Most collision shops don’t fail because of bad technicians; they fail because of a leadership mistake.

In this episode of BodyShop Leaders, host Daniel Burkholder sits down with Rod Cahoy, Business Development Manager at PPG Industries and a 40-year veteran of the collision repair industry, to break down what great leadership actually looks like inside a modern body shop.

Rod shares hard-earned lessons from decades on the shop floor, in sales, and in business development. Including the number one leadership mistake that’s holding collision shops back: expecting results before providing the right time, tools, training, and processes.

You’ll learn:

• Why “we don’t have time to train” is costing shops more than they realize
• How strong processes create better people, not the other way around
• What high-performing shops do differently the moment you walk in
• How leadership has evolved in collision repair over the last 40 years
• Why technology and automation should support your team, not replace it

Whether you’re a shop owner, manager, or future leader, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership, culture, and growth. And give you a practical framework you can apply immediately.

🎧 If your shop feels busy but stuck, this episode is for you.

The BodyShop Leaders Podcast is powered by BodyShop Marketing, the agency helping collision industry leaders grow smarter and lead stronger.

What does it really take to scale a collision repair business without losing your culture, or your people?

In this episode of BodyShop Leaders, Daniel Burkholder sits down with Jordan Beshears, Vice President of Steve’s Auto Body, to unpack the real journey from working on the shop floor to helping lead a growing, multi-location operation.

Jordan shares how hands-on experience shaped his leadership philosophy, why technicians are the soul of the business, and how Steve’s Auto Body used lean thinking and process—not chaos—to fuel sustainable growth. From navigating family-business dynamics to building replicable systems, managing change, and becoming a Tesla-approved collision center, this conversation goes deep into what modern leadership really looks like in collision repair.

If you’re a shop owner or leader thinking about growth, struggling with culture, or trying to lead better from the front—not the office—this episode is packed with insights you can apply immediately.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
•Why leading from the shop floor creates stronger teams and better results
•How lean processes helped Steve’s Auto Body scale with intention
•What most shop owners get wrong about growth and complacency
•How to support technicians while improving production and profitability
•What it truly means to be a BodyShop Leader

The BodyShop Leaders Podcast is powered by BodyShop Marketing, the agency helping collision industry leaders grow smarter and lead stronger.

What does it really take to build a collision repair business that lasts—not just financially, but culturally?

In this powerful episode of BodyShop Leaders, host Daniel Burkholder sits down with Dave Dunn, founder of Dave’s Auto Body in Galesburg, Illinois, and co-founder of the Master’s School of Autobody Management—one of the most influential educators in the collision repair industry.

Dave shares his journey from a high school dropout and struggling 19-year-old shop owner to building one of the most respected body shops in the country, retiring from day-to-day operations by age 29, and helping thousands of shop owners lead better businesses.

This conversation goes far beyond tactics. Dave breaks down the core principles that allowed his shop to thrive for nearly five decades—including:

• Why culture starts with something as simple as a clean floor
• How to build a team that works for more than just money
• The power of quarterly employee reviews (and why avoiding pay conversations is a mistake)
• How to step out of the shop without losing control (yes—he literally rolled his toolbox out)
• What “Principles over Policies” really means through his Liquid Amalgam philosophy
• How palm trees, gator sauce, and a “purple cow” mindset helped his shop dominate local mindshare
• Why hiring for character over skill is non-negotiable in today’s technician shortage

If you’re a shop owner who wants to stop being the bottleneck, build a team you’re proud of, and create a business that can thrive without burning you out—this episode is required listening.

🔗 Guest Contact

Dave Dunn
📧 dave@masters-school.com

The BodyShop Leaders Podcast is powered by BodyShop Marketing, the agency helping collision industry leaders grow smarter and lead stronger.