The David Spisak Show

An article in the Journal of Consumer Research concludes that, in the United States, “busyness and overwork, rather than a leisurely lifestyle, have become a status symbol”. The authors suggest this is so because of the perception that busy individuals possess desired “human capital characteristics” such as competence and ambition, leading them to be viewed as scarce and in demand. It’s even sugge...

In this episode of The David Spisak Show, David hosts Finn Ewing of Ewing Auto Group, the owner of three dealerships in the DFW market and Brendan Harrington the owner of a dealership in Fort Worth to discuss the challenges facing the auto industry in 2023. The conversation centers around the transition year, which follows two record profit years, and the challenges that come with it.   After a re...

Glenn Lundy is the only person in the world that grew a dealership 800% in 5 years, from 120 cars a month to a 1000, in a small town of only 9600 people. He is a husband to 1, a father to 7, and the host of the wildly popular Facebook Live show #RiseAndGrind. He’s been seen at places like Hustle and Grind Con, Grow Your Business For God’s Sake! and many more stages across the country. With 26 year...

Alan is a trusted expert in auto retail, having been involved in the purchase or sale of more than 380 dealerships with a value of over $5 billion. Alan is often quoted in the media and is a frequent speaker at auto retail conferences around the country. He is the creator of the report that identifies trends in auto retail and their impact on dealership values, The Haig Report, and he is co-author...

Brian is the EVP of Cars.com and GM of Accu-Trade. He is a recipient of the Automotive News “Top 40 Under 40”. Before his role with Cars.com and Accu-Trade, he worked his way up to General Manager of a Mercedes-Benz dealership at the age of 24. His experience as a General Manager covers 19 years and a diverse range of franchises such as Lexus, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac and Toyota stores f...

Brandis Drummer is the Senior Vice President of NCM. With over 12 years of experience in the automotive industry, Brandis has a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by dealerships today. NCM, a leading consulting and education partner in the automotive sector, has been at the forefront of innovation and forward-thinking in the industry. What we discuss in the episode: The i...

Steve Greenfield, a seasoned automotive industry expert with over 20 years of experience, is the CEO and Founder of Automotive Ventures, and the author of the book "The Future of Automotive Retail." With a strong background in mergers, acquisitions, strategy, and fundraising, Steve has established himself as an authoritative voice in automotive technology and innovation. His insights and...

Jason Stein, a media and business professional with 25 years of journalism experience across multiple platforms, is a leading personality in the global automotive space. Mr. Stein is the CEO of Flat Six Media, a global media services and broadcasting platform, and serves as President and Corporate Development Officer at motormindz, Inc., a global automotive venture consultancy. In this episode, Da...

Liza Borches is the President and CEO at Carter Myers Automotive . From the Spanish Flu of 1918 to the ever-evolving industry of today, Carter Myers Automotive has stood the test of time for 98 years. As the 3rd generation President and CEO of CMA, Liza Borches has inherited the stories and experiences of the company. She has fearlessly steered the organization through growth and cultural transfor...

Andy Wright, an auto retail expert, is the Managing Partner of Vinart Dealerships and the Hyundai Dealer Council Vice President. Wright has business insights that few others possess and a wealth of knowledge to share with dealer veterans and rookies. Andy is a second-generation dealer who loves the auto business and appreciates the opportunities it provides. He is obsessed with providing superior...

Doug Eroh is the President of Penske Motor Group and President of Longo Toyota Company in El Monte, California, which is Toyota's largest dealership in the United States.  In this episode, Doug shares his experiences with the Tekion platform, which has helped his dealership improve service efficiency, associate proficiency, and customer satisfaction. The platform has allowed Longo Toyota to g...

In this episode of the David Spack Show, live from NADA in Dallas, David speaks with Chase Fraser, the founding partner of Fraser McCombs. The conversation focused on how Fraser McCombs has created a number of funds to allow dealer partners and industry leaders to participate in innovation and technology advancements within the industry. Fraser McCombs is on its third fund, with 80% of its LPs bei...

