Learning Without Scars
As a third-generation educator, it is easy to say that teaching and training are in the blood for Ron Slee. From his beginnings as a coach, through his time at McGill University, Ron developed a foundation for the work he does today. From working within dealerships, to operating a consulting company, creating a training business and running twenty groups, Ron has been directly involved in this Industry since 1969. Ron has been known as the industry expert for years, and has brought this expertise to bear through his training programs. Today, Ron provides specialized, job function based internet based subject specific classes, job function skills assessments, as well virtual seminars and webinars. These courses are designed for manufacturers and their dealers, as well as independent businesses in the construction equipment, light industrial, on-highway, engine, and agricultural industries through Learning Without Scars (www.LearningWithoutScars.com). This platform is a continuation of the work begun by Quest, Learning Centers which was established in 1996. This training is aimed at improving dealer parts and service operations through qualified people that are knowledgeable in using operational metrics and current market and operational best practice methods.
Episodes
AI is moving fast enough to feel like magic, but in equipment dealerships that “magic” can just as easily turn into expensive confusion. We sit down with Mets Kramer to get specific about what AI will change in the capital goods space and why the winners won’t be the teams with the fanciest chatbot, but the ones who actually understand parts, service, sales, warranty, and how a dealership makes money. If AI can ship...
The fastest way to lose the next generation of technicians is to make the job feel rigged. We sit down with longtime automotive leader Jim Centorbi to talk about what’s really happening in the workforce, why so many young people avoid the trades, and how outdated systems inside the dealership are pushing good talent away.
We get specific about technician compensation and the flat rate pay model: what it rew...
If you’ve ever planned territory coverage or “market share” off UCC filings and still felt confused, you’re not alone, and you might not be the problem. We sit down with Nick Mavrick of Built Data to question a 60-year industry habit: treating UCC filings as the source of truth for construction equipment demand. Nick explains how UCC data can overweight the smallest firms and create a distorted view of fleet ownersh...
Ever wonder why hiring costs keep rising while performance stalls? We sit down with HR leader turned fractional consultant Seth McColley to unpack how founder-led companies in construction, manufacturing, and distribution can get senior HR capability without a full-time hire. Seth shares practical plays that save money fast—like replacing pricey recruiter fees with smart sourcing—and shows how to build a review proc...
What if your dealership stopped reacting to problems and started predicting opportunity? We sat down with Mets and Nick, the team behind a from-scratch dealer management platform, to trace how a human-centered CRM evolved into a scalable DMS and where AI now multiplies the impact. The throughline is simple and bold: technology should fit the business, not the other way around—and clean signals beat crowded screens.<...
Two veterans compare notes across decades and land on a surprising culprit: speed. We’ve made decks faster, calls shorter, and data denser—yet clear thinking, discovery, and trust are harder to find. So we unpack how to win in a world that moves this quickly without letting the work get shallow.
We start with an honest look at craft. Flip charts forced logic; slides can hide it. That same trade-off shows up...
If 3 percent of your customers drive 60 percent of your revenue, how much of your budget do they actually get? We open the hood on the equipment industry’s quiet math—where rental term length dictates margin, customer concentration drives fragility, and blended sales-rental models bleed value. With Nick Mavrick, we connect dots from Wayne Huizenga’s roll-ups and Blockbuster’s rental logic to today’s Sunbelt and Unit...
What if the fastest path to growth isn’t “more leads,” but fewer, better customers you serve so well they never leave? We dive into the uncomfortable truth most teams avoid: value is concentrated, churn is predictable, and the difference between winners and strugglers is a focused list, clean data, and relentless follow-through.
Nick Mavrick of Built Data joins us to unpack how behavioral data flips strateg...
What if the key to workplace productivity isn't another productivity app or time management system, but something far more elemental – laughter? Kevin Hubschmann, founder of laugh.events, reveals how strategic comedy breaks are revolutionizing corporate culture and employee well-being.
