From Medallions to Motors: A Family Legacy That Fuels Our Passion
I always get excited when we come across a tactic that helps our ads grab attention faster and get more technicians to apply. This is one of those tactics. Last Friday, I was on a call with long-time client and Technician Find community member @Bruce Weiss where he was kind enough to share his fascinating story about how he got into the automotive industry. Bruce's great-grandfather immigrated to the United States from Poland with a dream. He started by buying medallions to operate taxi cabs in NYC. Through hard work and determination, he amassed a small fleet. But he soon realized that to keep his business running smoothly, he needed to service these vehicles himself. So, he started a repair shop in the Bronx, NY. As a kid, Bruce would visit this shop that was by then run by his grandfather and great uncle and fell in love with the place. The sights, sounds, and smells of the garage ignited a passion within him. He knew he wanted to follow in his family's footsteps and own a shop like the one that his grandfather and great uncle were now running. Bruce attended vo-tech school and honed his skills working for various dealers and independent shops, eventually working his way up the ladder as a manager in the automotive aftermarket. But his ultimate dream was to have his own shop, just like his great-grandfather, grandfather and great uncle. Finally, the day came when Bruce took the leap and bought his own shop, Gerry's Service in 1989. It was a moment of pride, carrying forward a legacy that started with a few taxi medallions and a vision. And to this day he runs it with a core belief that was passed down through three generations... That there is always enough honest work that comes through the shop so we don't have to do anything shady. I'd like to say that we've discovered the secret weapon in recruiting and retaining top technicians but the concept is as timeless as the art of good storytelling. And it's simple: it's your origin story.