ASOTU CON Sessions

Live from ASOTU CON 2026, Steve Greenfield sits down with Danny Zaslavsky, co-founder of VINCUE, for a deeply personal conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, leadership, and the experiences that shaped his approach to building businesses. From his family's immigration journey from Ukraine to growing up in an entrepreneurial household and eventually helping build one of automotive retail's fastest-growing technology companies, Danny shares the lessons that continue to guide him today.

Throughout the discussion, Danny explores the philosophy behind his leadership style, the importance of culture, mentorship, authenticity, and personal growth, and the belief that great organizations are built by developing people rather than managing them. The conversation also examines the future of automotive technology, the impact of AI on dealership operations, and why creating solutions that amplify human potential remains at the center of VINCUE's vision.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro

0:11 Meet Danny Zaslavsky and VINCUE

0:36 An Immigrant Family's Journey to America

2:51 Pain Pushes, Vision Pulls

3:23 Growing Up in the Car Business

4:46 The Early Days of VinSolutions

6:00 Authenticity, Identity, and Leadership

6:54 Personal Loss and a Defining Turning Point

8:05 The Birth of VINCUE

8:34 The Power of Mentorship and Community

10:09 Grace, Gratitude, and Human Connection

11:17 Why Great Founders Need a Reason to Win

12:19 Building a Culture That Creates Leaders

14:43 Scaling People, Not Just Companies

16:08 Solving Problems Instead of Selling Products

17:37 The Connection, Exploration, Validation Framework

20:54 How VINCUE Identifies and Develops Talent

23:34 AI, Software, and the Future of Automotive Retail

25:53 Planning for Obsolescence Through Innovation

27:15 Why Data Remains the Source of Truth

28:05 What Excites Danny Most About the Future

29:01 Connecting With Danny and VINCUE

Connect with Danny Zaslavsky at https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-zaslavsky-a8503121/

Learn more about VINCUE at https://www.vincue.com

Live from ASOTU CON 2026, Paul Daly sits down with Jamie Butters, Dan Shine, and Joe Overby for a conversation about the evolution of automotive media and the role journalism continues to play in a rapidly changing information landscape. Drawing from careers that span newspapers, trade publications, broadcast media, digital platforms, podcasts, and video content, the panel reflects on how the industry has moved from newsrooms filled with wire machines and print deadlines to an environment shaped by social media, AI, and real-time content distribution.

Throughout the discussion, the group explores the distinction between journalism, commentary, and entertainment, the challenges of maintaining trust in an era of fragmented information, and the opportunities created by new technology. They share memorable stories from the early days of reporting, discuss how audience behavior is reshaping content creation, and examine why credibility, context, and human relationships remain essential even as the tools used to deliver information continue to evolve.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro

0:41 Meet Jamie Butters, Dan Shine, and Joe Overby

1:24 Jamie Butters and a Historic Breaking News Moment

3:40 Dan Shine's Newsroom Roots

5:30 Joe Overby's Journey Into Journalism

6:57 Reinventing Automotive Media for Modern Audiences

9:15 How Content Production Has Changed

10:16 The Rise of New Media in Automotive

11:10 Meeting Audiences Where They Are

12:01 Breaking Industry Stories Into Bite-Sized Content

14:10 What Journalism Means Today

15:12 Trust, Commentary, and Public Perception

16:02 Why Credibility Still Matters

17:56 Personal Brands and Industry Influence

20:12 Why Automotive Media Is Different

22:22 Building Trust Through Industry Relationships

24:27 The Growing Challenge of Accessing Data

27:45 Turning Data Into Meaningful Industry Insights

29:13 What Excites Automotive Journalists About the Future

31:32 Building the Next Generation of Automotiv

Live from ASOTU CON 2026, Michael Cirillo sits down with Frank Ziede for a conversation that spans professional dance, automotive retail, emotional intelligence, and the foundations of human connection. Frank shares his unconventional journey from performing and choreographing for artists like Celine Dion and Usher to becoming a trainer, facilitator, author, and advocate for deeper customer relationships in automotive retail.

The discussion centers on a simple but often overlooked idea: most dealerships spend too much time analyzing the final moments of a sale and not enough time evaluating the first few minutes of customer interaction. Frank explains why trust, hospitality, intention, and genuine curiosity create the foundation for stronger customer relationships, better experiences, and ultimately better business outcomes. Along the way, he shares practical examples of personalization, emotional intelligence, and the small details that turn transactions into lasting loyalty.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro

0:11 Meet Frank Ziede

0:33 From Professional Dance to Automotive Training

1:19 Discovering Automotive Through Auto Shows

2:00 The Connection Between Art and Leadership

3:33 Why Most Teams Focus on the Wrong Part of the Sale

4:12 Building a Strong Foundation of Trust

4:44 Emotional Intelligence in Automotive Retail

6:02 What the First Five Minutes Should Feel Like

7:03 Intent, Authenticity, and Human Connection

8:06 Showing Up for Customers in Meaningful Ways

8:46 Collecting the Dots to Connect the Dots

9:43 The Details Customers Never Forget

11:09 Why Generic Customer Experiences Fall Short

11:23 How to Connect With Frank Ziede

Connect with Frank Ziede at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ftz001/

Learn more about Frank at https://www.ftzinc.com/

Live from ASOTU CON 2026, Kyle Mountsier sits down with Ed Roberts, COO and General Manager of Bozard Ford Lincoln, to discuss the evolution of customer experience, mobile service, and what it takes to build a dealership culture centered on service. Ed shares the remarkable growth story of Bozard Ford Lincoln, from a team of 43 employees to more than 440, while reflecting on the leadership principles and community-first mindset that continue to drive the organization forward.

The conversation focuses heavily on mobile service and why Ed believes it should become the rule rather than the exception across the automotive industry. Drawing on years of experience helping Ford dealers implement mobile service programs, he explains how removing friction, leveraging connected vehicle data, and improving the ownership experience can dramatically increase customer loyalty, retention, and long-term profitability. Along the way, he challenges dealers to stop assuming what customers want and start designing experiences around what customers actually value.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro

0:11 Meet Ed Roberts and Bozard Ford Lincoln

0:43 Growing From 43 Employees to More Than 440

1:20 The Meaning Behind “Do Good Recklessly”

2:08 Building a Culture of Community and Service

3:02 Inside Bozard's Mobile Service Operation

3:37 Running 46 Mobile Service Vehicles Every Day

4:18 Creating Structure Instead of Reacting to the Day

5:18 Helping Dealers Scale Mobile Service Success

6:36 Why Mobile Service Must Become the Rule

7:38 The Biggest Roadblocks to Adoption

8:32 Removing Friction From the Ownership Experience

9:20 How Competitors Capitalize on Dealer Friction

10:09 Taking Ownership of Customer Retention

11:00 The Loyalty Impact of Mobile Service

11:53 Why Ownership Experience Matters More Than the Sale

12:25 Building Long-Term Customer Loyalty

12:43 Final Thoughts

Connect with Ed Roberts at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-roberts-00948b36/
Learn more about Bozard Ford Lincoln at https://www.bozardford.com

Live from ASOTU CON 2026, Kyle Mountsier sits down with Auto Genius co-founder Ben Hadley for a wide-ranging conversation about technology inflection points, artificial intelligence, and what may be the most significant shift automotive retail has experienced since the rise of the internet. Drawing parallels to the adoption of DMS platforms, websites, mobile technology, and digital retailing, Ben explains why AI represents a fundamentally different moment—one that is simultaneously reshaping data, software, infrastructure, and customer experiences.

The discussion explores the "age of compression," where access to powerful AI tools is rapidly commoditizing knowledge, software development, and technology creation. Ben shares his perspective on speed as both a measurable metric and an emotional experience, why personalization will become the next frontier for dealership websites, how AI agents are changing the way traffic should be measured, and what the future of software development looks like in a world of autonomous agent orchestration.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro

0:11 Meet Ben Hadley and Auto Genius

0:56 Technology Inflection Points in Automotive Retail

1:46 Why the DMS Was Automotive's First Major Tech Leap

3:32 The Evolution of Websites, Mobile, and Digital Retail

4:30 CDPs, Data Connectivity, and Industry Transformation

5:56 Why AI Is Different From Every Previous Shift

6:20 The Age of Compression Explained

7:05 Access to the World's Largest Knowledge Base for $30 a Month

8:34 The Shrinking Moat Around Technology

9:33 Why Brand and Feeling Matter More Than Ever

11:04 Speed as Both a Metric and an Experience

13:28 Personalization at Scale for Every Website Visitor

14:50 AI Agents and the Next Generation of Website Traffic

16:27 Measuring Humans and Machines Differently

16:49 What Spending a Billion AI Tokens Actually Means

17:19 The Rise of Swarm Development and Agent Orchestration

19:22 Auto Research, Optimization, and the Future of Software

20:06 Final Thoughts

Connect with Ben Hadley at https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-hadley/

Learn more about Auto Genius at https://www.autogenius.io/

Live from ASOTU CON 2026, Kyle Mountsier sits down with Jennifer Parsons, Senior F&I Director at Walser Automotive Group, to discuss the evolution of finance operations inside one of the industry's most innovative dealer groups. Jennifer shares her unconventional journey into automotive, her passion for developing people, and the lessons learned as Walser reimagines the role of F&I within its single-point-of-contact retail model.

