Advertise on podcast: Garagecast - All Things Power Sports and Marine

What does it take to lead a Harley-Davidson dealership through a changing market? Speedway Harley-Davidson owner Aimee Thomas joins GarageCast to share her journey from the family car business to motorcycle retail—and lessons in leadership, cash management, and building a community that keeps riders coming back. UPDATE 2027 is back. Join Garage Composites January 31–February 1 for one of the powersports and marine industry’s premier training and networking events. Featuring industry training, 20 Clubs, and opportunities for dealers, manufacturers, vendors, owners, and managers to connect and grow. Bring your team and plan to join us for UPDATE 2027.

Sam Dantzler and Tony Gonzalez break down what’s working inside powersports, Harley-Davidson, and marine dealerships—from F&I and service profitability to digital lead conversion, AI, and the challenges of FTC pricing compliance. Get practical strategies to stop losing leads, turn existing customers into repeat buyers, and build a team that sells the entire dealership experience. Before you spend more chasing customers, make sure you’re converting the ones you already have. UPDATE 2027 is back. Join Garage Composites January 31–February 1 for one of the powersports and marine industry’s premier training and networking events. Featuring industry training, 20 Clubs, and opportunities for dealers, manufacturers, vendors, owners, and managers to connect and grow. Bring your team and plan to join us for UPDATE 2027.

Nearly three decades in RVs. President and CEO of Keystone RV. Now, a new chapter in boating. Seaglass Pontoon Boats President Matt Zimmerman joins GarageCast to share the leadership lessons and dealer insights behind his RV career—and how he’s applying them to make family boating more affordable and buying a boat simpler. UPDATE 2027 is back. Join Garage Composites January 31–February 1 for one of the powersports and marine industry’s premier training and networking events. Featuring industry training, 20 Clubs, and opportunities for dealers, manufacturers, vendors, owners, and managers to connect and grow. Bring your team and plan to join us for UPDATE 2027.

From mowing lawns to building an 11-location dealership business—how did John Wooden pull it off? The owner of Minnesota’s River Valley Power and Sports joins GarageCast to share the risks and strategic moves behind his growth. Hear how marinas create year-round revenue, smarter inventory decisions keep business moving, and proactive service brings customers back. Plus, John weighs in on succession planning and what’s next for marine and powersports dealers. UPDATE 2027 is back. Join Garage Composites January 31–February 1 for one of the powersports and marine industry’s premier training and networking events. Featuring industry training, 20 Clubs, and opportunities for dealers, manufacturers, vendors, owners, and managers to connect and grow. Bring your team and plan to join us for UPDATE 2027.

The book says one thing. The auction says another. Jim Woodruff and Mike Murray of National Powersports Auctions join GarageCast to explain why wholesale values are holding stronger than many dealers think—and how to turn more trade-ins into profitable pre-owned sales. Plus, the outlook for Harley-Davidson, marine, and the months ahead. UPDATE 2027 is back. Join Garage Composites January 31–February 1 for one of the powersports and marine industry’s premier training and networking events. Featuring industry training, 20 Clubs, and opportunities for dealers, manufacturers, vendors, owners, and managers to connect and grow. Bring your team and plan to join us for UPDATE 2027.

What does the latest Fed rate move really mean for powersports and marine dealers? Northpoint Financial’s Russell Baqir breaks down consumer confidence, aged inventory, F&I opportunities, and the moves dealers and OEMs should be making right now to protect cash flow and profitability. UPDATE 2027 is back. Join Garage Composites January 31–February 1 for one of the powersports and marine industry’s premier training and networking events. Featuring industry training, 20 Clubs, and opportunities for dealers, manufacturers, vendors, owners, and managers to connect and grow. Bring your team and plan to join us for UPDATE 2027.

What’s next for the boating industry? Malibu Boats CEO and former Polaris executive Steve Menneto joins GarageCast to talk dealer strategy, pre-owned pricing, inventory discipline, financing, wakeboat regulations, and the changing marine consumer. Plus, Steve shares the strategy behind bringing Saxdor boat production to the U.S. and where he sees the biggest opportunities—and challenges—ahead for marine dealers and manufacturers. UPDATE 2027 is back. Join Garage Composites January 31–February 1 for one of the powersports and marine industry’s premier training and networking events. Featuring industry training, 20 Clubs, and opportunities for dealers, manufacturers, vendors, owners, and managers to connect and grow. Bring your team and plan to join us for UPDATE 2027.

Bill Fenech is coming out of retirement—and he’s got a big announcement. The former CEO of Barletta Premium Pontoon Boats returns to GarageCast to reveal SeaGlass Pontoons, his brand-new venture aimed at bringing affordability, quality, and excitement back to boating. Bill shares why he’s jumping back into the marine industry, what he believes the industry is getting wrong, and why SeaGlass could shake up the entry-level pontoon market. Bill Fenech is back—and he’s ready to make some noise. UPDATE 2027 is back. Join Garage Composites January 31–February 1 for one of the powersports and marine industry’s premier training and networking events. Featuring industry training, 20 Clubs, and opportunities for dealers, manufacturers, vendors, owners, and managers to connect and grow. Bring your team and plan to join us for UPDATE 2027.

