Adam Genuario
Owner | AMG Enterprises dba Midas Tires and Auto Service | Branford, Conn. | Age: 34
What was your first job in the industry?
The first job in I had in the industry was a customer service representative at the Midas in Norwalk, Conn. It was a long process as I had to spend a lot of time with technicians because I knew little to nothing about auto mechanics. I learned quickly that being honest, friendly and moving with a sense of urgency to genuinely help your customers would get you places in this industry.
What attracted you to the industry?
What most attracted me to the industry was there was an opportunity to bring new energy into the business. Most of the shops I worked at seemed outdated, sluggish and inefficient. There were real opportunities to motivate people, improve processes and bring a fresh perspective to the business.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career?
The biggest challenge I have faced in my career was constantly being challenged because of inexperience and age. It ended up being an advantage in the long run.
Who has had the biggest influence on your career?
The biggest influence on my career is my cousin Jeff Genuario. Jeff is who got my foot in the door in the Midas system and spent a tremendous amount of time talking about “big picture” business. Jeff has been in the Midas and Big O Tires business for over 30 years and operates 19 locations in Colorado.
What is your biggest accomplishment in the industry?
The biggest accomplishment I’ve had is going from purchasing my first shop that was going out of business and doing less than $400,000 in sales per year to acquiring 14 locations doing just shy of $20 million in sales in six years. At first, I was turned down by multiple banks to get a loan, and have since grown to operate a very healthy business.
Tell us about your current job and responsibilities. How do you spend your workday?
My workday starts very early in the morning by reviewing automated reports with KPI's and responding to emails from the office, vice president and district managers. I like to touch base with all of the multi-unit managers and the office every day and I like to get in each store a minimum of three times a quarter. Being in four different states there is a lot of time on the road but driving has become therapeutic to me at this point.
What's been the biggest surprise of your current job?
The biggest surprise of my job has been the amount of team members we currently have and how many states we are across. I didn't think we would have grown to this size in this amount of time.
Tell us about your family.
Family is the most important thing in my life. I have hit the lottery with caring, supportive parents and three brothers who are my best friends. None of them want anything to do with the automotive industry or know anything about it.
My beautiful wife Megan and I are recently married with our first child on the way due in September. My wife also wants nothing to do with working in the tire or auto business. She works for Sikorsky Aircraft as an engineer working on Black Hawk Helicopters.
If you could wake up tomorrow with one new skill, what would you choose?
I would choose a skill to create master technicians in a small period of time.
In a single word, how would your friends describe you?
Motivating,
If you could switch jobs for a day, what job/who would you choose to swap with, and why?
I would switch jobs with Nick Saban, the football coach for Alabama. I love football and would love to coach an elite football team for a day, it would be different and fun. I would also like Nick Saban to move into my role for a day and apply his principles stick to our team members.
What's the biggest issue facing the tire industry?
Labor market for skilled technicians. Not enough techs getting into the field, not enough folks to provide technical training and tons of highly skilled techs retiring or leaving the market.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a sports coach.
What goal did you set for yourself this year? Are you on track to reach it?
It was my goal to reach 20 locations and in four states and we are definitely on track to reach it.
What do you expect to be doing 20 years from now?
I expect to be the best loving father and husband I can be, along with operating one of the largest, most professional independent tire and auto service companies in the Northeast.
