Skip to main content

Episode 55: Cracking Open Cold Ones at Cornell's

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.

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!

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!


Episode

Details

  • Interviewers

    Mike Nelson & Derek Foster

  • Guests

    Casey Cornell & Mike Colvett

  • Runtime

    57 Minutes, 47 Seconds

  • Air Date

    May 20th, 2024