U-R-G On the Go
An informative podcast for the United Recyclers Group. Each week we will feature an entertaining guest that will share their knowledge and information with you, providing you with tips and tools to help you become a more profitable business.
U-R-G On the Go
Generation Recycler: Blake Roberts on Transforming Family Business and Embracing Industry Change
What happens when you mix a fourth-generation automotive recycler with a fresh business perspective? Blake Roberts joins us to share his intriguing journey from a family entrenched in the recycling industry to finding his own path through education and an eye-opening internship. Discover how Blake's early reluctance transformed into ambition, leading him back to Kansas City to revolutionize operations at County Line Auto Parts without the burden of traditional titles. His story is a testament to the power of new insights blending with long-standing family traditions.
Unlock the secrets of navigating a business world filled with challenges, especially when stepping into leadership roles at a young age. Blake opens up about the valuable lessons in hard work and the significance of building a resilient team culture through strategic hiring and training. We discuss overcoming the hurdles of gaining trust and the essential role of a clear vision and effective communication. Learn how these strategies can set the foundation for lasting business success.
As the automotive world races towards electric vehicles and a stronger online presence, Blake and I explore these pivotal industry shifts. We highlight the necessity of embracing change and leveraging industry events for growth and learning. Blake emphasizes the enriching experiences of networking, from formal conference settings to the casual camaraderie over meals and golf. Join us for insights and laughter as we recount memorable moments and gain wisdom from industry stalwarts like Rob and Reagan, ensuring that knowledge exchange extends beyond the confines of a conference room.
Welcome one and all to the URG On the Go Podcast. You are there and we are here. This is your podcast. It's the true voice of the automotive recycling industry. It's for the pros that are on the go that have a need to know. I'm EJ Harrington, better known as the cardiologist, and the real host of this program is the talented Amanda Morrison, who is the Director of Member and Vendor Relationships for URG. Amanda, how are you this beautiful day?
Speaker 2:I'm doing fabulous. It's actually 50 degrees here in Austin. It's warming up, so I'm doing good, Doing good. How are you DJ?
Speaker 1:Well, in Atlanta we're a brisk 14 degrees.
Speaker 2:Ooh, brr, oh yeah.
Speaker 1:But the guy I'm going to be talking to it'll be colder there, that's true. That's true, that's true. Back over to you. I want to tell all our listeners this will be a good one. We are about to hear of a young man who I met when he had to be eight or nine years old and I've watched him grow up to be a real talented and he will be a legend in this recycling industry. He's a real gift. So he learned from his mom and dad. He learned from his grandfather. So this is a lot of good information that we'll get today. So I'll turn it over to you, Amanda.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much, dj. You're always so great at those intros. Yes, we have a fabulous guest on the show today. We've got Blake Roberts from County Line Auto Parts in Missouri today and we wanted to hear a little bit more about his yard and what his experience has been in this automotive recycling industry. So I'd like to welcome Blake Blake. Thank you so much for coming on.
Speaker 4:Man, thanks for having me on DJ. That got me really hyped up. That was one of the best intros I've ever heard. That was awesome.
Speaker 2:Right, he's a professional, he knows what he's doing over there. He's got all the great slogans.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that's awesome, thank you, thank you again. Hey, yeah.
Speaker 1:All our you. Thank you again. Hey, yeah, all our listeners to know, I was there when blake got his first car.
Speaker 4:Oh yeah, long time, long time ago long time ago I love it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, been been in this industry for a while, right like yeah, so you know I'm a fourth generation, uh, recycler.
Speaker 4:Um, you know, I've pretty much been working at the yard since I was a little kid, you know, for, uh, all the holiday breaks for school, whether it was, you know, summer break, christmas break, you know kind of doing anything, whether it was cleaning the yard, uh, you know, auditing the warehouse, clean up the warehouse. You know just kind of doing just entry-level stuff. Um, you know, and I actually, you know, just like a lot of people, I didn't really want to be in the business.
