VINCUE: CUE The Next Leader

In this episode of Cue the Next Leader, VINCUE CMO Michael Hopkins sits down with Ryan Junek, owner and GM of Junek CDJR in Spearfish, South Dakota, to talk fourth-generation dealership legacy, used car acquisition in one of the most isolated markets in the country, and how data changed everything. With nearly 30 years behind the dealer's desk and a family business rooted in the Black Hills s...

In this episode of Cue the Next Leader, VINCUE CMO Michael Hopkins sits down with Michelle Hutchinson, Director of Strategic Accounts at SYCN Auto Logistics and founder of Leveling Up Logistics, to talk vehicle transport, dealer inefficiencies, and the hidden costs most dealerships never see coming. With nearly two decades of experience across automotive logistics, Michelle brings a perspective th...

In this episode of Cue the Next Leader, VINCUE CMO Michael Hopkins sits down with Ed Hyde, dealer principal at Legacy Nissan, Legacy Ford, Legacy GMC Chevrolet, and Tinker Williams Chevrolet out of London, Kentucky — and one of VINCUE's longest-tenured customers. Ed's path to dealer principal is anything but conventional: it winds through a family grocery store, his dad's transmissi...

This episode of Cue the Next Leader is a special exclusive, hosted by VINCUE President Danny Zaslavsky, and joined by Chip Perry, former CEO of Cox Automotive, and his friend and colleague, and former Vice President of Product & Business Development, Steve Greenfield.  These two men are true industry titans, arguably the primary architects of the first major digital transformation in automotiv...

In this episode of Cue the Next Leader, host Michael Hopkins sits down with Russell Tabone, General Manager and Dealer Operator at CMA’s Hyundai of Lynchburg. From 19 years in the car wash industry to leading one of the most successful dealerships at Carter Myers Automotive, Russell shares his unconventional journey, and how he went from avoiding car sales to becoming a champion of people-first le...

In this exclusive interview, VINCUE President Danny Zaslavsky sits down with Charles McDonald, Marketing and Brand Manager at AutoAlert, to break down the integration between two of the industry’s most powerful platforms. AutoAlert is the “OG of customer insights,” helping dealers mine their database for equity and lifecycle opportunities. Now, with a direct integration to VINCUE, dealers can inst...

Dave Janssen has been part of his family’s dealership group since 1998. What started as a single Chrysler store in McCook, Nebraska has grown into Janssen Auto Group, a seven-rooftop operation across four cities, representing brands like Ford, Honda, RAM, Chevy, and GMC. As owner and operator, Dave has led the group through steady, strategic growth by staying focused on efficiency, discipline, and...

Charlie Spradlin, Sales Director at Art Moehn Auto Group, helps run three rooftops across Michigan—two Chevrolet stores and a Honda dealership. He’s been in the car business for just a few years, but he’s already made a big impact. After starting his career in retail with The Buckle, Charlie brought his leadership experience into automotive, quickly rising from salesperson to Sales Director in jus...

In this episode of Cue Next Leader , host Angela Rizzo sits down with Matt Love, Director of Dealer Services at MaxOffer by CarMax, to explore the game-changing integration between VINCUE and MaxOffer. MaxOffer is a free, no-obligation web app that delivers real-time trade-in offers in under two minutes, providing immediate insights to validate your appraisals. Now fully integrated with VINCUE, de...

In her final symbolic interview, outgoing Chief Marketing Officer and founding host of Cue the Next Leader podcast, Angela Rizzo, hands the microphone to Michael Hopkins, the person who will succeed her in both roles. Angela and Michael have a long history together and Michael credits Angela as a friend, a colleague, and a mentor for many years. They forged their decade long friendship through vol...

Scooter Malloy, has been running Alma CDJR dealership since 2013. The dealership is located in the middle of Michigan's lower peninsula, serving a local farming community. Scooter’s wife, Jill is the GM and they sell roughly 50 to 60 vehicles a month. It’s a small community so Scooter and Jill run into customers all of the time. Scooter is an active participant in his 20 group. Over the past...

