Building Strong Teams Across Dealerships: Felicia Barr on Growth, Community, and Co-Ops

From Greeter to Multi-Store Service Director: Felicia Barr's candid conversation with Kaylee Felio is a masterclass in how to grow a thriving career and resilient team in automotive fixed ops—from humble beginnings on the service lane to overseeing three stores and a commercial building. Hear how Felicia navigates dealership culture, time management, and community impact, and why creating your own pipeline of talent is the future of our industry. If you’re looking for inspiration on staying teachable, building genuine relationships, and fostering growth opportunities in your dealership (and beyond), this episode is packed with actionable insights.-------------------------------------------This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com-------------------------------------------TakeawaysRemain TeachableBuild Your Own Talent PipelineRelationships Drive ResultsChapters00:00 – Kaylee Felio introduces Felicia Barr, highlighting her unique career trajectory00:32 – Felicia Barr shares starting as a greeter, her surprise at dealership career diversity03:05 – Falling in love with customer relationships and learning the ropes06:07 – Transitioning from single-store manager to overseeing multiple locations—managing fear, self-doubt, and adapting approaches10:11 – How working side-by-side with staff proved her credibility and built trust12:06 – Opening a commercial building: pressure, time management, and family support13:26 – Community involvement, charity events, and teaching kids about hard work18:12 – Turning to local tech schools for co-op partners after technician shortages19:27 – Success stories from co-op hires: building skills and long-term loyalty22:52 – Advocating for sending managers to 20 groups, guilds, and learning from peers24:02 – Breaking down barriers between service, parts, and sales through empathy and teamwork29:03 – Mistake management: fixing processes together instead of pointing fingers32:02 – Felicia Barr shares NAADA speaking plans and excitement for industry networkingKaylee FelioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelioWebsite: https://www.partsedge.com