ConnectedPodcast

On today's Connected, Elgie Bright returns for a conversation with Greg! Elgie is the chair of the automotive marketing and management program at Northwood University, has an impressive background in the automotive industry, and is dedicated to helping those interested in entering the field. This time around, he and Greg discuss: -The President's Freedom Celebration and International Auto Show at Northwood. -The importance of having strong values and leaning into them. -Relationship building and connection within the industry.

On this episode of Connected, Greg sits down with Nathan Shaver, a dealer at Shaver Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Nathan is a fifth-generation automotive dealer and has a great vision for the industry's growth. It's clear Nathan has a passion for what's new in automotive technology and how it can impact his business. He and Greg touch on this and other interesting topics, including: -How Nathan works to define a clear and concise strategy for his store as a new owner. -Building buy-in with his team and how they prepare to operate more efficiently in this market. -Creating new opportunities by identifying what's next in automotive technology.

Today on Connected, Greg is joined by Lyle Dizon from AutoVision! Lyle and Greg talk about AutoVision's AI assistant Avery, the innovation driving it forward, and some of the broader momentum building within AutoVision. They get into: -What's new with Avery and how it's evolving. -The exciting things happening at AutoVision. -Broader trends impacting digital retailing and inventory strategies.

On this episode of Connected, host Greg Uland sits down with Inga Maurer, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. Inga leads McKinsey's work with dealerships, aftermarket players, and OEMs, keeping her very plugged into the automotive ecosystem. She also recently co-authored an article titled "Boosting auto sales productivity: A playbook for excellence," and as soon as Greg read it, he wanted to have her on Connected to pick her brain on the topic of dealership efficiency. Together, the two of them dig into the information in her article and dive deeper into topics like: -AI as a means of boosting productivity and efficiency. -Taking an end-to-end view on customer profitability. -How new tariffs might impact the industry.

On today's Connected, Greg reconnects with Colin Carrasquillo, digital marketing manager at Nielsen Automotive Group. With over a decade of experience, Colin is always at the forefront of what's going on in automotive marketing. Greg and Colin cover: -How to measure success in marketing. -Insights into creating vs. capturing demand and how to direct it to your stores. -The four key elements that make up an impactful Customer Data Platform (CDP).

Today on Connected, Greg chats with Sam D'Arc, COO at Zeigler Auto Group and host of the Industry Spotlight podcast. Sam regularly talks about how important it is to build a consistent culture at a large group like Zeigler with 41 stores and over 2500 employees. When asked how to build that culture, Sam says it breaks down to implementing intentional actions over a long period. Some of his examples are: -Ongoing leadership and development training supporting employees through their whole career. -Leaders regularly sharing the direction and mission of the organization with all employees. -Celebrating successes at every level throughout the dealership.

On this episode of Connected, Greg sits down with the internet's favorite Car Dealership Guy, Yossi Levi! From building an anonymous Twitter presence to transforming his digital persona into a thriving business, Yossi's entrepreneurial journey showcases how authentic industry insights can evolve into a brand with real-world impact. Yossi and Greg dive into an exciting array of topics. Here's a sneak peek at the highlights: -The beginnings of Car Dealership Guy. -Doubling down on your niche. -What's on the horizon for the industry.

The last of our episodes from NADA 2025 is a conversation with Cliff Banks, founder of the Banks Report and AUTOVATE. Cliff always has really great insight into what's going on in the industry, and he shared a few key things he's keeping an eye on in the next year. He covered: -The future of the direct to consumer model. -The EV market and the impact of incentives. -The growing presence of AI.

This week on Connected, it's the other half of the best duo in automotive: Kyle Mountsier from ASOTU! At NADA, Kyle joined Greg to talk about: • The creation of AutoIndustry.ai. • The 3 primary purposes of AI. • Moving from reactive to proactive as an industry with AI.

