It's hard to believe that a successful
businessman's first intelligible phrase was "Hot car, Momma,"
but it gets easier when you know the man in question is Bobby
Likis. A two-year-old Bobby uttered these words after due
deliberation from the back seat of his daddy's Ford Coupe during a
July hot spell, and his first clear phrase seemed to prophesy his
direction in life. Bobby’s a seasoned pro who can speak elegantly,
knowledgeably and engagingly on subjects running the automotive
lifestyle gamut.
Bobby has worn every hat in the automotive industry:
technician, race car driver & pit crew, automotive service
center owner, industry consultant, and radio & TV talk-show
host. Acknowledged by industry & consumers, Likis “talks the
walk” as he hosts nationally syndicated, automotive-oriented
programs (originating from his all-digital, custom-designed
studio located within his active service center) on broadcast
radio, multiple Internet audio globalcasts, live video webcast (www.WatchBobbyLive.com),
podcasts (including iTunes), iPhone, Bobby’s Paltalk chat room,
YouTube, American Forces Radio Network and television. Bobby
also maintains a active presence on Facebook & Twitter.
Bobby is on “Talkers 250,” the prestigious broadcast industry
listing of the top 250 talk-show hosts in America—and the
only car-talk host on commercial radio named to the list for
four
years in a row. Bobby has been published multiple times in Motor
Age, BE Radio & AutoInc.; produces a quarterly e-newsletter of
automotive advice, trends, tips & technology; & authors a weekly
newspaper article. The eyes & ears of automotive enthusiasts, he
has broadcast “Bobby Likis Car Clinic” live from Daytona,
Charlotte & Saratoga race tracks; Consumer Electronics Show;
Concours d’Elegance; Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week;
Woodward Ave Dream Cruise & Mid-America’s 10th Anniversary.
SPECIFIC SUBJECTS OR ISSUES THE EXPERT CAN KNOWLEDGEABLY
DISCUSS:
Aftermarket products & services, New & used vehicle purchases,
OEM issues, safety, mobile technology, automotive trends &
legislation, consumer buying & service advice, preventive
maintenance, gas mileage, vehicle performance & repair.
CURRENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
President, CEO, and Chief Cheerleader of Car Clinic which has 2
subsidiaries: Car Clinic Service & Car Clinic Productions. CCS,
celebrating its 40th anniversary, specializes in one-stop,
full-service automotive maintenance, repair, inspection,
information...and newly trademarked Pre-Repair®). Under CCP,
Likis produces nationally syndicated radio & television
programming, which includes “Bobby Likis Car Clinic” and “Car
Clinic Minute.”
BOOKS OR SIGNFICANT ARTICLES PUBLISHED:
Bobby has been published in Motor Age, BE Radio & AutoInc.;
produces a monthly e-newsletter of automotive advice, trends,
tips & technology; & authors a weekly newspaper article.
Published articles include “Facility Showcase: Ring of Fire,” BE
Radio magazine; “You Are the Future of Your Business: Now is the
time to reexamine operations and see where you really want to
go!,” AutoInc. magazine; “Gimme Gas with Bobby Likis,”
Independent News weekly newspaper; and “From the Center of the
Automotive Universe,” monthly newsletter. Presentations include
“A Day in the Life of a Repair Order,” ProfitPro Summit and the
“Consumers' Point of View,” Consumer Electronics Show guest
panelist. At the Consumer Electronics Show 2006, Bobby moderated
the “Connect2Cars” Supersession, during which industry
pacesetters defined the need for & fulfillment of consumer
mobile electronics.
CURRENT OR RECENT PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS, ACTIVITIES,
AWARDS:
Bobby is a Florida Certified Arbitrator for the Ford Motor
Company, serves as technical advisor for a regional law firm,
and is a member of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry
Association, the Automotive Service Association, the Automotive
Communications Council, the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers
Association, and the National Association of Radio Talk Show
Hosts. He serves on NAPA’s National AutoCare Advisory Board, on
Daytona’s Advanced Technical Center Board, and on the Pensacola
Junior College Automotive Service Management Technology Advisory
Committee. Honored as the American Marketers’ Association
“Marketer of the Year,” Bobby also won a Silver Addy for the
“Bobby Likis Car Clinic” TV program, which captured the highest
ratings in its time slot. He was also nominated for Rotary
Club’s “Ethics in Business” award. Extremely active in his
community, Bobby serves on the Board of Directors for United
Cerebral Palsy, WSRE Public Television & the Manna Food Bank. In
addition, he is the honorary chairman of the March of Dimes,
served on the board of the Pensacola Opera, and supports Ronald
McDonald House & Covenant Hospice. Likis is most proud of his
“Top Dog” honor, which is bestowed annually by the current
award-holder on the single member of the local community who
best exemplifies the spirit of giving back by his or her
outstanding service.
EXPERIENCE WITH NEWS MEDIA:
Bobby has extensive knowledge & 20 years experience in all forms
of media: live & produced radio & television and physical &
electronic print.
PERSONAL:
Bobby lives and thrives on Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast, where
he enjoys the company of many friends, two daughters, four
grandchildren (two sets of twins) and sweetheart. He enjoys
public speaking, fundraising and the theatre.
IN BOBBY’S WORDS / "10 Questions with...Bobby Likis":
We're delighted that Bobby's recognized
on this "insider's site" as what's happening...and thought you'd
enjoy, too. Just posted on All Access, one of the most widely
read Radio Broadcasting Websites on the Internet. Thousands of
radio General Managers, Sales Managers, Program Directors and
anyone associated with broadcasting, login to see what's going on
and to stay on top of what's happening in the industry.
10 Questions with ... Bobby Likis
1. You were a car guy practically since birth, but how did
you get into radio?
Second only to my love for cars is my love for talking to people
about cars, so ironically, I backed into radio. In 1986, a Car
Clinic Service customer--and station
owner for a local cable TV station--talked me into doing a
regional show. Because I had so many physician customers at the
time, he suggested I call it, what else,
"Bobby Likis Car Clinic." In 1991, Car Clinic TV moved to the
Gulf Coast's ABC affiliate, and we launched Car Clinic Radio on
4 stations in 2 states.
2. About what are you most passionate these days?
It's hard for a fiery Greek like me to reduce passion to a few
words, but I'll give it a shot: Technology and its automotive
applications (you ain't seen nothin' yet!); Empowering consumers
with what they need to delight in their vehicles (I've
trademarked it Pre-Repair®); a Desire to Elevate Automotive
Service (and the true professionals there) to a higher level of
respect; an Eat-My-Dust Red Wine like
Godsend; and Two Special Sets of Twins.
3. Your show is everywhere -- terrestrial, multiple
globalcasts, cellphone-cast, American Forces radio, and PalTalk.
You also write and appear on TV and at conventions. What drives
you to do all that? What makes you put your show and yourself
out there in so many venues?
Perhaps I'm addicted to challenges. I certainly invite change.
That's lucky for me, I guess, because radio is changing,
morphing, transforming. Michael Harrison's recent "Media
Station" article is spot on. Car Clinic Network has evolved from
a half-hour, local car-talk show on local cable television to
the "model of a Media Station." You probably won't find that
term in Wikipedia yet, but you will. A Media Station is all
about putting what we call "Info-Tainment" in the hands, ears &
eyes of the consumer...whenever and however they want it. My
shorter answer is "I still haven't reached my final
destination"...but I'm driven to find some road-kickin' spots
along the way.
4. If you had to choose one car to drive, period, which one
would it be and why?
I love the idea of classic cars. But after restoring several
(including my gorgeous, 1980 schwartz metallic Weissach
Porsche), I've learned that each vehicle ultimately
drives only as well as its model year's technology. So for me,
classics are "better seen than heard." Since I never was much of
a spectator, I'd now like to get my hands around the steering
wheel of the Mercedes SV12 S Biturbo Coupe, the fastest street
legal car in the world. Twin-Turbo V12, 380ci, 730hp and 974
lb-ft torque. 0 to 60mph in 3.8 seconds / top speed 211 mph
(electronically limited). Plus its traction control, anti-lock
brakes and dynamic stability control allow a few mistakes
without crashing & burning. And I'll take all the help I can
get.
5. Look ten years into the future: do you see Americans
moving in mass numbers into alternative fuel and hybrid cars, or
will we still mostly be driving gas-powered internal combustion
engine cars? Can the mass car-buying public be convinced to go
with something different?
Ah, now you've gone and hit my hot button. Optimistically in 10
years, I see hybrid cars as 15% of America's vehicles. That's
approximately 2.25 million new hybrids per year. However, I
believe the technology that's required to make
alternative-powered vehicles a reality still lies in front of
us, undiscovered or underdiscovered. I believe we must go
through this "which-way-do-we-go confusion" if the necessary
evolution is to succeed. And while I'm fairly certain that
alternative power can significantly reduce our long-term
addiction to oil, I am thoroughly convinced that we'll need
transitional plug-and-play, electric cars that consumers will
buy in the short term. I am also certain that diesel-powered
vehicles will play an even larger part in our future than most
Americans realize. But car makers will have to retrain car
buyers. GM's mid-70's gas-to-diesel engine soured many car
owners. Too many people bought diesel cars that were noisy,
stinky, low powered and worthless at trade-in time. In contrast,
GM's new "reversed intake & exhaust" 2009 diesel engine has
power (vs. size), is quiet, offers no odor and meets emission
standards. I hope GM's dealer workforce, especially dealer
principals, will step up, buy into these cars, buy these cars,
drive them locally and lead the industry nationally by example.
And I hope all car makers will follow Europe's direction in
offering similar diesel-powered options.
6. Who are your heroes?
Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Mike Yager... each carved his own
destiny from limited financial resources and unlimited
imagination, motivation and execution. On a closer, more
personal plane, I have ultimate respect for my teammates who
continue to inspire me, energize each other and work darn hard
to make Car Clinic successful.
7. Of what are you most proud?
Passing the man-in-the-mirror test.
8. What is the most-asked question you get about cars?
After all is said, the question is usually 2-seconds short:
Should I fix it... or trade it? The answer is the making of 20
years of Car Clinic Radio!
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without
___________.
...leaving my sweetheart a note to tell her how important she is
to me. Making an effort to make a positive difference in
someone's life.
10. What's the best advice you've ever gotten? The worst?
Best: Love what you do.
Worst: Long forgotten
For more information, email CPurnell@CarClinicNetwork.com.
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