Adrenaline, Autos, and Achievements With Cory Brown of Cory's Point S Tire
Release Date: 02/26/2025
Gain Traction
Tyler Paparello is the Chief Operating Officer at AMG, overseeing 28 Midas locations across New England. With a background rooted in sales, Tyler learned early on that while selling can solve short-term problems, it takes leadership, people, and process to scale a business sustainably. Today, he focuses on building systems that empower employees, earn customer trust, and create long-term growth opportunities across the organization. In this episode… What happens when a company grows faster than one person can manage? For Tyler Paparello, it meant learning a lesson every leader eventually...
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Christian Seem is the President & CEO of Good Turn Tire & Auto, a rapidly growing tire and auto repair company with 55 locations and 16 brands across five states. With nearly 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, Christian has worked in big box retail, commercial parts distribution, and tire retail, including leadership roles at TBC Corporation. Since joining Good Turn in 2023, he has led aggressive expansion while preserving the local brand names, cultures, and community trust that give each store its value. His leadership philosophy focuses on building strong teams,...
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Bruce Davis is a veteran journalist and editor who spent 45 years shaping how the tire industry receives its news, data, and insights. As a founding staff member of Tire Business, he helped launch the publication in 1983, transforming it from an ambitious idea into one of the most trusted voices in the global tire market. Over the years, Bruce pioneered cornerstone features like the Global Tire Report, chronicled the industry’s evolution through import/export statistics and dealership rankings, and built a reputation for delivering business-focused journalism with credibility and depth. His...
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Don Barnes III is the Chief Tire Guy at Belle Tire, a third-generation leader helping steer one of the oldest and most respected tire retailers in the U.S. Founded in 1922, Belle Tire has grown from a local shop into a powerhouse with over 180 locations across the Midwest. Under Don’s leadership, the company has maintained its century-long reputation by focusing on operational excellence, local relationships, and above all, outstanding customer service in the tire industry. Don is also passionate about youth development and community engagement, leading Belle Tire’s involvement in one of...
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Jesse Wickel is the owner of Wickel Tire Pros in Burley, Idaho. A former farmer with deep roots in agriculture, Jesse built his business from a single tire shop into a multi-location operation generating over $26 million in annual sales. With a hands-on approach, a strong community presence, and a commitment to relationship-driven service, Jesse has grown his team from just a few employees to over 80 across multiple locations, all while maintaining his small-town values. In this episode… How do you take a rural tire shop doing $1.2 million in annual sales and scale it to over $26...
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Mike Lusso is a seasoned engineer at Coats Company in Nashville, Tennessee, specializing in tire changers, wheel balancers, lifts, and alignment machines. A lifelong gearhead with a passion for modifying cars, Mike channels his love for the automotive space into leadership roles, most notably as Chair of the WTSBC, a leading automotive industry council under SEMA. Through his volunteer work, Mike helps shape best practices and raise industry standards across the wheel, tire, suspension, and brake sectors. In this episode… If you’ve ever wondered what real influence looks like behind the...
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Adrian Rodriguez is the Vice President of Marketing and Retail Sales at Commercial Tire, a leading tire and auto service provider with over 45 locations across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Utah. Before joining Commercial Tire, he spent a decade with John Deere, sharpening his expertise in marketing and retail strategy. Adrian helped lead Commercial Tire’s transition to 100% employee ownership in 2019, fostering a culture rooted in accountability and local investment. Outside of work, he’s an avid skier and downhill mountain biker, embracing extreme sports with the same energy he brings...
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Joe Schafranek is an Account Manager at Tread Partners, a marketing agency focused on the tire and auto repair industry. With roots in Detroit and hands-on shop experience at Firestone and Big O, Joe brings a unique perspective to digital marketing through his understanding of both operations and data. Prior to Tread Partners, he helped grow BAIC and explored data-centric roles in the auto aftermarket. Today, Joe leverages that diverse background to help multi-location shops increase car count through performance-driven strategies. In this episode… Marketing in the auto repair industry often...
