ConnectedPodcast

We're excited to bring you a special episode from the NADA show floor featuring Sam D’Arc, COO of Zeigler Auto Group and host of Daily Dealer Live! In this episode, Greg Uland asks Sam about his unique perspective on the automotive industry and they discuss the key issues Sam sees dealers focusing on today, such as: • The shift from digital retailing to AI as the industry's hot topic. • Encouragin...

Connected live at NADA 2026! We're kicking off NADA with a special episode featuring Cliff Banks, founder of the Banks Report and AUTOVATE, from the show floor! Greg has a tradition of catching up with Cliff at the show every year to hear his insights on the state of the industry. Together, they break down recent topics and trends and explored what to keep an eye out for in the year ahead, like: -...

This week Greg is joined by Adam Gaedke, partner at Freddy Media. He's a longtime automotive retail operator with over two decades of experience in growing dealer groups. Before partnering with Freddy Media, Adam spent 22 years at Van Horn Auto Group, where he played a key role in scaling the organization from a handful of stores to an 18-rooftop operation. Today, he brings that operator’s mindset...

In this special episode of Connected, Chief Customer Ambassador Dave Bates reflects on retiring from Reynolds and Reynolds after 42 years (15,598 days) with the company. Dave talks with Greg Uland about: -Dave’s philosophy behind Attitude, Effort and Extra (AEX) and the idea of “being a star where you are.” -The story of his interview with Reynolds and how he met his wife Carolyn. -Highlights from...

On the first Connected of 2026, Greg is joined in the studio by Dr. Kent MacDonald, president of Northwood University. If you're not familiar with Northwood, it's a unique university in Midland, MI, known as "America's Free Enterprise University." As an academic leader in the automotive, aftermarket, and mobility spaces, Northwood is shaping the next generation of our industry. Dr. MacDonald share...

On our last Connected of 2025, Greg is joined in the studio by Holly Neeld, Allison Leonard, and Amy Webb from Blood Cancer United, a nonprofit organization that benefits patients with all types of blood cancer. Blood Cancer United has been providing support and advocating for patients for over 75 years. Over that time, they have gained valuable insights, heard memorable stories and put together g...

What goes into the process of designing a new dealership and where do you even begin? Today on Connected, Greg is joined in the studio by Bill Chidley, co-founder of ChangeUp and author of The Brand Vortex. ChangeUp is a branding and retail design firm that partners with several OEMs and their dealer programs to help establish dealership design and branding standards. They also put out an industry...

We're giving thanks! For this special episode of Connected, Greg invited a few of our Reynolds associates to share what they're thankful for this year. Listen in as they reflect on both personal and professional experiences, providing heartfelt insights into their gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving!

On the latest Connected, Greg's speaking with Tim Pohanka, COO at Pohanka Automotive Group. Beyond his work at the dealership, Tim is a part of a new video series, the Tour Detour. On this adventure, Tim and two other dealers, Jason Cole and Chris Lenckosz, are driving used Nissans across the rugged terrain of the American West, testing the limits of the vehicles and their continuously variable tr...

"AI will amplify whatever data there is. So if you have a lot of bad data, you will accelerate a bad process." This week on Connected, Greg sits down with Todd Smith, CEO of QoreAI, a company focused on the future of the automotive industry. Todd is educating dealers on AI and the direction that we are headed. He and Greg discuss: -The importance of high-quality data to back your AI. -The specific...

This week, Greg gets Connected with Rich Lupo, fixed ops director at Apple Tree Honda and Apple Tree Acura. Rich is constantly sharing his ideas and best practices with the industry, and today he and Greg dive deeper into: -The technician bench program Rich has implemented to help with staffing shortages at their stores. -How to adapt other's best practices to fit your specific needs and be action...

It's a brand new episode of Connected! This week, Greg's talking with Yuriy Demidko, chief information officer at DP Fox Ventures. Yuriy has a lot of experience both inside and outside of automotive and that gives him great insight on where the industry is headed. Greg and Yuriy cover: -Yuriy's career path and how he got to where he is today. -The importance of clean data in boosting efficiency an...

This week Greg speaks with Curtis Gardner, master tech at Audi North Houston and founder of Gnarred, a company focused on fixed operations efficiency. Curtis is involved in coaching and mentoring techs to become more efficient, and has developed a passion for saving as much time as he can, down to the second. In this episode, Greg and Curtis cover: -The three biggest things techs can do today to b...