On this episode of Connected, Greg talks with Sam Klemet, executive director of the Detroit Auto Show and the Detroit Auto Dealers Association as he comes off of a very successful 2025 auto show! Sam shares details of what went into putting on this year's show and the importance of Detroit to this event in telling the automotive story. He and Greg get into: -The background of the Detroit Auto Show and Sam's first year as executive director. -Social media storytelling bringing the show beyond the attendees. -Standout topics and events from this year's show.

We're releasing another episode from our NADA 2025 series this week and it features two great guests: Ed Roberts from Bozard Ford and Troy Blackwell from Spiffy. Greg talks with Ed and Troy about: • Bozard Ford's thriving mobile service fleet of 41 vans and their expansion strategy. • Spiffy's journey to delivering 3 million mobile services across 400 vans nationwide. • How mobile service drives customer retention, with Bozard achieving 80% retention vs. the 30% industry average.

We got him! The first episode of our live from NADA series features Paul J Daly, founder and CEO of Automotive State of the Union (ASOTU). Greg and Paul discuss: -The process of planning ASOTU CON 2025 -Season 1 of More Than Cars on Amazon Prime and Tubi -More Than Cars season 2 -Adding Michael Cirillo's "The Dealer Playbook" to ASOTU's media network

This week on Connected, Greg's talking with Mr. NADA himself, Dave Bates, chief customer ambassador here at Reynolds. Dave dropped by the studio to talk about what he's looking forward to at NADA 2025 and share some of his great stories from years past. Some of the topics covered include: -Dave's first NADA story. -The one thing you should see at each booth in the Reynolds village. -Who Dave is most excited to see this year. -The best late night eats in New Orleans.

On today's Connected, Greg talks with Kayla Sheridan, marketing director at TommyCar Auto Group and an Automotive Amplifiers Contest finalist. As a fellow marketer, Greg was really excited to pick Kayla's brain about her experience and how she balances marketing for a group with five different OEMs represented. Kayla shares some of what she does to strengthen and promote their group's messaging: -Advertising across digital and traditional mediums. -A quarterly walk around contest for the sales teams. -Tailoring marketing channels for each of the group's brands. Let us know what you think of the conversation. You can also listen and subscribe now on your favorite streaming platform.

Join Reynolds vice president of marketing Greg Uland for a recap of ten of our most popular conversations from this year!

Today on Connected, Greg sits down with Jeremy Reardon, service production manager at Westside Lexus and Automotive Amplifiers contest winner! Jeremy runs a really impressive service department in Houston with 112 service bays, 78 lifts, and 62 technicians. With around 70 percent of his shop being made up of homegrown technicians, Jeremy's investment in recruiting and training is really apparent. He shares some of his tips for success including: - Training technicians in the BDC to help them learn how to communicate recommendations more effectively. - Investing in not only recruits, but also the people who influence them, like their families and their teachers. - Dedicating your time and being persistent is the key to building recruiting relationships.

On today's Connected, Greg sits down with James Dieli, warranty administrator at Beau Townsend Ford and Automotive Amplifiers contest winner. From serving hotdogs at the dealership as a kid to steering his career in the automotive industry today, James embarked on his journey early and continues to drive forward with passion and dedication. He and Greg discuss a number of topics, including: -The strong connections between the hospitality and automotive industries. -The shift in mindset needed to go paperless. -How to limit difficult conversations with customers.

On today's Connected, Greg sits down with Shawn Concannon, president of TSD Mobility Solutions, a leader in fleet management software Reynolds and Reynolds acquired back in August. Shawn got his start in automotive renting cars right out of college, building a foundation in the industry that eventually led him to TSD. Shawn shared a lot of great insight into these areas of rental and fleet management: -Finishing the service process with transportation. -Knowing which customers to offer loaners to. -Creating an additional profit center through rental operations.

