What the Fixed Ops?! (WTF?!)

What the Fixed Ops?! (WTF?!)

Join automotive expert and entrepreneur Russell B. Hill and CMO Charity Dunning as they venture into the world of automotive, fixed operations, and the successes and failures in life in the What the Fixed Ops?! podcast. Get new episodes by following our social media networks or by visiting us at www.FixedOPSMarketing.com/WTF.

Episodes

June 8, 2026 53 mins
In this episode of What the Fixed Ops?!, hosts Russell Hill and Charity Dunning sit down with Bill Springer for a deep dive into the evolving world of dealership customer retention, fixed operations, and long-term service loyalty.

Drawing from insights in his latest Dealer Retention Report, Bill breaks down the biggest challenges and opportunities facing dealerships today—from tire sales and first service appointments to mobile serv...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Culture isn’t built through slogans or perks—it’s built through leadership, accountability, training, and creating an experience people actually want to be part of.

In this episode of What the Fixed Ops?!, we welcome back Nick Ruffolo for an in-depth conversation on what truly drives long-term success inside a dealership. From customer retention and employee engagement to leadership development and process accountability, Nick break...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Growth doesn’t come from adding more tools—it comes from seeing clearly, fixing what’s broken, and building systems that actually work.

In this episode of What the Fixed Ops?!, we welcome John Acosta, CEO of VTech Dealer IT and a leader at the intersection of automotive, technology, and cybersecurity. John brings a rare combination of military discipline, entrepreneurial grit, and deep dealership experience—and in this conversation,...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:00:39) Tim shares the origin of Tour Detour
(00:01:44) How the idea turned into a viral series
(00:05:58) What Tim wanted to achieve from making the show
(00:10:52) Fixed ops as the backbone of dealership profitability
(00:13:15) The danger of over-quoting and losing customer trust
(00:19:14) What Tim's Strategy Looks Like on a Daily Basis
(00:25:35) Rethinking service appointments vs. walk-ins
(00:31:10) Setti...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Some careers follow a straight line. Others are built by recognizing opportunity, solving problems, and scaling what works.

In this episode of What the Fixed Ops?!, we welcome Matthew Wilmsen, Chief Revenue Officer, and Eric Wilson, SVP of OEM Partnerships at Fixed Ops Marketing, to the show.

Both Matt and Eric bring deep experience from high-level automotive, data, and growth organizations—and in this conversation, they break down w...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Some careers are planned. Others are built through grit, pressure, and pure resilience.

In this episode of What the Fixed Ops?!, we welcome Sheila Pogue, Dealer Marketing Consultant at Dealer OMG, to the show.

Sheila’s journey into the automotive and dealership world didn’t begin in a showroom or service drive — it started in hospitality, managing bars and restaurants before making an unexpected leap into the RV, marine, and dealersh...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Influence matters. Leadership matters. And real sales performance depends on both.

In this episode of What the Fixed Ops?!, we welcome Christian Younggren, sales trainer and founder of Kaizen Automotive Consulting, to the show.

Christian’s journey is rooted in decades inside the dealership world. He started in the car business in 1992 as a salesperson, worked his way through finance and management, and eventually became General Sales...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
AI is advancing fast — but skilled technicians aren’t going anywhere.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/_FWnkP4smlc

Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless. 
Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://calendly.com/don-278. 

BE THE 1ST TO KNOW. LIKE and FOLLOW HERE...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
The moment you think you’ve arrived is the moment you stop growing.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/_FWnkP4smlc

Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless. 
Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://calendly.com/don-278. 

BE THE 1ST TO KNOW. LIKE and FOLLOW HERE 
w...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
If your compensation plan isn’t built for quality, don’t expect to attract it.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/_FWnkP4smlc

Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless. 
Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://calendly.com/don-278. 

BE THE 1ST TO KNOW. LIKE and FO...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
The further you want to go, the more humility matters. Ego stalls growth.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/_FWnkP4smlc

Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless. 
Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://calendly.com/don-278. 

BE THE 1ST TO KNOW. LIKE and FOLLOW ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
You don’t need a perfect past. You need work ethic. In automotive, effort still wins.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/_FWnkP4smlc

Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless. 
Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://calendly.com/don-278. 

BE THE 1ST TO KNOW. LIKE...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Quality isn’t claimed — it’s earned. If you want proven skill, look for ASE.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/_FWnkP4smlc

Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless. 
Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://calendly.com/don-278. 

BE THE 1ST TO KNOW. LIKE and FOLL...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
The data is clear: ASE-certified techs earn more, perform better, and stay longer.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/_FWnkP4smlc

Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless. 
Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://calendly.com/don-278. 

BE THE 1ST TO KNOW. LIKE an...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Your pay plan might be driving short-term wins… and long-term damage. Incentives shape culture.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/_FWnkP4smlc

Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless. 
Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://calendly.com/don-278. 

BE THE 1ST TO ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Forget the stereotypes. The next wave of technicians isn’t lazy or entitled — they’re sharp, capable, and ready.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/_FWnkP4smlc

Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless. 
Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://calendly.com/don-27...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Standards matter. Leadership matters. And the future of fixed ops depends on both.

In this episode of What the Fixed Ops?!, we welcome Dave Johnson, President & CEO of ASE (Automotive Service Excellence), to the show.

Dave’s story is the embodiment of what’s possible in this industry. From growing up farming and ranching in northern Wyoming to a 32-year career with Ford Motor Company — ultimately serving as a global executive ove...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Nick Ruffolo shares how stepping up, owning tasks, and staying ready for the next big opportunity transformed his path in the car business.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/5wVNMGmB6pg 

Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless. 
Schedule your complimentary consultation today....
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Nick shares why department silos create friction and limit growth. A dealership should operate as one team, not separate islands.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/5wVNMGmB6pg 

Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless. 
Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://c...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Nick Ruffolo explains that service specials aren’t just about bringing customers in - they’re tools advisors use to close the deal.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/5wVNMGmB6pg 

Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless. 
Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https:/...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Joy is essential. And it's also elusive. You can't order it, borrow it, or simply hope it into life. But now, there's a new and exciting way to start your journey toward a more joyful existence: The Joy 101 Podcast with Hoda! Best known for her Emmy-winning work and co-anchoring Today, Hoda Kotb infuses her authenticity, curiosity, and warmth into conversations with the world’s most fascinating people. Entertainment legends, sport icons, wellness experts, and everyday folks will share how they find, allow, and experience joy. Hoda will offer her own tips and takes on seeking a more balanced, harmonious life. If you're craving inspiration, support, and useful tools to maximize your joy, tune in to these candid, uplifting, and moving on-air chats. Joy after a breakup, joy as an empty-nester, joy after loss, joy as a caretaker — Hoda's new podcast will speak to you. Joy 101 with Hoda Kotb, an iHeartPodcast.

    Stuff You Should Know

    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.

    Dateline NBC

    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

    Hey Jonas!

    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.

    Betrayal Weekly

    Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices