Introduce Yourself to All Dealer Elite Members.
How did you get involved in the Automotive Industry ?
Why did you Joined Dealer Elite and what do you like best about this site ?
Future Goals ?
What are you most proud of ?
etc...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by James Dollinger on
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I moved to Flint Michigan in 1982 to get in the car business for myself, having grown up in New York as the son of a dealer. I led the USA six times in Buick sales and went on to manage stores. I now do limited consulting work for GM franchises.
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Permalink Reply by Alan R. Ward on
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My name is Alan R. Ward, aka: karshotz.
I am a photographer in Indianapolis, IN. I shoot Classic Cars, Hot Rods, Rat Rods, Bikes, Race Cars etc.
Also Sales Manager for Vehicle Transport Experts,LLC out of Indianapolis, IN.
So I have been around cars a long time. I will be 59 next month. I have two boys both married and 2 grandchildren.
My wife and I operate a Housekeeping Business that keeps us a little busy these days.
I joined Dealer Elite to network with those that love cars. To make friends in the industry and get info on what is going on in the dealer industry.
I love being able to go to the page and read what others are doing in the car industry.
Future goals are to continue to make " karshotz photography " grow and become one of the go to guys for professional portraits of ones favored cars. Continue to grow our Housekeeping Business and continue to enjoy life to its fullest.
I am most proud of my children and what they have accomplished so far in life, and the wonderful husbands and fathers they are. They make their Mom and I proud of who they are.
Thanks for taking the time to meet me. Hope someday we can meet in person. Alan R. Ward, karshotz
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Permalink Reply by Michelle Dones on
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I got involved in the industry by chance and it was an instant love affair. The reason behind my joining the Dealer Elite site was to get feedback from the dealers as to what information they would like to see more of in the upcoming issues of A Dealer's Journal, to let the dealers who are not familiar with the publication know we are a free publication, and to grow the publication throughout the industry. Since joining Dealer Elite we have started a Powersports section to benefit all the dealers out there. My future goals for the publication is to continue to grow and to continue to offer the everyone a guide in which they can obtain information on auctions, suppliers, transport companies, and complete industry news. I am proud of how we are a new publication and offer a competitive edge to the publications that have been around the longest. We offer three forms of advertising for one low price while others charge for each function of advertising. For more information on the publication or to subscribe for free log onto www.adealersjournal.biz
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Nichols on
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DEALER PROFILE-Palm Automall
Name: Kevin Nichols Hometown: Long Beach Island, NJ
Dealership Name: Palm Automall, Punta Gorda, FL
Joined the car business in 1999 after 20 years as an Executive Pastry Chef.
What kind of car do you drive? I drive a 2008 427 Edition Number and Signed Corvette Z06. Car # 45.
How do you motivate your employees? Attitude! Attitude! Attitude! You must have a positive attitude. I believe in the statement that, "life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it."
How do you deal with disappointment? I begin each day with a thought of the day. I send it out to over 300 people. I check my attitude each morning before inflicting myself on the world. Again, it all comes back to attitude.
Why did you decide a Facebook presence is necessary? I see it like it was in 1999 when we realized that we had to have the Internet. Facebook is cutting edge, new and the future. You must socialize and show the social side of the dealership. That is what people want.
What are your hobbies and activities? I love car shows, charity work, volunteering, flying, boats, motorcycles. Anything that goes fast! I sit on the advisory board for the Childrens Hospital at Health Park. For six years, I have been Chairman of a car show where 100% of the profits go to "Barbara's Friends," a charity at the hospital for children with cancer. I enjoy flying small aircraft, and my favorite is a Cessna 172 SP.
What suggestions do you have for up and coming executives? NEVER EVER QUIT! Set achievable small goals and back those up with long term larger goals. Write your goals down and celebrate your achievements.
What goal do you still want to achieve? I set yearly, monthly and weekly goals for myself. I recently quit smoking, so one goal of mine is to lose the weight I gained when I quit!!
For more information visit Palm Automall at: facebook.com/PalmAutomall
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Permalink Reply by Reyn Mansson on -
I here at Dealer Elite looking for best pratices and new methods from the auto industry to adapt for my motorcycle dealership.
