How Judi Haglin is Always Learning to Lead

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Read time: 3 min

At Haglin Automotive, we’ve picked up new ideas and found new ways of doing things over the years. We’re always looking, we’re always helping, we’re always training, and we’re always learning. We’re lifelong learners.

“You want your team to be a family. You have to be there for each other.”

We pay for lunch every Friday for our team meeting. Sometimes we have a meeting, but sometimes we just eat together and have a good time.

It’s important to always treat your employees like family. You want to get to know them on a personal level, listen to what their goals are, and help them reach their dreams.

We want to give each of our employees a career path. Whether they want a house, kids, retirement, anything, you can always ask yourself how you can help them get there. You want your team to be a family. You have to be there for each other.

Over the fall I planted a few pumpkin seeds and was expecting only a handful of pumpkins. But, to my surprise, we ended up with a whole pumpkin patch.

There were at least 60 pumpkins in our yard. So what we ended up doing was inviting our team over to do a pumpkin patch event. It was really fun.

Our team brought their kids and we did a pumpkin carving contest. It was a blast, and we all got to talk and get to know one another on a more meaningful level.   

“We want to give our team a clear path.” 

We find people who are interested in learning auto repair and we teach them the trade.

Not everyone who walks through the door needs 30 years of auto repair experience. We focus on bringing our team up. 

And as they climb the ladder, we train them on our shop’s values, our shop’s culture, who we all are as a team, and who I am as a business owner. 

We also teach them The Haglin Way:

Honesty and Integrity

Do the right thing in every action we take. Build on the foundation of being honest.

Do What Is Right—Every Time

All services recommended will be in the best interest of the customer, the vehicle, and the company.

Family 

Treat our employees and clients as our family. Strive to understand their situations and needs, and to exceed their expectations.

Everything Speaks

Lead by example and show your excellence. Everything has your signature. Sign in bold ink.

Bring It—Every Day

Approach every task with energy, focus, purpose and enthusiasm. 

Personal Growth

Empower each individual to grow and change, creating synergy and excitement while enriching their lives and realizing their own personal potential.

Technology and Industry

We work in an industry of constant change. The better and faster we are at adapting to change, the stronger and more successful we become as individuals and as a company.

At Haglin Automotive, our culture is taking care of everybody: our customers, our community, and our team. We want to give our team a clear path—they can make money in this industry, they can be taken care of, and they can take vacations.

“We celebrate all wins. We want to build each other up.”

Our crew’s hard work pays off. We raise our labor rates when we can. Last year, we gave everyone a 10% raise. Just recently, one of my employees said to me, “This is the first time I haven’t had to live paycheck to paycheck.”

That is our goal at the shop. We want our team to make a good living. We celebrate all wins. We want to build each other up. 

If one of our employees, or anyone we know for that matter needs help, we support them however we can. It’s like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

If your basic needs aren’t met, then we are unable to meet other needs. We want our employees to have the ability to be the best possible versions of themselves. 

If someone is struggling, we’ll be there. We don’t want our employees to have to live paycheck to paycheck. It all goes back to hiring the right people, right personalities, right goals, and right mindsets. Hire the right people, and you and your team can do amazing things together.

“If you want to be a better leader, you have to become a better learner.”

If you're having problems with your staff or your crew, you need to look in the mirror and ask yourself: 

  • What does teamwork look like in our shop? 
  • What's the culture at the shop like?
  • What am I doing? What am I not doing? 
  • What are we not doing correctly? 
  • How can we make improvements? 

You have to really take a hard look at yourself and answer those questions. If you want to be a better leader, you have to become a better learner. 

Judi’s Top Books On Leadership

FAQ

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Running a repair shop takes more than turning wrenches. It’s booking appointments, reminding customers to show up, following up on declined jobs – all while keeping bays full and the front office running smoothly.

But for most shops, staying connected with customers feels like a second job. Some rely on a patchwork of booking tools, texting apps, and review platforms. Others don’t follow up at all. Either way, things slip through the cracks. The result? Missed appointments, lost revenue, and customers who never return.

That’s why we built Tekmetric Marketing.

