Description

What does it take to scale a collision operation to $75 million across 10+ locations — without sacrificing repair integrity?

In this episode of BodyShop Leaders, Daniel Burkholder sits down with David Black, Corporate Collision Director at #1 Cochran, to unpack nearly four decades of leadership in the collision repair industry.

From starting in his family’s shop at 12 years old to building one of the largest dealer-owned collision groups in the country, David shares the philosophy that drives everything he does:

Fix the car the right way. Then talk about cost.

You’ll hear how David and his team:

• Transformed five independent dealership shops into a unified MSO
• Built a 150,000 sq. ft. collision-dedicated parts warehouse
• Leveraged AI to book repairs, communicate with customers, and improve CSI
• Launched in-house ADAS calibration centers to control cycle time
• Developed a 24-month technician mentoring program to grow talent from the ground up
• Navigated the shift from chasing top-line revenue to protecting car count and long-term profitability

This conversation is a masterclass in leadership, innovation, and operational discipline.

If you care about OE-correct repairs, sustainable growth, and preparing your business for the next decade of collision repair — this episode is for you.

The BodyShop Leaders Podcast is powered by BodyShop Marketing, the agency helping collision industry leaders grow smarter and lead stronger.