Speaker 4:It wasn't something that I was never really passionate about cars, um, you know, my dad kind of always pushed me into it, but you know again, just not really something that I ever took much interest in, you know. So then I ended up going to college, went to the University of Central Missouri for four years, got a degree in business and economics Ooh, economics, yeah.
Speaker 4:Luckily I had a really good professor professor and he kind of pushed me into it good, it's a good one to have, yeah, and then, uh, so we actually own a uh you pick yard in kansas city as well, called all in one. Do you pull metals recycling? Uh, we own that with Sean Garber, who's out of Louisville, kentucky, grade A we have. So we had some land there that we weren't really doing anything with and you know we were discussing about possibly doing scrap there as well, and so you know that kind of interested me a little bit more. So you know there was an opportunity potentially there and you know I've. You know I knew Sean at that point but I didn't know him very well and you know I felt like it would be good to kind of get away learn from somebody else. So went there for kind of a short internship before I graduated, just learned a little bit about the business. You know it was pretty interesting to me. I liked learning from him. It was a good, you know, good different perspective.
Speaker 4:And after I graduated school, you know I decided to go there. I moved there for about two years learning, learning from him and, uh, the rest of his team, um, I, I ended up going to one of his other yards and help managing. It called Amen U-Cool Metal Recycling. Um, honestly, that was probably one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. Uh, you know, sean is a brilliant, brilliant man, um, you know, and he's got a really good team there. You know, and just learning from everybody there, getting a different perspective of things, you know, was one of the best things that I ever did, you know. And then after that I kind of, you know, I got thinking more about it and I kind of, you know, I got thinking more about it and, you know, I think being away kind of helped me. Want to get into the, you know, at least attempt the full serve business you know, and at that point.
Speaker 4:So again, I was there for two years and you know I decided, you know I'll give it a shot, and so I ended up moving back to Kansas City in the summer of 2021. And that's kind of when I started full time here.
Speaker 2:So it was really good to start in there.
Speaker 4:So kind of. You know, at first when I got here there was no really expectations. It was just kind of like, hey, just kind of find what the lowest hanging fruit is here, you know.
Speaker 4:And fix it and just, you know, I I'm I'm not much of a titles guy and I just kind of came here I was like, look, you know, I'm just, I'm just Blake. You know I'm not trying to, I don't really, you know, I'm not trying to come here and change anything, I just want to learn the business. So probably for the first two months, you know, I just spent a little bit of time in each department just understanding, learning the business. You know, learning car parts I didn't even really know car parts. So, you know, I didn't really do much. You know, for the first two to three months my impact wasn't really felt too much. And then I finally, you know, understood the business, how it worked. And then, you know, then I started doing a lot more. And then, you know, now I'm, I'm the general manager here, and you know, and then I also work on business development, growing the business business.
Speaker 2:So that's kind of what I'm doing now very cool and so I'm sure kind of you know, getting your feet wet in in the the parts side of things and really learning it and digging in kind of help create loyalty at the at the county line itself, right coming back as a, as a family member, kind of thinking that you maybe already have an in, but you're you're learning all of those different things, so probably helps. Kind of thinking that you maybe already have an in but you're learning all of those different things, so it probably helps kind of create trust with your employees too right?
Speaker 4:Yeah, for sure. And you know, when I was a kid growing up and I would have to, you know I'd have to go in the yard when it's 100, 110 degrees out, clean the yard and stuff. You know I would get really upset at my dad. Sometimes. I'm like why am I doing this? You know what this is. This is ridiculous, Like it's never going to translate to my real life stuff or anything.
Speaker 4:And he's like, look, you may not think it does, but if you ever do come back here, you know the the people that are here are going to respect you a lot more. You can say that you've done it. And you know he's like I promise it will work and I really am glad that I did it. And um, you know I'm a person too where you know if it's got to get done, I don't really care, like, whatever my role is. You know, if I got to go out in the yard and clean because it's got to get done, you know I'll go and do it now, obviously, like I'm going to try my best to avoid doing that with all the other responsibilities I have. But, um, you know that's kind of the not afraid to get your hands dirty.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, you know I'm not afraid to get the hands dirty. We got to do it so love it.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. So what are some of the biggest lessons you've learned, kind of starting out in the industry and then moving back to County line? What are some of the biggest lessons that have stood out to you?
Speaker 4:business. You know my, my, my dad and stepmom, kristen and Joe, and they were able to, you know, do the hard part, which was getting the business started, creating the name, you know, in the city of County line and growing it. You know that's, that's the hard part. You know, I was fortunate enough to where, you know, I kind of, I kind of get a little bit. You know, we, uh, we're in a much better position financially than we were when we first started, you know. So that is all you know I'm, I'm very fortunate to have that because, you know, I would say what I'm doing now is definitely way easier than what they had to go through at the beginning.
Speaker 4:So, you know, I would say the biggest lesson that I've learned too, you know, is getting the right people in place. You know we've. You know, one thing we've done here too, is we've kind of adapted or adopted the, you know, the four corners, kind of like Sean has right, you know the surround yourself with good people, listen to your customers, check your ego at the door, check your degree at the door and um you know the first one is the most important and that's surrounding yourself with good people.
Speaker 4:If you don't, if you don't surround yourself with good people, you can't have, you can't have. The other three, you know, and uh, being able to get people in that you can trust and being able to get people in that have the same vision as you. Uh, you know that's that's the most important, um, you know, and definitely, hiring and training. I mean that's that's key. I mean you can really waste a lot of time and money training people that you know don't end up working out. So I mean that's a big thing with us. That you know I've learned for sure.
Speaker 2:Definitely. Yep, I completely agree with that. You can't, can't, continue with the, with the culture, if you're not hiring the right people right. Mm-hmm not hiring the right people, right. So what can you kind of share? What's been kind of a specific challenge for you that you faced and how did you kind of overcome that? Is there anything particular that stands out for?
Speaker 4:you, you know, I think just coming here in general, just not really knowing anything, and I think you know getting, uh, getting employees to trust you know in me, that you know I'm not just coming here just and I'm in the role I am because, like you know, I'm, I'm Dennis's son or Kristen's son or anything like that. You know it's it's just getting them to trust me, like, hey, you know I, I do have a vision of where I want this to go and I want all of you guys to be a part of it with me because at the end of the day it's going to benefit everybody. And it was just getting people on board with that is definitely hard at the beginning because I'm a person I got a really big vision of what I want County Line and everything to be and you know, sometimes getting people on board with that isn't, you know, isn't always the easiest.
Speaker 2:Well.
Speaker 4:I'm being younger too.
Speaker 2:I feel like sometimes that can also be a caveat too, right yeah?
Speaker 4:And, I definitely think, being younger too. You know I'm 28 years old. I started here when I was. You know I'm? I'm 28 years old. I started here, uh, when I was.
Speaker 4:You know about 24, 25, you know, and just getting people to buy in, like you know, hey, I, you know, I, I do know what I'm talking about, I know I'm younger, but like I, I do, you know I, I, I do provide value and I can, you know, get us to where we need to go. It's just I need to get everybody's buy-in for sure.
Speaker 2:Definitely I love that Awesome All right DJ. Is it time for a quick break?
Speaker 1:Let's take a break. I hope all our listeners are grabbing a pen and paper and making notes, because Sean has definitely been a great mentor to Blake and some of that words of wisdom you need to be writing down. So let's take a fast break and, folks, we'll be right back.
Speaker 3:URG can help you streamline your business for maximum efficiency and increased profits. Access powerful software and unique tools. Receive top-level training with industry experts. Network with hundreds of recyclers. Employ e-commerce solutions to boost business. Receive support, resources and discounts Starting at just $150 a month. It's the smartest investment you will make for your business this year. Go to u-r-gcom and click on Become a Member. Your path to a profitable future is just a click away. Welcome back listeners.
Speaker 1:Of course, you know you're listening to the number one podcast in the automotive industry, urg On the Go podcast. We are available every week, please, it's great episodes. We're available on Spotify, itunes, pandora, stitcher, iheartmedia, amazon or wherever you get your podcasts. Remember, urg knows you know your business, but URG helps you grow your business. All right, amanda, this is a great one with Blake Roberts. He's excellent.
Speaker 2:I agree, yes, yes, thanks Blake again for coming on. We were talking previously how Sean kind of mentored you and your previous work and, coming back to County Line, and that's all fabulous, I'm sure you learned so much great information from Sean and his team. But what are some partnerships and other collaborations that have been kind of the most beneficial part for you and your business?
Speaker 4:You know, I think on the collaboration side, you know I'm a huge fan of collaborating with other yards. You know I'll give you a good example. You know Shannon Nordstrom great, great person to know in the industry, one of the honestly one of the nicest facilities I've ever been to. You know we've developed a really good relationship with Shannon. You know we ended up actually doing an expansion here, uh, last year a pretty big one, added about 30,000 square feet, um, you know, new dismantle, new warehouse, new shipping, receiving, um, and you know Shannon was very welcoming to have us at his facility to tour it, um, get some ideas. You know, ask him, hey, what would you have done different in the future? And you know he was just a wealth of knowledge. I mean, we were there, I think, for like four hours. I mean he's he, you know, as long as we wanted to stay. I mean he was, he was very open to helping us and you know that's that's one thing that's really cool, I think, about this business is that everybody that I've ever, you know, talked to is always willing to help, you know, and they're always willing to share.
Speaker 4:You know, hey, this, you know this worked for me. This didn't, um, you know being able, I think sometimes you know like, for example, sometimes I think we'll get caught trying to reinvent the wheel and it's you know, I'd rather just, you know, kind of steal some things that other people are doing, that's working with them. You know, like Shannon, for example. You know, I also think, working with you know either a consultant or a consultant group outside of your company you know whether it's profit team. Or you know someone that you know I mean we personally use JC Cahill. He's also another one of my mentors. You know that's probably been one of the best things that we've ever done as a company.
Speaker 4:The reason why I think that's good is, you know, it gives you an outside perspective that maybe you're, maybe you're doing things that seem right or whatever, but you get this person and they're like man, have you ever thought about doing it this way? Or you know JC, for example. He really challenges us. You know we may think some, we may want to, you know, have an idea that we think is really going to work and um, he uh, he's going to challenge us.
Speaker 4:You know he's going to say, well, have you thought of this? You know, have you thought of this? Have you thought of this so, and then normally we're like you know, man, I didn't really even think about that, you know. So then we can really go back to the drawing board and make sure that we really have all of our ducks in a row before we do make a decision. So I think you know, on that side, with the partnerships and collaborations being able to, you know, again with a consultant or a consulting group, you know being able to have that and as well as you know, just really getting tight with some, you know, other yards in the industry to really pick their brains. You know there's a lot of good yards out there and good people that are running the yards.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and JC is a great, a great person to you know touch base with too. You know he's consulting with a lot of different yards and his own yards too. So that's that's super helpful, kind of taking your your mind from in the business and taking it to, kind of looking at the business and taking your perspective outside of it, right oh yeah, 100, definitely definitely recommend it yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. I'm sure it's been very beneficial and, and yeah, I think you know, being able to collaborate with other yards, like like a shannon nordstrom, you know he's, he's always willing and I think that's what's, like you said, just cool about this industry. There's so many, you know, even all the big players are willing to kind of share that information with, with people and really kind of collaborate and try to trade parts and, you know, add to tiering and all of that, and so it's awesome to hear that you guys are utilizing each other and and touching base and actually getting out there. So you've been to Shannon Nordstrom's place too.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yep, me and my dad went there, I think a couple of years ago and, yeah, the whole you know. We just went up there and we just wanted to see you know cause we've heard nothing but good things. And yeah, I mean it was, it's it's top notch, I mean it's it's top notch, I mean it's top notch.
Speaker 2:I love it. That's awesome. Yeah, we've got some good people in this industry, that's for sure. So how do you see kind of the automotive recycling industry evolving kind of in the next five to 10 years? What do you see for the future of the industry?
Speaker 4:You know, I think technology is going to be more important than ever. I think and as yards I think we really have, you know, the yards that are going to be really successful in the next five or 10 years are the ones that are going to be adapting the most to technology. So you know what I've been noticing, at least with us. You know a lot of customers are not really calling in as much. You know you see a lot of push to email based quoting. You know just texting quoting. You know just I'm seeing that a lot more today than maybe I did three, four or five years ago. You know, I know for a fact like like LKQ right now is pushing their salespeople, uh, to get their customers to order everything online.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I did hear that too.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so you know that's. I think that's one thing that you're going to see happen a lot more. Um. I also think, obviously, you know, evs, um that's, you know that's going to become a lot more prevalent here in the next couple of years. Um, I think as an industry, uh, it's something that we're just going to have to embrace.
Speaker 4:I don't think there's any getting away from it. So I think you know it is risky, but I do think that if we can embrace it and, you know, obviously learn best practices from each other. You know that's one thing that I like about the shows is, you know, they have all the EV. I go to every EV course that there is, you know I, the more knowledge I can get on it, the better Um, so I think being able to adapt to EVs, um, and then I also think you know your online presence is going to be huge. You know, having a nice website, um just being like an easy uh part search that you can do, I mean, I think all three of those things are going to be extremely important in the next five to 10 years.
Speaker 4:I think you know it just seems like we're kind of getting away from more of the face to face interaction or the phone call it's. It's more just turning into just more online based, not a, not a lot of relationships, which I'm more. I'm pretty old school. I like the face to face, the shaking the hands, talking on the phone. I that's what I like. But you know we got to adapt.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and I think I think that's kind of how all recyclers are. We kind of all like to. You know, do that old school handshake I've got your part here. You go hand it to them, that kind of thing, and so that you've got, you know, that trust built and have that kind of loyalty. And it does kind of take away from that aspect. But you know, we've got to keep up with the trends and keep up with what the customer wants. And you know, I think you're completely right in making sure that your parts are online and showing up correctly, right, and making sure that your parts are graded correctly and you're getting that right part to the correct person too.
Speaker 4:Yeah, having them inventoried correctly is the most important part. I mean, it doesn't matter if you have them online, if it's not inventoried correctly, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're going to be getting the wrong part to the wrong person. Yeah, exactly, okay. So you said that you just recently kind of built out a little bit more. How do you balance maintaining, you know, that quality with scaling your operations and getting them growing?
Speaker 4:Um, I mean, I'm not going to lie to you, it's tough, you know cause I mean it's it's tough. I mean you, you, you're so focused on the growth and you, you know, just like they say, you know you're growing pains is a real thing.
Speaker 2:I mean.
Speaker 4:I don't know any business that ever grows and doesn't have any sort of pains. I mean, it's just, it's impossible.
Speaker 4:It's, it's inevitable, um, but it's also a good problem to have right um, so I think, just making sure you don't grow too fast, um, you know, I think that's really, yes, yeah, I think that's really important, making sure that you don't grow too fast. Um, I think, making sure that, again, you know, going back to having the right people in place, you know, have surrounding yourself with good people, making sure that you do have people that have the same vision as you. You know you definitely don't want to have employees that you know don't really care to grow their business or that they're content with where you're at. You know, because you, again, you want to have people that have the same mindset as you. Um, so all that's going to do is make growing your business that much easier, because they're going to be a hundred percent bought in, just like you are. Um, you know, know to have the same vision and grow.
Speaker 4:So, um, almost have to hire those people to be kind of adaptable to change and ready for growth right yeah, you know, change is everybody hates change, yeah everybody hates change, but you know, the sooner that they can adapt to it, the better it's going to be, because, especially in in this business, I mean everything. I mean there's new things every year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, that's great advice, Great advice. So I'm going to kind of hop a little bit further down the questions. But what resources and tools have you found kind of the most helpful for you know, either training or for just growing your business in general? What have you found most helpful? You know we touched on kind of consulting and those types of things, but has there been anything else that has stood out to you?
