I'm A Car Chick

In this episode of the I’m A Car Chick Podcast, Shasta chats with Lori Berkson, VP of Sales at DealerStream and a powerhouse with more than 30 years of automotive industry experience. Lori takes listeners through her career journey — from breaking into the industry in the early ’90s after a pivot from fashion, to leadership roles with well-known companies like Visible Customer, VinSolutions, and n...

On this episode of the I’m A Car Chick Podcast, Shasta sits down with Erin Zaborac — a 30-year industry veteran who’s done just about everything in the dealership world, from filing paperwork in high school to leading marketing at DealerOn. Erin opens up about the scenic route her career has taken — the pivots, the passion for digital, the lessons learned in service, parts, sales, F&I, and mar...

 On this episode of the I’m A Car Chick Podcast, Shasta sits down with Dr. Alison Burnham — a powerhouse in data, technology, and automotive who’s now the CTO of AutoUnify, an automotive retail startup in Los Angeles. They dive into Alison’s fascinating journey: from earning her PhD in mathematics and pioneering statistical process control in auto plants, to building loyalty and predictive analyti...

On this episode of the I’m A Car Chick Podcast, Shasta chats with Allison McConeghy — a powerhouse in automotive tech and the Lead Client Partner at Pinterest, calling in from metro Detroit. Allison breaks down what it’s been like to build Pinterest’s automotive vertical from a two-person team into a thriving engine that supports everything from GM and Ford to thousands of tier-three dealerships a...

On this episode of the I’m A Car Chick Podcast, Shasta sits down with Stephanie Wedgeworth, Director of Sales Content at The RockED Company and a powerhouse with over two decades of experience shaping how organizations train, lead, and grow. Stephanie’s resume reads like a masterclass in sales enablement, leadership development, and high-impact learning. From building certification programs for au...

On this episode of the I’m A Car Chick Podcast, Shasta sits down with Stacy Cassio — Founder & CEO of the Pink Mentor Network and a nationally recognized leader in building mentorship-driven workplace cultures. They dive into the POWER of mentorship at conferences (like the upcoming Women In Automotive Conference in Nashville), why mentorship is critical to leadership development and retention...

On this episode of the I’m A Car Chick Podcast, Shasta sits down for a powerful catch-up with Sydney Rizo — a name you’re going to be hearing a lot more in the automotive industry. Sydney first appeared on the show in May 2024,  at the Women In Automotive Conference and was still a student at Northwood University. Now, just over a year later, she’s back with her MBA in hand, a string of leadership...

On this episode of the I’m A Car Chick Podcast, Shasta sits down with Shereen Thor — comedian turned coach, bestselling author, and keynote speaker at this year’s Women In Automotive Conference in Nashville. Shereen’s story is raw, hilarious, and deeply empowering. From sharing the stage with icons like Serena Williams and Prince Harry to helping women and people of color completely revolutionize...

On this episode of the I’m A Car Chick Podcast, Shasta welcomes the unstoppable Aleya Harris — an award-winning speaker, marketing executive, and the spark behind Spark the Stage™. Aleya’s dynamic energy lights up this conversation as she shares how purpose-driven storytelling doesn’t just transform marketing — it changes leadership, company culture, and bottom-line results. As the CEO of The Evol...

On this episode of the I’m A Car Chick Podcast, Shasta sits down with Lizz Callaway — an automotive powerhouse with over a decade of experience across sales, partnerships, and product management. Lizz is known for helping women in the industry navigate non-traditional career paths and use networking to open doors they didn’t even know existed. They dive into why networking is more than just shakin...

Mandy Deveau is a marketing strategist, speaker, and author focused on people-first leadership in the automotive industry. She started her career on the sales floor at 23, with no experience and no connections, just a drive to prove she belonged in an industry that often made her feel like she didn’t. Now the Marketing Manager for DriveHRIS and the creator of The People Side of Automotive, Mandy h...

Dr. Jen Fry is a Sports Geographer, tech founder, TEDx speaker, and sought-after speaker and educator. She owns JenFryTalks, an organizational change firm that sits at the intersection of conflict and culture. It specializes in transforming organizational dynamics by addressing how conflict and culture shape leadership and overall business outcomes.  We work with leaders and teams to navigate and...

Missy Washam and Mayce DelValle are leadership trainers and communicators who believe influence isn’t about a title—it’s about how you show up every single day. With backgrounds in education, business, and leadership development, they’ve spent years helping men and women lead with purpose, clarity, and heart. Together, they founded Mpactful Messages—a training and speaking company built for real-w...

Jacki Lutz is an award-winning leader in content strategy and a driving force within the automotive aftermarket industry. As the Director of Content for the Auto Care Association, Jacki oversees a cross-functional, multimedia content strategy that shapes and delivers impactful initiatives across all platforms. Her work focuses on enhancing brand presence, engaging members, and advancing the associ...

Meshell Baker, the Chief Confidence Igniter, is a transformational keynote speaker, confidence catalyst, and phenomenal facilitator with over 20 years of experience helping organizations, teams, and individuals build unshakable confidence and resilience. Her book, UNSTOPPABLE: Embrace Your Unshakeable Confidence, empowers professionals to overcome rejection and unlock their potential. Recognized a...

You could say Jaime Zazove Herzberg was born into the car biz — quite literally. Raised in a family-owned dealership, she grew up immersed in every corner of retail operations. Over her 12-year run on the showroom side, she wore nearly every hat imaginable: from receptionist to BDC manager, from inventory to contracts, license & title, and everything in between. Now with nearly a decade on the...

Lisa is the founder and CEO of FeaturesFirst Auto, an EdTech company that offers dealers, corporate fleet owners, and insurers an on-demand microlearning platform designed to educate and motivate drivers to effectively use driver assistance technologies.    As a thought leader, speaker, and educator, Lisa unites public and private stakeholders to address consumer understanding challenges around ve...

Erica Bruno was practically born with motor oil in her veins. Hailing from Southeastern Massachusetts, she grew up in a legendary car family. Her grandfather, Jack Barboza, made history as one of the first Portuguese male car dealers in the U.S., running up to 17 franchises at once. Her mother followed suit, breaking barriers as the 7th female Toyota dealer in the nation—and the first in New Engla...

Before breaking into automotive, Todd Katcher was running bars in Nashville and building a small advertising network using digital signage. One day, a regular—who happened to be a car dealer—mentioned wanting something similar for his showroom. That conversation sparked the very first version of what would eventually become Digital Dealership System. From day one, Todd’s approach has been rooted i...

Beth Lucchesi’s journey with Carter Myers Automotive began in 1986 as a temporary receptionist—but it didn’t take long for her to prove she was anything but temporary. Her dedication, adaptability, and passion for people quickly propelled her through the company, eventually leading her to CMA’s rental division, where she remained until its sale to another company. After several years in the truck...

In this episode of the I'm a Car Chick Podcast , host Shasta Haddock welcomes Jami Alexander , Technician Retention Regional Manager at Meineke , for a powerful conversation about one of the industry's biggest challenges— the technician shortage . With 28 years of experience in the automotive industry, Jami Alexander is a seasoned professional specializing in both retail and fixed operations. As a...

In this episode of the I'm a Car Chick Podcast , host Shasta Haddock sits down with Glenn Pasch , CEO of PCG Digital and Pasch Group , to discuss the evolving world of automotive retailing and the path to success in today's market. Glenn brings a wealth of expertise from his work leading two digital marketing and automotive consulting firms, helping businesses and dealerships drive sales and opera...

Attending conferences is more than just showing up—it’s about preparing, executing, and following up strategically to maximize your networking, brand presence, and ROI. In this episode, Elena Ciccotelli (EVS for Everyone Podcast), Shasta Haddock (I'm A Car Chick Podcast), Kaylee Felio (Trailblaze Your Path Podcast), and Dana Nusbaum (Cherokee Media) break down: 🎯 Pre-Conference Prep: How to set y...

Live from NADA 2025, Shasta Haddock and Robin Wilson are joined by Darrell Steed, a seasoned innovator and consultant in automotive dealership strategies. With over two decades of experience, Darrell founded SmartWolf Consulting to provide transformative, sustainable solutions that help dealerships break free from repetitive mistakes. 🔹 About Darrell Steed: Darrell’s journey began in automotive s...

Live from NADA 2025, Shasta Haddock sits down with Petra Sherbin-Fox, Customer Success Manager at Dealer Alchemist, to talk about the future of dealership solutions, industry trends, and her journey in automotive. Petra shares: 🔹 What she’s been up to & life as a military spouse & mom of three 🔹 The biggest surprises moving from the Northeast to Arizona 🔹 Why she joined Dealer Alchemist...