenges Aaron sees on the horizon for Telle Tire. - 13:16 – What motivates Aaron to continue to improve the business and his knowledge of it.- 13:59 – Telle Tire's footprint for the future, what he's focusing on for the business for 2022 and what Aaron feels fueled the business's rapid expansion.Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/42fuzmw9CPcOr subscribe to Johnny g & Friends on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-treading-with-tire-review/id1470309726Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GA3lp6AFo7V7EEG5awHaEGoogle Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iv76bs6re7unom4p76myj3cakhm

For years, Virginia Tire & Auto has been among the best tire dealers in North America. The dealership, now spanning 18 stores, was named Tire Review's Top Shop Winner in 2011, and since then, has garnered local and national accolades. Today in its second generation of ownership, Virginia Tire is redefining what it means to be a tire dealer in the 21st century with an open mind toward technology, smart marketing and a different look on how they see their competition. “Customers aren't just judging us against other people who do tire and auto service, they're comparing us to every other experience they have on a daily basis,” says Julie Holmes, co-CEO of Virginia Tire, describing the business's forward-thinking approach to today's retail landscape. Located in the Virginia suburbs of Washington D.C., Virginia Tire was founded in 1976 by Myron and Carole Boncarosky. The two laid the foundation for the business's high standards of customer service and employees-as-family mindset. Today, Myron's daughter, Julie, and her husband, Mike Holmes, run the business as co-CEOs with a focus on continuous improvement. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, sponsored by Firestone, Johnny g sits down with Myron, Julie and Mike to discuss keys to the business's success over the years and how it has evolved to meet customer expectations time and time again. EPISODE OVERVIEW:- Julie, a successful attorney before joining the family business, describes how her father's positive attitude toward the business influenced her decision to come back to the family business and follow her passion. (2:00)- Mike, an accountant and financial analyst, shares how Myron served as a mentor to him and the events that led up to him joining the family business in 2007. (3:37)- Stories from Julie's childhood and how “the kitchen table was the board room” growing up in the Boncaroksy household. (6:35)- Myron describes what he learned from being a sales rep for Texaco and how he applied that to starting Virginia Tire & Auto. (9:06) - Characteristics Myron has seen over the years in successful dealers and employees. (13:15)- The importance of “making winners out of your people” and why Myron believes the best insights on your business come from your employees. (16:32)- Myron describes why “new blood” is important in the business. (17:34)- Julie describes Virginia Tire's rebranding process, in which she and Mike defined the company's values and how those values influence every aspect of the business. (21:17)- Mike shares his view on the complexity of the tire business and how the company is simplifying today's customer experience to “take the stress out of car care,” as Virginia Tire's mission statement says. (23:34)- The way Mike and Julie view their competition and how it has influenced Virginia Tire's customer experience (25:55)- After opening four stores in 2019, Julie and Mike share how the coronavirus pandemic affected their business and their focus for the future (28:47)Listen here or watch the video version of this podcast on:TireReview.com: https://www.tirereview.com/virginia-tire-second-generation-ceos-transform-buiness/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgfm_UrqXz4&list=PLVkqUUE022sfk413J6lVAaPFH4Wc2ORLy

Any industry, sport or line of work has “the greats” — those people that others in the industry know for the work they do, the business they're building and the legacy that they're creating. They're known for their steadfast leadership, problem-solving abilities, and most importantly, their unwavering passion for the industry and serving their communities. In season 1 of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, Johnny g talked to many of those tire industry greats– of which there are many– and asked them one question: “What motivates you to strive for greatness?”While many shied away from the greatness moniker, their responses to the question showed their willingness to constantly approve, their business savvy, and the importance each person places in giving back to others. In this episode, you'll hear responses from:- Mario Andretti, racing legend and Indy 500, Daytona 500 and Formula 1 World Champion.- Larry Morgan, former tire dealer who grew Tires Plus into 600 locations, left the industry, and founded Morgan Family Ventures and Morgan Auto Group, the largest car dealer in the state of Florida.- Paul Swentzel, co-founder of S&S Tire.- John Zentz, senior vice president of global sales at Hunter Engineering.- John Boyle, former owner of Englewood Tire and current president of ETD Discount Tire Centers.- John Ziegler, Jr., vice president of Ziegler Tire.- Craig Tate, former owner of Tate Boys Tire & Service and consultant for Sun Auto Tire & Service.Listen to the full episode here or subscribe to Johnny g & Friends on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-treading-with-tire-review/id1470309726Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GA3lp6AFo7V7EEG5awHaEGoogle Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iv76bs6re7unom4p76myj3cakhmYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rYE1NOtnlw&list=PLVkqUUE022sdAVQ6DuHU8cxd3FS2ni9vA

