Hire Better. Keep People. Communicate Smarter in Your Shop
Sara Fraser knows the auto repair world inside and out—and she’s not afraid to call out what’s holding shops back. In this episode of Blood,...
automotive repair
From Pump to Profit: Al Wright’s Journey to Shop Ownership
Meet Al Wright, who owns John's Automotive in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Al shares his journey in the automotive industry, from starting out as a gas...
From Wrench to Strategy: Cecil Bullard on Profitable Auto Repair Shops
Cecil Bullard has worn every hat in the shop—from technician to teacher to trusted advisor. In this episode of Blood, Sweat and Business, he...
The Numbers Behind Auto Repair Tech: PJ Leslie of Tekmetric
Fresh from the VISION Conference, PJ Leslie of Tekmetric joins Blood, Sweat & Business to talk about the data-driven future of auto repair. In...
Riches in the Niches
In this episode of the Blood, Sweat, and Business podcast, business owners get to hear from Andrew Parrish of Alternative Tax Solutions. The...
How Al Oramas Grew His Auto Repair Shop by Stepping Out of the Bay
In this episode of Blood, Sweat & Business, we sit down with Al Oramas to talk about one of the biggest mindset shifts an auto repair shop owner can...
Brin Kline on Culture, Diagnostics, and Leadership in Auto Repair
Brin KlineofAssured Auto Worksjoins Blood, Sweat & Business to share what makes his shop stand out in a crowded industry. From diagnostic precision...
Colten Ramsay on Growing an Auto Repair Business from Scratch
In this episode of Blood, Sweat & Business, Colten Ramsay, founder of Ramsey Repair, shares the honest truth behind building an auto repair business...
How Coaching Transforms Automotive Shops with Jennifer & Jimmy
In this episode of Blood, Sweat & Business, we’re joined by Jennifer Hulbert, shop owner and coach, and Jimmy Lea, VP of Business Development—both...
Kim Hickey on Industry Networking and the ATI SuperConference
Get ready to feel inspired! In this episode of Blood, Sweat & Business, we talk with Kim Hickey, Director of Client Fulfillment at Automotive...
Dave Hinz on Leading a Business After 17 Years as a Technician
After 17 years as an automotive technician, Dave Hinz made the leap into entrepreneurship—and never looked back. In this episode of Blood, Sweat &...
Mike Hagi on Hiring Smart and Growing a Family Business
There’s a fine line between modernizing your business and staying true to what made people love it in the first place—especially in a family-run...
Eric Joern
Eric is a graduate of Columbia College of Missouri with a degree in accounting and joined the firm in 2013. He is a licensed CPA and a key business advisor at Kaizen. Coming from generations of entrepreneurs, small business is in his blood.
He has spent his working career getting his hands dirty with concrete, increasing profits and efficiency, managing an automotive service department, and currently is a key resource for many small business owners. Eric is currently the lead on our Automotive concentration, with years of experience as an Automotive Service Advisor and connections in the industry to better serve his clients.
Eric enjoys live music, working with his hands, and spending time outdoors with his wife and their two pooches. A big fan of the Chicago Bears, Cubs, Bulls, and Blackhawks, he jumps at the chance to catch ‘em live and in person when he can.
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John Chiappetta
John is a graduate of Carthage College in Kenosha, WI and the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul in Chicago, IL. In 2003, John purchased a small tax practice in Antioch IL. He continued his entrepreneurial adventure, purchasing and merging with multiple accounting firms, and in 2022, merged his firm with Kaizen CPAs + Advisors. John has predominantly focused on tax planning and compliance. He also has his CFP® and is a licensed financial representative. John enjoys helping clients plan for a healthy financial future.
John enjoys spending time with his family. His wife Helen also has the entrepreneurial spirit, running a family diner in Antioch, IL. John and Helen have two children, Nico and Gianna. On John’s days off, he likes playing pickleball, golf, and the occasional pickup game of football. John appreciates Kenosha’s lakefront and frequently takes long walks on the beach. (He takes some amazing pics of the sunrises over Kenosha’s HarborPark!)