Tony O’Billovich is the leader of the Master Shop Program for Point S Tire USA. With decades of experience running and growing multiple tire and auto repair locations, Tony has seen firsthand the challenges that overwhelm shop owners and the strategies that turn things around. His focus on profitability, leadership, and people development has helped shop owners across the country regain control of their businesses, their time, and their confidence.

In this episode…

What happens when everyday challenges in the tire and auto repair world start to feel overwhelming? According to Tony O’Billovich, the key to taking back control isn’t working harder, it’s learning to lead smarter.

From raising labor rates without fear to building systems that reduce stress, Tony shares practical lessons that help shop owners stop feeling like their business is running them. He explains how profitability isn’t something to feel guilty about, but a powerful tool to invest in employees, improve customer trust, and grow stronger teams.

The conversation also dives into the importance of leadership and delegation. By training staff and empowering them to take on responsibility, shop owners can step back from micromanaging and focus on growth. For many, this shift leads to working less, earning more, and building businesses that thrive long-term.

Finally, Tony highlights how community and collaboration play a role in success. Through Point S and its cooperative model, shop owners find mentorship, support, and the ability to grow while preserving the legacies they’ve worked so hard to build.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[02:04] How Tony entered the tire and auto repair industry and scaled multiple locations

[03:06] What Point S is and how its co-op model empowers independent shop owners

[05:18] The story of a daughter who took over her father’s shop and found success

[07:01] The biggest challenges Tony sees when walking into struggling stores

[08:27] Why shop owners hesitate to raise prices — and what really happens when they do

[11:26] How courtesy inspections improve customer trust and educate clients

[13:52] Why positioning as a one-stop shop makes life easier for both customers and owners

[15:33] What makes Point S unique as a brand and why members describe it as “family”

[17:41] How the “555” growth plan is shaping the future of Point S across the U.S.

[19:28] The new mentor program for shop owners and how it supports growth

[20:53] Tony’s coaching style and how he helps owners regain confidence

[22:20] Why delegating and training employees leads to working less and earning more

[24:30] Tony’s personal motto: “Polite, honest, direct” and why clarity matters in leadership

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Point S Tire Website
• Tread Partners
• Mike Edge on LinkedIn
• Gain Traction Podcast on YouTube
• Gain Traction Podcast

Quotable Moments:

• “Profitability is a healthy thing, it allows you to reinvest in your people and your business.”
• “If you raise your labor rate, chances are customers won’t even notice but your business will thrive.”
• “Clarity is charity. Be polite, be honest, and be direct.”
• “When you grow your people, your life as a shop owner gets easier.”
• “The most successful shops aren’t run by micromanagers, they’re led by owners who trust and train their teams.”

Action Steps:

1. Reevaluate your pricing: Are you competitively priced in your market? Don’t avoid necessary adjustments out of fear.
2. Implement courtesy inspections: Use them to build trust, educate customers, and increase profitability.
3. Set clear expectations: Ensure every employee knows their responsibilities and has the tools to succeed.
4. Invest in your team: Train, delegate, and empower employees to take on more responsibility.
5. Find a support system: Explore cooperative models and mentorship opportunities to grow without losing your shop’s legacy.

Tyler Paparello is the Chief Operating Officer at AMG, overseeing 28 Midas locations across New England. With a background rooted in sales, Tyler learned early on that while selling can solve short-term problems, it takes leadership, people, and process to scale a business sustainably. Today, he focuses on building systems that empower employees, earn customer trust, and create long-term growth opportunities across the organization.

In this episode…

What happens when a company grows faster than one person can manage? For Tyler Paparello, it meant learning a lesson every leader eventually faces: you can’t sell your way out of every challenge. Leadership in business growth requires more than talent for closing deals; it’s about building teams, developing people, and creating processes that work at scale.