Effective immediately, Reynolds Mansson has taken a position as Marketing Director at NEW ORLEANS HARLEY-DAVIDSON. This position includes media planning, event production, social media and reputation management and internet sales coordinator.
Reynolds will be relocating to New Orleans on Aug, 1, 2010
6015 Airline Dr
Metairie, LA 70003
866-751-2695 office
210-259-9916 cell
reynmansson@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/reyn1
twitter.com/reynmansson
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Permalink Reply by Lloyd Schiller on
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My automotive career began working on race cars and high performance cars in Winston-Salem, NC for Paschall Performance. We built drag racing and NASCAR engines and cars. Back in the late 1960s when I was doing this, drag racing was a national sport while NASCAR was a grassroots regional sport. At UNC, I operated a independent garage, Lloyd's of Chapel Hill, to help offset college expenses. Running my own business gave me a second love...the business side of the car business. I am most proud of two things; I was the first "white boy" to integrate the "colored" YMCA and won AAU boxing titles in 3 weight classes over 3 years (growing boy). The other is the Net Profit & CSI Improvements I have been able to help my Clients achieve.
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I found my self moving from Northeast Ohio to Naples, FL with my then Fiance, Jaime. I had never been in the Automotive Industry and had recently attended Ohio State University. I needed a job immediately since and didn't know the area at all. I had never been to South West Florida before. I recognized the name Germain in the newspaper and remembered that they had Dealerships in Columbus, OH. I saw an ad for a new car Salesperson for Germain Honda. I called up and scheduled an interview. I was interviewed by the New Car Manager who told me I wouldn't make it in the car business. On my way out I walked over to the Used Car Dept. and spoke to the Used Car Manager, Jeff. He gave me an opportunity. A few years later I was the Used Car Director for the Honda store and doubled the Departments units and Gross Profit. Next came my opportunity to run the Germain Acura store in which I created a $750,000+ swing on the Financial Statement and won Germain Acura's 1st and only "Precision Team Award." Finally I was given an opportunity in a much higher Volume Store at Germain Toyota of Naples. I have since helped in improving our CSI scores and have had a great impact on Volume and Gross even in a tough economy that was driven mostly by the Real Estate market. And so here I am!
I joined Dealer Elite by invitation from the CEO of Kelley Automotive Group whom found me through Linkedin Social Network. I joined simply to gain insight on other topics and discussions amoung other Professionals in the Auto Business around the country and just not at Germain of Naples.
My goal is to earn my next opportunity with Germain Motor Company as a General Manager and then continue to grow and lead this Corporation into further sustainable success and prosperity.
I am proud of the fact that all of my success has been driven by the resposibility of providing a better life for my wife and daughter. I am also proud of the fact that I am the "next generation" of Car Guy. The Car Guy that the community can trust and believe. I want to eliminate the Stigmata that has followed the Car Professional during recent decades. I am proud of the fact that I "earn" business and do it the right way. I am proud that I have been able to progress in this industry without having to jump ship for opportunities.
I just work hard, continue to learn, and look forward to each days challenges. There's no business like the car business!
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Permalink Reply by Lee Kemp on
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I'm Lee Kemp, founder and partner of Hire the Winners, a company specializing in state-of-the-art, video simulation technology featuring “The Car Sales Simulator”, for pre and post employment sales aptitude evaluations, and the recruitment of qualified sales candidates for the retail automotive industry.
I was a Ford dealer for 14 years in Forest Lake, Minnesota, and worked for several fortune 500 consumer packaged goods companies in marketing management positions.
I received an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and had the distinction of being named Olympic coach for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. I've been inducted into six athletic Halls of Fame, including most recently induction in the International FILA Wrestling Hall of Fame at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
In addition to managing Hire The Winners, I'm an automotive consultant in the areas of hiring and recruitment, a motivational speaker and remain active in coaching wrestling and have three children.
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Permalink Reply by Stanley Esposito on
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I was working in the Aircraft industry for years. The industry pays well as aircraft parts produce large profits. Then came 9/11/2001 the industry as a whole took a major hit. I made it until 2003 before my number came up.I was laid off. I could not make the money I did outside of the aircraft industry with the skills I had.
My wife and kids were out of town when I was laid off. I decided I wanted to get into sales because I thought If I hustled I could make the type of money I needed to survive. I read in my local paper that a local Chevy Dealer was hiring.