Speaker 4:Yeah, so obviously consulting you know that's good, I also think too. Just, you know, obviously being in touch with you know like URG, for example. Right, like I know Amanda, last week we talked I try and have like a meeting about once a year or so, or twice a year at least with you you know, just to make sure, like hey, am I really utilizing URG as much as I can, like you know, and like just yeah, you're you're one of my favorite yards.
Speaker 2:That's what I love. I love it when yards call me and they're like all right, let's do this, let's dig into my settings. And normally I'm trying to call out and reach all you guys but I've got 700 members and you know I've got incoming calls. But I love it when I get phone calls like that, like you being. You're like, all right, let's dig in, let's figure out what we can do to to make these settings better yeah, I mean just taking that extra hour to you know you're not, it's not like it's.
Speaker 4:You know you're doing it maybe once or twice a year and just making sure, like, hey, you know, are all my tiering partners correct? Um, do I have my markups, you know, set where they need to be? Um, hey, are there any other new things that you guys are coming out with, either soon or you already have that is out, that you know I could get in on, you know, obviously to help grow my business. So I think, just making sure you know, obviously to any organization that you're a part of, I mean making sure that you're getting the most out of it. So, just like with you guys, or being in PRP or being an ARA, just you know, just making sure that you're not just paying your monthly fee or you know, whatever it may be, but really getting the most out of it. Because that's what's cool again about you guys and PRP and ARA is that you know, at the end of the day, like everybody wants to help day, like everybody wants to help everybody and everybody wants to help everyone grow and have a successful business.
Speaker 2:Yep, 100% completely agree with that. That's what I love about this industry, right.
Speaker 4:Yeah, it's awesome.
Speaker 2:It's awesome. All right, DJ, I think it's time for one more break.
Speaker 1:Boy, I love it. I hope that one down. I wrote it down, blake URG tune-up twice a year. Yes, I love it. Okay, take a fast break and we'll be right back folks.
Speaker 3:The URG Scholarship Foundation was founded in 2014 in honor of individuals who give their talent, time and, very often, their own finances to ensure the growth and success of the automotive recycling industry. The foundation offers substantial financial scholarships to auto recycling employees and the children of employees that are attending four-year and technical or trade schools, to assist with their education. Don't leave money on the table. If you have a child or if you're interested in attending continuing education, this money is available to you. Go to u-r-gcom and click on the Scholarship Foundation tab. Urg keeping our industry strong through education.
Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners. Of course you know you're listening to URG on the Go podcast, blake Roberts from Countryline. It has been perfect, perfect. Amanda has been phenomenal. I want all of you to remember To like, review and share everywhere. We always want a professional On the podcast, so if you know somebody in the industry, just dial our hotline hot number 706-409-5603, and Amanda will do her very best to get them on the next podcast for your enjoyment listening. And, by all means, thank you for tuning in. All right, amanda, this has been a great one. I'm taking great notes.
Speaker 2:I agree, mike's doing awesome. All right, blake. So we have you speaking at the URG convention, is that right?
Speaker 4:No, that's correct. So the segment that I'm speaking is called Fueling Success. So we'll be talking about strategies for business growth, talking about the buying, production, distribution and sales.
Speaker 2:Awesome, awesome. That'll be great, I think. And what's kind of one of your favorite parts about the URG conference whenever you get to go.
Speaker 4:Um, you know, I get, I just get excited to uh see, see everybody. You know it's um. You know, obviously, being here, I don't you know like hanging out with my friends and stuff. Like you know, I talk about my business and they're like I have no idea what that is you know, so it's like it's good to just get everybody together and just talk with everyone.
