Building Loved Businesses
Building Loved Businesses is the podcast for small and medium-sized business leaders who want to build a company their employees are proud to work for, their customers rave about, and they love leading. Hosted by Nathan Schock, each episode features a conversation with an under-the-radar business owner who has built a thriving culture, crafted remarkable customer experiences, and is growing with purpose. If you’re ready to grow with fewer growing pains, this podcast is your blueprint.
Building Loved Businesses
Chad Kooiman: Building a Car Shop People Actually Love
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In this episode, I sit down with Chad Kooiman, founder of Ultimate Automotive, to trace his journey from a small franchise shop to a thriving two-location business built on culture, trust, and community.
Chad shares how he started in 2000 under the All Tune and Lube franchise while still in college, hustling for customers through coupons before eventually breaking out on his own. We dig into his people-first philosophy — how he takes care of his team, runs the business alongside his wife, and has evolved from technician to CEO. He also walks me through what makes Ultimate Automotive different: a free ride service for customers, an unconventional pay structure, and a culture of curiosity that's getting his team ready for EVs and self-driving vehicles.
If you're building something that lasts, this one's for you.