Auto Collabs

Susanna Cunningham’s automotive journey is all about harmonizing passion with precision.

The top rule from this human resources star? Good vibes only.

Remembering faces at events isn't so different understanding a shopper's journey online. They both require seeing and knowing a person.

We welcome back Greg Uland, VP of Marketing for The Reynolds and Reynolds Company, who has the most appearances on the show out of any guest!

Mentorship is a secret weapon in helping teams overcome being average.

Cultivate loyal customers by turning your service drive into fertile ground with Nick Shaffer’s farming strategies.

For dealers and marketers looking to enhance their online presence and drive sales, Daniel Able highlights real-world examples and the tangible benefits of excellent merchandising.

Impel's acquisition of Outsell is supercharging AI-driven marketing and re-thinking the way we buy and sell cars.

Ford's new approach to dealer training merges innovative storytelling with cutting-edge AI to deliver a transformative learning experience.

A faster, more efficient landscape driven by technological advancements and a continuous learning mindset.

From the boardroom to the baseball diamond, some truths transfer surprisingly well.

With the right tech and team, even accounting can be cool.

Explore how dealerships can not only attract Hispanic customers but also integrate Hispanic employees to enrich their business culture.

Is compliance annoying? Sometimes. Stressful? Maybe. Important? Definitely.

A fresh perspective and a bold voice.

Peter Kelso embodies a rare and contagious brand of optimism that permeates every aspect of his professional demeanor.

While AI can streamline operations, it's the human touch that truly nurtures customer loyalty and builds effective business relationships.

It's not that hard to merchandise cars. Just take good pictures.

Hot Take Incoming: The practical over the sensational is key when using AI in marketing.

Diana Lee is a masterclass in leadership and determination, showcasing how personal history and professional challenges forges the leaders revolutionizing retail automotive.

Once you realize you're in a supportive community, you do whatever you can to support that community.

Fixed ops is the real front door.

The automotive industry talks about understanding and leveraging data effectively, but what does that really take?

Hilary Haron’s experiences, from the Capitol’s halls to the dealership floor, offer invaluable lessons on the power of voice, the necessity of change, and the endless potential of paving new paths.

The customer is putting together a puzzle. Do you give them the next piece they need?

Will Guidara has never told this story before.

The first question stunned today's guest.

There's power in showing up, ready to learn.

Trucks stick but brand love shifts.

ICE to hybrid to plug-in hybrid to EV. That's the rational path, according to Brian Maas.

There's opportunity and potential in the EV market, but only if you seek to understand customers and adapt to their needs.

Ever had a session at a conference that completely changed your perspective? Phil did.

The auto industry isn't just about selling cars, it's about creating community and relationships

Erin Richmond highlights how dealerships can leverage their unique strengths to stand out in a crowded market.

A fresh, human-centric approach to success and legacy.

What do you get when a stand-up comedian enters the auto world? Obviously, the answer is David Spisak.

Jeremy Stephens is taking the service lane on the road.

Karen Byrd would rather coach compassion than coach compliance.

Insights, laughs, and a fresh perspective on the future of mobility!

How do you go from being an average car dealer to being a good car dealer? Alan Brown has the key.

Meet a guiding force shaping the next generation of auto industry leaders.

A professor and a pioneer. Meet Alex Lawrence.

From paper to digital... quite literally.

Successful digital marketing starts by asking "What am I marketing and who am I marketing it to?" But it doesn't stop there.

Want to unlock the secret of sales? It's Not About the Product, It's About the Relationship! 🚗 💼

Dive into the vast world of data with Steve White, Founder/CEO of Clarivoy, as he unravels the intricacies of handling 1 billion rows of data every month!

🎙️ From digital lead strategies to RV living in Miami, dive into auto industry insights with Jarrod Kilway! 🚗☀️

Anecdotes and tactics abound in this chat with Lindsay Ciavattone.

Want a look behind the curtain of the EV market? Look no further than Jimmy Douglas.

Relentless might just sum up Steve Roessler in a single word.

What would happen if you blended the world of banking, software, and the auto industry?

What if the automotive industry was about more than just cars?

Get ready to widen your circle as we explore the power of finding your tribe with our special guest, Matthew Haiken.

What happens when a passionate journalist steps into the high-octane world of the auto industry?

Have you ever had a moment of realization that changed your life forever?