Teamwork is key to running a successful business, and no one knows that better than Craig Tate. A second-generation tire dealer with a passion for the tire business, Craig was a college football player who took over his father's tire dealership with his brother, Chuck, in 2000. The two grew the business to seven locations, running the multi-store business like they were operating a football team. In 2018, Tate Boys won the 2018 Tire Review Top Shop Award, being named the best tire dealer in North America. Although Craig sold his business last year to Sun Tire Auto & Service, he remains active in the tire industry as a consultant with Sun Auto, living out his passion for the business and working on processes and improving the customer experience. Johnny g first met Craig about six years ago and since then, the two bonded over their love of sports and the tire business. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, Craig and Johnny g delve into:- How Johnny g and Craig met and how they grew their relationship into a brotherhood (1:00)- What Craig learned from his dad, Bob, and how Craig brought the foundations running a business with him into his own (2:52)- The Tate family's history of professional and college sports, including Craig's wins at the University of Tulsa and what he learned from his brother, Chuck, in his professional baseball career (7:25)- How Craig's discipline as an athlete influenced how he ran his tire business and why it's important to be a student of the business and pay attention to detail (9:46)- Why emotional engagement is the most important thing to a tire sale (13:05)- The KPI that Craig believes is the most important to track to aid in business intelligence and growth (14:10)- What Craig believes is the ideal technician training process and how keeping track of technician performance fuels healthy competition (17:30) - The legacy Chuck, Craig's brother, mentor and business partner, left at Tate Boys after his sudden death and how Craig continues to instill Chuck's winning attitude in the business and his life (21:50)- Craig and Johnny g's memories together including playing cribbage, golf and other healthy competition (26:48)- Why Craig decided to sell Tate Boys Tire & Service to private equity backed Sun Auto Tire & Service and how Craig is working with Sun Auto to improve retail processes and the customer experience (27:55)More on Firestone: firestonetire.comMore Johnny g & Friends: https://www.tirereview.com/tag/johnny-g-friends/

John Ziegler Jr. has rubber running through his veins. The third generation of a 102-year-old tire business, John Jr. grew up busting tires at his family's Ziegler Tire retail stores in Canton, Ohio. After graduating college, he worked for a short time at a Firestone store, yet the family business, which claims to be one of the first and oldest Firestone dealers, called him back. A jack of all trades, John Jr. has worked on the retail, commercial and wholesale side of Ziegler Tire's growing business, and now serves as the company's vice president. Over the years, Ziegler Tire has grown to include three wholesale centers, two retread plants, 16 commercial centers and seven retail locations.From growing up in the business, John Jr. has plenty of stories about Ziegler Tire's growing pains and triumphs and has met tire industry greats along the way, including his friend, Johnny g. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, sponsored by Firestone, John Jr. delves into:- Why he didn't come back to the family business right away after graduating college (1:40)- Keys to Ziegler Tire's longevity in the tire business, advice he received from generations before him and what he has passed down to his son (3:59)- His mentors over the years and the people that shaped his life in the tire industry, including his cousin, Bill, president of Ziegler Tire, his Uncle Harold who got him into IndyCar racing, the Grismer Tire guys and the group of tire dealers from “The Tabernacle of Golf" (7:23)- Challenges Ziegler Tire has undergone in its 102-year old history, including surviving the Great Depression, and how those challenges shaped its culture and DNA (12:32)- Memories Johnny g and John Jr. have shared over the years from the “Gamarama” at the New Orleans Superdome, Johnny g's Chicago Bears coat, trips to Japan, experiencing the Monaco Grand Prix and IndyCar races (15:17)- How Ziegler Tire became a Firestone dealer with one of Harvey Firestone's first salesman signing on brothers Oliver and Harold Ziegler as dealers of the brand (19:33)- Why Zieglar Tire has stuck with the Firestone brand and why they didn't carry another brand until the 1970s (21:40)Listen here or subscribe to Johnny g & Friends on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. Firestone Tires: https://firestonetires.com/