On this episode of Gain Traction, Mike Edge welcomes Tyler for a candid conversation about transitioning from sales-driven success to people-first leadership. Tyler shares how his early sales experience shaped the way he runs operations at 28 Midas shops, and why he believes employees are the foundation of long-term success. He also explains how customer trust, retention, and perception directly impact growth and why focusing on people, not profit, is the true path to sustainable business leadership.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[01:27] Tyler’s career background and how he got started at Midas

[02:47] The mantra that guides his leadership philosophy

[04:04] How digital vehicle inspections (DVIs) influence customer trust and sales

[05:21] Why storytelling makes DVIs more effective in customer communication

[08:03] Why the auto repair industry struggles with customer trust

[09:48] Using Net Promoter Score (NPS) to capture authentic customer feedback

[13:09] Tyler’s transition from sales to leadership as AMG scaled

[15:08] The impact of tariffs on pricing and operations

[18:35] A sales story that shows the power of honesty in business

[21:36] Tyler’s love for New Haven pizza — and why he calls it the best in the country

[25:33] Future growth plans for AMG and the career opportunities they create

[27:47] Why promoting from within drives retention and strengthens leadership culture

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Tyler Paparello on LinkedIn
• Midas’ Website
• Tread Partners
• Mike Edge on LinkedIn
• Gain Traction Podcast on YouTube
• Gain Traction Podcast

Quotable Moments:

• “You can’t sell your way out of 20 stores’ problems, you have to lead.”
• “It always comes back to people. Employees and customers are the foundation of success.”
• “Perception is reality: How you present pricing matters as much as the price itself.”
• “Processes and systems create consistency, and consistency builds trust.”
• “Leadership in business growth starts with investing in your team, not chasing profit.”

Action Steps:

1. Invest in people, not just sales results: Focus on developing employees and promoting from within to build loyalty and leadership.
2. Leverage digital tools like DVIs and NPS: Use technology to strengthen trust, gather feedback, and improve customer experience.
3. Rethink how you handle pricing: Present costs with confidence to reinforce value rather than apologizing for them.
4. Build systems that scale: Processes, not one-off fixes, drive sustainable growth.
5. Keep people at the center: Customers and employees must remain the priority, profit follows when people are cared for.

Christian Seem is the President & CEO of Good Turn Tire & Auto, a rapidly growing tire and auto repair company with 55 locations and 16 brands across five states. With nearly 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, Christian has worked in big box retail, commercial parts distribution, and tire retail, including leadership roles at TBC Corporation. Since joining Good Turn in 2023, he has led aggressive expansion while preserving the local brand names, cultures, and community trust that give each store its value. His leadership philosophy focuses on building strong teams, protecting brand equity, and scaling with integrity, essential qualities for any tire dealer or auto repair shop owner aiming for sustainable growth.

Scaling a tire brand is no easy feat especially if your goal is to protect decades of customer loyalty, brand equity, and community relationships. How do you grow without erasing what made the business successful in the first place?

In this episode of the Gain Traction Podcast, Christian Seem shares the strategies Good Turn Tire & Auto uses to expand while keeping each store’s unique name, culture, and customer connection intact.

From standardizing point-of-sale systems, vendor relationships, and key performance indicators to creating a unified marketing approach, Christian outlines the operational backbone needed to scale effectively in the tire and auto repair industry. But beyond systems, he emphasizes a truth every shop owner should remember: "People are the foundation of any successful expansion."

He also shares Good Turn’s “high speed, low drag” integration process, which ensures smooth transitions during acquisitions, supports employees, and safeguards the trust customers have in their local shop.

If you’re looking for a proven blueprint for tire dealer growth strategies that balance expansion with brand preservation, this conversation delivers valuable insights you can apply to your own business.

[02:05] Christian’s background and entry into the automotive industry

[04:16] From 49th to 26th in the top 100 independent tire dealers

[05:20] Good Turn’s acquisition approach for independent tire dealers

[07:55] Why preserving local brand names beats rebranding

[08:39] How scaling boosts buying power for tire and auto repair shops

[09:19] Traits of high-performing shops Good Turn seeks out

[12:31] Protecting an owner’s legacy during an acquisition

[14:08] How sellers can connect with Good Turn Tire & Auto

[15:40] Christian’s leadership mantras for growth and success

[18:49] When owners sell but remain actively involved

[20:10] The significance of Christian’s favorite movie, Braveheart

[23:44] “High speed, low drag” integration philosophy explained

[23:59] Christian’s bucket list and future aspirations

• Goodturn Tire & Auto
• Christian Seem on LinkedIn
• Contact Goodturn Tire & Auto
• Gain Traction Podcast Episode #143: The Art of Scaling Integrity in the Tire Business With Seth Sands of Goodturn Tire & Auto
• Tread Partners
• Gain Traction Podcast
• Mike Edge on LinkedIn

• “As long as we’re doing the right thing, the results will follow.”
• “The name on the sign matters, customers recognize it, and employees are proud of it.”
• “People are the foundation of any successful expansion.”
• “High speed, low drag; get through integrations quickly and with minimal disruption.”
• “We respect what came before us. Our job is to make it stronger, not erase it.”

1. Preserve local brand identity when expanding to maintain customer loyalty and community trust.
2. Standardize operational systems (POS, vendors, KPIs) for efficiency and scalability.
3. Evaluate team strength before acquisition to ensure a strong people foundation.
4. Invest in staff development to retain top talent and drive long-term success.
5. Adopt a streamlined integration process to minimize disruption and keep customer relationships intact.

Jesse Wickel is the owner of Wickel Tire Pros in Burley, Idaho. A former farmer with deep roots in agriculture, Jesse built his business from a single tire shop into a multi-location operation generating over $26 million in annual sales. With a hands-on approach, a strong community presence, and a commitment to relationship-driven service, Jesse has grown his team from just a few employees to over 80 across multiple locations, all while maintaining his small-town values.

How do you take a rural tire shop doing $1.2 million in annual sales and scale it to over $26 million in just seven years? According to Jesse Wickel, it starts with relationships; with your customers, your employees, and your community.

On this episode of Gain Traction, Mike Edge sits down with Jesse to talk about how his background in farming helped shape his mindset around service, hard work, and leadership. Jesse explains why growing in a rural market requires more than just good pricing; it takes trust, reliability, and genuine connection. From opening day to serving 8,000 hot dogs at their expansion event, his story is packed with authenticity and grit.

Jesse also shares his people-first philosophy: that success isn’t measured in number of locations or fleet trucks, but in whether employees are happy, families are thriving, and customers feel truly taken care of. Whether you’re running a farm or a tire shop, Jesse believes the formula for success is simple: work hard, stay humble, and build real relationships.

• [01:31] Jesse shares how he was drawn into farming after college out of necessity
• [03:26] How the opportunity to buy a small tire shop came unexpectedly
• [04:59] How Jesse's business grew from a $1.2M operation to 80 employees and multiple locations
• [07:09] What Jesse enjoys about working in the tire industry
• [10:15] Jesse opens up about his family life
• [13:13] Jesse’s goals for the business over the next few years
• [16:26] What guiding principle does Jesse live by and share with other shop owners?
• [17:54] How does Jesse find employees for his growing business?
• [23:17] Jesse talks about his strong relationship with Titan International

• Wickel Tire Pros https://wickeltirepros.com/
• Titan International https://www.titan-intl.com/
• Tread Partners https://treadpartners.com/
• Gain Traction Podcast https://gaintractionpodcast.com/
• Gain Traction Podcast Episode #187: The Council That’s Quietly Shaping the Future of the Auto Industry https://gaintractionpodcast.com/the-council-thats-quietly-shaping-the-future-of-the-auto-industry/

• “Our customers aren’t buying tires, they’re buying from people they trust.”
• “If we take care of our employees and their families, the rest will follow.”
• “Success isn’t how many shops we have, it’s how well our team is doing.”
• “In a small town, everyone knows your name. You’ve got to earn that trust every day.”
• “We didn’t know we’d serve 8,000 hot dogs at our grand opening… but we did.”

1. Invest in relationships: Treat every customer like a neighbor, not a transaction.
2. Measure what matters: Focus on family, team morale, and service, not just revenue.
3. Create workplace wins: Support your team in hitting personal and professional milestones.
4. Involve your community: Make them part of your journey and growth.
5. Hire early, hire right: Seek people who want to work and grow, not just fill a spot.