Speaker 4:You know, like, obviously the classes are great, like I love going to the classes, I love doing that. But just being outside and just talking to people and you know just hey, man, how's business going with you. You know what are, you know what are some of the struggles or you know what, what are you guys seeing that like you're having a lot of success with, and just the collaboration you know with everybody is my favorite part, you know, and I feel like it's almost like I feel like I'm at home with being there. It's fun. You know I get excited about you know, seeing you, seeing DJ, seeing the uh, you know again, like Shannon's and you know the Kelly's from Y yard and all these people. And you know, meeting I feel like I always meet someone new too. That you know I I develop a good relationship with good rapport and uh, it's just it's fun, I love it it's. And it's always nice too when you can go to a warm spot like orlando too.
Speaker 2:That's, that's a bonus yeah, yeah, I think I think I met you probably two or three years ago at a urj conference and I think, yes, I think our first interaction it's funny story about that d.
Speaker 4:I don't even know if you know this. It's a funny story, Amanda, the first time I met her I don't know what happened, I've never, never talked to her in my life and I don't know what happened, but she punched me. She punched me.
Speaker 4:I was like I was like who are you? I have no idea who you are. I was like who are you? I have no idea who you are. And she just started laughing. And I was like why did you punch me? And she just started laughing. She's like I don't know. And then I was like hey, I'm Amanda from URG. I was like that's a good intro, I guess.
Speaker 2:I punched you in the arm. You had made the little hand sign that if someone looks at it then you punch them. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, you had done that to someone else and they hadn't seen it so I punched you, and then that's how we met.
Speaker 4:Yeah, how about that DJ? That's a pretty good first interaction.
Speaker 1:First impressions? I understand, yeah, First impressions. I understand.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so yeah, that was our first interaction for URG, but yeah, it's a good time. We all have such a good time at the bar and I feel like that's how a lot of the introductions end up going. It's like, oh hey, you've met Amanda, or you know, I end up punching you. So it's great, it's always a good time. It wasn't that hard of a punch, it was just a punch in the little, punch in the arm, you'll live, I'm doing okay now.
Speaker 2:It was bruised pretty bad. Beat you up for your member benefits review, right.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, you didn't tell me that was a part of it Otherwise. I may not have done it.
Speaker 2:I love it. Yeah, it's all a big family. I think that's the best part about you know these conferences is getting to. You know really get to know everyone and even just talking at the bar afterwards and having drinks and having fun and talking about our families and all the fun stuff. So it's always good to get to see everyone and learn a lot. And so I think, through your session, who are you kind of trying to target with your session and what kind of feedback are you hoping to get from?
Speaker 4:them. You know what. Anybody that wants to grow their business is who we're targeting. No, but you know, I don't know. I mean just really at the end of the day, you know, just kind of talking like, hey, this is kind of what's worked for us. You know, and again, that's what's cool about our business is that there's no, there's no secret formula Like it's. You know there's different, there's so many different ways that you can be successful. You know there's there's a lot of yards where brokering is huge for them. You know that's, that's their entire business. You know there's a ton of yards that you know maybe they don't do any brokering but in stock sales is huge for them you know or?
Speaker 4:you know eBay is huge for some yards or, uh, you know, just, there's so many different ways that you know each yard is successful in their own way and I think that's what makes it fun is that you can kind of make your own twist to it.
Speaker 4:And again, there's no secret recipe or secret formula of like, hey, if you do this, you will 100% be successful. Like you know, and I think you kind of got to just try things out and I think the biggest thing is you, you really can't be afraid to to fall on your face and you know that's and don't get me wrong Like I mean, we've we've failed quite a bit here, but you know we learn from our mistakes and we just make sure not to make them again. But that's that's kind of. You know, I I'm not really trying to, you know, I'm just I just want to tell people my story and kind of like how you know what, what do we do at county line that's successful, because maybe somebody can take even just one thing of that and apply it to what they do and, you know, hopefully it ends up working for them and they end up, you know, seeing some success from it. That would be like the ultimate goal. That'd be awesome.
Speaker 2:Yep, I love that and that's what it's all about, right? Yeah, love it, awesome, all right. Well, I think we're about ready to wrap up, dj. Did you have anything else you wanted to add?
