ConnectedPodcast

This week's episode of Connected is a bit of a special one. A few weeks ago at NADA, we had 11 great conversations in our booth on the show floor with people from different parts of the automotive industry: dealers, students, influencers, ADA presidents, vendors, and CEOs.

Each conversation discussed a new and fun topic from service efficiency to AI, eContracting, and more. In this episode, Greg goes through some of his favorite moments to give you a quick recap of what people were talking about out in Las Vegas.

"For over 125 years dealers have been successful and adapted to every technological change in our industry. Whether it's how vehicles are sold or the technology used in the vehicles, dealers are constantly updating their ability to reach their customers."

On this episode of Connected, Greg sits down with Brian Maas, president of the California New Car Dealers Association and outgoing ATAE chairman. Brian and his colleagues are responsible for updating the franchise laws that protect dealerships.

On today’s episode, Greg sits down with Jose Mendoza, general manager at San Leandro Honda. With inventory levels beginning to stabilize, Jose offers some great tips for navigating the used vehicle market.

Hear his thoughts on:

-Selling new vs. used.

-Finding profitable inventory.

-Pricing to your specific market.

On today's episode, Dan Shine, senior editor of Automotive News, joins Greg in the Connected studio.  As a Detroit native and experienced journalist, Dan has great insight into what’s going on in the industry and how’s it being talked about in the media.

Get Dan's insight on:

-Important topics that aren't being talked about enough.

-Subjects to keep an eye out for in the future.

-How he identifies the stories and people he covers.

Today on Connected, Greg sits down with Curtis Lewsey, the founder of DealerCards and bestselling author of Appreciation Marketing. Curtis has figured out how dealerships can turn a simple "thank you" into a competitive advantage.

Listen as they discuss:

-What you can do to increase repeat business.

-How to earn customer referrals, not just ask for them.

-How to build a lasting customer relationship from the get-go.

It's the last episode of Connected before Christmas and we picked this guest just for you! Greg is joined in studio by Kelly Adkins, director of OEM programs at Reynolds, to talk about getting involved in your community and the joy of giving back. Kelly and her family do a lot of volunteering and she has some great tips for getting started!

Thanksgiving has come and gone but we're thankful for this week's guest, Owen Moon! Owen is the co-founder and CEO of Fixed Ops Digital and he sat down with Greg to talk about how you can use marketing to increase visibility and trust in your service department. Find out how you can make your dealership stand out when customers need proactive maintenance work or reactive vehicle repairs!

On today's episode of Connected, Greg talks with Lee Harkins, president and CEO of M5 Management Services, about the common issues he is seeing impacting dealerships' service operations and what advice he gives to help improve their processes.

When it comes down to implementing those improvements in the service drive, there are often two different paths taken - investing in the process or investing in technology and tools. In regards to which he has seen drive more success, Lee shared:

"Both have had a big impact. Technology in our business right now has been just over the top from a benefits standpoint to the stores... but they are not going to be as effective without the formal processes to support it."

There are many incredibly talented technicians out there. For the best of the best at Hendrick Automotive Group, there are few achievements as impressive as being invited to participate in the Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown.

This week on Connected, Greg sits down with Roger Mesiemore, vice president of fixed operations at Hendrick Automotive Group, to talk about this year's event and why it's important to recognize talented techs.

The 22nd annual Engine Builder Showdown takes place November 8-9 on the campus of Hendrick Motorsports in Concord, North Carolina. Watch it live at RacingAmerica.tv and HendrickEBS.com!

Happy National Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Well, we hope it's a happy occasion. This week on Connected, Greg sits down with Ken Wolf, the supervisor of Reynolds' Security Operations Center.

While thinking about cyber incidents can be intimidating, Ken was able to talk through some things that can help you protect yourself and your dealership. Things like:

-Where you have control when it comes to your data.

-The impact of ransomware and cyberattacks.

-What you can be doing to keep your data safe.