The NOLN Podcast

Quick lube operators considering a sale of their business have several boxes to check before going to market.
This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on Aug 17, 2026.Read by Brittany Duncan 
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Shawn Gilfillan, owner of Automotive Magic and Magic Lube & Rubber, recently sat down with NOLN after presenting on the topic of leadership at the Mastermind: Repair Shop of Tomorrow training event in Cleveland. In this interview, Gilfillan, who is also a NOLN editorial board member, explains how “a technician who owns a shop” can become “a CEO who used to be a technician” by delegating tasks, building infrastructure, and trusting employees. Gilfillan also breaks down three types of employees—players, vacations, and prisoners—and the impact they have on each other in the shop.
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The straightforward, tiered compensation structure for Toxaway Automotive Group, an Atlanta-based Take 5 franchisee, creates a clear road map for employee advancement, says company president Preston Willard.
This article was originally published on NOLN.net on Aug. 18, 2026.
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Bill Snow, vice president of marketing and franchise development for Rad Air, explains why even though shop owners might have the best of intentions when they tell managers to “run it like you own it,” what they are actually doing in many instances is creating a recipe for confusion, stress, and burnout.
In this interview conducted by Christine Schaffran, editor-in-chief of Ratchet+Wrench, Snow explains that promoting top technicians into management roles without testing their leadership abilities can be costly. He also discusses the benefits of using trial runs, coaching, and proper onboarding before making promotions permanent.
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Advancements in key segments beyond the bays have transformed vehicle maintenance and service operations.
This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on July 27, 2026.Read by Brittany Duncan 
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With Valvoline Inc. set to celebrate its 40th anniversary in October, Linne Fulcher, the company’s chief operating officer, joins the NOLN Podcast to discuss how Valvoline grew from 42 service centers in 1986 to more than 2,500 Valvoline Instant Oil Change locations today. Fulcher also explains how Valvoline has continued to adapt its business model to meet the needs of modern vehicles while maintaining its core customer experience, and he also dives into the company’s continued expansion plans with a goal of growing to 3,500 locations nationwide.
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Executives from two leading quick lube brands share what makes an ideal candidate to own and operate their service centers.
This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on July 28, 2026.Read by Brittany Duncan 
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Earlier this summer, Stephen Spinelli, president of Babson College and the co-founder of Jiffy Lube International, spoke with NOLN for its “NOLN at 40” series about the journey he and his colleagues took from launching Jiffy Lube International in 1979 and building it into the nation’s first quick lube chain, growing to more than 1,000 locations. In this episode, Spinelli discusses how the industry has continued to grow after he transitioned to the academic world, and he also shares some advice for today’s quick lube operators.
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As quick lube marketing has become a sophisticated, technology-driven discipline, its core principles have endured.
This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on June 29, 2026.Read by Brittany Duncan 
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David Lawes, CEO of the Lubricants Packaging Management Association powered by Interchange 360, returns to the NOLN Podcast to provide listeners with an update on the state of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws and how they will impact the quick lube industry.
With lubricant packaging recycling being largely overlooked historically, Lawes discusses the launch of Colorado’s first automotive and lubricant packaging collection programs. He also explains the importance of proper collection system design for recycling, keeping packaging separate from curbside recycling, and how quick lube operators can leverage existing collection infrastructure to improve efficiency, increase recycling rates, and help control compliance costs.
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