In Part 2 with Nike’s Bret Schoolmeester, we go behind the scenes of one of the world’s most influential brands to explore leadership, product innovation, supply chain challenges, and the future of retail. Bret shares how Nike empowers teams, turns consumer insights into products, navigates COVID disruption, and connects manufacturing with the customer experience. We also uncover lessons powersports and marine dealers can apply to product knowledge, personalization, and the evolving balance between in-store and online retail. Plus, Bret shares stories from inside Nike—including his experiences with legendary founder Phil Knight. UPDATE 2027 is back. Join Garage Composites January 31–February 1 for one of the powersports and marine industry’s premier training and networking events. Featuring industry training, 20 Clubs, and opportunities for dealers, manufacturers, vendors, owners, and managers to connect and grow. Bring your team and plan to join us for UPDATE 2027.

What does it take to build a game-changing product—and a winning team? Nike Running Footwear VP Bret Schoolmeester joins GarageCast to share his journey from competitive runner to Nike executive, his role in the revolutionary Vaporfly, and lessons on leadership, resilience, innovation, and the future of retail. UPDATE 2027 is back. Join Garage Composites January 31–February 1 for one of the powersports and marine industry’s premier training and networking events. Featuring industry training, 20 Clubs, and opportunities for dealers, manufacturers, vendors, owners, and managers to connect and grow. Bring your team and plan to join us for UPDATE 2027.

From attorney to dealer principal, Michael Maledon shares the leadership lessons, pricing transparency strategies, and customer-first philosophy driving success at one of the powersports industry's top dealership groups. Discover how culture, technology, and trust are shaping the future of powersports retail. UPDATE 2027 is back. Join Garage Composites January 31–February 1 for one of the powersports and marine industry’s premier training and networking events. Featuring industry training, 20 Clubs, and opportunities for dealers, manufacturers, vendors, owners, and managers to connect and grow. Bring your team and plan to join us for UPDATE 2027.

Adventure riding is for everyone—and Adventure Crown is proving it. Sam and Tony sit down with founders Lana Tsurikova and Chip McMann to discuss building an inclusive, skills-first competition that's helping grow the next generation of adventure riders. From the Backcountry Discovery Route to the future of the sport, this episode is packed with inspiration, community, and two-wheel adventure. UPDATE 2027 is back. Join Garage Composites January 31–February 1 for one of the powersports and marine industry’s premier training and networking events. Featuring industry training, 20 Clubs, and opportunities for dealers, manufacturers, vendors, owners, and managers to connect and grow. Bring your team and plan to join us for UPDATE 2027.

Matt Gruhn, President of the MRAA, returns to GarageCast to discuss the future of marine retail, leadership, and his new book, Anchoring. From evolving customer expectations to data-driven decisions and the nine disciplines every dealer needs to succeed, this conversation is packed with practical insights for marine and powersports professionals ready to lead what's next. UPDATE 2027 is back. Join Garage Composites January 31–February 1 for one of the powersports and marine industry’s premier training and networking events. Featuring industry training, 20 Clubs, and opportunities for dealers, manufacturers, vendors, owners, and managers to connect and grow. Bring your team and plan to join us for UPDATE 2027.

At Mau Marine in Okoboji, Iowa, they believe they aren't selling boats—they're selling weekends, family memories, and a lifestyle on the water. In this episode of GarageCast, Matt Lange shares how his family-run dealership has built a thriving culture centered on exceptional customer experiences, intentional training, and a team-first mindset. Discover the simple philosophies that have fueled decades of success, from developing future talent to creating lifelong customers, and why relationships remain the ultimate competitive advantage in today's marine industry. UPDATE 2027 is back. Join Garage Composites January 31–February 1 for one of the powersports and marine industry’s premier training and networking events. Featuring industry training, 20 Clubs, and opportunities for dealers, manufacturers, vendors, owners, and managers to connect and grow. Bring your team and plan to join us for UPDATE 2027.

Running a successful dealership takes more than great sales—it takes exceptional leadership. In this episode of GarageCast, Schooly and Tony share the biggest lessons from the latest General Manager Training Academy, covering F&I processes, service department performance, technician development, and the leadership strategies top-performing dealerships use to drive growth. Packed with practical takeaways for general managers, dealer principals, and fixed ops leaders looking to improve performance and profitability. UPDATE 2027 is back. Join Garage Composites January 31–February 1 for one of the powersports and marine industry’s premier training and networking events. Featuring industry training, 20 Clubs, and opportunities for dealers, manufacturers, vendors, owners, and managers to connect and grow. Bring your team and plan to join us for UPDATE 2027.