Ratchet+Wrench Announces New Columnists, Advisory Board Lineups for 2024

Nov. 14, 2023

Industry-leading automotive trade magazine to incorporate fresh voices and perspectives from around the auto care industry to kick off the new year.

Ratchet+Wrench Staff Reporters

Ratchet+Wrench will bring new expertise into its pages and online for 2024 with the introduction of two new columnists and an updated Editorial Advisory Board. These exciting changes reflect the growth of professional perspectives that help drive key strategies and intelligence for Ratchet+Wrench readers.

Beginning in January 2024, readers can enjoy new monthly columns from Kathleen Callahan, owner of Xpertech Auto Repair in Florida. Callahan, who has owned her shop for 20 years, is the 2018 Women in Auto Care Shop Owner of the Year and has been nationally recognized by AAA as Silver Small Shop for 2021 and 2023 and Gold Small Shop for 2022. She is deeply committed to advancing the automotive aftermarket, and as of late, testified on Right to Repair on Capitol Hill. Callahan is passionate about developing people and creating thriving shop cultures.

“I look forward to contributing the wisdom I’ve gained over the last 20 years in shop ownership by sharing my experience and knowledge to help shop owners and their staff members soar to heights they never dreamed possible.”

Also debuting in 2024 is new Ratchet+Wrench columnist R. “Dutch” Silverstein, president of A&M Auto Service in North Carolina. Silverstein, who is an Accredited Automotive Manager from the Automotive Management Institute, is a former airline captain who started A&M in a single bay behind a body shop and has been in the auto care industry for over 25 years. He brings a strong background in technical writing, financial literacy and building customer-centric relationships. He is known for being blunt and unapologetic in his opinions, especially in the realm of business ethics.

“I look forward to offering some perspectives that the Ratchet+Wrench reader may not have considered before and to promote reasoned and sometimes impassioned discussion about the direction and development of our trade,” Silverstein said.

Callahan and Silverstein will be featured both in Ratchet+Wrench print and online. The roster of expert columnists continues exclusively at ratchetandwrench.com with contributions from Greg Bunch, founder of Transformers Institute; Mike Bennett, executive coach at Automotive Training Institute; and Victor Broski, service advisor at Newport Motorsports.

Ratchet+Wrench extends a big thank you to outgoing columnists Aaron Stokes and Joe Marconi, who provided expert commentary and insight into shop management, culture and service each month for years.

Editorial Advisory Board

The editorial staff at Ratchet+Wrench works with an Editorial Advisory Board, made up of leading shop owners, to stay up-to-date on news, strategies and best practices happening right now in shop bays.

Beginning in 2024, the Ratchet+Wrench Editorial Advisory Board members are: