How a Booth Gig Became a Business: Enrique Gago’s Auto Story

Enrique opens up about how he unexpectedly entered the automotive industry—thanks to a favor for his then-girlfriend (now wife)—and how that moment sparked a journey into entrepreneurship, operations, and customer-centric innovation in his hometown of Ocala, Florida. Now running both an auto repair and tire shop as well as a used car dealership, Enrique shares the principles guiding their growth: transparency, community trust, affordability, and values-first leadership.

TIME STAMPS:

0:00 Intro and welcome to Enrique Gago

1:00 From booth support to automotive entrepreneur

2:57 Acquiring a 30-year-old repair shop with his brother

3:46 Applying lean ops and transparency to build community trust

6:00 Attending events to grow, learn, and stay curious

7:15 Prioritizing affordability in both service and used cars

8:57 When others play defense, Gago Brothers go on offense