Auto Collabs

Send us Fan Mail

Could you ever imagine making a daily commute from the Poconos to New Jersey just to pursue a career in the automotive industry? That's the story of Felicia Rey, who climbed the ranks from cashier to service advisor and beyond, all in the name of her passion. This episode has us chatting with Felicia about her fascinating journey, filled with unique challenges and triumphs. She offers an insider's view on the automotive industry and takes us through her days in different roles, offering a chance to learn from her wealth of experience.We also dive into a heartwarming discussion about professional success with Felicia. Ever imagine the thrill of winning an award? Well, Felicia gives us a firsthand account of that experience and more. She shares her novel approach to customer service, emphasizing the importance she places on building relationships with customers. We also get to explore her role as Service Manager and Owner Loyalty Manager at a Nissan store, and how she impacts her staff and customers. Plus, you don't want to miss her aspirations within the industry, including her goal to attend the NADA Academy in honor of her mentor. Get ready to be inspired by Felicia's unique perspective on the automotive industry.

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! We have a daily email! 

https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts: 

Send us Fan Mail

With a story that's both compelling and inspiring, we sit down with author and seasoned leader, Ed Roberts, whose journey from non-writer to author of leadership book "Mile One: An Endless Journey to Effective Leadership" is truly an interesting one. He gives us a sneak peek into the 'Mile One' concept from his book--the idea that each new mile is a fresh opportunity on an unending journey, a strategy that helps break down big, looming goals into achievable steps. Moving on, you'll hear Ed's riveting narrative about scaling a business from 50 to a whopping 700 cars a month. He walks us through the challenges encountered and how fostering a culture of continuous improvement played a pivotal role in that success. We also delve into deep conversations about approachability and empowerment in leadership. Listen as Ed emphasizes the importance of team members owning their mistakes and the traits that make leaders more approachable. We round off with insights from Ed's book, "Mile One", and discuss its potential impact on the world. Get ready to be inspired as we navigate this engaging conversation filled with enlightening Confucius sayings and captivating Jedi Mind Tricks that make Ed an exemplary leader.Ed Roberts is the Chief Operations Officer of Bozard Ford Lincoln.Learn more about "Mile One: An Endless Journey to Effective Leadership"

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! We have a daily email! 

https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts: 

Send us Fan Mail

Ever wondered how car dealerships make informed decisions when purchasing cars? Join us as we chat with Chris Adams, Matrix Operations Director at Car Offer, who provides valuable insights into the fascinating world of car market analytics. Discover how Chris's team helps dealerships predict buyer preferences and stay ahead of market trends, even down to the most popular car colors!Not only do we dive deep into car market analytics, but we also get to know Chris's background and his experiences in the automotive industry. We'll discuss the best food in Peru, the top Asian cuisine in Dallas, and how Car Offer partners with dealerships to scale up their services. If you're curious about the intricacies of the car market and love a good food chat, you won't want to miss this episode with Chris Adams from Car Offer!Chris Adams is the Matrix Operations Director for CarOffer.

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! We have a daily email! 

https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts: 

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when you combine a thrilling 2000 km electric vehicle adventure with the rugged beauty of Newfoundland?You get the captivating journey of our guest, Devin Sooley, a talented Canadian automotive marketer who recently embarked on a mini tour of Canada in a Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV. We sit down with Devin as he shares the incredible details of his three-day expedition, including how he and his team relied on EV charging points and managed to create an impressive array of content for their video series in just 72 hours.But that's not all! We also dive into Devin's creative process and strategies behind crafting engaging automotive content that keeps followers hooked. From using polls, comments, and group chats to leveraging TikTok for growing a dealership's social media presence, Devin reveals the key to his success in managing the Norris the Mini Instagram page and why creating a character out of Norris has resonated with audiences. Don't miss this exciting and informative conversation with Devin Sooley, where you'll not only get a glimpse into the world of EV adventures, but also learn valuable insights on creating content that truly connects with your audience.Devin Sooley is the Marketing Manager of Capital Auto Group.