The conversation explores Walser's transition from a highly centralized finance structure to a hybrid approach that places more strategic decision-making back inside the dealership. Jennifer also discusses the launch of the industry's first F&I-specific 20 Group with NCM Associates, the importance of employee resource communities, and how Walser is challenging every step of the customer journey to eliminate unnecessary friction and create a better retail experience.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro

0:12 Meet Jennifer Parsons and Walser Automotive Group

0:46 Discovering a Passion for F&I

2:15 From Selling One Vehicle to Leading Finance Operations

3:28 Why Walser Reimagined Its F&I Structure

4:41 Building a New Generation of F&I Leaders

6:06 Defining Success in a New Role

7:03 Launching the Industry's First F&I 20 Group

8:18 Creating Community Through Employee Resource Groups

9:43 Collaboration as a Competitive Advantage

10:31 The Future of Automotive Retail Operations

11:08 Mapping the Customer Journey From End to End

11:49 Why Every Process Should Be Questioned

12:00 Closing Thoughts

Connect with Jennifer Parsons at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-parsons-77969b31/

Learn more about Walser Automotive Group at https://www.walser.com

Live from ASOTU CON 2026, Russell Richardson brings together Sheridan Schreiber, Anthony Reich, and Austin Conroy for a candid discussion about the role of social media in modern automotive retail. Rather than focusing on theory, the panel shares firsthand experiences from actively creating content every day, building personal brands, generating leads, hiring employees, and creating new business opportunities through simple, authentic video content.

The conversation explores why so many automotive professionals hesitate to get started, the misconceptions around equipment and production quality, and the growing importance of human connection in a digital-first marketplace. From dealership recruiting and technician hiring to customer acquisition and vendor sales, the panel demonstrates how consistent content creation is helping dealers and vendors build trust, expand reach, and create opportunities that traditional marketing channels often miss.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro

0:12 Why Social Media Still Feels Uncomfortable for Dealers

1:15 Meet the Panel

3:05 The Fear of Being on Camera

4:33 How Consistency Creates Better Content

5:54 Overcoming the Fear of Judgment

6:42 The Biggest Excuse: “I'm Too Busy”

7:54 Real Results From Automotive Social Media

9:16 Unexpected Opportunities and Career Growth

10:53 Selling Cars Through Personal Branding

12:17 How to Find Time to Create Content

13:19 Why Views and Followers Aren't the Goal

15:54 Why Video Outperforms Photos and Text

17:50 The Year of the Human

18:18 Social Media as the Ultimate Follow-Up Tool

20:43 Building Trust Through Daily Content

22:43 Which Social Platforms Matter Most?

25:39 Finding Endless Content Ideas

27:06 What Dealers Should Avoid Posting

30:41 The Biggest Missed Opportunity in Automotive Marketing

33:26 How Vendors Win With Personal Branding

34:46 From Websites to Social Media

35:37 Different Styles of Content That Work

37:17 Social Media and Hiring the Right People

40:09 How Customers Research Vehicles Today

41:41 Final Advice for Getting Started

44:32 The Challenge: Post Your First Video Today

Connect with Russell Richardson (@RussFlipsWhips) https://www.tiktok.com/@russflipswhips

Connect with Sheridan Schreiber (@SocialSheridan) https://www.tiktok.com/@sheridancschreiber

Connect with Anthony Reich (@TexasCarGuy) https://www.tiktok.com/@texas_carguy

Connect with Austin Conroy (@DealerPlayGuy) https://www.tiktok.com/@dealerplateguy

Live from ASOTU CON 2026, David Long brings together an all-star panel featuring Rob Dell of Bob Ruth Ford, John Ellis of Agile Auto, Brian Kramer of Cars Commerce, Jaden Abad, and Michael Porro for a deep dive into the strategies reshaping vehicle acquisition. The conversation explores what separates elite acquisition operations from average ones, highlighting the role of discipline, accountability, process ownership, and leadership involvement in scaling a successful buy-center strategy.

