The Walk Around

Two of our industry’s most important topics for the past year have been digital retail and diversity in retail automotive. Some might see them as two separate topics, but Kerri Wise sees them as a singular call for innovation. As VP of Marketing at AutoFi and President of Women of Color Automotive Network (WOCAN), Kerri Wise has her finger on the pulse of both topics. She recently joined The Walk...

As our industry continues to embrace and integrate digital retail tools and strategies, consumer data has more value than ever before. But what types of data should dealers be collecting and analyzing? And what should dealers be looking for in the data? More importantly, how can dealers use consumer data to inform their marketing, advertising, and sales tactics? Peter Leto, CEO at Foundation Direc...

Communication and teamwork have track records of success in businesses across all industries. In retail automotive, the need for collaboration has never been greater. As technology and customer experience evolves into a faster pace with more inputs and touch points, dealerships need to move swiftly and collaboratively in order to keep up with demand. How? By innovating and creating solutions as te...

Time really does fly. We started The Walk Around a year ago to share industry insights and introduce our Insiders to retail automotive thought leaders. Here we are, with over 30 episodes recorded and thousands of listens from all over the world. Thank you all for being part of the show – as guests, listeners, and fans. This week, our hosts Nick Funsch and Danny Vendrell celebrate one year of epic...

The past few years have raised the bar for automotive retail online shopping. Technology continues to improve and top shoppers become younger. What can dealers do to keep their sales pipeline flowing towards profitability? Enter Durran Cage, Founder and CEO of Cage Automotive. He joins The Walk Around podcast for an exclusive conversation about the modern sales process, improving customer experien...

Imagine an automotive retail future in which the external perception of our industry has shifted towards heightened interest in entry-level positions, seamless customer experiences, and long-term profitability for dealers. That is a snapshot of a future that Kyle Mountsier, Founder of Contagious Auto and Host of The Contagious Podcast, is working towards. How? By helping dealers improve their oper...

Denise Galiatsatos , President of PCG Digital, joins our very own Nick Funsch and Danny Vendrell for an exclusive conversation about digital marketing, advertising, and branding on this episode of The Walk Around. As the consumer profile evolves towards a younger, more tech-savvy audience, marketing and advertising will also need to adapt. In this chat about meeting your customers online, Denise a...

Even in an industry that relies heavily on interpersonal connection and intuition, retail automotive depends on data and analysis now more than ever before.  When it comes to consumer knowledge, J.D. Power has set a high standard. On this episode of The Walk Around, Nick Funsch and Danny Vendrell are joined by Tyson Jominy, Vice President of Data and Analytics at J.D. Power. An automotive veteran,...

With over a decade of hands-on experience in leadership development roles, Kevin Dean, Chief Development Officer for Joe Bullard Automotive, began his tenure with the dealership as a consultant. After a successful engagement, the dealership invited Kevin to join the team and further enhance the company’s talent development program and processes. To gain experience and perspective, Kevin began his...

Born and raised in an automotive family, Joe St. John has a lifetime of industry experience and success. Currently serving Stone Eagle as SVP of BizDev, Joe started his retail automotive career early...selling his first car at age 5. From there, Joe grew into a role on the sales floor and became the General Manager of a dealership by age 30. He expanded his toolkit in Silicon Valley, taking on lea...

Tony Carroll, Senior Automotive Strategist at Google, returns to The Walk Around to discuss how Google products like Search and Analytics can help dealers increase Fixed Ops market share. A 20-year veteran of the Automotive industry, Tony started his career in retail. With a decade of experience with an OEM before joining Google five years ago, Tony understands many of the challenges and opportuni...

One of the most recognizable faces and reliable voices in Retail Automotive, Jim Fitzpatrick from CBT News has been immersed in our industry for over 25 years. Jim began his Retail Automotive career on the sales floor of Toyota dealerships in South Florida, rising to the role of Dealer Principal by age 40. During his storied career, Jim has also held executive positions at JM&A Group and AutoN...

