Executive Profile with Jim Fitzpatrick, Powered by CBT News

Ryan LaFontaine shares how family values, resilience, and a long-term vision helped transform LaFontaine Automotive Group into one of Michigan's largest dealership organizations. In this Executive Profile, the CEO reflects on the lessons he learned from his parents, overcoming cancer during one of the company's most pivotal moments, and why culture remains the foundation of every busines...

We sit down with Jay Feldman to trace how a kid selling cars at 15 becomes the leader of a 25-store dealer group built on discipline, culture, and smart deal-making. We dig into what’s changing in retail automotive right now, from EV swings and digital shopping to FTC uncertainty, fixed ops growth, and AI’s impact on dealership operations.  • growing up in a Chevrolet dealer family and starting in...

Geoffrey Pohanka shares the remarkable story of Pohanka Automotive Group, founded by his grandfather in 1919 and now spanning 22 dealerships across three states. He reveals how the company's focus on service excellence helped them survive the Great Depression and World War II when many dealerships failed. • Third-generation dealer whose grandfather was a jockey before starting the business in...

Aaron Zeigler has transformed his family's single dealership into a nationally recognized automotive powerhouse with 41 locations and 88 franchises across four states while fostering an exceptional workplace culture with remarkably low turnover. • The Ferrari dealership in Lake Forest is one of the largest in the country, spanning 70,000 square feet with vehicles that can sell for over $3 mil...

Jane Vaden Thacher didn't expect to follow in her father's footsteps. Her primary goal after high school was to escape Savannah and the family name plastered across vehicles throughout the city. But thirty years after returning to the business her father started in 1968, Jane has transformed Vaden Automotive Group into a powerhouse representing Chevrolet, Cadillac, Nissan, Infiniti, Hyun...

Mario Murgado shares his remarkable journey from Cuban immigrant arriving in America at age four to building a 24-dealership automotive empire across three states. His story reveals how passion for cars, commitment to exceptional customer experiences, and innovative business practices created one of the most successful dealership groups in the country. • Arrived in America as a political refugee j...

The journey from washing cars to building a 31-dealership empire and winning the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans isn't one traveled by many, but Ben Keating has navigated this extraordinary path with unwavering determination and a competitive spirit that defies conventional limits. In this revealing Executive Profile, Ben Keating shares the remarkable story of how a college engineering gradua...

What happens when you build an automotive empire by actually giving up control? The remarkable 50-year journey of Serra Automotive provides a masterclass in trust-based leadership that challenges conventional wisdom about running dealerships. Chairman Joe Serra and President/CEO Matt Serra have cultivated something extraordinary: the 12th ranked automotive group nationally (6th among privately-hel...

Ernie Bach Jr. opens the doors to his private estate, offering a rare glimpse into the life of an automotive maverick who transformed his grandfather's humble repair shop into Subaru of New England, one of just four remaining auto distributorships in America. The sprawling 7.9-acre property houses not only his family home but an extraordinary car salon featuring 40 meticulously maintained rar...

When Hurricane Katrina submerged everything Troy Duhon had built at age 39, he made a life-altering promise: "Lord, if you get me through this, the rest of my career will be giving back." That watershed moment transformed a successful car dealer into one of America's most impactful automotive philanthropists. Troy takes us behind the scenes of his dual passions—running Premier Autom...

Rita Case's remarkable journey from selling the first Honda car in America to leading one of the nation's most successful dealership groups offers a masterclass in automotive entrepreneurship and resilience.  Following her husband Rick's passing in 2020, Rita has continued to build upon their shared legacy while charting her own course as a pioneering female leader in a male-dominat...

The remarkable journey of Carina Diehl from grief-stricken widow to powerful automotive industry leader exemplifies resilience in its purest form. After tragically losing her husband Matt at just 46 years old, Carina faced a pivotal decision: sell their single dealership or step into an unfamiliar industry to preserve their shared dream. Despite being advised to sell and having minimal experience,...

Mike Maroone's automotive journey spans generations, beginning with childhood memories of his father purchasing his first dealership in 1955 for $30,000. That foundation led to an illustrious career including 18 years at AutoNation before launching his current dealership group with locations in Florida and Colorado. The COVID pandemic revealed two critical insights for dealers: the viability...

When John Bergstrom and his brother first applied to become GM dealers in 1982, they were flatly rejected. What happened next—a clerical error that somehow approved their application—launched one of America's most successful automotive retail enterprises. Today, Bergstrom Automotive stands as Wisconsin's largest dealer group with 39 locations representing over 30 brands, annual sales rea...