The Greatest Shift in Automotive Careers: Embracing Education and Technology [RR 991]

**Carm Capriotto** (0:02)
This is the Aftermarket Radio Network.
Hey everybody, Carm Capriato. Good to have you here. Remarkable Results Radio nearing in on the 1000th episode of RRR Radio. Glad to have you here. Hey, don't forget, in October, you know, I'm a big, big fan and supporter of Breaks for Breasts, breaksforbreasts.com. It's for the triple negative breast cancer vaccine that they're working on that are in clinical trials. $1.8 million has been raised so far. Started by two shop owner females. Great story behind it. And we've been so lucky to be at the Cleveland Clinic where the check is presented each and every year for the last three years. I am such a fan of this. And I think I know I'm sorry, I don't think I know you need to be involved. breaks4breasts.com. Hey, Tony, Tony Molla, what better guest could I have on here in the heat of the summer in August? I don't know when this episode will go up, but we're recording it at 105 degree temperature in Texas.

**Tony Molla** (1:08)
In Texas. Yeah. Hi, Carm. Great to be here.

**Carm Capriotto** (1:10)
Oh my God. Tony Molla, field manager, ASE Education Foundation, right?

**Tony Molla** (1:15)
Yes. Yes. That's what I'm doing these days, so.

**Carm Capriotto** (1:18)
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Also, thanks to aftermarketmanagementnetwork.com for information that can help you move your business ahead and for the free and informative laborratetracker.com. Tony, you are one of the most incredible survivors that I've gotten to know in the industry. And listen, his resume is so long that it will take a half hour to read it. But let me just give you some highlights. VP of ASA Automotive Service Association for years. Boy, you were technician, service manager, part store manager, new car sales, automotive technical editor, winning awards from Chilton. But one of the most interesting things is about the nine years as editorial director of MotorAge. I hear they're making a big celebration of late.

**Tony Molla** (2:45)
They are, actually. I was just talking with Chris yesterday, as a matter of fact. I have my career library behind me here, and I had some memorabilia from the 100th anniversary of MotorAge. That happened in 1999 It was 1899 The first issue was published. I was actually recruited to go to work for ASE that year, but part of the deal was to wait until the 100th anniversary. I have just enough ego that I wanted to be the editor-in-chief when MotorAge turned 100 But plus, there was a rather large celebration we've been planning all year. I definitely didn't want to miss that. But yeah, they're celebrating 125 years. I believe they're going to have a little event at their booth at Aapex this year. So if you're in the area, look up Chris.

**Carm Capriotto** (3:25)
And many, many other things. Honorary lifetime member of MAX. So look, we are here to talk about one of my favorite topics, and I want to warn my audience. If you turn this off, I am going to know that you did. Some through the power and the magic of the Internet. But we're going to talk about what we have to do to improve our industry by getting involved in education and parents. And I'm telling you, I am so big on this, Tony, that one day people are going to say, Carm, stop it for a moment. I get it. I'm with you. I'll do it. And so, Tony, what's it take to build a skill set in the automotive? And what do we got to do to talk to our darn parents to get their kids involved? Because they do know and love to work with their hands, and not their, you know, they don't want to be lawyers and doctors.

**Tony Molla** (4:12)
Yeah. Well, you know, things are changing, Carm. The people aren't looking at the post-secondary education, we call it, the colleges as much as they used to for a variety of reasons. But I think that we're beginning to realize that there is opportunities on the trade side of the equation. We call it the trade side. I call it new collar instead of blue collar. That came from another individual in the industry. But it's true.