The Institute Expands Manager Performance Groups with New Annual Winter Meeting & Addition of New Group

Ogden, UT - July 29, 2025 - The Institute for Automotive Business Excellence is proud to announce a significant enhancement to its flagship Manager Performance Groups (MPG) program. Beginning in 2026, MPG will introduce an additional in-person winter meeting.

This new winter session builds on the existing two annual in-person events, offering managers three opportunities each year to participate in focused, hands-on collaboration. The expanded schedule allows for deeper engagement in leadership development, business strategy, and performance planning, all within a supportive, distraction-free environment at The Institute’s headquarters.

"Our mission is to support automotive managers with the tools and environment they need to succeed," said Aaron Woods, Facilitator & Coach at The Institute. "Adding this winter meeting gives our members more time for real-world planning, mentorship, and skill-building that has a lasting impact on their businesses."

The Manager Performance Groups program combines online curriculum, leadership and skill assessments, business coaching, and financial analytics. It’s built specifically for owners and general managers who are responsible for people, shop

performance, and team development. Facilitated by experienced coaches, the MPG fosters a strong community of shop leaders who are committed to improving results and solving real-world challenges together.

With the addition of this third in-person meeting, you’ll walk away more aligned, more energized, and connected to the people who understand your journey, along with the tools needed to turn progress into results. - Aaron Woods

In addition to the additional meeting, we’re officially launching a new MPG group. This expansion ensures every manager continues to receive the attention, support, and customized coaching needed to succeed in their role and elevate their shop's performance. We’re thrilled to support more leaders on their journey and strengthen our MPG community even further.

Members currently participate in online group roundtables, receive individualized coaching, and in-person sessions. They also gain access to peer group masterminds and exclusive tools like the GEAR For Shops Online Course Library & The Institute Shop Dashboard. The new winter meeting helps businesses begin the year on the right track, fostering alignment, growth, and strategic planning for a successful 2026.

“About a year ago... we were right about $640K a year,” said John Hirschmann, Manager at Rhoad's Automotive. “With the owner and myself coming to these meetings and coming to the Institute, this year we're going to be really close to $1.1 million. Our percentages are where they need to be and we were really able to stop and look at where we were falling short and where we needed to focus on. And I say we have to credit that to the Institute.” 

Participants can expect their week to be filled with high-impact training, live coaching, and collaborative planning sessions to strengthen operations and leadership systems.

If you're currently a member of the Manager Performance Groups program, you're encouraged to RSVP through the event listing on the GEAR Heads Network. If you haven’t joined the network yet, now is the perfect time to log in and get connected.

For full details or to apply, visit: https://www.wearetheinstitute.com/business-assessment