The concept is beautifully simple yet scientifically sound: 15-minute comedy sessions that function as cognitive reset...
What happens when you combine 40 years of dealership experience with cutting-edge artificial intelligence? Troy Ottmer returns to share how he's becoming "an augmented individual with an expanded toolbox," using AI to amplify his industry knowledge rather than replace it.
Troy reveals his methodical approach to consulting—always examining the data before jumping to conclusions or AI-generated...
What happens when you strip commerce down to its essence? In this thought-provoking conversation between industry veterans, we explore the fundamental truth that all business boils down to two people exchanging value—and everything else is just overhead.
Steve Clegg opens with a powerful framework: the economy only functions through human exchange, yet we've built towering hierarchies of "rent-see...
Technological revolutions come and go, but the fourth industrial revolution – powered by artificial intelligence – promises to transform business in ways we're only beginning to comprehend. In this thought-provoking conversation, we explore how organizations can harness AI's potential through value-based implementation strategies with Venkat Lakshminarayanan, author of "AI-Driven Value Management.&quo...
The talent crisis in heavy equipment has reached a critical point. In this eye-opening conversation, recruiting veteran Jay Lucas reveals why technicians remain the industry's Achilles heel and how leadership failures are exacerbating the problem.
Drawing from 30 years of experience and thousands of candidate interviews, Lucas offers a rare glimpse into why people leave equipment dealerships and what s...
The economic revolution we've been waiting for isn't just coming—it's already here. In this eye-opening conversation, Steve Clegg brings decades of financial expertise to explain how artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency are fundamentally restructuring global commerce by eliminating the layers of middlemen that have traditionally absorbed 20-30% of transaction value.
Clegg's journey...
Troy Ottmer brings forty years of dealership experience to a forward-looking conversation about artificial intelligence and its profound impact on the equipment industry. Drawing from his unconventional career path—spanning automotive, medium-duty, construction equipment, agricultural machinery, forestry, and recycling sectors—Troy shares how he's leveraged AI to transform traditional business operations withou...
Are you prepared for the unprecedented transformation sweeping through the equipment dealer and rental landscape? In this eye-opening conversation with industry veteran Nick Mavrick, we dive deep into how technological advancement, market consolidation, and changing buyer behaviors are reshaping the entire industry.
"If you continue to do what you've been doing, you will not last the next 20 years...
The artificial intelligence revolution isn't coming—it's already here. For equipment dealerships caught in the crossfire of technological disruption, adaptation isn't just recommended; it's essential for survival.
When Ron Wilson attended a birthday party and learned that two people's children had recently lost their jobs to AI, it spurred him to investigate how these technologies a...
Are you constantly searching for new growth opportunities while overlooking gold mines within your existing business? In this eye-opening conversation with industry veteran Ron Wilson, we explore how equipment dealerships and service-oriented businesses can substantially increase revenue by looking inward rather than outward.
Ron draws from his 37 years of dealership experience to reveal several overlooked ...
What if everything you thought about running a service department was backward? That's the provocative question at the heart of this eye-opening conversation with John Dowling, author of "Service by the Boxes" and decorated Marine.
The fundamental misconception crippling most equipment dealerships is seeing service as a cost center rather than a profit engine. "Revenue is vanity," J...
Dealership operational excellence has never been more critical than in today's consolidated market. Troy Ottmer, a seasoned dealership executive turned consultant, dives deep into the often-overlooked opportunity of departmental reviews and their power to transform profitability.
The equipment dealer landscape has changed dramatically—where once there were dozens of competitors, consolidation has left ...
Popular Podcasts
Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Building on the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, host Steven Rinella brings an in-depth and relevant look at all outdoor topics including hunting, fishing, nature, conservation, and wild foods. Filled with humor, irreverence, and things that will surprise the hell out of you, each episode welcomes a diverse group of guests who add their own expertise to the vast world of the outdoors. Part of The MeatEater Podcast Network.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.