Build the Pipeline: Robert Blaes on Core Values, Apprenticeships, and a Shop That Serves Families

Robert Blaes didn't just build a repair shop — he built a family operation, a training ground for young techs, and a community hub rooted in a lifelong love for Mustangs. Robert is the owner of Stang Auto Tech in Broomfield, Colorado (serving the area since 1980), and in this interview he gets extremely practical about what it takes to scale trust beyond the owner. He shares how defining clear core values + a real mission helped him stop micromanaging, empower his team, and maintain quality without "looking over everyone's shoulder." Then he gets into one of the most interesting moves you'll hear from an independent shop owner: when he couldn't find an apprentice the traditional way, he partnered with local schools and Front Range Community College to build a paid internship + state-recognized apprenticeship pipeline—complete with an in-house mentor—so students can go from classroom to productive technician. You'll also hear how Robert uses a community appreciation day + car show (BBQ, band, giveaways, 100+ cars) to turn customers into real relationships — not transactions. If you care about building a shop that lasts — with values, people development, and community baked in — Robert's story is worth hearing.