Operating Partner, Fixed Operations Director, Coach - David Sparks

Join us as we explore the career journey of David Sparks, a leader whose path in the automotive industry started with detailing, rustproofing, and window tinting and evolved into a deep-rooted passion for technical excellence, leadership, and mentorship.

David’s story is one of continuous learning and adaptation. He transitioned from technician to service advisor, warranty administrator, dispatcher, and ultimately, service manager and fixed-ops director. His experience spans CDJR, Toyota, independent shops, and now Bar Automotive, where he coaches and trains service professionals nationwide.

In this episode, David explains what it takes to thrive in automotive leadership, from technician success to fixed-ops strategy.

He shares practical wisdom on:

👉 Proactive learning is essential: technicians must be responsible for their training and career growth.

👉 Respect and trust fuel operational excellence: leaders who personalize their communication get the best results.

👉 Conflict resolution is a leadership skill: handling technician and advisor challenges effectively builds a stronger team.

This conversation isn’t just about David’s professional journey; it’s a blueprint for automotive professionals looking to turn everyday workplace challenges into opportunities for growth and leadership.

For technicians, mechanics, service advisors, service managers, and fixed ops leaders aiming to increase their impact, develop leadership skills, and improve shop culture, this episode delivers insightful, actionable advice you won’t want to miss.

Let’s get into it.

PS: Always looking for guests and sponsors!

Reach out by email: joshua@justworkhard.com

j.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:30 David Sparks’ Career Journey

05:10 Owning Your Technician Training

08:50 Attitude vs. Aptitude in Growth

12:40 Climbing the Fixed Ops Ladder

17:30 Leadership Through Communication

23:15 Managing Change in the Shop

26:50 Trust and Personal Leadership

29:10 Self-Reflection for Technicians

33:50 90-Day Rule for Career Growth

38:00 Defining Strong Leadership

41:30 Career Planning for Techs

43:10 Final Takeaways and Wrap-Up

David Sparks

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sparks-b6031119/

Michael Barich

https://www.fixedopsdoc.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-barich-75210648/

All Things Fixed Ops Clubhouse - Wednesdays 9 am EST

https://www.clubhouse.com/house/all-things-fixed-operations

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