Ryan Baxter
Business Development Coach – Elite Top Shop 360
Ryan Baxter has spent the past 15 years in the automotive industry and the last decade building one of Idaho’s most respected independent repair shops. As the owner of Modern Auto Service in Fruitland, Idaho, Ryan has grown his business from a startup operation with one technician into a thriving, award-winning shop projected to surpass $2 million in annual sales.
Ryan’s journey began with a passion for working on vehicles as a teenager. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Automotive Technology Management from BYU–Idaho while working in an automotive repair shop throughout college. After graduation, he gained valuable industry perspective as an outside sales representative for NAPA, visiting hundreds of repair shops and learning firsthand what separated exceptional businesses from average ones. Those experiences helped shape the vision that ultimately became Modern Auto Service.
Since opening his shop in 2016, Ryan has focused on building strong systems, developing leaders, and creating a healthy workplace culture. Through intentional leadership and business coaching, his shop grew from approximately $550,000 in annual sales in 2019 to over $1 million in 2021 and is on pace to exceed $2 million in 2026. Today, his Operations Manager oversees daily shop operations, allowing Ryan to concentrate on strategic planning, leadership development, marketing, and long-term business growth.
Ryan is an ASE Master Technician and has completed extensive advanced training in diagnostics, diesel, hybrid, and electric vehicle repair. His shop has earned numerous honors, including Best Auto Repair Shop in the Western Treasure Valley for five consecutive years, Best Place to Work (Under 50 Employees), and the Fruitland Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award.
Beyond his own business, Ryan is passionate about investing in the automotive industry. He has coached shop owners for seven years, including five years with The Institute/BLIG and two years with Elite Worldwide. His coaching focuses on leadership development, marketing, employee management, strategic decision-making, and helping owners build businesses that support the life they want to live—not businesses that consume them.
A dedicated community leader, Ryan has served in multiple leadership roles with the Fruitland Chamber of Commerce, LeTip International, the NAPA AutoCare Advisory Council, and several technical education advisory boards. His commitment to developing people has also been recognized nationally through an appearance on Carm Capriotto’s podcast and a feature in Dr. Jeremy Graves’ book Empower, Promote, Launch, Repeat for his innovative employee training program.
Ryan and his wife are raising five children in the same Idaho community where he grew up. Outside of work, he enjoys gardening, hiking, camping, boating, and spending time outdoors with his family. Whether working with his team, serving his community, or coaching fellow shop owners, Ryan believes that investing in people creates lasting success. His philosophy is simple: when you serve your employees well, they serve your customers well—and everyone wins.
Back