Beaver Toyota was looking to manage inventory effectively to balance acquisition costs, minimize aging stock, and improve sales cycles. Beaver Toyota faced significant challenges in recent years, with restricted new car inventory forcing them to rely heavily on used car sales. They struggled to acquire the right inventory, effectively engage leads, and streamline operations to maintain profitabili...

Jose Lazo, Director Digital Operations for South Dade Auto Group which includes three stores: South Dade Kia of Homestead, South Dade Kia of Miami and South Dade Toyota of Homestead. Jose Lazo shares how utilizing VINCUE has transformed dealership operations across three stores, particularly in inventory management, turn, time-to-line, and team communication. By utilizing the data, features, and t...

Discover how VINCUE and CarNow are transforming automotive retail through accurate data, innovative tools, and a focus on the consumer experience. Learn how this partnership empowers dealerships to increase engagement, streamline operations, and drive better results in a digital-first market.

In this episode of Cue The Next Leader, I had the pleasure of speaking with Diego Vargas, a seasoned automotive professional with over 30 years of experience, about his decision to join VINCUE in his role as Vice President of Dealer Services. Diego possesses a deep understanding of dealership operations and an unwavering passion for supporting dealer success in the ever-evolving automotive industr...

Discover how VINCUE and DriveCentric are helping dealerships double customer engagement to 70% while streamlining operations. Learn how real-time integrations, mobile-first tools, and AI-powered features are transforming automotive retail, driving efficiency, and improving sales potential. Watch now to see the future of dealership success.

Dealerships often struggle with communication and workflow inefficiencies between their fixed and variable operations. Used car managers and service teams operate in silos, leading to delays, missed opportunities, and lost profitability. Without a unified system, recon items, vehicle appraisals, and profitability forecasts often become disjointed, requiring manual updates and significant time inve...

Patriot Auto Group faced several critical challenges that hindered operational efficiency and profitability. These included difficulties in inventory management, pricing, and vehicle acquisition. The dealership sought a comprehensive, mobile-friendly solution to consolidate operations, provide actionable data, and improve productivity across all levels of staff.

Katie has inspired audiences around the world to think differently about the female consumer, customer experience, and leadership. She has worked with globally recognized brands, including Volvo, Honda and more.

Robin Wilson is no stranger to automotive. She's spent the past 13 years of her career becoming an expert in building business that support automotive dealerships that include an outsourced BDC capability, a marketing agency, and has become an expert in social media for dealerships. Robin and her team have spent the past year creating a new application specifically designed for sales people i...

Meet Liza Borches, CEO of Carter Myers Automotive (CMA) and a dynamic leader who has transformed the company into a regional powerhouse.  As the fourth generation of the Myers family to lead CMA, Liza took the reins in 2003 when the company operated just three dealerships. Under her visionary leadership, CMA has expanded to 24 dealerships across Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina, with a...

Glenn Lundy, founder of the 800% Elite Automotive Club and 800% Elite Auto Sales, emphasizes the importance of growth in both business performance and employee development. Drawing from his experiences, Glenn transformed a stagnant Nissan dealership in Flagstaff, Arizona, into a thriving Chevy dealership in Paris, Kentucky. He focused on growth and boosted sales from 120 to over 850 cars per month...

With over 30 years in the car business, Scott Wilkinson, the self-described car guy, knows how to run a dealership. As the General Sales Manager at Tynan’s Volkswagen in Aurora, Colorado, Scott has honed his expertise in both cars and customer relations. In our conversation, we covered topics from his kids to cars and his secrets to running a successful dealership. Key Principles for Success: Keep...

Rudy Padilla's journey into the car business was serendipitous. As a young husband and father, Rudy needed to support his family while waiting to apply for the California Highway Patrol. He answered a newspaper ad for a local dealership over four decades ago, intending it to be a temporary job. This "temporary" job, however, evolved into a lifelong passion for serving people and wor...

When a car accident in 2013 sidelined Courtney Lovegreen's professional golf career, she decided to shift her career focus from swinging clubs to selling cars. After spending a few years successfully selling Range Rovers in Florida, she decided to move back home to Kirksville, Missouri to join her father and sister at their fourth-generation family dealership, Lovegreen Ford. This episode of...