When you train under “The Captain,” you're bound to be a captain of the industry in your own right. And John Boyle definitely is. Just ask Johnny g.Like many dealers out there, Boyle grew up in the tire business. He began working as a teenager for his father, Jerry “Captain” Boyle, who founded Englewood Tire Distributors with a partner in 1945. Boyle eventually worked his way up through the ranks to take over the family business and become president of Englewood Tire Distributors in the late 90s. As he worked his way up in the business, Johnny g did, too. As a sales manager for Bridgestone-Firestone, Johnny g called on Englewood Tire and formed a lasting bond with “The Captain,” a well-known personality in the tire industry, and Boyle, who would run the Northeast tire distributor for almost 20 years. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, Boyle reflects on the lessons his father, “The Captain,” taught him, shares his cardinal rules for working with suppliers and delves into why he sold his family's distribution business as well as the memories he's shared with Johnny g along the way. Find out more about:- Why Johnny g has “freaked out” to meet Boyle and his father, nicknamed, “The Captain,” among his industry peers [2:05]- The story behind how “The Captain” started Englewood Tire on a handshake agreement and what Boyle learned are the keys to working with family [4:07]- Boyle's cardinal rules for working with suppliers, dealers and employees (hint: they're the same!) [6:50]- How Boyle grew Englewood Tire Distributors from one wholesale and retail operation to seven wholesale and eight retail stores [8:08]- Boyle's memories with Johnny g over the years, including when Johnny g would give “the weather report” to the Englewood Tire management staff, trips to Japan and Monaco for the Grand Prix with Bridgestone and many more [9:00] - Boyle's reasons for selling Englewood Tire as “tremendous consolidation” was going on in the industry and how the distribution landscape has changed over the years[15:05]- Boyle's role as president of ETD Discount Tire Centers today and how the retail business has had record years under his son-in-law, Kevin Scully, the dealership's vice president, with more growth on the way. [16:32]- How Boyle says Johnny g put “fun” in the business and John's reflections on today's tire industry [18:45]Listen here or subscribe to Johnny g & Friends at:- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/johnny-g-friends/id1575371575- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/51HCGxJxYmRvUC48iiKXJW- Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3ByZWFrZXIuY29tL3Nob3cvNDk5NTE0Ny9lcGlzb2Rlcy9mZWVk- Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/johnny-g-friends- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgfm_UrqXz4&list=PLVkqUUE022sfk413J6lVAaPFH4Wc2ORLyMore on Firestone Tires: https://www.firestonetire.com/

When you take a look around at the tire service equipment in your shop, you may see the name of the company that Johnny g's next guest represents. The one that he credits for imprinting the tire industry in his heart. That company is Hunter Engineering, and the guest that's been part of its team for over 25 years is none other than John Zentz, the company's senior vice president of global sales. Johnny g first met Zentz at a retirement party for Dick Johnson, chairman and CEO of American Tire Distributors. Through industry events, golf outings and the mutual friends they've made along the way, the two have solidified a bond over the industry they love.Zentz first started in the automotive industry selling engine diagnostic equipment in the mid-80s and then made his way into tire service and has stayed ever since. Now, he's a familiar face in the industry and has become a staunch advocate for the automotive aftermarket and the independent tire dealer. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, Johnny g and Zentz delve into:-How Zentz learned the pulse of the industry from a young age and why he felt it was a “natural fit” for his career (1:10)- The origins of Hunter Engineering and how it morphed from a battery company to a tire service company and how tire service technology has changed over the year (Remember a bubble balancer? An alignment machine with strings?) (1:50)- Zentz's mentors from his first job at Allen Test Products to what he learned from early mentors at Hunter Engineering [3:50)- How Zentz believes independent tire dealers can compete and survive in today's market (6:48)- The pandemic's effect on Hunter Engineering and what the company did to innovate (8:47)- Memories Johnny g and Zentz have shared with the “great cast of characters” in the industry, including a golf incident when Johnny g hit a real birdie (10:00)- How Johnny g and Zentz's mutual friend Steve Gray, former owner of Gray's Wholesale Tire Distribution in Texas, saved Johnny g's life when he had 15-20 minutes to live (13:44)- How Zentz thinks tire dealers can capitalize on electric vehicle repair and maintenance (17:35)Listen to the full episode here or subscribe to Johnny g & Friends on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify and Stitcher.

