Word On The Street

Three seats, one operator. Joe Lyons has sold for Cars.com, consulted from Shift Digital, and now runs the full marketing stack at McGrath Elmhurst Toyota and BMW of Elmhurst. He explains why he pulled back his Day 1 AI follow-up, how he's actually using a CDP, the all-vendor call that's replacing half his meetings, and the one thing every dealer should clean up this week. Plus: why he w...

In this episode of Word on the Street , Andrew Street sits down with Ryan Copacia , a five-year TikTok veteran and the architect of the platform's automotive retail strategy. Ryan shares his journey from building the auto vertical from scratch to returning in 2026 to lead the global push for dealer-centric solutions. The conversation moves past the "dancing app" stereotypes and dive...

This podcast episode features Andrew Street (CEO of Dealer OMG) and Allison McConeghy (Lead Client Partner at Pinterest) discussing the strategic role of Pinterest in the modern automotive dealership marketing mix. With nearly a decade at Pinterest and a career in automotive dating back to 2012, Allison shares how the platform has evolved from a niche space into a powerful full-funnel marketing to...

In this episode of Word on the Street , we’re joined by Curtis Driver , Omnichannel Digital Sales Manager at Capital Auto Group , to unpack why dealers so often fire vendors within the first 90 days — and what both sides get wrong during onboarding. Curtis shares a candid dealer-side perspective on why onboarding breaks down, how silence and unclear expectations kill momentum, and why utilization...

This week on Word on the Street , Andrew sits down with Chris Martinez , a 22-year automotive veteran who’s done it all — from managing at CarMax to building and selling dealership software, and now leading the charge in AI-powered follow-up. Chris shares what it was like growing dealerships from 50 to 500+ used cars a month, spotting white-space opportunities before the industry caught up, and ho...

From MBA courses to dealership leadership, Greg Smith has built a career on analytics—then discovered the power of people. In this episode of Word on the Street , Greg shares how his “Dad in the Desk Chair” newsletter took shape, the leadership lessons that reshaped his management style, and the data-driven strategies helping dealerships grow market share, boost service retention, and create winni...

In this episode of Word on the Street , we sit down with Jarrod Kilway, VP of Digital Operations at Casa Auto Group, to explore how AI is reshaping dealership operations. From training GPT agents to pull real-time insights from the DMS and CRM, to automating marketing campaigns and service outreach, Jarrod shares how dealers can use AI to cut inefficiencies, boost profitability, and deliver a bett...

What does it take to go from rock bottom to leading innovation in the automotive industry? In this episode of Word on the Street , Andrew Street sits down with Trent Cannon to unpack his incredible journey. From losing jobs during the recession and struggling to find his footing, to breaking into car sales “out of desperation,” Trent’s story is one of resilience, mentorship, and proving people wro...

In this episode of Word on the Street , we sit down with April Ancira—VP of Ancira Auto Group, community leader, and fearless trailblazer in the automotive world. April shares her unfiltered perspective on what it takes to thrive in a competitive industry, from cultivating grit on the lot to leading with authenticity and heart. She opens up about her playbook for growth, the lessons she’s learned...

In this episode of Word on the Street , we sit down with Kyle Newsom , Co-Founder of Vesperio , to dig into the real challenges and opportunities facing dealership fixed operations. From communication breakdowns to training gaps, Kyle shares why most service departments struggle with efficiency and what dealers can do to increase profitability while retaining both customers and staff. We cover: Wh...

🎙️ Pre-Owned, But Make It Sexy Word on the Street – Episode 29 Guest: Matthew Davis, Marketing Director at TradePending Host: Andrew Street How do you source better used cars, close more trade leads, and stay top of mind without annoying your customers? In this episode, Andrew sits down with marketing veteran Matthew Davis from TradePending to talk about all things pre-owned inventory , fixed ops...

In this episode of Word on the Street , we sit down with Aaron Dobrow of Glen Polk Automotive to talk about what sets forward-thinking dealerships apart when it comes to group websites, vendor relationships, and digital strategy. From dealing with OEM requirements to building one cohesive online storefront across multiple rooftops, Aaron shares hard-earned lessons and insights into what actually w...

Instagram Growth Hacks for Dealers with Brock Johnson In this episode of Word on the Street , Andrew sits down with Instagram growth coach and content strategist Brock Johnson to talk all things Instagram — and why dealerships need to ditch the polished, cookie-cutter drone shots and start creating authentic, organic content that actually connects. Brock shares why raw, real, and scrappy content o...

In this episode, we sit down with content strategist Jordan Cox to talk all things dealership video and social content. Jordan shares how dealers can create scroll-stopping content using what they already have—no big budgets or film crews required. Whether you're looking to build trust, boost engagement, or just get more eyes on your inventory, this episode breaks down exactly how to make con...

In this episode of Word on the Street , we sit down with David Kain , an automotive industry veteran with deep expertise in digital retailing, dealership operations, and vendor-dealer relationships. From launching Ford Direct to building Kain Automotive and pioneering Digital 20 Groups , David has been at the forefront of innovation in the car business for over two decades. We dive into the future...

How do you build a dealership brand that keeps customers coming back? In this episode of Word on the Street , we sit down with Frank Arroyo of Southway Ford to break down the winning formula for customer loyalty, dealership culture, and engaging content that drives sales . Learn how to create meaningful customer relationships, retain top talent, and use social media to build trust and engagement ....

Niche, Scale, and Pivot – How One Dealer Found Success by Doing Less In this episode of Word on the Street , we sit down with Jason March of March Motors to discuss how focusing on niche inventory, strategic scaling, and operational efficiency has fueled his dealership’s success. Learn how Jason refined his buy here, pay here model , leveraged WhatsApp for customer engagement , and built a highly...

Creating engaging social media content for your dealership doesn’t have to be complicated! In this episode of Word on the Street , we chat with John Resurreccion , an expert in automotive marketing and organic content creation. His motto? "Just hit the red button!" 🚗📹 Learn how authentic video content can boost engagement, build brand trust, and drive leads. Plus, grab our free guide t...

In this episode of Word on the Street , Dealer OMG teams up with Reunion Marketing to explore how combining SEO and paid social creates powerful synergy in automotive marketing. Learn how organic search strategies align with paid social campaigns to attract and convert customers while driving a meaningful ROI. Whether you're looking to refine your dealership's digital presence or maximiz...

In this episode of Automotive Digital Marketing Unveiled: A Candid Conversation , we sit down with the Lewis Brothers from Crossroad Conversations to explore the evolution of dealership marketing. From traditional tactics like radio and billboards to cutting-edge digital strategies, we dive into the tools and insights driving success today. Learn how targeted social ads, audience segmentation, and...

In this special collaborative episode of Word on the Street , we team up with the Lewis Brothers from the Crossroad Conversations podcast to explore what it takes to drive culture, innovation, and success in the automotive industry. From designing employee-centric facilities to building long-term customer relationships, this episode dives into strategies for recruiting top talent, retaining employ...

In this episode of Word on the Street , Andrew Street sits down with Jim Wilkinson, a sales director running a dealership that moves over 1,000 cars monthly. Jim shares his insights on building a standout dealership, from fostering team loyalty and creating exceptional customer experiences to engaging with the community and leveraging innovative management strategies. Whether you're in automo...

In this episode of Word on the Street , we sit down with Justin and Ben from Agile Creative Solutions, a boutique digital marketing agency transforming how dealerships approach branding and marketing. With decades of experience as dealership marketing directors, Justin and Ben share their expertise on building consistent messaging, leveraging digital and traditional strategies, and addressing key...

In this episode of Word on the Street , Dealer OMG’s Ashley Kilbarger sits down with Kaylin Holbrook, social media manager at Sam Pack Five Star Chevrolet, to explore the ins and outs of social media for car dealerships. Kaylin shares how she turned a college internship into a full-time career in social media and explains her approach to getting team buy-in, building authentic engagement, and usin...

In this episode of Word on the Street , host Andrew Street sits down with Shaun Kniffin, a seasoned automotive marketing leader, to discuss key strategies for driving success in dealership marketing. Shaun shares his expertise on the importance of team collaboration, enhancing the customer experience, and utilizing digital tools to stay ahead in the competitive auto industry. Whether you're l...