From buying more than 300 vehicles per month in a town of just 2,700 residents to creating customer experiences that allow consumers to sell a vehicle in under 10 minutes, the panel shares practical lessons learned on the front lines. Topics include private-party acquisition, appraisal confidence, inventory turn, data-driven decision-making, customer experience, and why the most successful operators remain deeply involved in the daily execution of their acquisition strategy.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro and Welcome to All Things Used Cars

1:40 Rob Dell on Scaling Vehicle Acquisition

3:17 Why People and Process Drive Results

5:16 Defining Accountability and Performance Expectations

6:45 The Owner's Role in Buy Center Success

7:55 John Ellis on Building Agile Auto

9:08 Curiosity, Discipline, and Execution

10:57 The Impact of All Things Used Cars

12:09 From 312 Cars to 1,000 Cars Per Month

13:04 Inventory Turn and Acquisition Efficiency

14:04 Common Buy Center Mistakes Dealers Make

17:34 Brian Kramer on Digital Appraisals and Consumer Expectations

25:35 Jaden Abad on Customer Experience and Acquisition Growth

27:32 How to Buy a Vehicle in Under 10 Minutes

28:53 Competing With Carvana and CarMax

33:50 Building an Acquisition Culture Across the Dealership

41:52 Final Advice for Dealers Building Buy Centers

42:37 Why Data and Exit Strategy Matter

43:31 The Pandemic of Positivity

Connect with David Long at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjlong/

Learn more about All Things Used Cars+ at https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-things-used-cars/

Live from ASOTU CON 2026, Erroll Bomar sits down with Adrian Gonzalez to discuss how consistent, behind-the-scenes content transformed the way his dealership connects with customers and employees. What began as an effort to challenge common excuses around social media quickly evolved into a strategy generating millions of organic views, hundreds of monthly leads, and a stronger connection between the dealership and its community.

Throughout the conversation, Adrian explains why transparency matters more than trends, how educational content helps demystify the car-buying process, and why authenticity consistently outperforms gimmicks. He also shares an unexpected outcome of the strategy: attracting technicians, salespeople, and new team members who already understand the dealership culture before they ever walk through the door.

Timestamped Takeaways
0:00 Intro
0:11 Meet Adrian Gonzalez
1:00 Using Social Media to Build Customer Trust
1:43 Expectations Versus Reality in Content Creation
2:08 Proving Social Media Works for Dealerships
3:41 Why Educational Content Resonates With Customers
4:35 Breaking Down the Mystery of the Car Business
5:37 Balancing Transparency and Compliance
6:25 Building Trust Through Behind-the-Scenes Content
7:44 Scaling a Social Media Sales Team
8:11 Turning Content Into 250 Free Monthly Leads
9:25 The Unexpected Impact on Hiring and Recruitment
10:13 Why Social Media Became a Talent Magnet
11:18 Authenticity, Consistency, and Long-Term Growth
11:55 Stop Chasing Views, Start Chasing Leads
13:16 The Human Side of Dealership Storytelling

Connect with Adrian Gonzalez at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-gonzalez-793008131/
Learn more about Payne Auto Group at https://www.payneautogroup.com/

Live from ASOTU CON 2026, Michael Cirillo sits down with Beth Hill, leader of The Shop by FordDirect, to discuss how dealers can navigate an increasingly crowded technology landscape. Drawing on her unique perspective across legal, compliance, privacy, sourcing, and vendor partnerships, Beth shares the origin story behind The Shop and the challenge it was built to solve: helping dealers identify trusted solutions without wasting valuable time sorting through endless options.

The conversation explores the evolution of dealership technology purchasing, the importance of vendor curation, and the growing need for data governance in an AI-driven environment. Beth explains how FordDirect approaches trust, privacy, and dealer choice, while highlighting why transparency, rigorous vetting, and customer data protection have become foundational requirements for modern automotive technology providers.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro

0:12 Meet Beth Hill and The Shop by FordDirect

1:07 The Origin Story Behind The Shop

3:13 Listening to Dealers and Solving Technology Overload

4:56 Reimagining the Dealership Buying Process

5:35 How Trusted Solutions Are Selected

5:55 The Vendor Certification and Vetting Process

6:59 Dealer Choice Versus One-Size-Fits-All Solutions

8:34 Protecting Dealer and Consumer Data in the AI Era

10:18 Why Dealer Choice Matters More Than Ever

11:24 Curating Technology for Different Dealer Needs

12:39 The Balance Between Curation and Personalization

13:29 How Dealers Can Connect with Beth and The Shop

Connect with Beth Hill at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethhill2/

Learn more about The Shop at FordDirect at https://www.forddirect.com/