Follow Norris the Mini.

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! We have a daily email! 

https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts: 

Send us Fan Mail

What if you could create a workplace culture where employees were not only valued, but truly cared for? Dive into the world of automotive leader Bruce Miller, as he shares his journey from sales to becoming his own boss, and how his experiences of being misunderstood and mistreated in the past have shaped his approach to management. With a focus on non-transactional relationships, Bruce emphasizes the importance of building a strong, supportive team culture and treating employees with the respect and care they deserve.Discover Bruce's "all gas, no breaks" mentality as he shares the importance of balancing work and personal connections within the business environment. From taking his team to Pelicans games to helping employees when they're in need, Bruce's approach to leadership is all about going beyond the transactional and building meaningful relationships. Don't miss this insightful conversation with a true disruptor in the automotive world.

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! We have a daily email! 

https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts: 

Send us Fan Mail

The first repeat guest on Auto Collabs.Of course we mean the one and only Rick Ricart, President and Chief Vision Officer of Ricart Automotive Group. Every time we get the chance to talk with Rick, the conversation is packed with insights, and today is no different. We touch on the challenges of the EV market, negative equity woes, trends in the showroom, and the all-important power of training. Key takeaways from this episode:

1️⃣ EV Conundrum: Navigating the EV market is akin to driving on a winding road. The team explores the complex dynamics of infrastructure, communication patterns, and regional variations, making it difficult to predict the industry's direction. The hype surrounding EVs has outpaced the actual market demand, leading to a mismatch between expectations and reality.

2️⃣ Thrill of the Drive: The crew delves into the allure of high-performance vehicles and the passion of die-hard Harley-Davidson riders. They discuss the reluctance of some enthusiasts to trade their roaring engines for silent EVs. The joy of shifting gears, feeling the power, and embracing the traditional driving experience is an integral part of their automotive lifestyle.

3️⃣ Negative Equity Drag Race: Negative equity emerges as a major challenge in the auto industry. With soaring vehicle prices and longer loan terms, customers find themselves trapped in a race against negative equity. The team emphasizes the importance of education and awareness in addressing this issue head-on.

Key Moments:

📕 Intro (0:00) with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier and Michael Cirillo.📕 The Inventory Balancing Act (7:24): Rick Ricart shares the struggles of aligning market demand with current inventory. The team discusses the contrast between states like California, Florida, and Texas, where EVs thrive, and other regions where the market is yet to catch up.📕 The Hype vs. Hope Showdown (09:55): The team delves into the hype surrounding EVs and its impact on the industry. They examine the influence of stock market excitement and the rise of Tesla, emphasizing the importance of separating hype from reality.📕 Affordability Speed Bumps (21:21): The team addresses the affordability challenge faced by customers in today's automotive landscape. They highlight the rising negative equity rates and the impact of high vehicle prices on monthly payments.Connect with Rick Ricart on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickricart/

Learn more about Ricart Automotive - https://www.ricart.com/

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! We have a daily email! 

https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts: 

Send us Fan Mail

We threw some hard questions around.

And Ron Smith aced them all. Ron is the Enterprise Sales Director of Stella AI, a fully AI telephone answering system for dealerships, and joins the show after winning a recent month of Pitch Tank. We learned a lot about Ron's background, what dealers and vendors really dislike about each other, and have a lot of laughs.

Here's what we talk about in this episode:

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier and Michael Cirillo

3:41 Ron and Stella AI won a recent month of Pitch Tank, and Ron shares how they literally changed the pitch with 30 minutes before the competition, and it's now the pitch their whole team uses.

6:35 Ron's journey to Stella AI started 20 years ago when he worked at his dad's dealership. Since then, he's worked at dealerships and automotive tech partners, able to see both sides.

9:34 We ask Ron to put his dealer hat back on and share the most annoying thing a vendor can do when they're pitching. He responds with one word: "Talk." Everyone has a good laugh.

