Jason Thiesen has been promoted to Vice President, US Franchise Operations at Ziebart International Corporation. During his 16-year career at Ziebart, Theisen worked his way up from technician to corporate sales and eventually Director of Franchise Operations. Theisen will now be responsible for leading franchise operations and supporting franchisees through their ownership journey. He will lead his team to ensure that operational and technical procedures are efficient and effective.

Brian Jackman has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Treasurer at Ziebart International Corporation. Jackman has been with the brand for over 14 years and has filled six different positions. In this new role, Jackman is responsible for all aspects of corporate financial functions, including financial and tax reporting requirements, cash management, liaison to several independent audit firms, banks and insurance institutions, warehouse functions and control of corporate assets.

Hilco Performance Solutions (HPS), a management advisory firm, has named Frederic Vanlinthout Automotive Industry Practice Leader. An operating company of Hilco Global, HPS helps clients simplify and streamline business processes and improve operational efficiencies. Mr. Vanlinthout has over 20 years of experience in corporate finance, strategy, and business development in the automotive, financial services, and oil, gas and chemicals industries, including 18 years at Ford Motor Company.

OneD Battery Sciences has added two proven industry and sector experts to its team. Jan-Marc Luchies, PhD, joins OneD from Infineon as COO, and Ron Lopez, JD, joins the company's senior management team as General Counsel & CLO (Chief Licensing Officer).

Luchies will focus on OneD's global pilot production, including OneD's second pilot plant in Munich, Germany, qualifying OneD's SINANODE technology with automakers before they enter mass production of silicon-based EV batteries.

To further advance OneD’s licensing model, Ron Lopez will oversee negotiations with industry partners who want to secure production at a licensed SINANODE production facility.

Kevin A. Krakora has been named the Automotive Practice Leader of Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC, one of the nation’s oldest and respected middle-market corporate restructurings and operations improvement firms. A long-time Managing Director with the firm, this announcement of Mr. Krakora's leadership of the Automotive Practice is recognition of both his depth of knowledge and longtime automotive industry-centric service, and the significance of dedicated industry services groups.

RVI Group has appointed James Bedard as CFO. Jim has over 20 years of experience in finance and a track record of driving profitable growth.
“We believe Jim’s reputation for achieving results makes him the right choice,” said Michael McGroarty, Co-CEO.
Jim replaced David Klanica, who retired as of Dec 31.
“We are grateful to Dave for his 15 years of dedicated service to RVI. The highly knowledgeable and long-tenured team we have at RVI is a result of Dave’s leadership,” said Dan Egan, Co-CEO.

Seraph, a global strategy and operations consultancy with a focus on supply chain and manufacturing, has named industry veteran Wade Phillips as President of the firm’s European branch, Seraph Europe, based in Dublin.

With more than 25 years of experience in the automotive and manufacturing space, Phillips brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role, including extensive P&L experience at Tier 1 automotive suppliers and a proven track record of developing and scaling new business.

Marty Schoenthaler is President & Chief Franchise Officer of NuVinAir, where he is responsible for the company’s day-to-day operations. With a career spanning three decades in various leadership roles, he most recently served as CEO for Tate Boys Tire & Service. Earlier in his career, Marty served as CIO at Archer Daniels Midland Company, and GM of Corporate Information Technology at ConocoPhillips. After earning an MBA from the University of Arkansas, he began his career at IBM Corporation.

Recalls as a Service company AutoAp, Inc. has promoted Mark Allen to President. CEO and Founder Mark Paul made the announcement on January 17, 2023. Allen was most recently Executive Vice President – Business Development, leading several company initiatives including sales and industry integration partnership development. Allen has more than 30 years of experience and is an accomplished and passionate leader with demonstrated success in virtually all areas of business operations.

Hal Feder is a former Ford executive who is now partnering with dealers on the confidential sale (or acquisition) of franchise stores. Hal has been engaged in hundreds of buy-sell deals serving in different roles, including OEM Leader, Dealership General Manager, and M&A Business Broker. Recently, Hal was recognized as a National Top Producer and Multi-Million Dollar Award Winner. Hal is a Board Member of the Carolinas Virginia Business Broker Association. Email: [email protected]

Mike Layne will retire in December of 2022. KNA is a Tier 1 Supplier to Automotive Manufacturing companies and specializes in Injection Molding. Mike joined KNA in 2018 and has led teams in both the US and Mexico in establishing new standards of excellence for the organization. His core leadership philosophy of having humility, a strong will and intentional focus on people has been key to his long-term success. KNA appreciates his dedication and wishes him all the best in his retirement.

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) recently named John Stolz to the post of assistant general manager of the Lexus Central Area sales region. Stolz previously served as the vehicle operations manager for the Toyota San Francisco sales region since 2021. Stolz first joined TMNA with their management trainee program in 1999 and has worked in various divisions of the company, including the Kansas City sales region and Best in Town department, where he held a variety of managerial roles.

Meet Shawn- he graduated high school on a Friday and started selling cars the next day to pay for college. He planned on attending law school but chose a career in automotive and never looked back. He now owns that dealership with his partner, Anthony Scala. Shawn says, “Never give up. I have seen people very close to the finish line that got discouraged and quit.”  Meet us at NADA in Dallas email [email protected].

An active member of his community supporting local hospital fundraising efforts, Alex shared three life lessons: take responsibility, constantly develop yourself and stay close to family. Your family and your health are the greatest assets-not money.” If you are interested in more information on partnership, mentoring minority dealer candidates or joining the Stellantis Dealer Network- meet us at NADA in Dallas: MinorityDealers.com.

Meet Mike, a member of the Chrysler Minority Dealers Association. Mike says, “Dream big. Put a plan in place and execute it every day. Do not be afraid to take the leap of faith. Figure out what makes you happy, set goals, be present and absorb all information available.” If you are interested in more information on partnership, mentoring minority dealer candidates or joining the Stellantis Dealer Network- meet us at NADA in Dallas: MinorityDealers.com.

Meet Gus, President of the Chrysler Minority Dealers Association. His store is family-owned and operated. His daughter is GM, his son is a sales director and his son- in-law is GSM. Gus says, “It will all be worth it. All the sacrifices.” If you are interested in more information on partnership, mentoring minority dealer candidates or joining the Stellantis Dealer Network- meet us at NADA in Dallas: MinorityDealers.com.

Meet Devinder Singh Bains, a member of the Chrysler Minority Dealers Association Board. He says, “You only have two things in your control, first your honesty and second your hard work. Nothing else matters. Never deviate from these and success will follow. Success should be a byproduct of hard work. All opportunities are well within your reach, you need to recognize them with focus.” Meet us at NADA in Dallas MinorityDealers.com.

MetroTech Automotive has announced that Steve Kessel has been named President of the company, effective immediately. As President and COO, Steve's demonstrated leadership will allow the company to continue successful execution of its Next 30 plan. Founded in 1987, MetroTech Automotive is a multi-faceted manufacturer and consultant to franchised new car and RV dealers nationwide.

Rob Iglinski has been named the assistant general manager of the Kansas City sales region for Toyota Motor North America (TMNA), Inc. The Kansas City region encompasses sales and service operations in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Iglinski joined Toyota in 1998 and has held a variety of positions since, including vehicle supply manager, vehicle merchandising manager, vehicle field sales manager, and vehicle operations manager.

Brian Bulkeley has been named the general manager of Toyota’s Kansas City sales region by Toyota Motor North America (TMNA), Inc. The Kansas City region encompasses sales and service operations in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Bulkeley has been employed at Toyota since 1996 and held numerous positions, including vehicle operations manager, director of dealer policy in Toyota’s government affairs department, and assistant general manager in the Kansas City sales.

Jarryd’s story is so inspiring — he worked his way up from humble beginnings to becoming one of the youngest high performing dealers. He is passionate about recruiting underserved youth with no prior experience and providing them with training to become the best automotive professionals. If you have the drive to turn obstacles into opportunities, make an appointment to meet us at NADA in Dallas MinorityDealers.com.

Introducing Gerry, a Northwood and NADA Dealer Academy graduate. Nothing makes him prouder than watching his team grow and be promoted. He opened his second acquisition, Gerry Raymond Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Brookville, one year after his first high performing dealership. Visit MinorityDealers.com and make your appointment to meet us at NADA in Dallas email [email protected].

The largest female owned-and-operated auto group in America, with 14 dealerships in South Florida and Atlanta with annual sales approaching $2 Billion. Among other national recognitions, Rita was honored with the prestigious “Horatio Alger Award” for her personal and professional accomplishments and her philanthropy, raising $100 Million to support the communities they serve. Meet Stellantis at NADA in Dallas MinorityDealers.com. 

Mobex Global is pleased to announce that Laurent Bresson has been promoted as their new President and Chief Executive Officer as of November 1, 2022. Laurent is an accomplished, result oriented strategic leader with over 25 years of experience in the Global Automotive industry. Previously, Laurent held various executive positions at Tier One Auto Suppliers. Laurent earned his MS degree from University of Manchester (UK) and his MBA from the University of Caen (France).

Mobex Global was founded in answer to industry and customer needs for a component supply partner that would pace the evolving mobility industry. Mobex Global’s commitment to customer success is the foundation of our partnership to OEMs and Tier One Suppliers.

Hall of Famer Karl Malone, is one of the NBA’s greatest power forwards and a 28-year veteran of the auto industry. “The Mailman” values honesty, integrity, and loyalty — no wonder his dealership delivers an annual rodeo for children with special needs. Join Karl and the Stellantis Dealer Network team at MinorityDealers.com. Make your appointment to meet us at NADA in Dallas email [email protected]

Meet Gurvijay Singh Bains, MD. He has been involved with his family car dealership since age 14. Gurvijay started washing and detailing cars before growing into the variable department. He took a break from the dealership and went to medical school to become an Emergency Medicine physician. He now has a great balance of both practicing medicine and the dealership. Meet us at NADA in Dallas. MinorityDealers.com

Paslin is pleased to announce Joseph Perkins as Paslin’s CEO effective November 1st, 2022. With over 30 years’ experience in the automotive industry Joe brings extensive knowledge of both local and global markets. Joe joins Paslin from Mobex Global, where he was President/CEO. Previously, Joe held executive leadership positions at Joyson Safety Systems and Nexteer. Joe earned his master’s degree in Business Administration from Wayne State University and completed his undergrad at Michigan State University.

Founded in 1937, Paslin is a full-service design and build organization serving the global automotive industry through the concept, design, construction and deployment of complex automated assembly and welding systems.

Unite Digital, LLC, a digital marketing company that develops products that help brands connect with their distribution partners to deliver unparalleled digital experiences, has hired Robyn Glasser as vice president of finance. Robyn comes to Unite Digital with years of accounting and finance experience crossing various industries including public accounting, IT outsourcing, experiential marketing and financial services.

Meet Liza, a 4th generation Automobile retailer with experience growing an organization exponentially through a people-focused approach.  Offering employee ownership, managing partnerships, and values-based hiring, CMA has grown from 3 dealerships to 20 in the last 15 years. Learn how you can join the Stellantis Dealer Network. Meet us at NADA in Dallas MinorityDealers.com.

Lee Auto Malls Chairman Adam Lee has announced that Tom Santospago has become an equity partner in Maine’s largest volume auto dealer group. Santospago joins Adam Lee; Don Lee, President; John Isaacson, CEO; and Bill Menke, Executive Partner, as owners of the business.
Santospago, 58, started in the automotive business in 1983 as a salesperson in Framingham, Mass. He has been with Lee since 2009 and currently serves as the General Manager of Lee Toyota and Lee Nissan in Topsham, Maine.

Scott Gunnell has been promoted to SVP and COO of JM&A Group. Gunnell will oversee all sales and operational activities, and continue to drive JM&A Group’s long-term strategy focused on increasing dealership performance, while navigating the evolution of the consumer, vehicle and digital journey. He has been instrumental in developing JM&A Group as an industry pioneer, overseeing the launch of Virtual F&I and the new EV+ Protect™ suite of protection products.

Teleperformance is pleased to announce Elena Ciccotelli, as VP Business Development, Automotive. An automotive executive with over a decade of experience, Elena was honored last year with Auto Remarketing’s "Women in Retail" award. In Elena's new role, she will focus on enabling OEMs, vendors & dealers to outsource professional services such as customer support, tech support, and a new area of focus, EV education. Prior to Teleperformance, Elena was the Automotive Partnerships Director at Lyft.

Rapid Recon, the originator of reconditioning time-to-line (T2L) software, recently promoted Dan Anton as performance manager and team lead for its Recon Edge performance management service for Rapid Recon users. Anton spent 8 years in various roles in auto retail, including reconditioning for the nation's largest Jaguar/Land Rover operation. He is Lean/Six Sigma certified. Recon Edge diagnoses and resolves complex workflow bottlenecks and cost issues in vehicle reconditioning.

Buddy Richter will retire at the end of September, 2022. Kasai North America is a Tier 1 Supplier to Automotive Manufacturing companies and specializes in Injection Molding. Buddy's expertise and leadership at KNA the past 8 years has been invaluable . His philosophy of “being willing to do the work that others won’t do while being firm but fair” has been key to his long term success. KNA appreciates the commitment to excellence that Buddy has shown the company and wishes him all the best.

With 30 years of leadership experience in developing successful teams for Fortune 500 and start-up environments, Marty Fritz is Chief Administrative Officer & Senior Vice President for NuVinAir. He oversees the day-to-day business operations, including strategy, product fulfillment, customer support, compliance, IT, and HR. Prior to NuVinAir, he worked at CarMax for nearly 20 years as Senior Operations Director. Marty holds a certificate from the International Franchise Association.

Marty Schoenthaler is Chief Franchise Officer & Executive Vice President for NuVinAir, where he is responsible for maintaining and increasing the company’s national franchise coverage. Previously, he was CEO of Tate Boys Tire & Service, the largest independent tire dealer in Northeast Oklahoma. Marty started his career at IBM Corporation as a business unit executive, after earning an MBA from the University of Arkansas.

An accomplished automotive executive with 20 years of leadership experience, Troy Blackwell is Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President for NuVinAir, which offers a suite of patented and proprietary products that safely creates healthy vehicle interiors. Before NuVinAir, he worked at AutoNation, where he launched a chain of used-car dealerships called AutoNation USA, streamlining their car-buying process. Earlier in his career, he worked as Regional Sales Development Leader at CarMax.

Meet Ali Talebi, an alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Ali has had a passion for automobiles since childhood. He actively supports his community through Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte, Corpening YMCA of Marion, and the Special Olympics. Ali works alongside his father, son, and uncle. Start your tradition with Stellantis Dealer Network. Visit MinorityDealers.com or email us at [email protected].

Timothy (Tim) J. Barchie will join F&I Sentinel as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on August 1, 2022. Barchie is a senior finance executive with significant experience in accounting/finance, operational, and systems functions for companies across a broad range of growth stages. He will work closely with Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Stephen McDaniel in developing multi-level growth plans that involve goal alignment, efficient deployment of capital, and detailed tracking to plan.

Unite Digital, LLC has hired Steven Justice as director of Digital Customer Experience. A consulting and training management professional of more than 20 years, Steve has peerless experience in OEM program management, automotive digital marketing, consulting and automotive sales. His skill areas include digital strategy, SEO, Tier Three marketing, customer experience and analytics, customer relationship management, customer journey processes, team building, leadership and client partnership.

Meet Marcus Withers who began his automotive career when his wife, Misty Wither’s, father Winston R. Pittman Sr. approached him with the idea of being a finance director at his dealership. 23 years later Marcus became a Stellantis dealer. He supports Simmons College of Kentucky, a private historically black college. Start your own legacy. Visit MinorityDealers.com or email us at [email protected].

Tim Lewis has joined Optimus Warranty Group as President and Managing Partner. Optimus Warranty Group is a financial services product administrator that offers F&I products and customizable dealer-owned and reinsurance programs. With 35+ years in retail, income development, and reinsurance, Lewis is a proven industry leader that will take Optimus to the next level.

Lewis' expertise in the legal and compliance field, building top-producing sales and management teams, and implementing profitable strategies bring a wealth of knowledge to Optimus and its dealer partners.

“I am excited to be part of a growing company like Optimus whose focus is on cutting edge technologies and dealer-oriented products and services."

Market Doctors is pleased to announce the promotion of Brittany Vanhoy to Vice President of Systems Development. In Ms. Vanhoy's new role, she will focus on marketing software development for the various business systems used throughout Market Doctors. This includes Market Doctors advertising technology, business analysis, software development, and configuration management. Ms. Vanhoy joined Market Doctors in 2015 as a Call Center Agent. She has been an integral part of the company's success.

Nexteer Automotive, a global leader in intuitive motion control, welcomes Giuseppe Zichella as Vice President of Global Sales. Giuseppe comes to Nexteer with a proven track record of over 26 years in the global automotive industry. As VP of Global Sales, Giuseppe will be responsible for all of Nexteer’s commercial efforts globally – leading cross-functional teams to achieve strategic sales goals and playing an integral role in the future profitable growth of the company.

Here he grows again- Bob Jacaway in Nevada, MO! Bob has instituted an aggressive growth strategy spurred by the company’s mission to be the premier quality customer service vehicle retailer in the Midwest. If you’re ready to grow, join the Stellantis Dealer Network at: MinorityDealers.com. For more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates email [email protected]

Fox Motors, owned by Dan and Pamella DeVos, announced the promotion of Monica Sekulich to Executive VP of Corporate Services & CLO and Susan Howe to Senior VP & CFO. Sekulich will oversee the Corporate Services Team (legal, real estate, human resources, information technology & marketing). Sekulich has been a vital member in securing over 30 dealerships for Fox. Howe will oversee all financial and accounting matters for and continue to play a key role in automotive development, acquisitions, and operations.

“Monica and Susan have contributed significantly to the success of Fox Motors. Pamella and I are grateful for their loyalty and contributions building our automotive business over the past 25 years,” said Chairman & CEO, Dan DeVos.

Infomedia Ltd, a leading SaaS platform provider in parts, service, e-commerce and data analytics solutions to the global automotive industry, welcomes Jens Monsees into the role of CEO and Managing Director.

Jens brings extensive leadership experience, having worked as the Chief Digital Officer with the BMW Group and Automotive Industry Leader at Google. He will continue to deliver solutions to support Infomedia's automaker partners and their aligned dealers. https://www.infomedia.com.au

Castle Automotive Group (CAG), a growing automotive retailer with corporate headquarters in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, announced today that effective immediately, David Ortiz has been promoted to Vice President of Variable Operations. David is a well-known expert in the automotive space, and he will be an integral part of CAG’s expansion with a primary focus on modernizing the automotive retail experience through a streamlined frictionless approach to buying and selling cars.

DSMA, a North American Automotive Intelligence and M&A Advisory Service, is delighted to announce that Maria Soklis, past President of Cox Automotive Canada, and Brazil, has joined DSMA in the leadership role of Executive Vice President, North America. DSMA is experiencing tremendous growth and Maria joins at an exciting time of change for us and the automotive industry. Maria will drive the business forward, ensuring DSMA navigates this period of industry transformation with continued success.

Market Doctors announced the promotion of Yolanda Coyle to Director of Diversity. In her new role, Ms. Coyle will lead diversity business development and partnerships for the organization. Ms. Coyle joined Market Doctors in 2013 as a Campaign Coordinator for Tier 2 and Tier 3 business. She has been an integral part of the company's success as well as expansion to digital services.

Meet Corina Diehl, who leads her dealership and its 600 employees as its sole owner and president after the sudden loss of her husband, business partner and father of their two children. “Successful Community equals Successful Business” is her mantra. Learn more about Stellantis Dealer Network. Visit MinorityDealers.com or email us at [email protected].

Misa Tanaka is the Regional Support Director, West Coast, for NuVinAir, which offers a suite of patented and proprietary products that safely create healthy vehicle interiors. In her new role, she will create and implement strategies for meeting the evolving demands of key account rental-vehicle clients. With over a decade of managerial expertise in the automotive industry, Tanaka specializes in sales and marketing consulting, inventory management, and vehicle procurement.

Cepton (NASDAQ: CPTN) has named Hull Xu Chief Financial Offer. Mr. Xu joined Cepton in 2021 as VP of Finance & Strategy and led the merger transaction between Cepton Technologies, Inc. and Growth Capital Acquisition Corp. A seasoned investment banker, he advised tech companies on capital markets & strategic transactions during his 13-yr tenure at RBC and at Barclays. He holds an M.B.A from the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.

Unite Digital, LLC, a digital marketing company that focuses on OEM certified dealer digital programs, lead optimization, online-offline retail integration and customer retention and loyalty strategies, announced today it has hired automotive veterans Ron Len and Mime Quinones.

Ron becomes executive vice president of technology, leading technology strategy for Unite Digital products and services. Mime becomes program manager and will focus on developing Unite's Digital Deal Jacket, a product that enables complete end-to-end online vehicle purchases.

Supply chain, restructuring and manufacturing turnaround consultancy Seraph has named Thomas Kowal as President, following his 3-year tenure at the firm preceded by close to 20 years in the automotive manufacturing space. Thomas leads a solutions-focused team in taking Seraph’s trusted data driven, operational, hands-on approach to problem solving that improves its clients’ performance across a range of vertical markets, at an extraordinary time for manufacturing. www.seraph.com

NuVinAir West, co-founded by Doug Eaton and Mike Jensen, a transportation-industry executive and business owner, respectively, is NuVinAir’s newest franchisee group. They own the exclusive rights to Alaska, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, as well as El Paso, Texas, expanding the nationwide franchise footprint to 29 states, and will implement NuVinAir’s line of science-backed products and healthy vehicle programs across their regions. The Eaton-Jensen team will support transportation-enterprise opportunities, including car rental companies, dealerships, and other automotive businesses.

With over 25 years of industry experience, Dan was the National Sales Dir. for the company Who’sCalling, Inc., where he was responsible for a team of 75+ people, which led to over $60M in sales. Dan was also Dir. of Sales for DME Automotive. He spent 7 years as a partner of MyCustomerData developing relationships with OEMs and Auto Groups. MyCustomerData was named to INC 500/5000’s fastest growing company list and won the ECHO Award in '11. Dan was also a Partner and COO of Recall Masters, Inc.

Meet Jill Malloy, a Northwood graduate. She and her husband are business partners.  He manages Pre-Owned and she runs the dealership. They found their dealership in Alma, MI, after sending hundreds of letters to different dealerships to learn which might be available.  Learn more about joining the Stellantis Dealer Network or mentoring minority candidates at MinorityDealers.com or email us at [email protected]. 

Client Command announces Michael Salicco as Chief Revenue Officer. Salicco’s 20+ year career includes extensive automotive experience with Gannett and Cox Automotive. Salicco is a proven and effective automotive technology leader; building winning teams, driving results, and developing people. “Mike is a passionate advocate for equipping dealers with solutions that give them a competitive advantage that drives their business and the automotive industry forward,” says CEO Jonathan Lucenay.

Graham Oleson announced the promotion of Donna Welker to Regional Vice President. Welker has extensive automotive marketing expertise in Tier 2 and Tier 3 variable, fixed and collision operations. She has held various roles within the industry prior to Graham Oleson including other agencies and Fortune 500 automotive groups. Welker has a clear and proven track record of driving client success while establishing trusted relationships within the automotive industry.

automotiveMastermind's Matt Leone has been promoted to CEO, taking the place of Marco Schnabl, who will remain with the organization and focus on providing counsel. Most recently COO, Leone joined aM in April 2020 and has handled the day-to-day operations of the business. He also played an integral role in the company achieving double digit year-over-year revenue growth in 2020 and 2021, expanded the company's products and drove strategic talent expansion.

motormindz announces the appointment of Ron Frey as a strategic advisor to the Board.

With over three decades of automotive experience and executive leadership roles at CDK Global and AutoNation, Inc., Ron is an expert strategist, change agent and innovator in the automotive industry.

“Ron’s ability to develop, operationalize, and drive key strategic priorities will be vital as we continue to navigate rapid growth on a global scale,” said Jason Stein, motormindz President.

Jillian is continuing her family legacy working alongside her mother, Dealer Principal & President, Nan I. Kitagawa. Additionally, she teaches computer science and assists Vex robotics teams at a local high school.  Learn more about joining the Stellantis Dealer Network or mentoring minority candidates at MinorityDealers.com or email us at [email protected].

John Patriarca, a franchise-industry veteran with European Wax Center, is NuVinAir's newest Franchisee, growing the company’s footprint to include the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. He owns the exclusive rights to his territories, and will implement NuVinAir’s line of science-backed products and healthy vehicle programs across the region. Patriarca will support transportation-enterprise opportunities, including car rental companies, dealerships, and other automotive businesses.

Ziebart International Corporation, the leading provider of vehicle appearance and protective services, just announced the promotion of Larry Stewart after eleven years with the franchise. In Stewart’s new role, he will oversee the development and rollout for all of Ziebart’s information systems, including monitoring the security of the company’s private information. Stewart’s years of experience in the technological space will help lead the brand’s internal and external innovation strategies.

Ziebart International Corporation, the leader in vehicle appearance and protective services, announced the promotion of Naji Younes after six years with the franchise. Starting as a business consultant before moving into a director position, Younes recently sold nine new master franchises for the brand– increasing Ziebart's reach internationally. In his new role, Younes will work to expand the franchise into new markets amid tremendous industry growth, despite the current auto chip shortage.

Brad Scott, who joins from Avis Budget Group where he worked for more than two decades, is NuVinAir's newest Franchisee, growing the company’s footprint to include Charlotte, Greensboro, and Raleigh. Scott owns the exclusive rights to his territories, and will implement NuVinAir’s line of science-backed products and healthy vehicle programs across the region. He will support transportation-enterprise opportunities, including car rental companies, dealerships, and other automotive businesses.

Renowned automotive research and consulting firm, AutoPacific, enters into a new era with new leadership at the helm. After two decades with the firm, Ed Kim has stepped into the role as AutoPacific's new President and Chief Analyst, replacing George Peterson who has now retired from AutoPacific. Mr. Kim first joined AutoPacific in 1998, left to become Manager of Advanced Product Development at Hyundai Motor America, and returned in 2008. For more information visit www.autopacific.com.

Andrea’s story is truly inspiring - as a Breast Cancer Survivor and former NFL Cheerleader for the Indianapolis Colts, she helps promote Breast Cancer Awareness and Education through the efforts of their Crucial Catch Platform. If you have the drive to turn obstacles into opportunities, apply to the Stellantis Dealer Network at MinorityDealers.com. For more information, please email [email protected].

