Fifth Gear Automotive Recognized at ATI SuperConference: Two Locations Named Among the Top 12 Shops in the Nation
Recognition like this does not happen by accident. At this year’s ATI SuperConference, Fifth Gear Automotive was honored in a big way: both our McKinney and Cross Roads locations were selected among the Top 12 shops in the nation. That is an incredible achievement, and it speaks directly to the hard work, consistency, and dedication of the teams at both locations.
For us, this is about more than an award. It is a reflection of the standards our people uphold every day. Great service, strong leadership, and genuine care for customers do not come from a single moment. They come from the daily effort of advisors, technicians, managers, and support staff all working toward the same goal. This recognition shines a light on that effort and reminds us how much our people matter.
Why ATI SuperConference Matters
ATI SuperConference is one of the most respected events in the automotive repair industry. It brings together shop owners, operators, managers, and teams from across the country to share ideas, improve operations, and learn from other high-performing businesses.
That is what makes this recognition so meaningful. It is not just praise from the outside. It comes from being measured alongside some of the best shops in the industry. For Fifth Gear, having two locations make the Top 12 reinforces that we are operating at a very high level and that the work being done across our teams is making a real impact.
The conference also creates space for leaders to step back from the day-to-day and focus on what will make shops better moving forward. That includes everything from culture and customer experience to team development, profitability, and new technology. In other words, ATI is not just about celebrating success. It is about helping strong shops become even stronger.
A Huge Win for McKinney and Cross Roads
We are especially proud that both McKinney and Cross Roads earned this recognition. That says a lot about the strength of the teams in those shops and the consistency they bring to the customer experience.
Awards can sometimes feel like a snapshot, but this one represents much more than a good month or a lucky stretch. It reflects discipline, teamwork, and a commitment to doing things the right way over time. Customers may only see one visit or one repair, but behind every positive experience is a team that has built habits of quality and trust.
Fifth Gear President Ricky Jordan put it plainly: having two shops make ATI’s Top 12 is incredibly reinforcing. It confirms that the systems, leadership, and people in place are working. It also highlights something special about Fifth Gear as a company. Excellence here is not limited to one standout location. It is something being built across the organization.
The Biggest Takeaway: Culture Impacts Customers Too
One of the most valuable insights from the conference came from Tim Edwards, shop manager at Lewisville. When asked about his biggest takeaway from ATI SuperConference, Tim said it was culture.
What stood out to him was hearing how a great culture affects not only teammates, but customers too. That is such an important idea. It is easy to think of culture as something internal, something that improves morale or teamwork behind the scenes. But customers experience culture just as much as employees do.
They feel it in the way they are greeted. They hear it in the way service recommendations are explained. They notice it in the professionalism, communication, and attitude of the entire team. As Tim shared, our great culture needs to be on the main stage for customers to experience at all levels. That includes advisors, porters, and any customer-facing role.
That perspective matters because customers are usually not visiting us on a carefree day. Car problems are stressful. When a team meets that stress with clarity, professionalism, and empathy, it changes the experience. Culture is not just something a company talks about. It becomes something customers feel.
Learning From Other Top Shops
Another big value of ATI SuperConference is the chance to learn directly from other successful shops. Tim said that talking with Roy in his COO group was especially helpful, particularly around the idea of centralizing focus in the service advisor role. That is the kind of insight that can create a real ripple effect in a shop. When service advisors are better positioned to lead communication and process, both the customer experience and team efficiency improve.
Tim also pointed to one of the industry’s biggest ongoing challenges: the technician shortage. He noted that Fifth Gear is doing a strong job in this area, but also said there is room to do more when it comes to developing young people. That is a smart takeaway. The best shops are not just looking at the immediate hiring market. They are thinking long term about how to build the next generation of talent.
Ricky identified another area where the industry is moving quickly: AI. He shared that some shops are already ahead in how they are using artificial intelligence within the business, and that Fifth Gear likely needs to spend more time researching how to get ahead there as well. That could impact both operational efficiency and the customer experience, especially as technology continues to shape how businesses communicate and serve.
Why Networking Was So Valuable
Both Tim and Ricky made it clear that one of the biggest benefits of the conference was the opportunity to connect with other people in the industry.
Tim described the networking side of the event as very valuable, saying that spending time with other shops helped him think more clearly about what Fifth Gear could improve. That kind of peer interaction matters because it helps leaders see beyond their own routines. It creates fresh perspective and often leads to the kind of ideas that are hard to get from a presentation alone.
Ricky emphasized that networking was a major reason he attended. His focus was on meeting with specific industry partners and contacts, which reflects another side of what makes conferences so important. Some of the most meaningful progress does not happen in a classroom setting. It happens in conversations, relationships, and strategic face-to-face meetings.
He also shared how valuable it was to watch Fifth Gear team members lead a roundtable on one of their own best practices. Presenting and explaining a process, rather than just doing it, sharpens understanding and builds confidence. That kind of experience does not just help in the room. It strengthens leadership back at the shop too.
What This Recognition Means for Customers
Awards are exciting internally, but what matters most is what they mean for the people who trust us with their vehicles.
This recognition confirms that Fifth Gear is not only performing at a high level, but also continuing to look for ways to improve. Tim said the conference confirmed that we are on the right track and operating at the highest level in the ATI demographic. That is encouraging, but it did not lead to complacency. Instead, the team came back thinking about culture, customer experience, team development, and future innovation.
That is exactly what customers should want from the shop they choose. Not a business that says it has arrived, but one that keeps learning, improving, and investing in people. Whether it is better communication from service advisors, stronger customer-facing culture, or smarter tools that improve efficiency, the end result should always be a better experience for the customer.
Thank You to the Teams Who Made This Possible
This recognition belongs to the people who earned it. We are incredibly proud of the teams at McKinney and Cross Roads for being named among the Top 12 shops in the nation. Their hard work, professionalism, and commitment to excellence made this possible.
It also reflects the strength of the broader Fifth Gear team. Great shops are built by people who care deeply about doing the job right and serving customers well. This honor is worth celebrating, and it also motivates us to keep raising the bar.
Being recognized at ATI SuperConference is a proud moment for Fifth Gear Automotive. Having two locations earn that distinction makes it even more meaningful. It is a testament to our teams, our culture, and the trust our customers place in us every day.
Juan is a marketing enthusiast with over three years of experience in automotive marketing and serves as the Marketing Lead at Fifth Gear Automotive. A University of North Texas graduate with a Master’s in Marketing, he works closely with expert technicians to share trusted insights and practical advice, helping drivers better understand and care for their vehicles.
