Carol Badaracco Padgett

Atlanta

Journalist at Freelance

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Articles

Charting Their Courses in Collision Repair

1 month ago | fenderbender.com | Carol Badaracco Padgett

What began as a journey toward a first job ended up being a career destination for five women currently working in the collision repair industry. And hands down, they say there’s nowhere else they would rather be. Read on to learn firsthand how the industry is embracing their expertise in positions of every make and model. Gracie Sims graduated high school in May 2023 in her hometown of Bristol, Tennessee.
5 Tactics for Running a Rock-Solid Lube Shop in 2025

Jan 29, 2025 | noln.net | Carol Badaracco Padgett

It’s no secret that New Year’s resolutions can be notoriously short-lived. This applies to professional life, too, where it takes smart planning and ongoing monitoring to keep your business in top form for another strong trip around the sun. This is how Brian Morrison, a quick lube owner and operator in the Carolinas, starts the process: “We have an end-of-year wrap-up with each store’s manager, looking back at the previous year and seeing if we hit our targets.
Don’t Let Your Data Leave You in the Dust

Nov 25, 2024 | noln.net | Carol Badaracco Padgett

Would you rather wave to potential customers as they whiz past your quick lube or greet them as they pull into the business? According to Justin Rae, the CEO and founder of data-driven, multi-channel marketing campaign creator Cinch, based in Draper, Utah, too many quick lube shops are choosing to wave. The Backstory Rae has an affinity for two things: data—of course—and small businesses. When he learned about Google’s data-driven algorithms in a college course on consumer behavior, he was riveted.
The Keys to Promoting Powerful Performers

Nov 21, 2024 | noln.net | Carol Badaracco Padgett

“The right person will show you when they’re ready.” That’s one ultra-powerful nugget of shop promotion wisdom from Oil Changers’ Territory Director Kevin Treder, who’s based in the San Francisco Bay area and oversees 38 locations across 10 states. That said, Treder notes that the variables affecting promotion will be a bit different for every business. “It depends on the business size and model,” he states.
From Bay to Boss

Sep 4, 2024 | noln.net | Carol Badaracco Padgett

Sidney, Montana, is an oasis of about 6,300 people, and is less than 10 miles west of the North Dakota border. With oil fields resting all around, the three-bay Quick Change Oil draws from a steady stream of work vehicles and fleet trucks. In 2023, owner Frank Saalfeld decided it was time to retire from the business he built from the ground up.
CPR for Your Shop’s Customer Service

Sep 3, 2024 | noln.net | Carol Badaracco Padgett

When a customer drives up to your business, does their day get smoother or bumpier? Every shop owner knows what they want the answer to be. But the customer’s experience can depend on so many different factors. Here’s a five-point customer service checklist from two quick lube owners—Shane Burton, a multi-location owner with three Jiffy Lube Twin Falls in Twin Falls, Idaho, and other locations in various states, and Damian Fox, owner of independent Foxy Fast Lube in Willimantic, Connecticut.
When Disaster Befalls the Quick Lube

Sep 3, 2024 | noln.net | Carol Badaracco Padgett

David Willett is co-founder and chief underwriting officer for Spark Underwriters, an insurance company that specializes in protecting businesses in the auto industry. If a storm, fire, or other occurrence damages a quick lube owner’s property, it’s the job of the Spark team to help get the location up and running again as quickly and painlessly as possible. There’s a reason why Willett and his colleagues are especially passionate about this job: because they know it well.
Casting director Kimberly Wistedt gets her close-up

Jul 2, 2024 | ajc.com | Carol Badaracco Padgett

This story was originally published by ArtsATL. Film and TV casting director Kimberly Wistedt believes she always wanted to be in casting, even before she knew exactly what it was. “In college at the University of Florida, I was a stage manager in the theater department. Even though I liked acting classes, I didn’t want to be in the spotlight,” she says.
Create an Ecosystem of Success

Jul 1, 2024 | noln.net | Carol Badaracco Padgett

Numbers don’t lie. If a quick lube or repair shop’s employees aren’t working well together, the bottom line takes a hit. How can an owner keep their business from getting punched? Cultivate an ecosystem of success, says David Rogers, chief operations manager of Keller Bros. in Littleton, Colorado, an 11-bay repair shop that includes four lube bays, in business since 1974. Clearly, Rogers’ formula—created alongside owner Terry Keller—works. “In 1999, Keller Bros.
Strategic Networking: The Ultimate Power Move

Jul 1, 2024 | noln.net | Carol Badaracco Padgett

When you hear the words “meeting” or “conference,” do you get the urge to jump into the bay, shut your office door, or simply drive away? If so, you may want to stop, because attendance at select meetings and conferences can actually help your business thrive.