Mariah Jo Nelson is carrying on family traditions in more ways than one. She is a third-generation auto dealer, a wife, and mother. Mariah Jo gives to her community in a variety of ways including donating a truck full of food items to Yankton Food Pantry every fall. Start your own tradition with the Stellantis Dealer Network. Visit MinorityDealers.com or email us at [email protected].

Tom Super has been appointed as DealerPolicy's Head of Agency Solutions. In his new role, Super will oversee the expansion of the company’s insurance sales and service business, including DealerPolicy’s growing network of local agencies. He joins DealerPolicy as it enters its next phase of accelerated growth. A recognized insurance industry veteran, Super was most recently the Head of P&C Insurance at J.D. Power and Associates, where he led the expansion of the company’s insurance practice.

With over 40 years in automotive retail, Mark Shackelford has enjoyed a successful career as a dealer, consultant, NADA University trainer, and leading 20 Group moderator for NCM & NADA. Performance Brokerage Services is privileged to have Mark join the Texas & Midwest office as a buy-sell advisor. With 72 completed transactions in 2021, PBS is the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. Visit www.performancebrokerageservices.com or e-mail [email protected]

Meet Wanda Cronic Howell, who became a dealer in 1996 when she and her father purchased a dealership. Named ‘Woman of the Year’ by the American Business Women’s Association (which she later led as its president), Wanda actively promotes women in business. Learn more about joining the Stellantis Dealer Network or mentoring minority candidates at MinorityDealers.com or email us at [email protected].

Faurecia, one of the world’s leading automotive technology companies, has named Nik Endrud Executive Vice President of North America. In his new role Endrud will be directly responsible and accountable for the sustainable development of the business in North America. Endrud was previously Group Vice President and General Manager for Tenneco’s global Ride Control business. Prior to Tenneco, he spent 13 years at Faurecia in significant Management positions in the US and France.

Meet Christa Vega Billeaud, who worked as a Labor/Delivery Nurse & Certified Childbirth Educator for nearly a decade, and holds a Master's Degree in Theology. Learn more about joining the Stellantis Dealer Network or mentoring minority candidates at Minoritydealers.com email us at [email protected].

Christine LaFontaine began her automotive career in 1987 answering phones. With the help of a great mentor, she was promoted to the company’s Office Manager, then to Controller. In 2016, she and husband Matthew purchased their own dealership. Learn more about joining the Stellantis Dealer Network or mentoring minority candidates at MinorityDealers.com or email us at [email protected].

Leonardo Portaluppi is building a legacy inspired by his father, an automotive technician for many years. He started his career as a helper in the same shop alongside him. As president of P4 Automotive, LLC, his family supports community organizations that benefit children. Start your own tradition with the Stellantis Dealer Network. Visit MinorityDealers.com or email us at [email protected]

Meet Lawrence, a Northwood graduate and Omega Psi Phi Inc., member. After reading the Diversity In Dealerships feature in Automotive News, he visited the Stellantis Dealer Diversity website earlier this year and applied online. Last month he opened his own dealership. Learn how you can become an entrepreneur with the Stellantis Dealer Network. Visit MinorityDealers.com or Email [email protected]

Jamie Anderson has been named vice president for North American sales at UVeye, a rapidly expanding supplier of high-speed vehicle-inspection systems for the auto industry.

Prior to joining UVeye, Anderson was vice president for dealer sales at KAR Global. He previously had served as a divisional sales director at BacklotCars and a portfolio sales manager at Cox Automotive.

Affinitiv appoints Robin Pederson as a member of the Board of Directors and Mike Trevino as the new President and Chief Technology Officer for the company. Pederson will provide overall strategic direction for the company as well as mentor the Affinitiv executive leadership team. Trevino will be heading up technology and innovation for the company. Both Pederson and Trevino will further strengthen Affinitiv’s growth strategy, specifically in the company’s technology solutions.

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) recently named Roseanne Larsen the assistant general manager of the Cincinnati Region sales office. Larsen is responsible for all sales and marketing, service and parts, customer relations and market representation activities in the region. She’s also responsible for all human resources-related activities that include recruiting and hiring, organizational planning, compliance and regulatory concerns, compensation and benefits.

Chase Auto is pleased to announce Chanteya Lawrence as the Executive Director, Business Development, supporting strategic auto partnerships. Prior to joining, Chanteya spent over 15 years in Auto Finance at Ally Financial and Bank of America. Chanteya holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Florida, MBA from the University of North Florida and certified Six Sigma Black Belt.

Chase Auto is pleased to announce Jayson Crouch and Jennifer Tams as the heads of Vehicle Remarketing. Jayson joins us from Toyota Financial Services, where he managed captive finance operations for the Denver region. He has over 20 years of consumer and commercial finance experience, holding various roles ranging from operations to sales. Jayson will be overseeing Luxury brands. Jen joins the auto industry from Chase's Business Banking Operations where she held various leadership roles, most recently involved in ramping up the operations for the Payment Protection Program (PPP) to support small businesses impacted by the pandemic. Jen will be overseeing Mass Market brands.

Shannon Inukai-Cuffee is carrying on family traditions in more ways than one. She is a second-generation auto dealer and president of Dick’s Auto Group. Her family also supports the community through the Inukai Family Foundation, established in honor of Dick, her late father. Start your own tradition with the Stellantis Dealer Network. Visit MinorityDealers.com or email us at [email protected].

Nan I. Kitagawa started her automotive career in 2007, handling special administrative projects for her husband Brian’s dealerships. Today, she is continuing his legacy with her children, Jillian Kuczora and Ian Kitagawa. Learn more about joining the Stellantis Dealer Network or mentoring minority candidates at MinorityDealers.com or email us at [email protected].

Cepton Technologies, Inc., an innovative provider of automotive lidar solutions, has welcomed Brunno Moretti as Vice President of Product Marketing. Based in Cepton’s Detroit office, Moretti will oversee the company’s ongoing product development to drive business growth across automotive and smart infrastructure markets.

Marty Schoenthaler is the Franchise Development Officer for NuVinAir Global, which offers a suite of patented and proprietary products that safely and effectively create healthy vehicle interiors. In this newly created role, he is responsible for identifying growth strategies for increasing national franchise coverage, as well as enhancing and maturing growth of NuVinAir Global’s existing franchise network. Reporting to the company’s CEO and founder, Kyle Bailey, Marty is based in Oklahoma.

Korey Pulluaim believes the youth in his community are essential and has made them his priority. He also believes that a positive work culture attracts customers and top-performing employees. Make a difference in your community, join the Stellantis Dealer Network. Visit  MinorityDealers.com or email [email protected] for more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates.

AutoLeadStar announced today Dealer Inspire alum Mike Colacchio has joined the team as Vice President of Sales. With decades of sales experience in automotive tech companies the likes of Dealer Inspire, Dealer.com, DealerTrack, and Cox Automotive, Colacchio will be responsible for building out the sales team, introducing new AI-powered, connected solutions to create highly accurate car buyer matches, and expediting new partnerships with both dealer groups and technology providers.

BI WORLDWIDE, the leading full-service automotive agency with 1,500 employees and participants in 164 countries, appointed Bill Kochmar as Director of Business Development. He is responsible for managing partnerships and operations with Automotive OEMs along the East Coast.

Kochmar has domestic and international automotive experience and an established record at OEMs, including Stellantis, VW, and BMW. He draws on his extensive experience and network to harness BIW’s cutting-edge capabilities.

Meet Terishka Franco, Spireon’s vice president of franchise dealer sales, west. Franco brings extensive industry experience to the role, having 41 years of experience in the automotive industry: 16 years as GM and VP for retail auto groups and 25 years as executive VP for OEM retail and fixed operations with Toyota, Audi, BMW, Porsche, and other premium brands. In her spare time, Franco founded the Freedom Child Foundation for ending Human Trafficking and Abuse.

Spireon, the vehicle intelligence company, is proud to announce Lee Novak as the new vice president of sales, central. Novak has worked 26 years in the automotive industry, serving as executive and strategic director of sales for two other major companies. He is an award-winning leader and an ambitious self-starter who successfully founded a consulting company. Novak brings his years of expertise in sales and growth initiatives to Spireon.

Affinitiv is pleased to announce, Adam Meier as President and Chief Executive Officer of the company. Meier has been with Affinitiv since 2016 as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer where he helped advance the company's growth strategy. With over 20 years of leadership experience, Adam has a proven track record of establishing trusted relationships with clients and building high-performing teams. Meier will guide Affinitiv to new heights in the automotive marketplace.

Bahman Koohestani has been appointed as ACV's Chief Technology Officer, effective September 1, 2021. He will lead ACV's technology and product team to further innovate and transform the used car industry. Koohestani is a seasoned Silicon Valley executive, who brings over 25 years of leadership experience in technology, data analytics, product and operating strategies. His previous experience includes CTO roles at Lending Club, Thomson Reuters and NexTag.