A lot of luck, forming long-lasting relationships and a push to always remain relevant has led to S&S Tire's enduring success over the years. Yet, you can't have a successful three-generation business without having a solid foundation. For this Kentucky-based tire distributor, that foundation started with Paul Swentzel, co-founder of S&S Tire who has also helped other dealers and distributors in the industry get started with their own businesses. A household name in the tire industry, Paul founded S&S Tire with his business partner, Don Schnieder, in 1974. They started out wholesaling tires out of a 9,000-square-foot warehouse in Lexington, Kentucky, and since then, the business has grown to 12 distribution centers across 10 states, 20 commercial truck centers, three retread plants and three retail locations. Paul first met Johnny g in the 70s, and since then, the two have taken their relationship from business to an enduring friendship. Get to know Paul, his wit, how he got started in the industry and how he's managed to create a growing distribution business in the heart of the Bluegrass in the latest episode of Johnny g & Friends. In this episode, Paul and Johnny g delve into: - How they met and how Paul bought 25,000 tires from Johnny g at the 11th hour to help 0 Bridgestone meet their sales goals [1:50]- Paul's journey to becoming a Firestone dealer and the mentors he had in the industry along the way [4:00]- With $50,000, a prayer and hard work, how Paul and Don Schneider started S&S Tire and how Paul's relationship with Paul Zurcher played a huge role in his success [5:58]- Paul's eagerness to help others get started in the business and how he did it [7:25]- How Paul overcame his biggest challenges in the tire business through forming relationships [8:10]- Brooks Swentzel, Paul's son and current president of S&S Tire, describes S&S Tire's business today, his philosophy on serving the business' dealer customers and what he's learned from his dad over the years [10:13]- Brock Swentzel, Paul's grandson and the company's manager of supply chain, explains how the pandemic has impacted S&S Tire and how he and his team work with manufacturers on tire supply and why he joined the family business [14:31]- Fun and funny memories Paul and Johnny g have made over the years -- from winning golf tournaments to forming relationships with celebrities like Arnold Palmer and Walter Payton as well as dealers both big and small [17:42]- Changes Paul has seen in the tire business from when he founded it to now and the importance of his son and grandsons (Brock and Austin Swentzel) adding capabilities to the business over the years [21:31]- How Paul created a community within the S&S tire dealer base [23:46]- How Paul helped Johnny g create Tire Stars, Bridgestone's rewards program for distributors [24:50]Listen to the full episode here or subscribe to Johnny g & Friends on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/johnny-g-friends/id1575371575Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/51HCGxJxYmRvUC48iiKXJWGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3ByZWFrZXIuY29tL3Nob3cvNDk5NTE0Ny9lcGlzb2Rlcy9mZWVkStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/johnny-g-friends

