ConnectedPodcast

In this episode of Connected, Greg sits down with Nikhil Kalani, Reynolds' chief information security officer and vice president of information security, to discuss the cybersecurity threats dealerships are facing today and how AI is changing the game for both attackers and defenders.

From deepfakes and financial fraud to ransomware and identity protection, Nikhil shares practical advice that every dealership leader should understand.

In this episode, you'll hear:

-How AI is making fraud attacks faster, cheaper, and more convincing than ever, including deepfake video and voice scams designed to trick employees into transferring funds.

-Why identity security, phishing-resistant MFA, password managers, and employee training are becoming critical defenses in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

-How dealerships can build a stronger cybersecurity culture by combining the right technology, processes, and people to stay ahead of modern cyber threats.

Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue. It's a business issue that impacts every employee and every department.

Get Connected with Nikhil Kalani!

Today on Connected, Greg catches up with Chris Ponte, parts director at Scranton Chevrolet.

Chris won the Impact award in the 2025 Automotive Amplifiers Contest and will return as a judge for the 2026 contest. In every conversation with Chris, his commitment to improving operations at his store is clear.

Chris and Greg get into:

-How Chris approaches parts as a business, not just a department.

-His process for tracking lost sales, which nearly doubled their off-the-shelf fill rate.

-Where he sees future opportunities in the parts department.

If you’re looking for new ways to capture missed opportunities in your parts department, you should definitely give this one a listen!

And if you haven't already, be sure to enter the 2026 Automotive Amplifiers Contest. The deadline to submit is June 22! Every day, forward-thinking dealerships are solving real problems in creative ways, and sharing those ideas helps move the industry forward.

reyrey.com/contest

What if your dealership software didn’t just process transactions but actually learned from your business as it runs?

For this special episode of Connected, we’re sharing a keynote presentation from AJ McGowan, vice president of research and development at Reynolds, recorded live at our Santa Clara AI Summit.

In this session, AJ walks through how AI is evolving inside automotive and what comes next as systems begin to adapt, learn, and improve over time.

You'll hear AJ discuss:

-How the first two waves of AI are already impacting dealerships.

-What agentic AI really means for your store today, from automating decisions to accelerating workflows.

-Why the next evolution of software will continuously learn from your dealership and give your team an advantage that compounds over time.

If you’re thinking about where your store is headed over the next few years, this episode is one you won’t want to miss. Get Connected with AJ McGowan!

On the latest episode of Connected, Greg sits down with Jason Pappas, executive manager at Copeland Chevrolet.

These two automotive industry veterans first met when Jason was a service manager and Greg was selling fixed ops products. Jason's curiosity and willingness to dive deep to make the best decisions for the business made him someone Greg always remembered. Now in his role as executive manager, Jason has continued his commitment to curiosity on a larger scale.

Jason and Greg discuss:

-How Jason gathers insights from customers and employees to drive smarter decisions.

-Where a single system and the right AI tools can increase revenue per employee.

-What to look for when hiring and developing high-impact talent.

Get Connected by checking out this conversation with Jason Pappas!

Today on Connected, Greg is joined by two guests: Michael May, vice president of Cloninger Auto Group, and Graham Nesselrode, a Reynolds performance manager in Mike's area, to talk about the value of good partnerships.

When you're running your business, it's important to build strong relationships with your partners to work together towards a common goal. Mike and Graham share some insight into their personal approaches to being good partners and how that's grown their relationship and driven operational efficiency at Cloninger Auto Group.

This episode covers:

- How to build a culture around caring for your employees.

- The importance of "the trust factor" in relationship building.

- Building value in partnerships so you're better working together than apart.

If you’re invested in what it takes to build a strong partnership for your business, you should give this conversation a listen!

On the latest episode of Connected, Greg sits down with Marco Zwanenberg, a technician and industry voice who’s helping dealerships rethink how they operate from the service bay up.

With decades of experience across Europe and the U.S., Marco brings a perspective that cuts through the noise, especially as dealerships struggle with declining productivity and increasing complexity.

Marco and Greg cover:

• Why technician productivity is slipping —and what’s actually causing it.

• How better verification and communication can save hours in the shop.

• Where AI can (and should) play a role in helping technicians work faster and smarter.

If you’re serious about improving technician productivity and cutting down wasted time in your shop, this conversation is worth your time!

Building operational efficiency and creating a good experience for employees and customers goes hand in hand. In our industry today, what are some of the ways to drive real progress in these areas?

In just five years, the Swickard Auto Group grew from one store to over fifty. For the 200th episode of Connected, Greg Uland sat down with a legend in our industry, Jeff Swickard, dealer principal at Swickard Auto Group, to talk about what's driving growth and what Jeff's dealerships are focusing on.

Jeff and Greg discussed:

• Real ways Swickard is incorporating AI in their business today.

• How Jeff defines and builds a culture of hospitality.

• What made Jeff fall in love with the car business.

What a great way to mark our 200th episode! Jeff has built a really impressive business and has so much great insight to share. If you’re thinking about scaling your operation or delivering something better for your customers, this is a conversation worth your time.

Corpay diem! The business office is evolving — and payments are at the center of it. From fraud risk to cash flow visibility, the way dealerships manage payments is changing quickly.

In this episode of Connected, Catherine Hart of Corpay joins Greg to break down how digital payments are changing dealership operations.

Together they cover:

• Where fraud risk hides in traditional payment methods.

• Why some dealerships are shifting to virtual cards and digital approvals.

• How smarter payment workflows can tighten control over cash.

Customer retention and loyalty remain top of mind across the dealership, especially in the service department.

On today's Connected, Richard Lupo, fixed ops director at Apple Tree Honda and Acura, returns to talk about how his team is preparing for the next phase of service growth.

Rich and Greg go over:

• What's on Rich's roadmap for fixed ops in 2026.

• The value of transparency in the service drive.

• The role of mobile service and loaner programs in expanding service reach.

Thank you to Rich for sitting down with us at NADA and being a fantastic dealer partner. If you're focused on growing RO count, expanding your customer base, and building stronger loyalty in your service lane, you should definitely give this conversation a listen.

We’re thrilled to share today's thought-provoking episode with Uli De'Martino of Daily Dealer Live, recorded at NADA!

Uli’s unique perspective sheds light on how to navigate the evolving landscape of the automotive industry. In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How flexibility and innovation drive success in today's automotive market.

• The importance of staying connected and adapting to new trends.

• Ways to leverage global experiences to enhance business growth.

Get Connected with Uli and integrate these insights to foster growth and adaptability in your business.