Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dave Guthrie. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dave, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career
Growing up I always had an affinity to take things apart and discover how they worked. Of course more often I failed to put them back together though. My mother recalls a time when she was picking me up from school to discover I was thoroughly infatuated by the custodian fixing the water fountain. This would later manifest into an apprenticeship at a local automotive repair shop. Growing up I often struggled maintaining interest in school. That was until I enrolled at my local automotive technology training center. It was there that I quickly developed a foundation that would carry me throughout an eclectic career as an automotive technician to a current day shop owner.
It is often presumed that the typical path of education requires the standard 4 year college degree accompanied by an office job. Yet there are an estimated 7 million jobs available according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The vast majority of which do not require a 4 year degree nor student loans.
Experiencing the moment of discovery at the end of a complex diagnosis is beyond euphoric. And while it is often misinterpreted as the highlight. The only way to achieve that feeling is through the endurance of continual challenges. My goal is not simply to fix one car. It is to fix as many as possible. Orchestrating a spectacular team encompasses this as I would humbly not be able to achieve what we have alone.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
The automotive industry has a long standing reputation for using cryptic nomenclature and terminology to detail the automotive diagnostic and repair process. Throughout my career I have seen thousands of inspection reports that leave both vehicle owners and myself clueless. Breaking down the barrier of automotive repair has long been something I have been very passionate about. This is why I have worked to produce in person educational automotive events as well as digital content to further educate and encourage more people to take part in the repair process.
Simply Subaru’s is an independent Subaru specialist shop located in Arvada Colorado that performs everything from routine maintenance to aftermarket performance modifications. We have developed around a core fundamental that every Subaru owner is unique. From the adventure driven enthusiast, the passionate motorsports enthusiasts, or simply getting home safely. We are here for all your Subaru needs. We understand that whilst auto repair can sometimes be unexpected. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
In 2014 I moved to Colorado to manage a local auto repair shop. Upon learning what it took to run a successful shop I was further motivated to continue to be challenged. This would lead to taking a position at another shop with the aspirations to develop similar results. Due to misalignment of ideas; I impromptly decided to cash out what I had saved in my retirement plan (30K), and open up shop inside of my 2 car garage at home.
My tenure in the automotive industry has of course shaped how I run my shop. One whose values are built around the people they serve and not just the customers. The backbone of any business is the individuals who make it. I am equally proud to not only provide a service to the local community but to enable each of my amazing employees the opportunities to reach their goals.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
From talking with customers to working on cars. I am often undertaking several roles throughout any given day. The individuals who have inspired me throughout my career were predominantly the same and demonstrated congruent values. One of the most important roles of a leader is to understand the unique potential of each individual. Entrusting each of them to make mistakes through challenges only furthers to build confidence and resilience. I would rather hire someone who challenges me and presents alternative solutions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.simplysubarus.com
- Instagram: Simply_Subarus
- Facebook: Simply Subaru’s
Image Credits
austin day videography