Today on Connected, Greg speaks in studio with two guests: Jean Ings and Katrina Ness. Although Jean and Katrina come from diverse paths—Jean as a talented scriptwriter at Quantum5 and Katrina as an ambitious Junior at Northwood University—they share a remarkable journey ahead: becoming rising stars in the dynamic world of the automotive industry. They cover a number of topics including: -How to capture young talent by showcasing the dynamic and innovative aspects of the auto industry. -The significant impact of internships and real-world projects. -Setting realistic expectations for career advancement, including the necessary steps to achieve growth and success in automotive.

On today's episode of Connected, we're shining a spotlight on the winners of our Automotive Amplifiers Contest! At Reynolds Retail Summit: Amplify 2024, we held a best practices contest to share great ideas across the automotive industry. We highlighted ideas from three different categories: fixed operations, variable operations, and people. In this episode, you'll hear from the three winners. -Variable Operations: Justin Rash, F&I manager at Beau Townsend Ford Lincoln, talks about creating a completely paperless finance and sales process. -People: Jeremy Reardon, service production manager at Westside Lexus, discusses recruiting technicians from local high schools and colleges. -Fixed Operations: James Dieli, warranty administrator at Beau Townsend Ford Lincoln, covers going paperless in service.

In honor of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Greg is joined this week by Brad Holton, founder of Proton Dealership IT. Since starting Proton in 2013, Brad has seen an evolution in the nature of cyberattacks and cybersecurity. He's got a great handle on how cybercrime has changed and what we can all look out for moving forward. Brad and Greg discuss: -When a cyber event happens, how do you make it a 15-minute event and not a 15-day event. -How natural disasters impact security with rises in social engineering efforts. -A checklist of tips to help you prepare your business against an attack.

Today on Connected, Greg talks with Alan Amici, president and CEO of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), a 501c3 organization with the mission to inform and advise to create a stronger and more viable automotive industry. Alan joined CAR after a 35+ year career with Stellantis. His wealth of experience has given him so much knowledge and insight into what's next for our industry. Alan and Greg discuss: -The future of infotainment and connected car data. -Affordability and profitability conversations surrounding EVs. -Where the US auto industry is headed in terms of volume of new vehicle sales over time.

On today's Connected, Greg sits down with Cheryl Thompson, founder and CEO of the Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion, and Advancement (also known as CADIA). Cheryl has had a 30+ year career in automotive, primarily working with the Ford Motor Company. Her time in this industry has taught her a lot about leadership, DEI, and the value of automotive careers. Greg and Cheryl discuss: -How to make the automotive industry a destination for career seekers. -How to broaden the talent pool in automotive with people of all backgrounds. -How DEI initiatives have positively impacted the auto industry.

Today's Connected is a big milestone — it's episode 150! Greg sat down with Richard Greene, fixed ops director at Parker Lexus, Parker Cadillac, and Audi Little Rock to celebrate. Richard started his career in service right out of college, and since then he's worked in just about every role in the department. These experiences have helped Richard create an extremely successful service apprenticeship program. Richard and Greg discuss: -Recruiting and retaining new technicians. -Establishing an apprenticeship program that benefits both new and master techs. -Working with OEMs to increase productivity and build a better experience for customers.

On this extended episode of Connected, host Greg Uland sits down with Steve Greenfield, general partner at Automotive Ventures. Steve has held many roles within the automotive industry and is probably a familiar face for some of you from countless conferences and events.In his current role in the venture capital space, Steve spends a lot of time on current and future struggles impacting dealers and the tools that are being developed to help. Steve and Greg discuss: - How utilizing connected processes and software can enhance dealer and customer experiences. - The process of connecting entrepreneurs with potential investors. - What the next wave of automotive technology looks like.

The FTC estimates that synthetic identity fraud now accounts for 80-85% of all identity fraud. On this episode of Connected, Greg sits down with Frank Toms from Auto Data Direct to talk about what kind of challenges this type of fraud presents for dealers. Frank and Greg discuss everything dealers need to know including: -What constitutes synthetic fraud. -The risk synthetic fraud poses to dealers -Measures for spotting fraud before it occurs. -How to stay educated as fraudulent practices change.