The champs are here! This week on Connected, you'll hear the best practice presentations from the winners of our 2025 Automotive Amplifiers Contest. Two weeks ago, the second annual Automotive Amplifiers Contest was held at our Reynolds Retail Summit: Amplify in Dallas, TX. Five finalists presented their best practices live at the event, and our panel of judges selected these two winners: Innovati...

Today on Connected Greg's catching up with AJ McGowan, founder of AutoVision and lead developer on Reynolds' new AI assistant, Rey. After the reveal of Rey yesterday at Amplify 2025, AJ sheds some light on the next chapter of AI for Reynolds and beyond. In this episode, Greg and AJ cover: -Rey as an agentic AI that works with your existing tools. -The difference between UI (user interface) and UX...

This week, Greg sits down with two of the most energizing voices in retail automotive: Fred Lennartz and Lou Ramirez, founders of Certified Solutionaries and hosts of the Car Guy Coffee Podcast. These two bring more than just caffeine to the conversation. Their approach to automotive leadership is personal, practical, and rooted in optimism — and it’s refreshing. They cover: -Why forgiveness is th...

Today on Connected, it's Russell Richardson, aka Russ Flips Whips! Russell has built a really impressive online presence across platforms, founding RFW Training and establishing himself as an expert at the intersection of automotive and social media. We dive into Russell's background building up his social media success and his advice for any individuals or dealerships trying to build up a presenc...

Today on Connected, our guest is Brad Gelber, director of marketing at West Herr Auto Group in Buffalo, New York. Brad has an extensive background in marketing and journalism, and is passionate about giving back to the city he grew up in. In this episode, Brad talks about: -Making the most of celebrity partnerships. -The importance of highlighting players as people in brand marketing. -The value o...

This week on Connected, Greg's talking with Joe Pytel, general manager of LaFontaine Volkswagen of Dearborn and LaFontaine Hyundai of Dearborn. Greg and Joe caught up after a recent launch event at the Volkswagen Group of America (VWGoA) office in Auburn Hills, MI, where a GoMoto kiosk was installed and LaFontaine began providing mobile service to VWGoA employees. Joe summed up the purpose of mobi...

On today's Connected, Elgie Bright returns for a conversation with Greg! Elgie is the chair of the automotive marketing and management program at Northwood University, has an impressive background in the automotive industry, and is dedicated to helping those interested in entering the field. This time around, he and Greg discuss: -The President's Freedom Celebration and International Auto Show at...

On this episode of Connected, Greg sits down with Nathan Shaver, a dealer at Shaver Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Nathan is a fifth-generation automotive dealer and has a great vision for the industry's growth. It's clear Nathan has a passion for what's new in automotive technology and how it can impact his business. He and Greg touch on this and other interesting topics, including: -How Nathan works t...

Today on Connected, Greg is joined by Lyle Dizon from AutoVision! Lyle and Greg talk about AutoVision's AI assistant Avery, the innovation driving it forward, and some of the broader momentum building within AutoVision. They get into: -What's new with Avery and how it's evolving. -The exciting things happening at AutoVision. -Broader trends impacting digital retailing and inventory strategies.

On this episode of Connected, host Greg Uland sits down with Inga Maurer, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. Inga leads McKinsey's work with dealerships, aftermarket players, and OEMs, keeping her very plugged into the automotive ecosystem. She also recently co-authored an article titled "Boosting auto sales productivity: A playbook for excellence," and as soon as Greg read it, he wanted to hav...

On today's Connected, Greg reconnects with Colin Carrasquillo, digital marketing manager at Nielsen Automotive Group. With over a decade of experience, Colin is always at the forefront of what's going on in automotive marketing. Greg and Colin cover: -How to measure success in marketing. -Insights into creating vs. capturing demand and how to direct it to your stores. -The four key elements that m...

Today on Connected, Greg chats with Sam D'Arc, COO at Zeigler Auto Group and host of the Industry Spotlight podcast. Sam regularly talks about how important it is to build a consistent culture at a large group like Zeigler with 41 stores and over 2500 employees. When asked how to build that culture, Sam says it breaks down to implementing intentional actions over a long period. Some of his example...