14:59 In the spirit of growing empathy, we flip the question and ask what's the most annoying thing a dealer can during a pitch process. Ron talks about how getting stuck in a gray area without a solid 'Yes' or 'No' is really hard.

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! 

We have a daily email! 

https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts: 

Connect with Ron Smith (904) 738-4011 on LinkedIn 

Hear the Stella AI Difference

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! We have a daily email! 

https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts: 

Send us Fan Mail

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

Jordan Cox, obviously.

He's energetic, always smiling and full of ideas. In fact, he just won the Best Idea Award at David Kain's Clients and Friends Digital Success Workshop for his work on Gates Car Talk, a podcast produced inside of the dealership. Jordan joins to the show to talk about what challenges he's solving, how to tell better stories and seeing people blossom.

Here's what we talk about in this episode:

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier and Michael Cirillo

6:19 Jordan describes Gates Car Talk, an interview/news/information podcast that he created for their dealership. They use it to share employee's stories and to keep up on current news.

8:20 Don't feel like today's strategy needs to be for the rest of your life. Jordan talks about how different seasons of the podcast have had very different feels.

10:02 The team at Gates actually promoted the podcast to customers by putting it on the VDP with the Why Buy? photos.

15:42 A recent problem that Jordan solved was getting SMS conversations to go to the correct store and department within that store. He describes how he worked the problem and the results they've seen.

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! 

We have a daily email! 

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts: 

Connect with Jordan Cox on LinkedIn

Listen to Gates Car Talk

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! We have a daily email! 

https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts: 

Send us Fan Mail

Here is how retail automotive can learn from Amazon.

While Ben Ayed worked at Amazon, he learned that the customer was number one, and so even though they had over 1 million phone calls a day, every single call was answered. Fast forward to when Ben noticed a 72% drop rate in customer booking on Xtime, he was ready to answer the call and come up with a solution. He’s an entrepreneur, an inventor and his company Autoservice.ai was the first winner of our Pitch Tank tournament.

What we talk about in this episode:

0:00 Intro with Michael Cirillo, Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier.

4:44 Ben talks about living in Silicon Valley, and how to identify and approach the tech leaders to help get your idea and company to the next level.

9:30 Ben casually drops into the conversation that he holds over 50 patents, including one for 2-factor authentication.

14:45 After taking a job at Xtime, Ben noticed that they had a 72% drop rate in customer booking, so he set out to fix that. The end result was Autoservice.AI.

19:45 “Robots for retail” is how Ben describes the goal of AutoService.AI. Robots give you scalability and the ability to have a close to 100% Service Level Agreement with a customer.

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! 

We have a daily email! 

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts: 

Connect with Ben Ayed on LinkedInLearn more about Autoservice.AI 

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! We have a daily email! 

https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts: 

Send us Fan Mail

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.

Alan Krutsch joins the show, complete with a black baseball cap to fit in. Alan is the type of guy who you can talk to about the same topic for 3 hours without getting bored. He’s the Director of Marketing & Industry Relations at FUSE Autotech and is always able to take a question and zoom out to consider all the implications.

What we talk about in this episode:

0:00 Intro with Michael Cirillo, Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier.

3:31 Early in the interview, Alan shares how he’s feeling uncomfortable, and then in an automotive podcast award-winning performance, reveals a black baseball hat. And like that, the comfort is restored!

5:26 What is Alan watching? He’s interested in Chinese manufacturers entering the US market and the effect it will have on it. He recalls when Japanese manufacturers like Toyota and Honda came to the US, in spite of naysayers who didn’t believe they’d be successful.

10:21 When it comes to advice, Alan goes back to basic principles of the automotive industry. For him, the 2 pillars are efficiency and customer experience.

21:52 After comparing the automotive shopping experience to general retail, Alan wraps up the interview by suggesting that putting the customer more in control of the buying process will help them to feel more confident and make the experience better.

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! 

We have a daily email! 

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts: 

Connect with Alan Krutsch on LinkedInLearn more about Fuse AutoTech

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! We have a daily email! 

https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts: