The BodyShop Leaders Podcast
The BodyShop Leaders Podcast brings you real conversations with the people shaping the future of collision repair — shop owners, vendors, and innovators who lead with purpose.
Hosted by Daniel Burkholder of BodyShop Marketing, each episode dives into the lessons, mindsets, and breakthroughs that drive top-performing shops and the leaders behind them.
No fluff. Just authentic stories and practical insights to help you grow, lead, and build a smarter, stronger shop.
Powered by BodyShop Marketing — where the best shops come to grow.
The BodyShop Leaders Podcast
David Black: Building a $75M MSO Without Compromising the Repair
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What does it take to scale a collision operation to $75 million across 10+ locations — without sacrificing repair integrity?
In this episode of BodyShop Leaders, Daniel Burkholder sits down with David Black, Corporate Collision Director at #1 Cochran, to unpack nearly four decades of leadership in the collision repair industry.
From starting in his family’s shop at 12 years old to building one of the largest dealer-owned collision groups in the country, David shares the philosophy that drives everything he does:
Fix the car the right way. Then talk about cost.
You’ll hear how David and his team:
- Transformed five independent dealership shops into a unified MSO
- Built a 150,000 sq. ft. collision-dedicated parts warehouse
- Leveraged AI to book repairs, communicate with customers, and improve CSI
- Launched in-house ADAS calibration centers to control cycle time
- Developed a 24-month technician mentoring program to grow talent from the ground up
- Navigated the shift from chasing top-line revenue to protecting car count and long-term profitability
This conversation is a masterclass in leadership, innovation, and operational discipline.
If you care about OE-correct repairs, sustainable growth, and preparing your business for the next decade of collision repair — this episode is for you.
The BodyShop Leaders Podcast is powered by BodyShop Marketing, the agency helping collision industry leaders grow smarter and lead stronger.