The first rule of sales... is selling yourself.

Have you ever wondered about the journey from being a vendor to retail?

Rock climbing, mortician, automotive photographer. That all tracks for our next guest.

Join us for a riveting ride to the era of the 'Google Dance' with digital veteran Melissa Cartagena.

Struggling to strike a harmonious work-life balance? Ever wished you could disconnect from the whirlwind of everyday life and truly enjoy your vacations?

Have you ever wondered what hospitality, construction, and car sales have in common?

Just imagine having a dream so powerful that you'd risk everything, even mortgage your home and live on a shoestring budget to make it a reality.

Picture this: you're sipping a cup of coffee, flavored by a unique machine, while listening to engaging tunes.

Ever imagined buying a car 100% online?

Ed Roberts is the Chief Operations Officer of Bozard Ford Lincoln.

Chris Adams is the Matrix Operations Director for CarOffer.

Devin Sooley is the Marketing Manager of Capital Auto Group.

Bruce Miller is the Owner of Miller Motors.

Rick Ricart is President and Chief Vision Officer of Ricart Automotive Group

Ron is the Enterprise Sales Director of Stella AI.

What do you get when you mix an automotive marketer, a graffiti artist, and meme expert?

Here is how retail automotive can learn from Amazon.

What do mountain drives have to do with bachelorette parties in downtown Nashville? Plenty, if you’re using them as analogies for the customer experience.

She’s the new interim CEO of National Independent Automobile Dealers Association.

One of the most measured men in automotive.

The winner of the 2022 Automotive News All Star for Fixed Ops Vendor.

The winner of the 2022 Automotive News All Star for Fixed Ops Vendor.

Like eating your own cooking or living in the house you built.

This might be the most we’ve laughed on a podcast.

It’s an Auto Collabs first! We have 2 guests joining us today. Michael Lucki and Matthew Vollmers are NADA Academy Instructors, helping to mold and develop the next generation of dealers. They talk about their experiences in the program, how they’ve seen it change and shift, and what it takes to stay relevant in an ever changing landscape.

There’s a through line here somewhere. Mike Colacchio has gone from minor-league baseball to selling snowboards to Dealer.com to DealerInspire to AutoLeadStar, where’s an advocate for connected data and Customer Data Platforms. He joins us on Auto Collabs and shares his story, plus his vision for the future of data.

A tech person for tech people. Ben Hadley has led an influential journey through automotive. He’s worked with Clarivoy and CreditIQ and helped found Auto Genius. He knows the definitions to all the big words and has a way of communicating almost in parables to bring that heady knowledge down to earth for the layman. And he believes we’re only about 5 years away from a major breakthrough in the way automotive technology works.

He might be the handsomest man in automotive. Durran Cage is someone you want to be around. He oozes kindness and has a genuine passion for people. He pours himself into his work, mentally and emotionally. As a consultant, he sees a lot of what is working and what isn’t working, and is able to speak to dealers out of his own personal experience.

Tom Ryan likes change. And Tom Ryan knows he can navigate through change. He’ll figure it out. He’s been doing it his whole career, and figuring it out over and over again has given him a directness and an optimism that’s infectious. To him, automotive is a simple place: Let the customer buy the way that they want. We talk about that plus a lot more.

From the outside looking in, auto is a curious industry. Whether it's the dealership dialect of tech and service or that dealers bring home a variety of makes and models, retail auto is unique. And once you’re in and you’ve caught the bug, it stays with you. That’s the story of Jason Stein. He traces his journey from newspaperman to Automotive New Retail Forum to where he is today at Flat Six Media. And along the way, he shares insights about the reputation of the industry and the speed of change that it’s experiencing.

When we asked Charlie Chesbrough about the key economic indicators he’s watching… We expected a completely different answer. Charlie, Senior Economist with Cox Automotive, pointed us to consumer-facing indicators. It was a real reality check moment, and a reminder of what this podcast is all about. It’s about getting everyone, from OEMs, dealers, industry partners, to press in and work together for the consumer’s sake. Charlie also tells us about his journey to the automotive industry and what he has coined “the iPhone-ification of automotive.”

You might not understand where Matt Jones starts in a conversation.But you’ll definitely know when he lands his punchline. He is a thoughtful and deep communicator, with analogies and illustrations to help drive his points home. He’s all about looking elsewhere to learn and always expanding what is possible. He’s studied consumer behavior and what’s important to them, and the answers might surprise you.