Not another system to learn. Not another login to juggle. It’s built right into Tekmetric, the platform you already trust to run your shop. With online booking, reminders, campaigns, follow-ups, reviews, and even a professional website all in one place, Tekmetric Marketing helps you keep customers engaged and loyal automatically – without piling more work on your plate. And it’s designed so anyone on your team can use it. No marketing expertise required.

More Cars. Higher ARO. Steady Repeat Business.

Every repair order holds untapped potential. A declined brake job today can turn into tomorrow’s revenue. A routine oil change can become the start of a long-term relationship.

Tekmetric Marketing makes sure those opportunities don’t slip away. Customers can book online 24/7, filling bays while you sleep. Automated reminders cut down on no-shows and keep the calendar steady. Follow-ups on declined jobs and maintenance turn “not today” into approved work. Seasonal campaigns help you bring customers back when business slows.

And if your shop doesn’t have a website, Tekmetric can build one for you, giving customers one more way to find you, book online, and keep your bays full.

As Ryan Froats of Yorktown Auto Care put it:
“As an independently-owned shop, dedicating resources towards outreach and follow-up can be challenging. Tekmetric Marketing allows me to communicate with my customer base in a variety of ways, without tying up hours of my work week.”

That’s the difference between a full schedule and an empty bay. Between a one-time job and a loyal customer.

Turn Great Service Into Lasting Loyalty

Great service doesn’t stop when the car leaves the bay. Tekmetric Marketing makes it really easy to keep the relationship going. Post-visit follow-ups that check in with customers after service, showing you care and helping you catch issues early. Review requests that boost your reputation on Google, making it easier for new customers to find and trust you. Private feedback that gives you valuable insights to improve service and address concerns before they go public

Together, these touchpoints build trust, strengthen relationships, and turn satisfied customers into loyal advocates.

One Platform. No Missed Messages.

Because Tekmetric Marketing lives inside Tekmetric, all customer communication flows through one platform – from estimates and approvals to reminders, follow-ups, and promotions. No more bouncing between systems or wondering what’s been sent. Everything is tied to the customer profile, making communication clear, consistent, and professional.

Tekmetric Marketing also works in sync with your shop’s calendar, repair orders, and payments. Bookings instantly block off availability. Reminders align with scheduled work. Everything just works without syncing headaches or double entry.

And here’s the best part: Tekmetric Marketing is designed for busy shop owners and front office staff. It’s easy to set up, runs automatically in the background, and helps you grow your business without adding more to your to-do list – or requiring a marketing degree.

As Corey Hansen of Hansen Auto Repair shared:
“It’s so convenient having everything in one place, right inside Tekmetric. I already have Tekmetric open for managing the shop and invoicing, so I don’t have to switch tabs or log into something else to engage with my customers. Having it all together just makes things faster—and for me, saving time is huge.”

Auto Repair. Done Right.

Tekmetric has always been the all-in-one platform that helps shops run better — from managing repairs to taking payments. Now, with Tekmetric Marketing, it’s also the platform that helps you grow faster, keep customers loyal, and deliver a better experience at every turn.

Turn every visit into the next one. With Tekmetric Marketing, it happens automatically.


👉 [Request a Demo Here]

Introducing Tekmetric Marketing: Keep Customers Coming Back, Automatically

September 30, 2025

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We’re proud to share that the Tekmetric Mobile App has been named a winner of the 2025 MOTOR Top 20 Award, an honor that recognizes the 20 most innovative and impactful tools and technologies shaping the automotive industry.

For decades, the MOTOR Top 20 Awards have been a benchmark for excellence, celebrating advancements that help technicians work more efficiently and shop owners operate more profitably. To be included on this list is a powerful acknowledgment of our team’s commitment to solving real challenges for repair shops

The Tekmetric Mobile App was designed to make shop management easier and more effective. By streamlining workflows, enhancing communication, and providing shop owners with the real-time insights, the app equips teams to deliver a better customer experience while running a more profitable business..

Tek-Tip: Learn more about the Tekmetric Mobile App. Now available in the Apple and Google App stores.