Speaker 1:Well, all I wanted to remind all of our listeners April 10th through the 12th they were just talking about the conference this is the URG, prp, strength and Synergy, and make sure you're there in Orlando, just like Glace said, it's beautiful weather. There's so much you learn in the hallways and at meals, so when you go there, you don't eat dinner with the same people you rode with. You eat dinner with different people and so you learn. And, just like Blake said, you learn more out in the hallways than you do sometimes during the class. Who is Blake speaking with? Who else is on his panel with?
Speaker 4:him. So we got Rob from Smith, we've got Reagan from Lambert's, we have Brad from Smith.
Speaker 2:Perfect, that'll be a great panel.
Speaker 1:It'll be a great panel.
Speaker 2:And Blake, are you golfing?
Speaker 4:I don't know quite yet um yeah, so I'm taking uh, I'm taking my production manager with me too. Uh, he is. He is completely new to this business and this is his first conference ever, so I'm gonna take him, like take him, yeah, we just, we Take him golfing. Take him golfing, yeah we got to make sure it fits in the schedule. Yeah, we'll see. I'd like to. My golf game is hey, you don't need to be good at golfing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you don't need to be good at golfing, you can just come and play for fun.
Speaker 4:Yeah, but I may be able to be there for it. Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1:Awesome, I think another thing, amanda, that we need to remind all our listeners is we'll be giving two beautiful vans to Tunnels to Towers on April 7th at noontime. So there'll be a lot of TV stations there covering this. But Tunnels to Towers is building all of these centers to help eradicate homeless veterans, so we kind of have a recycled van for a recycled veteran. So that's the program and it'll be on April the 11th. So make sure you're there and make sure you participate. So make sure you're there and make sure you participate. And those of you that are listening, make sure you look at the URG. You know the URG Foundation for Scholarships. There's an application, so if you're looking for one, make sure you fill it out.
Speaker 4:Definitely Blake did you have anything else you wanted to add? I just want to. I want to shout out the podcast for you guys. I think you know I just I discovered it, I think in the summer and I went back and listened to all the older ones that you guys had and you know I listened to every episode that you guys did last year.
Speaker 4:And you know, again, I, I love just hearing everybody's story and just hearing you know their experiences, how they got started, where they. You know again, I love just hearing everybody's story and just hearing you know their experiences, how they got started where they. You know how they got to where they're at today. I think that's a you know, even if you're just on the treadmill just walking or something, or you know whatever you're driving to work, if you just throw it on, like you know again, I'm not getting paid by DJ or Amanda to say this, it's coming from the heart. But you know again, I'm not getting paid by DJ or Amanda to say this, it's coming from the heart. But you know, I love listening to the show. It's awesome, they do a great job and you know, again, it's really cool to listen, like I said, to everybody's story and just be in touch with everything. It's. You know I love it.
Speaker 2:You're so sweet.
Speaker 1:Our biggest hype guy. Love it. Great guy. I got to tell you, blake, when I try to get people to listen to the Bible or to read the Bible, I tell them to read Proverbs. And when I tell them about our podcast, I tell them to go. First look up Dan Snyder's, and now I ask them to go to Amber's from Pete's and I will be adding yours. Take Robert's, because it was an excellent podcast.
Speaker 4:I agree, thank you, thank you. Like I said, it means a lot to be in discussion with those kind of names, so I greatly appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, dan Snyder did a great one, amber did a great one. There was we've had so many good ones.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we have. The podcast is great, it's been awesome.
Speaker 1:I sat there with Kelly from Y Yard and I had to take out my pen and Blake, just like when you were talking about Sean being a mentor for you those four tips you gave right there. It was real fast. But I thought to myself I hope people will re-listen and re-listen to the podcast because you did a great job.
Speaker 4:Thank you, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1:So, Amanda, what's your final words?
Speaker 2:Well, let's get ready for the URG conference. April 10th through the 12th Get registered.
Speaker 1:There you go.
Speaker 4:Get registered, or else Amanda will punch you.
Speaker 2:I love it. Thanks for listening y'all. We'll see you next time.