DRAIVER is pleased to announce the addition of Jim Bauman as Vice President of Client Success to its leadership team. Jim is an automotive, software, and rideshare industry veteran with over two decades of industry experience, having most recently led Automotive Partnerships at Uber for Business. Serving in customer-facing leadership roles at technology companies such as Dealer.com, LotLinx, Podium, and Uber, he is well suited to join a fast growing technology and services company like DRAIVER.

Inspired by his father, who was a car salesman, David Ellis is proud to continue the family tradition. His wife, sons, and daughter-in-law work alongside him, as well as ten grandchildren during their summer breaks. Learn more about joining the Stellantis Dealer Network or mentoring minority candidates at MinorityDealers.com or email us at [email protected].

As the pandemic weighed on his community, Rinaldi Halim knew that his dealerships could make a difference. He partnered with the Los Angeles Rams and A Place to Call Home to deliver groceries and household essentials to hundreds of families. Learn more about becoming a dealer or mentoring minority dealer candidates at minoritydealers.com or email us at [email protected].

Quantum5, the first platform to transform dealership training, announced today the hiring of Jeremy Lewis as the Vice President of Sales. In this role, Lewis will combine his considerable expertise from working in dealership roles with his business development experience from companies the likes of Dealersocket, CDK Global, and AutoMate to build out the Quantum5 sales team and continue the sizzling sales pace the company set in the first half of 2021.

Meet Santosh Viswanathan, a principled business strategist whose philanthropic activities include supporting local food banks and domestic violence shelters led to a nomination for TIME Dealer of the Year. Make a difference in your community, join the Stellantis Dealer Network.  Visit MinorityDealers.com or email [email protected] for more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates.

Bob Henry will retire from Kasai North America on September 1, 2021. Bob has worked in the automotive industry for 30 years with the last 8 years being at KNA. Bob’s focus on finding “win-win” solutions to maintain strong customer and supplier relationships has been extremely valuable. KNA appreciates all of his hard work and dedication and truly wishes him the best. Kasai North America is a Tier 1 Supplier to Automotive Manufacturing companies and specializes in Injection Molding.

Nothing is more important to Tim Gunter, than his family and his community. That’s why he’s proud to say that four of his family members work alongside him, and the reason why he offers discounts to first responders in his community. Learn more about partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates and the Stellantis Dealer Network at MinorityDealers.com or email us at [email protected].

CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. (CCC), a leading SaaS platform for the P&C insurance economy, names John Goodson Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Goodson will lead research and development, product development, architecture, security, IT operations and infrastructure, business applications and data science. This will enable CCC to continue powering mission critical workflows, intelligent automation and better experiences for clients and the millions of drivers they serve.

Quantum5, the first platform to transform dealership training and bridge the gap between the traditional and digital customer, announced today the hiring of Terry Staggs as Vice President of Content Strategy. “Terry’s stellar reputation, deep automotive training expertise, and success in building out the field program while at PDI, is well known and greatly admired within our industry. He will be instrumental as we build out our expert training library," said Quantum5 CEO, David O'Brien.

Longtime Electrify America executive Cliff Fietzek has joined In-Charge Energy as Chief Technology Officer. Fietzek will oversee the company’s In-Control charging network platform, charging hardware and overall technology to assure successful implementation of EV charging solutions for commercial fleet customers. As Sr. Director of Technology at Electrify America, Fietzek and his team developed all technology for the largest ultra-fast charging network.

Ray Fregia, Jr., a 30-year automotive veteran and chairman of the New Hope Baptist Church Board of Deacons, is focused on expanding his family legacy. Ray Sr., and his brother, Rik, work with him, supporting his dream. If you’re ready to start your own legacy, join the Stellantis Dealer Network at: MinorityDealers.com. For more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates email [email protected].

OneD Battery Sciences has tapped marketing veteran, Steven Addis, to join their team in the role of Chief Marketing Officer. In this position, Steven will tell the story of SINANODE and how it simplifies the silicon solution for EV battery manufacturing. Steven joins the team with over 30 years leading award-winning marketing campaigns for some of the world’s largest brands, and has worked with companies such as Intel, Caesars Palace, Kashi, Pottery Barn Kids, Sephora, to name a few.

ePropelled has appointed David Hudson as head of EV strategy. ePropelled offers leading-edge electric propulsion systems will charge Hudson with the development and execution of its EV strategy. ePropelled uses its portfolio of innovations and patents to meet the needs of eMobility manufacturers across global markets. Hudson is an automotive industry leader with over 40 years of experience in engineering and professional services. For the past decade, he has worked with India’s Tata Motors.

Douglas Bravo’s dealership is 3,500 miles from his native home of Lima, Peru, so he understands the importance of making his customers feel at home. If you are interested in supporting your community, join the Stellantis Dealer Network at: MinorityDealers.com. For more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates email [email protected].

Someone saw his potential and gave him an opportunity, says Tony Thomas, a Chrysler Minority Dealers Association member. He went to a dealership to sell his personal vehicles, and was offered a position. The rest is history. Now it’s your turn, apply to the Stellantis Dealer Network at: MinorityDealers.com. For more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates email [email protected].

Meet Bob Jacaway, a 40-year automotive veteran who’s focused on delivering excellent customer service. His son, Michael, and daughter, Ida, are continuing the legacy by working alongside him. If you’re ready to start your own legacy, join the Stellantis Dealer Network at: MinorityDealers.com. For more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates email [email protected]

Kevin Vander Putten joins Cepton, a leading provider of state-of-the-art, intelligent, lidar-based solutions, as Director of Business Development. In the newly created role based out of Cepton's metro Detroit office, Kevin will expand upon the Company’s recent global top 5 automotive OEM win, identifying and securing additional automotive lidar program opportunities. Kevin joins Cepton from General Motors, where he spent more than 10 years focused on autonomous vehicle sensors and technologies.

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather as a car dealer, Jay Hodge actively supports local businesses as a Chamber of Commerce board member. If you are interested in joining the Stellantis Dealer Network like Jay, apply at: MinorityDealers.com, and for more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates email [email protected]

Joe Magyar, CPA, has been named managing partner of the retail dealership services group at Crowe LLP, an accounting, consulting and technology firm in the U.S. with offices around the world. In this role, Magyar oversees the delivery of the firm’s full range of services to the retail dealer industry.

DigniFi, an automotive financing platform, has named Rob Mirra its Chief Revenue Officer. Mirra joins DigniFi with extensive experience in auto financing and insurance (F&I), vehicle service contracts, and dealership management. As CRO, Mirra will build out DigniFi’s field team, fine-tune its sales processes, and form strategic partnerships to accelerate growth. He is actively recruiting salespeople with dealership and F&I experience.

Marion’s story is truly inspiring — battling cancer with no insurance, no employment and no resume, selling her first automobile at 32, becoming President and CEO of her own dealership by 36, and being inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame. If you have the drive to turn obstacles into opportunities, apply to the Stellantis Dealer Network at MinorityDealers.com. For more information, please email [email protected].

Introducing Melvin Cooper, a Chrysler Minority Dealers Association member. As an active member of his community, Melvin supports Green Earth events that improve the environment for all of us. If you want to be a leader in your community, apply to the Stellantis Dealer Network at: MinorityDealers.com. For more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates email [email protected]

An active member of his community supporting local hospital fundraising efforts, Alex Hwang has been involved in the automotive industry since the early 1980s. He is also a proud member of the Chrysler Minority Dealers Association. If you are interested in joining the Stellantis Dealer Network apply at MinorityDealers.com. For more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates email [email protected].

Hall of Famer Karl Malone, is one of the NBA’s greatest power forwards and a 28-year veteran of the auto industry. “The Mailman” values honesty, integrity, and loyalty — no wonder his dealership delivers an annual rodeo for children with special needs. Join Karl and the Stellantis Dealer Network team at MinorityDealers.com. For more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates email [email protected]

Antenna Group has appointed auto industry veteran Katelyn Davis as Director of Mobility. Davis will drive the firm’s rapidly expanding mobility practice, providing strategic counsel and supporting business development and client networking initiatives. The first Antenna member based in Detroit, Davis brings a unique background that incorporates automotive domain expertise combined with public relations and marketing excellence. This year she was recognized in the DBusiness 30 in their Thirties.

Brad Owens joined AISIN World Corp. of America in 2000 as manager, Engine Component Sales, and was named vice president, North American Sales, in 2017. As senior vice president, North American Sales, Owens is now responsible for managing OEM and Aftermarket customer contact and the coordination of the AISIN sales team with North American plants in order to ensure quality, delivery and customer satisfaction standards. Prior to joining AISIN, Owens was sales manager with UGN, Inc., a Chicago-based manufacturer of automotive sound dampening products. Owens has significant experience in automotive quality, manufacturing and production engineering, and studied Engineering in college. He resides in South Lyon, Mich.

Chuck Sanders joined AISIN World Corp. of America in 1994 as sales engineer and later moved to AWA’s Detroit-area headquarters where he became vice president, OE Sales. In 2016, he was named vice president, Purchasing, and was responsible for supplier relations and the purchasing function of Aisin’s 41 North American facilities. Sanders centralized all North American purchasing activities and has been essential in the company’s response to pandemic related supply issues including PPE and sanitation supplies as well as port delays, Force Majeures and semi-conductor supply concerns. Sanders earned a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University, and is a member of SAE and OESA. He resides in Dexter, Mich.

Meet Mike Terry, an 11-year veteran of the automotive industry and a proud member of the Chrysler Minority Dealers Association. Giving back is important to Mike, so his dealership sponsors a weekend lunch for underprivileged children. If you want to be like Mike, join the Stellantis Dealer Network at: MinorityDealers.com. For more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates email [email protected].

iFrog Marketing Solutions, a digital marketing and advertising agency specializing in automotive dealerships, announced Bill Snyder as Chief Financial Officer. Snyder, who will retain his title as CFO/Vice President of Preston Automotive Group, has been working in automotive dealerships since 1997. Snyder is versed in financial reporting, forecasting, cash/asset management, and expense control. Snyder has also executed pay plans, compliance, processes, insurance, and acquisitions. www.ifrog.com

Meet Tyrone, a Chrysler Minority Dealers Association board member. A 36-year veteran of the automotive industry, he also is proud of the business leaders he mentored into dealership owners. If you are interested in joining Tyrone in the Stellantis Dealer Network apply at: MinorityDealers.com, and for more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates email [email protected].

iFrog Marketing Solutions, a digital marketing and advertising agency specializing in automotive dealerships, announced Brent Durham as the President and Chief Operating Officer. Durham, who added President to his COO title, is also a Co-Founder of iFrog. The 14-year veteran of the auto industry had duties expanded to execution of upper-management strategies and world-class service, creating new products and offerings, and growing the company’s top-line revenue. www.ifrog.com

Introducing Gus Rodriguez, President of the Chrysler Minority Dealers Association. An active member of his community, he has been involved in the automotive industry since the late 1970s. If you are interested in joining the Stellantis Dealer Network like Gus apply at: MinorityDealers.com, and for more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates email [email protected]. 

Hedy Popson Named CEO of Productions Plus. Founder Margery Krevsky Dosey transitions to Chairman of the Board, naming Hedy Popson President & CEO. Production Plus is a premier, full-service talent agency focused on providing excellence in brand representation. They currently have over 1,000 talent/ Product Specialists working with 17 OEM clients in the automotive industry for auto shows and event activations. Productions Plus is a SAG-AFTRA franchised agency & certified women-owned business.

Jose Galvan has been promoted to Head of Data Partnerships. Jose started out as a Data Analyst for Market Scan in 2000 but was promoted several times, culminating in the role of Chief Data Officer.
In this new role, Jose will be responsible for the development and management of Market Scans' data partnerships in the United States.
Jose is ideally suited for this position, and the promotion demonstrates Market Scan’s commitment to successfully expand our collaborations and partnerships with our core enterprise clients.
Market Scan’s data and calculation technologies are widely accepted industry-wide as the most complete and reliable, supporting services and solutions across the entire industry ecosystem. www.marketscan.com

iFrog Marketing Solutions, a digital marketing and advertising agency specializing in automotive dealerships, announced Kyle McCracken as its Chief Executive Officer. McCracken had been iFrog’s Chief Product Officer since 2019, spearheading technology solutions and streamlining processes. Prior to iFrog, McCracken helped build, lead, and manage a technology software and professional services company in the B2B integration and analytics spaces, serving Fortune 500 clients. McCracken’s family has deep roots in the automotive industry, and just like iFrog, he was also Born in a Dealership®. As CEO, McCracken’s mission is to ensure iFrog provides innovative and cutting-edge solutions while remaining committed to service. www.ifrog.com

Keith Style has been promoted to Managing Director of The Presidio Group, heading up the firm’s fast-growing Auto Retail Services (ARS) business. Keith’s broad financial background, which includes CFO of a Fortune 500 automotive retailer, provides him with a unique understanding of the clients’ business needs. His values align with Presidio’s mission “to relentlessly put the interest of our clients first”. The ARS team’s passion for client success is resulting in rapid growth. The Presidio Group is known for structuring complex transactions in the automotive sector, with the team having completed over 200 transactions totaling more than $13 billion, including the recent sale of Park Place Dealerships and The Suburban Collection.

Meet Jarryd, a member of the Chrysler Minority Dealers Association. A 10-year veteran of the automotive industry, he also is proud of the scholarship he started in memory of his aunt who was lost on 9/11. If you are interested in joining Jarryd in the Stellantis Dealer Network apply at: MinorityDealers.com, and for more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates email [email protected]

Introducing Devinder Singh Bains, a member of the Chrysler Minority Dealers Association Board. An active member of his community, he has been involved in the automotive industry since 1989. If you are interested in joining the Stellantis Dealer Network like Devinder apply at: MinorityDealers.com, and for more information on partnering or mentoring minority dealer candidates email [email protected]

The Triton Automotive Group Board of Directors has appointed Travis Mazza, President, and Chief Executive Officer effective April 1st. Since August of 2020, as Triton’s Chief Operating Officer, Mazza focused on strengthening the core offerings while expanding the company footprint to include Automotive Financial and Dealer Services that will include healthcare.

To date, Triton includes nine US dealership groups, in 17 states, with 36 franchise nameplates selling in excess of 200,000 new and used vehicles annually. Triton’s vision is to develop strategic partnerships to bring a broad range of products and services to our dealer shareholders to minimize their costs and enhance their product offerings. www.TritonAutomotiveGroup.com

Shivani Govil has been named Chief Product Officer at CCC Information Services Inc., a leading SaaS platform for the P&C insurance economy. Govil will lead the company’s product strategy, product management, and marketing functions and advance the company's strategic vision of delivering AI, IoT, customer experience, and network management solutions. CCC’s Cloud connects 30,000 businesses including insurers, automakers, collision repairers, lenders, and more.

Bob Thomas Ford of Hamden, CT has announced the promotion of General Manager Colby Pinette to the position of Vice President. In his new position, Mr. Pinette will now have responsibility of all aspects of the daily operation of the award-winning Hamden Ford dealership. Originally formed as a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and Robert Thomas, Bob Thomas Ford is now celebrating its 43rd year as one of Connecticut's premier Ford Dealerships.

Dr. Larry Burns and Mr. Steve Bullock have joined the Niron Magnetics Board of Directors. Niron is manufacturing the world’s first rare-earth free, high performance magnets to enable the long term growth of a more sustainable economy. Dr. Burns served as General Motors Corporate Vice President of Research & Development and Strategic Planning from 1998-2009, reporting to the CEO/President. Mr. Steve Bullock has joined the Niron Magnetics Board of Directors. He served two terms as the governor of Montana from 2013-2021 and chaired the National Governors Association (NGA) from 2018-2019. He was a Democratic candidate for President of the United States in 2020.

Mitch Hourtienne was recently promoted to Vice President, Business Development at Cepton, a leading provider of state-of-the-art, lidar-based solutions. Based out of the company’s metro Detroit office, Mitch joined Cepton in 2018 establishing a foothold in the automotive capital. During his tenure, he has helped Cepton secure the largest automotive ADAS lidar win in the industry. Mitch will continue to leverage and grow Cepton’s commercial success and No. 1 ADAS lidar supplier position.

Mingle brings to Reputation more than 30 years of expertise and success leading customer experience (CX) strategy and operations for some of the most recognizable enterprise technology and global automotive OEM brands in the world. Before joining Reputation, Mingle worked in various leadership roles for General Motors, Nissan and Chrome Systems. He received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in economics from the University of Illinois.

Rod Wright has joined Concentrix, a leading global Customer Experience (CX) Solutions Company, as GVP, Automotive & Marketing Solutions. With 30 years of leadership experience, Rod is an expert at improving auto CX strategies and operations. “We are thrilled to have Rod join our team to fuel our growth in automotive,” said Jyllene Miller, EVP of Emerging Business. “Rod’s leadership will help us further leverage our award-winning solutions within auto, enabling our clients to solve their most pressing CX challenges.” Automotive is undergoing rapid change due to digital technology in vehicle, while shopping, and in ownership. Concentrix is uniquely positioned to help auto companies innovate to meet these fast changing customer expectations.

Monica joins Vulog as Managing Director NORAM, after 15 years of experience in the technology and mobility space. She spent over 4 years at Zipcar launching and growing markets in the Great Lakes Region of the United States. Most recently she was overseeing North America’s 2nd largest bike share system, Bike Share Toronto, where she expanded the system by 70% and delivered record breaking ridership and revenue. She is passionate about shared mobility and its positive impact on the planet.

Hull Xu joins Cepton, a leading provider of state-of-the-art, intelligent, lidar-based solutions, as Vice President of Finance and Strategy. In the newly created role, Xu will oversee financial reporting and planning, capital raising, investor relations, and corporate development activities. Xu, who previously worked at Royal Bank of Canada, joins Cepton at a critical inflection point, to shepherd the company through its next phase of growth.

The Ed Morse Automotive Group proudly announced that Jessica Altamirano has been promoted from Office Manager to General Manager of Insurco Insurance & Financial Services. Insurco is the insurance arm for Ed Morse Automotive Group, which sells and services various types of insurance products and financial services. In her new role as General Manager, Altamirano will be responsible for all aspects of operations including staffing, profitability, licensing, sales, compliance and more.

Midway Auto Group adds Raul Orozco as Vice President of Remarketing. “With more than 25 years in the industry, I’m thrilled Raul is joining our sales division,” said Brett Lippel, President of Midway Auto Group. “Car sales is an important part of our overall fleet management and I’m confident he will take our business to the next level.” Orozco will oversee the fleet’s remarketing strategy, purchasing, analysis and sales. https://www.midwaycarrental.com/

Jason Case has been named Ziebart International Corporation’s Corporate Controller. Case brings more than a decade of expertise to his new role at Ziebart, where he will take charge of streamlining accounting processes, while maintaining Ziebart’s high standard of accounting practices. Case joined the Ziebart team in 2012 as a branch accountant for Ziebart’s Midwest stores, then he became a corporate accounting manager, and now has been promoted to Corporate Controller.

The RVI Group of Stamford, CT welcomes David McKay to its Passenger Vehicle Team as Vice President of Business Development & Sales, responsible for sales and product design with a focus on asset value protection insurance products. McKay’s wealth of experience includes being a Senior Business Consultant for Siporin & Associates, Chief Operating Officer for IBH Analytics and a Senior Consultant/Global Product Lead for IHS Markit, as well as time at R.L. Polk & Company, Audatex and J.D. Power. McKay will lead, develop and execute marketing and sales initiatives, including residual value insurance and analytical services products. Additional responsibilities include development and management of new partnerships and other initiatives.

Pete Thiel, a respected auto retail buy-sell executive, joins Haig Partners as Managing Director. Pete spent more than 20 years with AutoNation, most recently as its Vice President leading all acquisitions and divestitures. Pete has been involved in the purchase or sale of 133 dealerships for $2 billion, as well as the evaluation of more than 1,000 acquisition opportunities. Haig Partners is thrilled to add Pete's extensive auto retail buy-sell knowledge and relationships to the team.

Sonsio LLC, a leading provider of vehicle protection and warranty programs, recently merged with Evolution, Dent Wizard’s F&I vehicle protection division. With the Jan. 1 merger Lindsey Bird will serve as president of Sonsio. Bird joins Sonsio after 23 years at Dent Wizard where he served as director of operations, vice president of corporate sales, and then division president of Evolution. In his new role Bird will oversee Sonsio’s claims center operations, sales, and marketing departments.

Pinnacle Advertising of Boca Raton has hired John Hyland as its Senior Vice President of New Business Development. Hyland comes to Pinnacle from Hyundai Motor America having worked there for 20 years, most recently as the Director and General Manager of the Eastern Region. Hyland will be responsible for developing relationships with auto dealers from around the US and provide strategies to grow their business through increased sales and service.

Motoinsight welcomes Alex Lvovich to its executive leadership team, where he will provide strategic direction as the company navigates a period of unprecedented growth in the adoption of their digital retailing product MotoCommerce. He brings a wealth of knowledge from his experience as deputy CFO for Volvo Car USA, managing director for Volvo Car Canada, and head of operational performance excellence for Volvo Car USA.

Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has expanded its North American Automotive and Industrials Group and Aerospace, Defense & Aviation practice by hiring Tony Lynch as a Managing Director. Mr. Lynch, who has deep expertise in optimizing manufacturers’ processes and finances, strengthens A&M’s capabilities to help automotive and aerospace and defense companies achieve end-to-end operational and financial improvements.
With more than 35 years of experience in the automotive and aerospace industries, Mr. Lynch has designed and implemented strategies that improved manufacturing networks, operating models, plant operations, supply chain and cost structures. He has helped companies implement digital manufacturing techniques and intelligent supply chain.

U.S. Bank Dealer Services welcomes David Hollodick to its leadership team. He will develop strategic relationships with auto manufacturers, fintechs, key business partners and other emerging companies in the auto, RV and marine industries, and will lead the direct-to-consumer lending strategy for the business. Prior to joining U.S. Bank, he served in multiple sales, product, compliance and pricing management roles over three decades at Bank of America. He will based in Jacksonville, Florida.

Midway Car Rental -- a division of Midway Auto Group -- announces two new members to its executive team, Gary Kolodziej as Vice President of Sales & Marketing and Sean Perez as General Manager. Together, they will be leading the growth and development of the company's car rental business. Kolodziej joins Midway after 26 years at Enterprise Rent-A-Car and will be responsible for managing and developing his sales team to support the company’s expansion into new markets. In his new role, Perez will be overseeing the growing number of Midway Car Rental branches, including operations, profit growth and staff development. Collectively, Kolodziej and Perez have more than 40 years of experience in the car rental industry.

Laura Fluor has been promoted to General Manager of Circle BMW. Fluor previously served as Circle BMW’s General Sales Manager, a position she held since 2017. She has participated in BMW Sales Manager Advanced Retail Training, served on the BMW Professional Council and completed the M Dealer Experience at the BMW Performance Center West in Thermal, California. A graduate of Seton Hall University, Ms. Fluor holds a B.A. in English and Asian Studies.

As President, Mr. Brett Lippel oversees all divisions of Midway Auto Group including rental, leasing, car buying and vehicle supply and is responsible for the growth and development of his team and expansion of operations. Lippel also plays a key role in further building synergies between partnering Hankey Group companies including Westlake Financial, Knight Insurance and Toyota of North Hollywood. He has more than 20 years of experience in the automotive industry.

Performance Brokerage Services welcomes Jonathan Forgy, CPA to the team. With over 35 years of experience as a CPA and having specialized in the automotive industry as a Partner at Parke Guptill and Dixon Hughes Goodman, Jonathan is perfectly suited to guide clients in the sale of their dealerships and help maximize their proceeds. Jonathan embodies the company's core principles of integrity and ethical conduct. (909) 538-1922 | [email protected] | https://bit.ly/3mytCEd

Jason Theisen has been named Ziebart International Corporation's Director of Franchise Operations. During his 16-year career at Ziebart, Theisen has worked his way up from store technician to management and, eventually, corporate sales. As Director of Franchise Operations, he will be responsible for U.S. regional sales, product sales/technical support, and customer service to help Ziebart solidify its place as a key profit opportunity for the brand’s franchise owners and car dealer partners.

Larisa Walega has been named Ziebart International Corporation's VP of Marketing. Walega has spent the past seven years as Director of Marketing. Her key responsibilities will include building a holistic brand awareness strategy through digital marketing, sales promotion, public relations and marketing of new products. Walega will manage the internal marketing team and vendor partners to help the brand continue to be the worldwide leader in detailing, films and structural protection services.

Work Truck Solutions announces that Jim Press has joined as Senior Advisor. Press has extensive auto industry experience spanning over 50 years serving in senior executive roles for several automotive manufacturers. Work Truck Solutions is an all in one bundle of services uniquely focused on the Commercial vehicle market. They serve dealers and OEMs to target customer needs and increase commercial vehicle sales and margins, and Press will help guide their growth. https://bit.ly/3a7eoA

Brian Jackman has recently been named Ziebart International Corporation's new VP and Treasurer. Jackman most recently served as Ziebart’s Director of Corporate Finance, where he was instrumental in streamlining the accounting department. In his new role, Jackman’s responsibilities will include all aspects of corporate financial functions, including financial and tax reporting, cash management, liaison to independent auditors, banks and investment institutions, and corporate assets.

Market Scan Information Systems, Inc., the automotive industry’s leading solutions and data provider, has hired Jenn Reid as V.P. of Strategic Partnerships to spearhead the company’s API solutions’ growth strategies. Reid’s extensive automotive industry leadership experience covers dealership, lender, technology and data solutions. Reid joins Market Scan from Equifax, Inc., where she most recently held the position as VP Strategy & Marketing Leader – Automotive Services and led automotive growth strategies and managed large automotive partnerships. Reid is a graduate of Northwood University, with a degree in Automotive Marketing and Management. Reid can be reached at [email protected]

Tim Lamb Group announces the opening their Southwestern US regional office in Scottsdale, Arizona under the leadership of auto dealership veteran Ken Koehler. Ken will handle dealership buy/sells in Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. The move follows a 36-year auto dealership career encompassing dealer groups in California, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Mexico. Reach out to Ken at (401) 640-6015 or [email protected]. For dealership opportunities visit timlambgroup.com.

Affinitiv, the leading provider of data-driven marketing and software solutions to the automotive market, has named Sid Nair as the new Chief Executive Officer.  He will also join the company’s Board. Nair joins Affinitiv from Rackspace where he was the EVP & GM of the Americas region, running a $2 billion P&L with 1,500 associates across sales, delivery, operations, marketing, product & solutions. Prior to Rackspace, Nair was the EVP, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer for Cox Automotive.

automotiveMastermind (Mastermind) has hired Matt Leone as chief operating officer. Leone will oversee the operations, finance and HR departments of the company. He will also support the company’s internal goals, working to create an inclusive and supportive culture and grow the company. Prior to joining Mastermind, Leone was the chief operating officer for HotSchedules, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) providing HR services for the hospitality industry.

automotiveMastermind (Mastermind) has hired Charity Taylor as vice president of data analytics. In her new role, she will lead the data science and product insights teams, working to integrate high quality data into Mastermind's product suite to improve sales efficiency for dealership clients. Taylor joins Mastermind after spending over 20 years working in the automotive industry for various companies, including General Motors and J.D Power.

PLASTICS ENGINEERING CO. (PLENCO), Sheboygan, WI, announces the appointment of Len Nunnery as Director of Marketing, Sales & Tech Service. Nunnery will be responsible for leading Plenco’s commercial and tech service organizations while driving new growth initiatives. He brings a unique depth of knowledge and experience in development, production and commercialization of customized thermosets. Nunnery held leadership positions at Bulk Molding Compounds, Citadel Plastics, A. Schulman, and VP of Sales & Marketing for Minnesota Rubber.

“We are excited to announce the hire of Len Nunnery. Len brings Plenco a proven history of successful sales & marketing leadership and a wealth of technical thermoset experience.” Mike Brotz, President/CEO Plenco.

Lucid Motors has announced that Jonathan Butler has joined the company as VP, General Counsel, leading all aspects of legal, compliance, and public policy. With 17 years of legal experience in the automotive, technology, and global resourcing industries, Mr. Butler has vast expertise with commercial transactions, corporate governance, litigation, compliance, risk management, and issues related to intellectual property. He most recently spent eight years with Tesla as Deputy General Counsel.

Irvin Products has announced that Jennifer Helner has been named Vice President of Finance.  Helner joined Irvin Products in 1993 and most recently served as the Senior Director of Finance.  Helner will provide key leadership in corporate and operational financial functions, coordinate all business level planning and reporting activities and will serve as a strategic business partner to the executive team to drive significant and profitable growth.

Piston Automotive has announced that Tanya Sakhleh has been named Vice President of Sales & Marketing.  Sakhleh joined Piston Automotive in 2013 and most recently served as the Executive Director of Program Management and Prototype Operations.  Sakhleh will lead the development and delivery of Piston Automotive’s growth strategy, execute expansion plans and implement robust processes to support the sales organization while continuing to deepen customer relationships and brand recognition. 

DRiV™ announces the retirement of Billy Johnston, director of business development, North America Aftermarket, after 34 years with the company.

“Billy built his career upon knowing that you can’t establish customer trust without striving for win/win situations for both parties -- always,” said Jeff Koviak, VP sales, NA aftermarket.  “I personally thank Billy for his many great years of dedicated service to Tenneco and to DRiV, and know that we will all miss his constant passion for making the company a better place for us all.”

“I’m very grateful and extremely fortunate to have been with the same company and many great people for almost 34 years,” continued Johnston.  “I’m very appreciative and humbled for what my coworkers and this company have done for me as I achieved my goal to retire at a younger age.”

MetroTech Automotive has announced that Steve Kessel has been named Chief Operating Officer.  Steve has played a key role in the growth of MetroTech over the past 8 years, including significant expansion in the Western US.  In his role as COO, he will be responsible for all day-to-day operations of MetroTech Automotive and its 600+ partners. He will also continue as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Dana Incorporated’s Bob Pyle has been promoted to Executive Vice President of the company, in addition to his role as President of Dana Light Vehicle Driveline Technologies.  Pyle has served in an executive leadership role at Dana for nearly eight years and has led Dana’s Light Vehicle business to record results. 

Pyle joined Dana in 2012 as President of Dana Asia Pacific before being named President of Light Vehicle in 2014.  Prior to joining Dana, Pyle was a key member of Visteon’s global management team, served in strategic leadership positions at ASIMCO Technologies, Inc, and began his career at Ford.

Conway MacKenzie announces veteran automotive industry executive, Sig Huber has joined the firm as a Senior Managing Director. Sig’s vast experience includes OEM leadership roles involving supplier turnaround, reorganization, and mergers & acquisitions.  Prior to joining Conway MacKenzie, Sig was a Global Director of Purchasing with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). Prior to his experience at FCA, Sig worked for Toyota where he served in numerous roles ranging from Senior Legal Counsel to various leadership positions in Purchasing and Government Affairs.

Elliott Duda has been named Director of the North American Automotive Retail Practice for Detroit based Tier One Executive Search. The practice focuses on dealer group and dealership operations. Duda will move to the Detroit office and had previously worked out of Windsor as Global Fulfillment Manager within the manufacturing practice of Tier One, a firm widely considered to be the world leader in leadership recruitment within the global automotive and industrial sectors.

FixedOPS Marketing welcomes Russell B. Hill as the Founding Managing Partner! Russell has represented the most successful marketing companies in the automotive industry for over 30 years. He began in the 1980's. After working in dealerships on the front line, he transitioned to sales, selling dealership service specials. 

FixedOPS Marketing is a dealership marketing software provider focused on increasing service visits while increasing revenue per RO through videos. www.FixedOPSMarketing.com

DealerBuilt, an enterprise Dealer Management System (DMS) for automobile dealers, has appointed Brian Marshall as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Marshall brings over a decade of experience as a strategic finance leader with a proven track record of successfully leading corporate strategy and development for high-growth companies. Over the past decade, Marshall has excelled at helping companies grow by focusing on accounting and finance, corporate development, and financial planning and analysis.

Infomedia Ltd, a leader in parts, service and data insights solutions to the global automotive industry, has appointed Brian Consaul as President of IFM Americas. He recently served as the VP of Business Development at Dominion Dealer Solutions and brings over 15 years of experience in the retail automotive and technology space. With a proven track record in technical operations, business development and client success in SaaS-based platform solutions, Consaul will be responsible for leading Infomedia’s sales strategy and growth in the Americas region. https://www.infomedia.com.au/us/

Foureyes hired Pieter Hogeveen as Vice President of Business Development. With extensive experience in the automotive industry both domestic and internationally ranging from Director of Alfa Romeo NA to an FCA Area Sales and Marketing Manager to working management roles in his family’s dealerships, Hogeveen brings his insights to the sales intelligence software company. “I want to drive innovation in the automotive industry and Foureyes gives me that opportunity,” says Hogeveen. “I’m enthusiastic about what we’ll accomplish together.” Hogeveen is based in Detroit.

DealerBuilt has appointed Keith Baker as Chief Revenue Officer. He has 25 years of success building and growing world-class field sales teams. Before joining DealerBuilt, he worked with leading companies including ALLDATA and Autobytel, before joining Cox Automotive in 2012. While at Cox Automotive, Baker was instrumental in the explosive growth of vAuto’s client base before moving over to his final post at Cox Automotive as the VP of Sales for DealerTrack DMS.

fusionZONE Automotive, LLC has appointed Adam Swanson as OEM Director. He is tasked with growing successful partnerships with OEMs in need of effective website and digital advertising solutions for their dealership networks. Before joining fusionZONE, Swanson spent seven years at Shift Digital. Swanson began his career in the automotive industry at Mazda North American Operations, where he served as District Manager over a network of 16 Mazda dealerships throughout the Midwest.

DealerBuilt has hired well-known automotive industry veteran Mike “theCarGuy” Correra as a Client Experience Specialist. Correra serves as a DealerBuilt subject matter expert for best practices supporting one complete dealership workflow (sales, parts, service, and accounting). In his position, he visits with dealers, studies their use of the DealerBuilt DMS and helps improve their performance with tips and techniques he learned from many years using the system as a dealer.

Henderson manages a team that helps customers take advantage of DealerBuilt’s products and services, responsible for continued high client retention, providing confidence that every client has representation and a channel to communicate how DealerBuilt can best continue to meet their needs.

Tricia Turk has been promoted to Vice President, Customer Success, overseeing Outsells Dealer Success and Account Management teams. A three-year veteran of Outsell, Turk was previously Director, Customer Success.

As CHRO, Benedict will lead Stoneridge’s global human resources team to develop and deliver global talent and organizational strategies to drive the company’s operations and growth, as well as provide legal advice and counsel on global labor and employment matters.

United Access is pleased to announce the appointment of John Beering to the position of President. In his position, Beering will work closely with key stakeholders to continue to focus on growing the business. Beering’s primary focus will remain on the customer and he shares our passion and mission to give people the power of freedom and independence by providing the safest and most trusted accessible driving solutions in the country.
 

Ms. Domike provides legal counsel in environmental, mobility, transport and safety, and litigation. Her practice involves addressing regulatory and permitting issues arising under the Clean Air Act, associated both with mobile and stationary sources. 

George’s three decades of auto experience, paired with Ipsos’ deep insight into a changing industry, reinforces our dedication to an extensive understanding of markets and brands to empower our clients to make smart decisions and navigate the world.