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 🔥 (23:22) Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or whereever you get your podcasts. More Johnny g & Friends: https://www.tirereview.com/category/video/johnny-g-friends-video/More from Tire Review: www.tirereview.comMore from Firestone: www.firestonetires.com

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