From Ford Technician to 5 Dealerships: What the Industry Is Missing with Luke May

In this episode Sarah Vantine sits down with Luke May, dealer principal of White Family Dealerships (South Dakota & Wyoming), to unpack what it really takes to build a winning fixed operations culture in today's competitive automotive landscape.

Luke brings a rare perspective, he started as a Ford-certified technician, spent 20 years in the field with General Motors, and now oversees five rooftops. And he's using every bit of that experience to do things differently.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• The untapped talent pool that could solve your technician shortage 
• How Luke built a fixed ops leadership team where over half the leaders are women
• The surprisingly simple gestures that drive technician retention better than a pay raise
• What dealers absolutely must prioritize heading into 2026 to stay competitive for talent
• Why your technicians need to be on your website, your social media, and in your business cards right now

If you're a dealer, fixed ops director, or service manager serious about retention, recruitment, and building a team that actually wants to stay, this conversation will change how you think about your people.

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Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Luke May

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement