Teresa Callagy
Teresa Russo is a seasoned professional in the automotive and power-sports industry, specializing in fixed operations management and customer service leadership. Currently serving as a Customer Service Manager at Foreign Car Specialists, she brings years of hands-on experience across independent shops and dealerships, with expertise in service operations, technician development, and client relationship management. Her technical knowledge is complemented by strong operational skills, including dispatching, payroll, and the use of multiple dealership management systems.
Teresa’s career began at just 18 years old with a determination to understand and fix vehicles after a formative personal experience. She started as an oil changer and spent over a decade learning the trade under the mentorship of a seasoned shop owner, eventually advancing to roles as a mechanic, service advisor, and service manager. Over the years, she has worked across various automotive environments, including dealerships and specialty shops, gaining a comprehensive understanding of both the technical and business sides of the industry.
Known for her resilience and people-first leadership style, Teresa is passionate about supporting technicians and restoring integrity within automotive service operations. She is particularly committed to mentoring teams, fostering transparent customer relationships, and helping small, independent shops thrive in an increasingly metrics-driven industry. With a background in psychology, she brings empathy and insight into her leadership approach, making her a strong advocate for both her teams and the customers they serve.
• New York State Inspectors License
• Thomas Edison State University- Bachelor's
• Golden Gloves Boxing - Won one fight
• (National Automobile Dealers Association
What do you attribute your success to?
Besides having the support of my family, I'd have to say it's due to resilience and perseverance. Without the resilience, I wouldn't have been able to handle all the criticism I faced throughout my career, and without the perseverance, I wouldn't have been able to achieve what I wanted to achieve. My family has been my number one supporter. My father always told me to pick up a trade and said that school is great, but a trade will keep money in your pocket throughout your life, and he has never been wrong once. My mother has been my cheerleader from day one. It doesn't matter if I fail, win, or lose, she has always been that guiding light. Whenever I've gotten down on myself, my mother has always looked at me and said to keep my head up, that I know who I am, that I'm a very important person in this world, and to just keep going. She told me not to let other people's projections hurt me. My three older brothers have always been my supporters as well. Without all of them, I couldn't be more grateful for where I am today.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from my father and my mentor Leonard Crouch. My father always told me to pick up a trade. He said that I could get a degree, and he thought I should, but to always have a trade because trades will keep money in your pocket throughout your life. And he has never been wrong once. My mentor Lenny Crouch, who I worked for at Integrity Auto for 11 years, was an angry man and rough around the edges, but when it came to me, he was kind, understanding, and patient. He was non-judgmental and took the time to explain things to me. He told me how this industry is and explained that he was retiring and that I was going to deal with a lot of difficult people, but to just remember what he taught me. That advice has stayed with me throughout my entire career.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Do not take it personally. Everybody's going to look at you funny, but it doesn't matter. They will doubt you, they're going to tell you you can't do it, they're going to tell you that you'll get there eventually, but don't take it personally. It has nothing to do with you and everything to do with that person and how they project things. You just keep one foot in front of the other, keep your head down, and you'll be able to succeed in whatever you set out to do. I faced this from the time I was 18 until now, and I just kept persevering through it all.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is that the morals are no longer in it, and the dealerships are just looking at numbers. The field has gotten a little awry. That's why I've gone back to working with mom-and-pop shops, to help instill value and worth there and bring them up, because that's where the empathy and customer service really is. The industry has become very fast-paced with newer technology and systems, and it can be challenging to balance corporate demands with giving technicians the time and space they need to do quality work. I've had to protect my technicians and create a healthy balance between keeping corporations, owners, and customers satisfied while allowing my technicians to have creative innovation and not running them dry. This industry can wear you out for sure.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my downtime, I truly cherish being with my family—there’s nothing more important to me than spending quality time with my husband and kids. I love getting outdoors with them, especially going on hikes and just enjoying nature together. Fly fishing is something I’m especially passionate about, even if it’s not quite their thing—it’s my own peaceful escape.
When I do find a rare moment to myself, I enjoy hopping on my motorcycle and going for a ride. It’s a sense of freedom that’s hard to match. I’ve also explored boxing in the past, training for over two years at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn and even competing in the Golden Gloves, where I had one win and one loss. That experience taught me a lot but ultimately helped me realize it wasn’t the path I wanted to continue.
At the heart of everything I do, I love embracing new adventures, but my biggest priority will always be being there for my family.