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Dan Kahn is the Founder and CEO of Kahn Media, a public relations and marketing agency based in Los Angeles specializing in the automotive aftermarket. A lifelong car enthusiast, Dan began his career at age 16 by pitching and landing magazine features on a Mustang he restored with his father. Before founding Kahn Media in 2008, he worked as an automotive journalist and launched digital content platforms. His latest book, The New Rules of the Road, outlines his philosophy on transparency, digital strategy, and authority marketing in a fast-evolving business world. In this episode… Trust and...
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Dennis Feldman is the Chair of the ITDG Next Gen Committee and a third-generation operator at Performance Plus Tire, a family-owned business in Long Beach, California which specializes in classic car tires and aftermarket wheels. Keleyah Miller is the Vice Chair of the ITDG Next Gen Committee and part of the third generation at Main Street Tire in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she and her siblings are leading a company that is now 80% wholesale. Justin Pursell serves as Secretary of the ITDG Next Gen Committee and oversees commercial, wholesale, and retread operations at Bergey’s...
info_outlineCory Brown is the Owner of Cory's Point S Tire in Rapid City, South Dakota. Under Cory's leadership, the business has expanded to two locations, employing 35-40 staff members. Outside of business hours, Cory characterizes himself as an adrenaline junkie who enjoys car racing, snowboarding, motocross, and mountain climbing.
In this episode…
As any industry veteran can attest, the automotive field is an immensely competitive one. What makes a business thrive in a competitive sector, and how do leaders overcome the challenges posed by rapid growth and changing market dynamics?
Cory Brown of Cory’s Point S Tire shares how he tackled these challenges head-on through a combination of grit, dedication, and strategic alliances. Raised in South Dakota, Cory took an unconventional path to success by embracing opportunities to learn and lead from a young age. His story unfolds with trials, triumphs, and the pivotal moment he joined Point S, a cooperative network that transformed his business landscape. Cory’s passion for cars and commitment to excellence, coupled with the support of a like-minded community, helped him build a business that stands out. Cory reveals how the Point S network not only provided tangible business benefits, but fostered a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.
In this episode of Gain Traction, Mike Edge welcomes Cory Brown to chat about the journey from an independent tire shop owner to a respected member of the Point S network. They delve into the intricacies of growing a family business in the tire industry and provide valuable insights into the power of building relationships, relentless work ethic, and leveraging the support of a cooperative network to achieve business goals.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- [02:00] How Cory Brown's three sons keep him on his toes
- [02:29] Family dynamics and their role in toughness
- [03:14] Why Cory never backs down in arm wrestling
- [08:20] The benefits of attending Point S Tire Conference
- [09:08] Cory discusses his leap from sales to store management
- [10:38] The secrets behind Cory's successful store leadership
- [11:27] What made Cory skeptical about joining Point S?
- [19:08] How Cory balances family and adrenaline-fueled hobbies
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Cory Brown
- Cory's Point S Tire
- Custer State Park
- Crazy Horse
- Mount Rushmore
- Mike Edge on LinkedIn
- Tread Partners
Quotable Moments:
- "Even though it's home, the Black Hills is one of my favorite places."
- "I have one button, and it's on. I don't really know how to play very well."
- "I was the youngest guy in the shop, which was so weird."
- "You gotta maintain that mental top position."
- "I think my favorite part is seeing the inter-family relationships."
Action Steps:
- Foster open communication within the team: Building a culture of open communication encourages sharing of ideas and concerns, which can lead to innovative solutions.
- Embrace a collaborative environment: Fostering camaraderie within the workplace allows individuals to learn from one another and share different perspectives.
- Inspire a strong work ethic: Demonstrating commitment and diligence can motivate the rest of the team to follow suit.
- Leverage mentorship opportunities: Seeking guidance from more experienced individuals can provide valuable insights and help avoid common pitfalls.
- Prioritize work-life balance: Engaging in fulfilling activities outside of work can improve overall well-being and job satisfaction.
Sponsor for this episode...
This episode is brought to you by Tread Partners.
At Tread Partners, we provide digital marketing for multi-location tire dealers and auto repair shops.
By using our strategy, branding, and marketing services, we help shops sell more tires and put more cars in bays.
We’ve helped companies like Action Gator Tire, Colony Tire and Service, and Ulmer’s Auto Care Center bring extreme growth in paid leads, ROI, and searches.
So, what are you waiting for?
Visit www.treadpartners.com or email info@treadpartners.com to learn more.