Did you know that, since the 1980’s, almost 2.6 million prime-age men in the US have chosen to opt out of the workforce? Or that COVID-19 has created a labor shortage in the United States? Kevin Hull knows. And he joined Nick Funsch and Danny Vendrell for an episode of The Walk Around podcast ripe with tips and insights about dealer talent challenges and opportunities post-COVID. Currently serving...

On this episode of The Walk Around, Nick and Danny welcome Brian Kramer, General Manager at Germain Toyota in Naples, Florida. Once a recipient of the prestigious 40 Under 40 Award from Automotive News, Brian has decades of experience piloting digital solutions for many dealerships in the United States. He has been leading Germain Toyota’s digital transformation initiative, refining processes and...

Jonathan Jordan, Virtual F&I & Sales Strategy Manager at JM&A Group, knew from a young age that his career would be in automotive. Fascinated by sales and service process, he started working in dealer stores as early as college.  After many years of learning, honing and sharpening his skills, he focused his attention on F&I. When the pandemic hit, Jonathan and his team at JM&A...

Bob Lanham started his career selling cars at a Toyota dealership in the Southeast part of the country. Since then, he has risen through the ranks of the dealership, eventually becoming the Sales Director at Hulu which led him to his current position as the Head of Automotive Retail at Facebook. Having worked closely with dealer groups, manufacturers, franchise dealers, and OEMs, he brings a wealt...

Joining us on The Walk Around is one of our very own, Elliot Schor, AVP of Sales Operations with JM&A Group. Elliot’s role within the company gives him the opportunity to help dealers, groups, and OEMs grow their profitability while retaining customers. He is a trusted advisor and strategic partner to dealers of many different sizes, and works with them to reach the goals they set out to achie...

Joining the podcast today is Adam Robinson, CEO and Founder of Hireology a people solutions company that has worked with 1 in 5 dealerships across the country. Joining him is Matt Ellmer of Priority Automotive, 20 store group with locations in throughout Virginia including Hampton Roads, Roanoke and the DC area. In this episode we explore new and effective ways dealers can start executing the hiri...

Joining the Walk Around Podcast today is entrepreneur and civic leader Jorge A. Plasencia. He is chairman and CEO of Republica Havas, a creative media and communications agency. He provides strategic brand communications and growth counseling to fortune 500 companies like Toyota, Walmart, and Google. With humble biggening's doing radio live remotes at car dealerships in Miami to working for Th...

Brent Sergot is the Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager of Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC. the world's largest independent distributor of Toyota’s and a subsidiary of diversified automotive corporation, JM Family Enterprises, Inc. An associate since 2001 Brent has held many positions within JM Family. Prior to joining the organization, Brent was already an established autom...

Brad Title is the Founder and CEO of Gubagoo, a conversational-commerce platform designed for dealers. You can find Brad most comfortable at the intersection between automotive and technology where he has been an industry innovator for over 30 years and has helped over 6,500 dealers worldwide connect with consumers. He walks us through how Gubagoo assists dealerships in aligning with the customer...

Chris May is the Director of the Performance Development Center (PDC), a professional services department of JM&A Group that helps dealers drive results. He is an automotive futurist with his eyes set on helping dealers “future proof” their business. With the industry getting more complex each year, dealerships need partners that have their best interest in mind. Chris and his team at the PDC...

Tony Carroll is a Senior Automotive Strategist at Google. He collaborates with individual dealers and OEMs to consult on Google’s digital solutions and to develop scalable programs that support brands and drive results. With 12 years in the OEM space before his arrival at Google, Tony has an extensive automotive background. In this episode, he walks us through his journey and explains how Google h...

Joining us on The Walk Around this episode is Eduardo Briceno. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Mindset Works, a pioneer in growth mindset development services and programs. Since cofounding Mindset Works in 2007, he has served and influenced thousands of organizations in their advancement of learning oriented cultures and systems. Learn first-hand how an open growth mindset can help you identify m...

Join us as we take a Walk Around with Damon Lester and explore how NAMAD is paving the way for diversity and advocating for minority inclusion throughout the industry. Damon Lester is the President of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers or NAMAD, a respected advocate for ensuring diversity remains a priority in the automotive industry. In his current role, Damon’s responsibilit...