Ken Stafford spent decades in the collision world, sold his business, and tried retirement. It did not stick. What started as a small “keep busy” shop quickly turned into something bigger, especially once Chris Oatman came in and Ken handed him the keys to run day to day.
In this episode, Ken and Chris unpack how Next Auto Care in Highlands Ranch, Colorado grew from a side operation into a real business with a real team. They talk about what it takes to scale without losing quality, including hiring with culture in mind, creating trust through consistency, and adding layers of support that most shops skip.
You will also hear the “next level service” details that customers actually notice, like mini detail touches after the repair, plus a dedicated quality control role to help prevent comebacks and protect the customer experience.
If you want a clearer picture of how to grow steadily, stay people first, and build a shop where customers and employees want to stick around, this one is worth your time.
Links:
Honest Mechanic Marketing (HMM): https://honestmechanicmarketing.com/
Next Auto Care: https://nextautocare.com/