Meet Ron Tinner, owner of Sparks Tire & Auto and a coach at Repair Shop of Tomorrow. Ron’s passion for auto repair started at an early age when he worked with his grandfather, a mechanical wizard who could diagnose and repair any engine or motor. At 16, Ron began working for Firestone but soon realized it was not the right fit for him. He then joined a small independent auto repair shop called Sparks Tune Up.
Ron started as a lube tech, performing an estimated average of 20 oil changes per day, 7 days a week. After three years, he became the lead tune-up tech, and by the age of 22, he had earned his Master Certification with ASE. In 1993, Ron became L1 Certified and convinced the shop owner to go “Full Service.” The shop’s name changed to Sparks Tire and Auto, and over the next two years, the shop became affiliated with NAPA Autocare program and AAA. In 1995, Ron and the shop owner became partners, and in 2000, Ron bought out his partner.
In 2004, Ron moved the shop from its 3 bay, 1400 sq. ft. location to its current 10 bay, 10,000 sq. ft. location. Ron weathered the 2008-2009 financial storm and kept his crew intact. In 2011, Ron served on the NAPA National Council, where he met Dave Justice, the founder of Repair Shop of Tomorrow (RSOT). Hiring Dave as his business coach was the best move Ron has ever made. Dave taught Ron the essential skills he needed to take his business to the next level and held him accountable for implementing them.
RSOT changed Ron’s life both personally and professionally. The education Ron received from Dave, the push to implement it, and the respect he received when he did it, made him want to be the best he could be. Ron wanted to have the shop that everyone around him was looking to be. Today, Ron has reached that level of success. His daughter works with him daily, his wife has retired from the business, and he has 7 amazing staff members who live to make the “TEAM” the best it can be.
Ron has managed, with the help of many, to get to a level of business success that affords him the opportunity to coach and help others that ARE where he WAS. Ron is proud to be a part of RSOT and finds it an honor to help other independent shop owners reach their goals in both business and financial success. His goal is to help others reach the financial and mental freedom to work ON their business, not IN it.
Ron Tinner is an accomplished auto care professional with a wealth of experience and expertise in the industry. His journey from a lube tech to the owner of a successful auto repair shop has been a testament to his hard work, dedication, and willingness to learn. As a coach at Repair Shop of Tomorrow, Ron is committed to helping other shop owners achieve the same level of success that he has attained in his career. He understands the challenges that come with owning and operating an auto repair shop and provides valuable insights and strategies to help other shop owners reach their full potential.
