Empowering Shop Owners & Scaling Success: Aspen Auto Clinic
Greg Bunch, founder of Aspen Auto Clinic, grew his auto repair business from humble beginnings to four Colorado Springs locations by fostering a resilient culture centered on core values, delegating leadership to COO Kenneth Greffin, implementing cloud-based Tekmetric software for streamlined operations, and empowering other shop owners through his Transformers Institute mastermind program while actively giving back to the community.
Greg Bunch, founder and owner of Aspen Auto Clinic, began his journey in auto repair at age 15 by restoring a 1966 Volkswagen Bug. Over the years, he worked in various roles—from cleaning shop floors to becoming ASE certified and managing shops—before opening Aspen Auto Clinic in Colorado Springs. The business has since grown to four locations.
Bunch emphasizes the importance of mindset for shop owners and has created the Transformers Institute, a mastermind program to help other shop owners expand their businesses. He and Aspen Auto Clinic’s president and COO, Kenneth Greffin, shared insights on nurturing growth, building strong teams, and giving back to the community.
From Cleaning Toilets to Running Multiple Shops
Greg started in the industry with humble beginnings, cleaning and fixing cars at a small Volkswagen shop. He gained experience at various shops and dealerships, eventually realizing his desire to run his own business. He started Aspen Auto Clinic in his garage, moved to an industrial condo, and finally built his first shop in 2004. The business is now in its twentieth year.
Creating a Resilient Culture With Core Values
Greg initially juggled multiple roles but learned to delegate, hiring Kenneth Greffin to manage daily operations. Kenneth helped unify the company’s culture around core values like accountability, reliability, and customer care. Regular meetings reinforce these values, and employees are encouraged to see themselves as part of one team across all locations.
Aspen Auto Clinic is committed to community service, running fundraising programs for schools, donating cars, and offering free oil changes to veterans and frontline workers.
Rolling Out a New Shop Management System
Kenneth describes the transition to Tekmetric’s shop management software as seamless, with excellent support and intuitive features. The cloud-based system synchronizes information across all locations, making data easily accessible. Integration with parts matrices, rewards programs, and digital vehicle inspections was quick and simple.
Tekmetric’s reporting features have improved inventory management and provided enhanced insights into sales and profitability. The system also standardizes pricing across locations and offers secure, convenient payment options for customers.
Coaching Other Shop Owners
Greg founded the Transformers Institute to fill a gap in training for multi-shop owners. The program focuses on sales, marketing, and business operations, encouraging owners to adopt a business mindset rather than just a technician’s perspective. Greg stresses that there are multiple paths to success and that mindset is key to scaling a business.
For more information about Aspen Auto Clinic, visit aspenautoclinic.com.