In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, get to know the “Michael Jordan of the Tire Industry.” No he's not 6-foot-6 with six playoff rings, but he is the largest car dealer in the state of Florida. That man is Larry Morgan, chairman of Morgan Family Ventures, a high-growth group of companies spanning multiple industries. Why is he the “Michael Jordan of the Tire Industry?” Well, because he's the GOAT - one of the greatest tire dealers of all time, according to his friend, Johnny g (aka John Gamauf). But let's let his record speak for itself. Larry got his start as store manager at Firestone after being a part of the company's elite management training class of 1965. Years later, he would invest “every single dime” he had to purchase 30 locations of Don Olson Tire in Clearwater, Florida, with the help of Firestone Tire. In less than 10 years, he'd grow it to 600 locations of Tires Plus across the country. Since then, he's gotten out of the tire business and now owns 47 car dealerships as part of Morgan Auto Group in addition to a construction management company, a real estate holding agency and others. Along the way, he's molded himself into a philanthropist that gives back in the Tampa Bay community. When Johnny g met Larry, he was on the path to becoming a business mogul as the CEO of Merchant's Tire. Since then, the two have been through the ups and downs of the industry—and life—together. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, hear how Larry grew Tires Plus to a 630-location tire dealership, the challenges along the way, and like MJ, how he switched careers to become the largest car dealer in the Sunshine State. You'll also hear about:- Larry's start in the industry and the story of his first tire sale, which totaled $20 [1:00]- Larry's time as CEO at Merchant's Tire, which he grew to more than 100 locations [4:09]- How Larry set out on his own and “put every single dime” on the line to acquire Don Olson Tire, which he expanded to 600+ locations of Tires Plus across the country [5:13] - What Larry believes was the key factor in the success of Tires Plus and how he became known as “Recall Larry” among his team as they navigated the Ford-Firestone recall [7:42]- Why Larry sold Tires Plus stores to Bridgestone-Firestone [10:47]- How Larry entered the new car dealer market and the similarities and differences between owning tire stores and auto centers [12:29]- The success of Morgan Auto Group, which is on track to generate $4.5 billion this year, and what Larry enjoys most about his role as the group's chairman [14:22]- Larry's memories with Johnny g including the time they both spent with Walter Payton, considered one of the greatest American football players in history [16:25]- Johnny g's cancer scare at the age of 36 and how Larry dropped everything to be there for his friend [20:35]- Achieving work-life balance and how Larry and Johnny g handled their friendship while maintaining their competitive edge in their respective positions [22:23]Listen to the full episode here or subscribe to Johnny g & Friends on the following channels:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/johnny-g-friends/id1575371575Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/51HCGxJxYmRvUC48iiKXJWGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3ByZWFrZXIuY29tL3Nob3cvNDk5NTE0Ny9lcGlzb2Rlcy9mZWVkStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/johnny-g-friendsSpreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/user/babcoxmedia/final-audio-mario-andretti-audio-mixdownYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgfm_UrqXz4&list=PLVkqUUE022sfk413J6lVAaPFH4Wc2ORLyMore on Firestone Tires at https://www.firestonetire.com/

Mario Andretti is a racing icon. He's won the Daytona 500, the Indy 500 and a Formula One World Championship—a feat no other racecar driver has achieved. He's taken the checkered flag 111 times during his career, and today, he shares his stories and reflections from his more than 50-year career in the inaugural episode of Johnny g & Friends. John Gamauf (aka Johnny g) first met Mario in the mid-90s at an IndyCar race. Their friendship solidified when they traveled across the country visiting dealers during the Ford-Firestone recall. Mario had just signed on as a Firestone spokesman, and Johnny g served as president of consumer tires in North American for the company. From this, they formed a bond that has lasted for 21 years. In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, hear about Mario's humble beginnings in racing, how he's impacted the evolution of tire technology and why he stood up for the Firestone brand during a tumultuous time. Johnny g & Mario also discuss:- Returning to his hometown in Italy to shoot “Drive Like Andretti” and the memories he has as a young Italian refugee and young immigrant in Nazareth, Pennsylvania- The evolution of technology in racing from when Mario started to now and what it takes for drivers to extract what they need from the vehicle- The Ford-Firestone recall and why Mario became a spokesperson and “put his name on the line” for the Firestone brand during that time- Mario's reflections on being a test driver for Firestone and the improvements in race tire technology he's experienced along the way- Mario's greatest stories from racing with his son, Michael, and how he and his twin brother, Aldo, have created a family of professional racecar drivers- Mario's “Father's Day gift” from his son at one of the closest races in IndyCar history- Mario's reflections on the impact of his career and being named to the “Living Legends” list in the Library of Congress- Where Mario's intense drive to succeed comes from and his formula for creating a great team on and off the racetrack - Why, to this day, Mario still loves the sound of opera over the sound of an engine- Mario's dream guests to a dinner party and why it includes Lady Gaga and Mikhail Gorbachev- Mario's memories and funny stories of working with Paul Newman as a driver for Newman/Haas RacingWatch the full episode at tirereview.com or on Tire Review magazine's YouTube channel. Tire Review: https://www.tirereview.com/tag/johnny-g-friends/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUswYJsDNu5h8U6wSk29U4ALook for more episodes of Johnny g & Friends the first Tuesday of every month on tirereview.com.