EP 213: What It Really Takes to Become the Best Place to Work

Winning the Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo Best Place to Work Award isn't something that happens by accident. It’s the result of years of intentionally building a culture where people want to come to work, grow, and succeed. In this conversation, Brian and Kim sit down with Matt Mevert of Mevert Automotive & Tire Center to unpack what it really takes to create an award-winning workplace. Matt shares the emotional story behind receiving the recognition, explains why culture has to be designed, not left to chance, and discusses the role core values play in hiring, leadership, accountability, and making difficult personnel decisions. The conversation also explores how great teams are built, why character matters more than technical ability, and how protecting your culture ultimately leads to a stronger business. If you're looking to build an auto repair shop where great employees want to stay and thrive, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Listen now and discover practical leadership lessons you can start applying in your shop today. Show Notes: — Introduction and Guest Welcome: Brian Walker welcomes co-host Kim Walker and introduces Matt Mevert, owner of Mevert Automotive and Tire Center, to discuss leadership and building a strong workplace culture. — Vision’s "Best Place to Work" Award: Kim congratulates Matt on receiving Vision's Best Place to Work award, a recognition made especially meaningful because it was based on nominations from his own employees. — Matt’s Reaction to Winning: Matt reflects on the emotional impact of discovering that his team nominated him, describing it as one of the most rewarding moments of his career. — The Importance of Team Recognition: The conversation emphasizes that recognition from employees carries greater significance than awards chosen by outside organizations because it reflects genuine trust and appreciation. — Designing Workplace Culture Intentionally: Matt explains that a positive workplace culture is never accidental. Strong cultures are built through deliberate leadership, clear expectations, and consistent daily actions. — Developing and Living Core Values: The team discusses how Mevert Automotive created, refined, and integrated its core values into hiring, performance evaluations, decision-making, and everyday interactions. — Hiring for Cultural Fit: While technical skills are important, the hiring process prioritizes candidates whose attitudes, character, and values align with the company's culture to ensure long-term success. — Addressing Toxic High Performers: Matt shares his experience of letting go of a highly productive technician whose negative attitude harmed the team, explaining how removing one toxic employee significantly improved morale and workplace culture. — Building Team Relationships: The shop strengthens team connections by hosting regular team-building events, including summer lake outings and annual Christmas celebrations that encourage employees to bond outside of work. — Employee Appreciation and Recognition: Daily and ongoing recognition plays an important role in the shop's culture. Examples include celebrating birthdays, giving morning shout-outs, and rewarding employees who demonstrate the company's core values. — Measuring Workplace Culture: Matt explains that culture is measured not only by employee satisfaction but also by the level of trust within the organization. A healthy culture allows employees to openly raise concerns, share ideas, and provide honest feedback. — Leadership Insights – Rapid Fire Questions: The episode concludes with a series of leadership-focused questions covering Matt's favorite leadership books, best career advice, daily habits, employee benefits, and practical lessons that have shaped his approach to leading a successful team. How To Get In Touch Join The Auto Repair Marketing Mastermind Group on Facebook   / autorepairmarketingmastermind   Meet The Pros - https://shopmarketingpros.com/meet-th... Follow SMP on Facebook -   / shopmarketingpros   Follow SMP on Instagram -   / shopmarketingpros   Get The Ultimate Guide to Auto Repair Shop Marketing Book - http://shopmarketingpros.com/book Email Us Podcast Questions or Topics - [email protected] Lagniappe (Books, Links, Other Podcasts, etc) The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell - https://www.amazon.com/21-Irrefutable... Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo - https://mwaca.org/events/vision/