Ascend Consulting

Ascend Consulting Shop Efficiency Consultant | Diesel Industry Expert Helping Repair Shops Boost Profitability Through Technology, Training & Process Optimization

09/17/2026

Cash flow always beats big revenue.

In this episode of Beyond The Bay Podcast, host Peter Cooper sits down with Joseph Puzur, Owner of AD Truck Service & Repair LLC, to discuss scaling a business, protecting cash flow, avoiding costly mistakes, and building a company that lasts.

Growth can hide dangerous problems.

A customer bringing in thousands each month isn't always your best customer.

One unpaid invoice can erase months of hard work.

A $30,000 lesson taught one simple truth.

Cash flow keeps businesses alive.

Revenue only looks good on paper.

Protect your business before you protect your sales numbers.

The customers who pay on time are the ones who help you grow.

Sometimes the smartest business decision is saying no.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on: https://youtu.be/hx5MhBFGYfQ

09/16/2026

Attitude will always outperform certifications.

In this episode of Beyond The Bay Podcast, host Peter Cooper sits down with Joseph Puzur, Owner of AD Truck Service & Repair LLC, to discuss scaling a diesel repair business, building a winning culture, hiring the right technicians, and why leadership always comes before growth.

The best hires aren't always the most qualified.

They're the ones who are willing to learn.

Every résumé tells you what someone has done.

Their attitude tells you what they're capable of becoming.

Capability. Teachability. The right mindset.

Those three qualities will outperform certifications every single time.

Skills can be developed. Character becomes the culture everyone else follows.

If you want a stronger team, stop hiring out of desperation.

Start hiring for the future you're trying to build.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on: https://youtu.be/hx5MhBFGYfQ

09/15/2026

OEM software is becoming a bigger problem for independent repair shops.

As trucks get more complicated, having the right diagnostic software isn’t optional anymore. But what happens when the OEM controls what repairs you can actually perform?

In this conversation, we talked about the challenges shops are facing with PACCAR and other OEM systems, including situations where even having the diagnostic software isn’t enough to complete an update.

For one shop, the answer has been simple: if a PACCAR truck comes in with a check engine light, they send it to the dealer.

As they put it, “Happy to make this someone else’s problem.”

It’s a funny line, but there’s a serious business lesson behind it. Sometimes knowing what NOT to work on is just as important as knowing what you can fix.

🎙️ Listen to the full conversation: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0SdKB4TerrVDGzjZqX9CHe?si=r7-1EjYXQYaGQsLk45hlqw

09/14/2026

A $4 O-ring and a $30,000 engine shouldn’t have the same markup.

That’s the whole point of a parts pricing matrix.

The mistake I see is trying to use one markup across everything. Tires, filters, gaskets, A/C parts, engines... they all have different costs and different opportunities for margin.

A four-cent O-ring might sell for $4. But you can’t put the same markup on a $30,000 engine and expect the customer to pay it.

You need different matrices for different types of parts.

Yes, it takes some work to set up.

But if you're too busy to work on your parts pricing, you're probably too busy leaving money on the table.

Parts are one of the biggest areas where shops lose profit.

If you’re not paying attention to your parts margins, start there.

Follow us for more practical tips to help you run a more profitable shop.

The story behind Rescue 4 at the Hall of Flame Museum in Phoenix is something no one will ever forget.This fire truck wa...
09/11/2026

The story behind Rescue 4 at the Hall of Flame Museum in Phoenix is something no one will ever forget.

This fire truck was built to carry firefighters into places most people were trying to escape.

On September 11, 2001, Rescue 4 responded to the World Trade Center. The truck survived. The eight firefighters who rode in it did not.

Today, the truck still runs, but its cab stays empty. The names of the men who gave their lives remain with it.

Twenty-five years later, Rescue 4 has a different job.

It reminds us of the people who ran toward danger to help others.

It reminds us of the sacrifice made that day.

And most importantly, it reminds us to never forget.

🇺🇸

09/09/2026

How a $3,000 quarterly bonus stopped Matt's techs from rage-quitting.

Most heavy-duty repair shop owners believe technicians only care about instant gratification. They throw out small weekly or bi-weekly bonuses of $200 or $300 just to keep guys from walking out the door.