How do you respond to a bad customer experience? Some of us would write a review, or vent about it to our friends and family. But not Slawek Potasz. He’d design a robot to fix the problem. And that’s exactly what he did when he created CarScanner, a photographic robot that replaces a photo booth. From Poland to Canada to Syracuse, NY, Slawek shares his outside perspective on America and the automotive industry.

A natural storyteller. When your family has been in the automotive industry for decades, you’ve seen some things and have some story. Rick Ricart joins the guys to talk about his family’s legacy, how cars and driving are cool again, and NIL deals with Ohio State football. Plus he tells some great stories from his time in the automotive industry.

Mergers and acquisitions. You’re seeing it more and more in the automotive industry. In 2021, there were over 750 of them. Alan Haig represents some of these dealers during their recent sales, and so has insights into the state of the industry. He sees the way that the public groups are building for the future and has thoughts on how the local dealers can respond and compete.

Here’s some numbers for you: 16 rooftops. 25,000 cars. $1 billion in sales. 15 photographers. 3 full-time web developers. 3 graphic designers. And another handful of people handling CRM, data analytics, social media, paid search and more. This is the team that Nathan Hollenbeck leads at Del Grande Dealer Group. He joins us on Auto Collabs to share his story and the things that are working at DGDG.

Everything in the automotive industry is about providing a great customer experience. And someone who really understands customer experience is John Clavadetscher of Outsell. He’s spent years studying consumer shopping trends and how retail is categorizing and marketing to the individual customer. There’s a lot packed into this interview, from helping to grow Cars.com to the “automotive itch.”

Connection matters. And ActivEngage is all about making a connection, through their chat platform to their TikTok accounts. Carol Marshall, their COO, found her first dealership job as a GSM, coming right from retail. She joins us to talk about acronyms, conversation and what today’s customers are looking for when they shop.

Without Ryan Osten, there might not be an Automotive State of the Union. That’s right. Paul and Kyle were introduced in a marketing room hosted by Gubagoo’s former marketing director, hired by none other than Ryan Osten. Ryan shares the unique ways that Gubagoo is solving problems, and reflects on how chance encounters really can change the trajectory.

Dan Moore helps us come back down to earth. It’s easy to get caught up in the world of reports, gut feelings and keeping up with the Joneses. But Dan Moore of Vistadash has a way of seeing through the buzzwords and talking about what actually matters. Be prepared for metaphors, laughs and great insights into the world of business intelligence.

Some people have seen it from both sides. Anthony Jingoli of Effectv is one of them. When he started working for Comcast over 20 years ago, cable television was the disrupter. But then as digital and streaming exploded, cable TV was the one being disrupted. Now, through changing the perspective and evolving, television advertising is moving back to the disrupter spot. Today’s interview covers targeting specific segments, audiences and geography, the power of a story based brand, and continuing to learn from those around you.

If there was an Oscar for dealership commercials… Brian Ortega would probably have one. He’s the Creative Director at Valley-Hi Toyota, home to some of the most creative commercials in the industry. The team creates a new story-based 30 second commercial every month, with Brian as one of the star actors. It’s been successful in building Valley-Hi’s brand and ingraining them deep into their community.

There are a lot of excuses for why a company doesn’t invest in social media. Nathanael Greklek has a counter for every single one of them. As the Chief Digital Branding Leader for Mohawk Auto Group, Nathanael has built an organic social media presence that gets millions of impressions a month. They’re able to track sales back to those impressions, and are a machine of content creation, averaging 500 pieces of content per month.

7 hours online before they visit a showroom. CARS.com has a lot of consumer data, and is seeing many trends and disconnects in the automotive industry. CEO Alex Vetter joined us on Auto Collabs to talk about the digital customer experience, trust reservoirs and giving power back to the small business owner.

A digital retail perspective. Doug Miller has helped some significant brands make big digital transitions. Ever heard of Ticketmaster? Doug was there when they sold their first ticket online. What about Expedia? They started by faxing orders to hotels. So when it comes to the automotive industry, an industry that Doug started in, he’s confident about the digital/physical hybrid future. He’s the President and Chief Commercial Officer of CARS.com, and we are grateful to be able to spend time with him on Auto Collabs.