Car Care Councils Women’s Summer Board Meeting in Boston
The Women’s Board had their summer meeting at the brand new hotel ‘InterContinental Boston’ June 4-5. Talk about a classy hotel with really good food, these women know how to work in style.
The meeting started out by having a Speed Networking Session. They had two rows of chairs facing each other and each AutoGirl has 2.5 min. to introduce herself to her partner, exchange business cards, contacts and information. Then one row would move down a seat and the speed networking would start all over. With over 40 women all talking at once you can be sure the energy was high and the volume was loud. It was a fun way to meet new people and catch up with old friends.
We had great speakers and did a lot of work during our committee meetings. But the highlight of this trip for me was “The Duck Tour.” We were driven around Boston in an authentic World War II amphibious landing vehicle, renovated for sightseeing. It’s kind of big and awkward on land. How we didn’t run into curbs, signs and cars on the narrow streets of Boston is a tribute to our driver. When it splashes into the Charles River and turns into a boat, it is still big and awkward but is really fun to putt-putt along in, especially if you get to drive one like I did.
I thought I was something special until I came home and was bragging to the automotive technicians in my shop about my Duckness, and Jim tells me his 9 year old daughter got to drive a Duck during her class trip to Boston. Well a least the AutoGirls were impressed, and it was way fun being at the helm of a DuckBoat.
We always have great speakers at these meetings. My two favorite speakers were Barry Steinberg, President of Direct Tire & Auto Service, and John Passante of Organizational Development Group.
In this girl’s opinion, Barry Steinberg is “The King” of Independent Tire Sales and Automotive Service. He should become a consultant or write a book when he retires from running his four shops, because he has a great deal to teach this industry about what quality service is and how to implement this in the front end, the back end and how to get the staff to buy into being the best they can be. If you live near Watertown, MA., I would invite you to check out their superior automotive service at www.directtire.com.
{Can you read the sign over the door? “We’ll Fix It So It Brakes” They even have a sense of humor when they explain what they do}
They also have a very cool feature on their website called the Learning Center. You should check it out, there are moving diagrams and explanations on Brakes / Tires & Wheels / Alignment Topics / Suspension Systems.
John Passante is what I would call a motivational speaker. What makes him special is his 30+ years of experience in the Automotive Aftermarket. He has worked in manufacturing, distribution, sales, marketing, human resources and administration. This makes him a valuable consultant and executive coach.
He spoke to us about leadership. How the behavior and method of communication at the top sets the tone of any businesses culture. Leadership is about influencing, impacting and mentoring people to excel and letting them help to make changes that will make a more successful company.
What do you think the Automotive Industry needs in terms of good leadership to turn this industry around?
July 9th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Hi! I am thoroughly impressed with your knowledge of Tire Sales. Your insights into this article about Tire Sales was well worth the the time to read it. I thank you for posting such awsome information. Signed Michelle Johnson on this Day Wednesday.