Blue Collar StartUp - Episode 55: Cracking Open Cold Ones at Cornell's

In this episode, our hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster talk with Mike Colvett and Casey Cornell of Cornell's Auto Parts!
Cornell's is doing something very special... They boast the claim that their auto operation is heavily recycling-based, reusing car oil, parts, metal, carpeting, and more from their cars! How is this possible? How did they get started doing this? Hear the answers to those questions and many more by listening to this episode!

Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp, the podcast!
Our Mission is Simple: To facilitate the growth and development of Blue Collar businesses. We will showcase REAL Blue Collar businesses in interviews, and use these stories to help educate and empower the next generation of trades workers to become Blue Collar business owners.

00:00 - Introductions: Greenfield Center is Beautiful!
01:12 - Podcast Happy Hour: Tinney’s Tavern Reopens!
02:14 - Thanks, DTGC! Shoutout to Fierro’s!
03:44 - Cornell’s Auto Parts… Not a Junkyard!
05:32 - Second-Generation
06:46 - A Growing Business: From One Employee to 40
07:52 - Insurance by Day, Construction by Night
08:44 - Cracking Open a Cold One with the Boys
09:18 - Hiring: A Tough Decision, But an Important One
13:39 - New Cars Don’t Make Money… Parts and Service Does!
14:49 - A High-Tech, Organized Operation
17:13 - Frustration Hires a GM
19:32 - Strange Noises
20:04 - The Cornell Network: What Collaboration Can Do
24:32 - Mike the Sales Trainer
25:44 - Leave All-Nighters to the Young!
26:41 - EVERYTHING Gets Recycled: Oil, Gas, Parts, and More!
29:30 - Car-Crushin’: Go Watch Pulp Fiction!
31:42 - Finding the Right People
33:29 - Career Hagglers Are Scary!
35:27 - The Part-Cleaning Process
37:49 - There is No Typical Day at Cornell’s!
38:55 - A Versatile, Reliable Staff
41:04 - Happy Holidays
41:49 - Outside of Work… Is More Work? The Pricemaster
44:50 - Snowmobiling, Drag Racing, Pizzamaking, and More!
47:15 - Five Towers Client Appreciation at Dancing Grain!
48:20 - What’s Next?
50:13 - Keeping the Business Fun
52:58 - Close at 5, Go Home at Midnight
53:33 - The Key to Success… Is Patience!
55:29 - How to Get in Touch
56:07 - Is Greenfield Sheep or Cow Country?
57:06 - Closing Remarks: Shoutout to Michaels Group and MLB Construction!