In this episode David sits down with Franklin McLarty live from the Tekion Innovation stage during NADA 2023 Expo in Dallas, Texas. Franklin McLarty is a fourth-generation car dealership owner and CEO of McLarty Diversified Holdings. Franklin has over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, and in this episode, he shares his thoughts on the consolidation trend in the industry. Contrary...

In this episode David sits down with Alex Vetter, Director, President and CEO of Cars.com. Alex and David discuss the growth of the NADA show and the evolution of the industry towards digitalization. They also dive into Cars.com's recent acquisitions of Credit IQ and Accu Trade, and what these mean for the platform's efforts to put the customer first. Alex shares his insights on the diff...

In this episode we’re joined with Jay Vijayan, the founder and CEO of Tekion, a company that transforms dealerships. Jay explains how innovation is key to the company's success, citing the difference between the automotive software industry with tech companies and how they have been able to scale and grow over the past decade.  In today's fast-paced world, time is a valuable commodity, a...

Today's episode is part two of a two-part series. We are going to delve into the retail automotive industry and how it has evolved over the past year. The retail automotive industry plays a crucial role in the American economy and is a major contributor to the sales tax base for municipalities. Local retail dealers support schools, little league organizations, and even local churches. They al...

This is part one of a two-part series on what a difference a year makes. We will discuss the significant difference that a year can make in the automotive industry, particularly for Tesla in terms of their valuation, status, buyer confidence, and customer satisfaction. In part one of this series, we will be focusing on Tesla and Elon Musk. As we are only a few weeks into the new year of 2023, ther...

As we begin the new year, it's important to remember that every day counts towards achieving our goals. January sets the stage for the rest of the year and it's crucial to make the most of it. In the same way that every game counts towards making it to the playoffs in sports, every month of the year counts towards reaching our goals. It's important to not wait until the end of the y...

Andrew Diffenderfer is the co-founder and partner at Foundation Direct, a leading provider of tech solutions for search. In this episode we discuss the current state of the car industry and consumer behavior in the digital age. We also discuss the shift in the industry towards 2023 and what dealers can expect in the coming years, including the importance of putting as much emphasis on service and...

Steve Greenfield is the CEO and founder of Automotive Ventures. Steve's company invests in startups and early stage companies in the automotive industry, and he is often relied upon to provide insight on the current state and future direction of the industry. In this episode, we discuss the significant changes that have taken place in the automotive industry over the past year, including the...

Glenn Mercer is a highly regarded automotive consultant and a renowned retail automotive industry researcher. He is well-respected for his expertise in evaluating and projecting future trends, as well as understanding the implications and ramifications of these trends. Glenn has spent over 35 years in the field and has worked with McKinsey and Company for over 20 years, providing expert assessment...

On today's episode of the David Spisak Show, David is joined by Natalia Giner and Shaun 'NIFF' Kniffin. Natalia Giner is CEO of A2Z Sync. in Denver, Colorado. Natalia has a long history in the automotive industry and has used her expertise to create a new kind of customer experience at A2Z Sync. She has been leading the development team for the A2Z platform for the past three years,...

Stephen Dietrich is a partner at Holland Knight, the preeminent law firm representing dealerships across the country in a number of matters, including Mergers & Acquisitions. In this episode, The two discuss the current state of the dealership buy-and-sell market, with a focus on the impact of the pandemic, chip shortage, and supply chain shortages on the industry. One of the challenges facing...

Brian Kramer is the EVP at Cars.com and General Manager of Accu-trade. He is the former General Manager of Germain Toyota of Naples and was responsible for leading the dealership’s digital transformation initiative, working to eliminate traditional dealership “pain points” that cause unnecessary friction in transactions. Brian has been named one of Automotive News' "Top 40 Under 40.&quot...

Cliff is the founder of The Banks Report and the Autovate conference. Cliff Banks has a history of innovation and entrepreneurship in the analysis sector of the automotive industry. An automotive professional for over 30 years and a journalist for over 20 years, Cliff founded The Banks Report in 2013 to fill what he knew was an unmet need for a publication covering the automotive business from an...