Professional Development Program
Fixed Operations Development Program
Most dealerships lose good people because no one shows them what comes next. This program lays out three career paths, Service, Technical and Parts, that all lead to Fixed Operations Director. Every rung earns a Shaw University certificate, and the dealer decides every promotion. Associates move through five stages of training, from onboarding to a twelve-month Manager Academy with Steve Shaw.
From Entry Level to Fixed Operations Director
The Professional Development Program gives every associate in your dealership a clear path up — from valet, cashier, BDC, porter and parts driver to Service Manager, Parts Manager and Fixed Operations Director — with the training, the certification and the mentor for every step. It is built on Shaw University and FOiS, and it runs inside your own custom-branded university, with your name on the door.leaders.
Why Your Best People Leave, and How to Keep Them
People leave when they cannot see a future. Most dealerships hire for a seat, and when the seat is filled, the developing never starts. The best advisor becomes the manager because he was the best advisor, not because anyone trained him to manage. Show your people the ladder and they climb it. Hide it, and they climb someone else’s.
One Ladder, Three Career Paths: Service, Technical and Parts
The Service Path climbs from Express Advisor to Service Advisor, Senior Advisor, Driveway Manager and Service Manager. The Technical Path climbs from Apprentice Technician to Technician, Master Technician and Shop Foreman. The Parts Path climbs from Parts Apprentice to Parts Counterperson, Senior Parts Counterperson, Assistant Parts Manager and Parts Manager. All three start on the same entry rung and lead to the same chair: Fixed Operations Director. Every rung is a Shaw University certificate, with ninety days minimum on every rung and no maximum. The dealer decides the promotion.
Five Stages of Training on One Calendar
Onboarding comes first, with nothing before the customer: the dealership’s vision, mission and values, a mentor on day one, and the First 90. Then the university curriculum — Express, then Levels 1, 2 and 3, one level a quarter — so a new advisor is fully certified in a year. Production Coaching prepares the next Driveway Manager and Shop Foreman. The Manager Series (600) builds the new manager. And the Manager Academy — twelve months with Steve Shaw — prepares the Service Manager and Parts Manager for the Director’s chair.
Coaching and Mentoring at Every Rung
A Shaw trainer on the drive two days every quarter for practice, role play and certification. A live, one-on-one Shaw Direct Mentoring session every month on the associate’s own ROs, calls and numbers. And daily reps with Auto Trainer AI, scored against the Shaw language.
Retention, a Stronger Bench and Better Numbers
People stay where they can see the next step. Every senior chair is filled from inside, by someone the store trained, tested and trusts. And every rung carries a Standard that pays for the store: the MPI presented on every car, dollars per RO, closing ratio and technician proficiency.