2018 Ratchet+Wrench Management Conference Day One Recap

Sept. 21, 2018
The first day of the 2018 Ratchet+Wrench Management Conference began with an opening keynote and kickoff party.

September 21, 2018—The first day of the 2018 Ratchet+Wrench Management Conference took place in Lombard, Ill., with a sold-out attendance.

The day started with an opening keynote speech by Joe Marconi, owner of Osceola Garage and  Ratchet+Wrench columnist. Marconi delivered the first "How I Did it" speech in a series that carries over throughout the event's Ratchet+Wrench Talks. 

Presentation topics in the afternoon included "The Apprenticeship Blueprint", "The Keys to Effective Rebranding" and "Mastering the Client Experience". Rissy Sutherland, industry entrepreneur and Ratchet+Wrench columnist, presented the second "How I Did It" talk on her career opening more than 400 shops.

Other presenters included Leigh Anne Best, owner of Mighty Auto Pro; Donny Seyfer, owner of Seyfer Automotive; Brian Weeks, owner of Auto Center; and Brian Sump, owner of Avalon Motorsports/Urban Autocare.

The day ended with a cocktails and networking hour and Kickoff Party, which was sponsored by Ford Motorcraft. 

Sponsored Recommendations

Valvoline Partner Solutions

We arm you with products that build trust, tools that unlock productivity, and training that drives business performance, so you feel confident in where your...

Grow the business you know

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Solutions that drive results

Connect with Valvoline experts to increase operational efficiency and customer loyalty – from Valvoline-funded promotions to hands-on training, we’re here to...

Free Resources for Shops Like Yours

View insights, research and solutions curated specifically for shops like yours.