Adam Konopacki of Mike’s Transmission builds on his father’s successful transmission shop with better business practices

Adam Konopacki watched his father Mike create a great reputation for Mike’s Transmission with his customer service and his pricing. He also saw him grow frustrated and ultimately put the shop up for sale. 

Within a few years, he faced the same stage of burnout and thought about getting out of the industry. Instead, he swallowed his pride and asked for help. 

These days, he finds himself less stressed and more profitable after learning from another role model. 

“Lately, it’s been amazing,” Adam said. “This is the happiest I’ve been in a long time.”

Mike Konopacki started fixing transmissions in his driveway then his basement in the late 1980s. As more neighbours complained, he moved his work to a 2,000-square-foot unit in Oshawa.

As business took off, he bought a 3,200-square-foot, four-bay shop in nearby Courtice in 1997. His son Adam started there in 2009, cleaning the shop and picking up parts. 

Due to Mike’s high standards, he resisted letting Adam work on clients’ vehicles. However, while he was away at a motorcycle drag race, a tech taught Adam how to rebuild his first unit. Then an office worker retired, opening the door to Adam writing his first work order. 

By 2016, Mike tired of managing the shop and its staff, hiring a realtor to sell it all. Realizing he didn’t want to work for anyone else, Adam matched the offer from another bidder. He and his wife Jessica took a line of credit on their home and paid full price, taking over in February 2017.

Like his dad, he also carried much of the workload.

Shortly after one of his techs left in summer 2019, Adam broke his collarbone and scapula in a motorcycle crash. Lying on the ground, he took stock; he could breathe and feel his arms and legs. 

He thought about his wife and two daughters – then wondered how he could keep the shop going. At this point, he was the only one on staff who could rebuild a transmission.

And he knew that needed to change.

Fortunately, Mike stepped in to help and the tech came back to the shop after his other job didn’t work out. Adam took on any job that only required one arm until he healed.

After seeing various techs come and go, Adam began to evolve as an owner. “I learned to read employees better and focused on how people jibe with each other,” he explained.

By 2023, the shop was humming every day but Adam’s bank balance did not reflect that pace. And he thought about selling, just like his dad.

Instead, he started listening to podcasts and joined the Auto Shop Owners and Transmission Brotherhood Facebook groups. More importantly, he hired a Canadian business coach.

The shop started building work orders in Protractor. It updated its pricing, wages and bonus incentives, giving up QuickBooks.

Adam listened to cues from his staff. From them, he learned when to stick with standard procedures and when to let a veteran rebuilder forego the timeclock system. When they offered to work longer Monday to Thursday to get Friday afternoons off, the shop switched to that schedule.

“Some days are long, but every weekend feels like a long weekend,” Adam stated. “Production has taken off and the guys are happier.”

He also added air-conditioning to control humidity. The expense paid off with more comfort and fewer daily breaks. 

Adam no longer works on the shop floor, unless short on staff. He focuses on accounting, marketing and networking with other shops about referrals and suppliers. With only four transmission shops serving his catchment area of Whitby, Oshawa, Bowmanville and Orono (all within Durham Region), there’s lot of business to go around.

He has kept the good, honest service that his father paved for his success. If a vehicle comes in while still under warranty, the staff refer it back to the dealership for a free repair.

“I wouldn’t be where I am without my father, wife, kids and staff,” Adam said. “They have dealt with my ups and downs. The staff have seen the business transform and I thank them for their hard work.”

He also thanked Bruce Williams and Murray Voth at RPM Training. “They are a big reason for the shop’s success,” he added.

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