I put on a tie (one of three I had at the time) and went down to see what I could do. The GSM met with me and told me about all the money I could make. He asked me a few questions then bought in the business manager who asked a few more questions. The Manager said to me "you were laid off yesterday yet you put on a tie and came in the next day, I am going to take a chance on you."
So I start the next Monday. Sunday I go to the airport to pick up my wife and kids. We were at the baggage return area and my wife asked me what was wrong? I told her I had bad news and good news... The bad news is I lost my job while you were gone. The good news is I am a Car Salesman! You should have seen her face.
Monday comes around it is two other aspiring salesman and me. We all go to a room upstairs to be trained and taught enough to get us down to the sales floor. One guy did not return from our first lunch break. The other did not show after a few days. During the training I am invited in to observe on a Saturday. I walked in and The General Manager asked what I was doing there.A few hours go by and I was sent to the deli with a gigantic food order for everyone. Here I am fresh off a job where I got big overtime pay for Saturday work two weeks prior to sitting in a deli with a tie on waiting for the food order. "I'm asking myself what the hell am I doing here?" Some how I stuck it out and started on the following Monday.
I would like to move on to consulting and training. I was number one at a small dealership. I am now at a large dealership and sold 200 or more cars a year for the last four years. I have seen many consultants and trainers who have not sold a car ever or in the last twenty years. I am working hard on building a track record and credibility.
I am most proud of my wife and four kids and they are my motivation!
Stan Esposito
215-290-4584
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IM IN SELLS. WOULD LIKE TO BE MORE SUCESSFUL SOMEDAY AN BE IN F&I. ONLY BEEN IN THE BUSSINESS FOR 4 YEARS. THE SUCESS I HAVE HAD I DUE MOSTLY TO GRANT CARDONE(THANKS GRANT) AN MY FORMER MANGER BRAD PLYER. IF THERE WAS A LONG TERN GOAL IT WOULD BE TO HAVE A BYE HERE PAY HERE LOT OF MY OWN SOMEDAY.IM MOST PROUD OF MY PRODUCT KNOWLDGE I REALLY TAKE PRIDE IN IT.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Bachara on
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My father was a Parts Manager, and as a young boy, I loved going to the dealership with him to stock the shelves. At that time, all the fast moving parts such as oil filters, pcv valves, etc. were under the technichian counter. I would face them and make them look uniform. He started an inventory company, my brothers and I would go to the inventories and sweep the floors and collect the sheets to be keypunched. All I knew was I wanted to be a Parts Manager like my dad! After college, I went straight into a dealership as a counterman,and a couple years later, I was managing a large Chevy Dealer. After years of Parts Management, I dabbled in Service, and when my last dealership closed it's doors, I went in business full time doing Parts Inventories and any related Parts Department work.
My company now performs Physical Inventories across the country for some of the top Dealerships and groups. I am proud that in my career I have been able to meet and work with some of the greatest minds in the business. I am able to share all the ideas from my customers and others in the business with other customers and help them grow. We not only perform inventories, we help our customers with any problems that may arise, a service included with our inventory service. I want to thank all my current customers and trainers for all their help and support. Great site!
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Permalink Reply by Jon 2Tone Smith on
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How I got involved in the auto industry...I moved to Houston TX from Helena Montana when I was 18...had got in a good amount of trouble as a teen. Was on my way to be a certified personal trainer but needed a in between job. Stopped by Clear Lake Dodge on my way to Charlie Thomas Ford one day...wearing FUBU jeans, wife beater shirt, with my bleached hair. Spoke to a Mr. Anjum Khan and went over the interview process, he said the only reason he hired me was because I was cocky/confident. Still friends wiith him to this day. Started in sales for a year did well, moved to Alvin Dodge where I got the special finance job at 19 moved up in one month to director, then GSM by 20. Crazy how things workout for a person without a GED. I was introduced to the site by Jim Ziegler and I voted for him as top trainer. I like the fact that this site will help you move forward with improving yourself and your dealership. Future goal is to own my own dealership by 35 years old. 100% ownership that is. I'm most proud of the way I respect everything in life. The people you see on the way up are the same people you may see on the way down.
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