This recognition wouldn’t be possible without the thousands of shop owners, service advisors, and technicians who share their feedback with us every day. Your trust pushes us to keep improving, and this award reflects both your partnership and our team’s dedication to moving the industry forward.

As we look ahead, we are more motivated than ever to build solutions that give repair shops the horsepower to grow, the efficiency to scale, and the tools to deliver service with confidence. 

To learn more about the MOTOR Awards and view the 2025 Top 20 Awards, visit https://www.motor.com/2025/09/motor-announces-2025-top-20-awards-winners/

About Tekmetric

Tekmetric, the leading auto repair technology company, improves auto repair shops through the relentless pursuit of innovation. Tekmetric’s all-in-one cloud-based auto repair platform, including shop management, payments, marketing, technology integrations, and real-time data, empowers auto repair shops nationwide. With Tekmetric, shop owners can create transparency, enhance productivity, increase profitability, and deliver a superior customer experience for vehicle owners.

Tekmetric Mobile App Wins 2025 MOTOR Top 20 Award

September 4, 2025

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We’re excited to announce that Tekmetric now supports the new Nexpart Multi-Seller integration! This new integration gives Tekmetric customers one-click access to your entire supply chain. Now it’s easier than ever to build detailed estimates and find the right parts & tires from ALL of your suppliers on ONE screen.

The Largest Parts Network in The Industry

For over 25 years Nexpart has been the industry leader in parts cataloging and electronic ordering. Nexpart has built long standing relationships with over 53,000 parts suppliers. In recent years Nexpart released Multi-Seller, an all-in-one ordering system that gives you a bird’s eye view of your entire supply chain.

With Nexpart Multi-Seller you’ll gain access to more suppliers in more places backed by the most comprehensive parts catalog in the industry. Find the right parts for the job fast with real-time inventory and wholesale pricing.

 

Now Available: 50+ Tire Suppliers For FREE

Need tires? Nexpart Multi-Seller now connects you to over 50 national tire suppliers for FREE. Access big names like ATD, NTW, Tire Rack Wholesale and more all in ONE click!

If your shop is equipped for tire services, it’s now easier than ever to make strong recommendations for any budget and keep your customers in house. With parts & tires plugged directly into Tekmetric, you can add a set of tires to an estimate in seconds. If the customer isn’t quite ready to pull the trigger on a set of tires, simply save the quote in Tekmetric. Boost ARO, and get more ROI out of your tire equipment.

Build Strong Workflows & Stronger Estimates

Tekmetric enables you to create accurate estimates and get approvals faster which saves you time, boosts productivity, and builds customer trust. Keep your repair jobs moving without delays thanks to real-time inventory tracking, immediate access to part availability during job setup, and integrated parts ordering, now with Nexpart  Multi-Seller. With Tekmetric, you can effortlessly monitor all repair jobs and the inventory assets assigned to every vehicle, and if a part isn't available, quickly browse your shop inventory for a swap or order a replacement through Nexpart Multi-Seller, all within a single intuitive program.

Earn Multi-Seller Rewards On Every Parts Order

As an additional benefit, Nexpart Multi-Seller customers earn rewards points on every parts order*. Every $1 spent on parts earns 1 Rewards Point. Multi-Seller shops can redeem points for up to $500/Year in eBay Gift Cards.


*Available to all US and Canadian Nexpart Multi-Seller users. Tire purchases not currently eligible for Rewards. Learn more and see the full terms and conditions.

How To Get Started in Tekmetric

  1. Click the Shop Settings section on the bottom left menu bar.
  2. Click the Integrations tab.
  3. Click Manage from the Nexpart Multi-Seller integration box.
  4. Add your Nexpart Multi-Seller Username and Password.
  5. For detailed instructions on how to order parts view this video

To learn more about Tekmetric or book a demo, visit https://info.tekmetric.com/nexpart or call 832-787-0900

To learn more about Nexpart Multi-Seller, you can get started and create a free account at www.nexpart.com

Looking for a full walkthrough? Need help setting up your vendors? Schedule an onboarding appointment with a Nexpart Rep.

Supercharge Your Supply Chain With Nexpart Multi-Seller

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