When Matt Bean of EMS Truck Repair joined us on the podcast, he shared why he does the exact opposite: paying quarterly bonuses instead.

Here is why paying a $2,000 to $3,000 quarterly check works far better for heavy-duty shops than handing out weekly pocket change:

It breaks the payday-to-payday mindset: Smaller weekly bonuses train your crew to think short-term. A multi-thousand-dollar quarterly payout forces them to look down the road and stay focused on bigger goals.

It stops emotional quitting: When a tech has a bad day or a rough week, weekly bonuses make it easy for them to rage-quit on Friday. When they’re staring down a huge quarterly check, they stick around. By the time the quarter ends, they’ve forgotten what they were mad about in the first place.

It builds real shop stability: You aren't just paying for extra billable hours, you’re conditioning your team to plan ahead and operate like long-term partners in your business.

If you want a stable crew and higher productivity, stop feeding short-term habits and start rewarding real commitment.

🎙️ Want to hear the full conversation?
👉 Listen to the full podcast episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0SdKB4TerrVDGzjZqX9CHe?si=r7-1EjYXQYaGQsLk45hlqw

Too many small shop owners underestimate how much their experience matters.One of the best parts of hosting Beyond The B...
09/08/2026

Too many small shop owners underestimate how much their experience matters.

One of the best parts of hosting Beyond The Bay Podcast is getting to sit down with shop owners who are in the middle of building something.

Dylan Parfitt from Parfitt Truck Repair is a great example.

Dylan told me that being a small shop can sometimes make you feel like you still have a lot to learn before your voice really matters. But you shouldn't feel that way.

You don't have to run a massive operation to have valuable experience. You don't have to have everything figured out. Every shop owner has something they can teach the rest of us.

Dylan shared that our conversation gave his team a chance to see that what they're building matters, even as a small shop. Hearing that meant a lot to me.

That's really what Beyond The Bay is about.

It's not about how big your shop is. It's about the people behind it, the lessons they've learned, and the stories that can help someone else.

If you're a shop owner or industry leader and you'd like me to feature your story, I'd love to have you on the podcast!

Send me a DM đź“© OR book an appointment below đź“…
https://ascendconsulting.help/podcast

09/03/2026

Being the only woman in the garage isn’t a disadvantage.

It can actually become your competitive advantage.

In this episode of Beyond The Bay Podcast, I sit down with Stephanie and Chris Walsh, Owners of Driven Fleet Services, to talk about what it’s like building a business in the fleet repair industry as a non-traditional shop owner, and how Stephanie’s perspective has shaped the way they communicate with customers and their team.

Stephanie shares what it’s like being a female and non-traditional shop owner in an industry where she often stands out.

But standing out is only part of the advantage.

She’s built trust through something even more important: being direct, honest, and willing to have the uncomfortable conversations.

🔧 Give honest feedback, even when it’s difficult
🤝 Address conflict instead of letting it grow
đź“ž Take accountability when something goes wrong
đź’¬ Own mistakes and make things right with customers

Mistakes happen. Problems happen. What matters is how you handle them.

And sometimes, the fastest way to earn respect is simply to tell the truth, take responsibility, and fix the problem.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on: https://youtu.be/4zKC7MjSY0Y

09/02/2026

What if the fear of losing an employee is actually costing you more than losing them?

In this episode of Beyond The Bay Podcast, I sit down with Stephanie and Chris Walsh, Owners of Driven Fleet Services, to talk about their journey from Wall Street and corporate recruiting into the fleet repair industry.

We also talked about something a lot of shop owners struggle with: managing from a place of fear.

Fear of correcting an employee because they might quit.

Fear of investing in training because they might become more valuable and leave.

But what happens if they stay?

What does it cost your shop to keep someone who isn't trained, isn't improving, or keeps making the same mistakes?

Training might cost a few thousand dollars.

Keeping the wrong habits can cost you much more.

You can't build a strong team by being afraid to develop your people.

And if someone eventually leaves with better skills because you invested in them, that's not necessarily a failure.

You helped make them better.

That's part of being a leader.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on: https://youtu.be/4zKC7MjSY0Y

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