On this episode of Connected, Greg is joined by Dusty Weis, president of Podcamp Media and host of the award-winning Lead Balloon podcast. Dusty has quite the background in media and public relations, and he shared great insight into how dealers can be communicative and transparent with their customers when faced with a PR crisis. Dusty and Greg discuss: -Creating a proactive crisis communication response plan. -Rebuilding customer trust after a crisis like a cyberattack. -Distributing your message through a clear, compelling story.

Today's Connected episode is a little different than what we had planned. Dealerships are some of the most resilient businesses out there, but recent events have left a lot of dealers with understandable concerns about their system's security. Greg is joined in studio by Chris Gologanoff, Sales Director of Communication Services here at Reynolds, to talk about: -How dealers are reacting to their systems being down. -Best practices to keep operations running as smooth as possible. -How, as an industry, we're all helping one another through these tough times.

On today's episode, Greg is joined by Cory Coler, a supervisor on the Product Management team at Reynolds and Reynolds. He handles fixed operations products from the beautiful Reynolds office down in Tampa. They sit down to chat about the influence of different retail experiences on consumers' service expectations, creating a 'no sales pressure' environment, and utilizing technology to build trust. If you're interested in hearing more about what consumers think about the service process, check out the brand new study from GoMoto!

On this episode of Connected, Greg is joined by Mike Martinez, COO of DealerOn. Mike has been working to help provide quality websites to dealerships since the early days, back when many dealers didn't even have a site. And since then, he's been a part of every update to keep up with shifting consumer behaviors. Mike and Greg discuss: -Personalizing the shopping experience for consumers on your website. -Using a "right car, right payment, right now" approach. -Elements of a good SEO strategy.

On this episode of Connected Greg is joined by Sandra Gonzalez, also known as "The Fleet Queen." Sandra is the national government and commercial fleet manager at Peoria Ford out in sunny Arizona. Since 2019, Peoria Ford's government fleet sales have tripled with the help of Sandra and her team. She and Greg chat about: -Establishing your brand in a niche space like the fleet market. -Keeping up with fast-paced growth. -The importance of a solid network and strong communication skills.

On this episode of Connected, Greg is joined by two guests from Automotive Warranty Network Inc. — Jake Trott, the vice president of account management, and Jason Tuck, the sales and marketing manager. Warranty claims work isn't talked about very often, but it can be critical to your bottom line. Jake and Jason sat down to talk about: -Common issues to look for before submitting warranty claims. -What percentage of warranty ROs have some type of issue. -How much money is left on the table or lost in warranty audits.

On today's episode Greg is joined by Glenn Mercer, long-time automotive researcher and the author of the popular blog, Car Charts. Glenn has been a part of the automotive space for decades. Before turning to automotive research and starting his blog, Glenn worked in the automotive consulting space with McKinsey & Company for over 20 years. In this conversation, he offers some great insights and ideas on: -The impact of youth sports on car buying behavior. -Being a retailer vs. being a dealer. -The main problems with a direct-to-consumer model.

The average car deal requires 39 feet of forms, and with regular updates to state and federal regulations, it can be a challenge for many dealerships to keep all those documents up-to-date. On today's episode, Reynolds VP of Marketing Greg Uland is joined by another Greg: Greg Schaeffer, Vice President of Compliance. They discuss some ideas for how dealers can protect themselves by identifying areas in common forms where they're most at risk. Hear their thoughts on: -Best practices for managing your compliance. -How often your forms should be reviewed (and the best time of the year to review them). -Common issues to look for when reviewing documents for risk.

This week's episode of Connected is one for the record books. Greg welcomes two in-studio guests for the first time and it's one of the longest conversations we've ever had! Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier from Automotive State of the Union (ASOTU) visited the Reynolds and Reynolds headquarters for the first time to talk about building a macro-brand, creative storytelling, and the role dealerships play within their communities. They also mention their docuseries More Than Cars, which will have a new episode premiering on March 27, and talk about ASOTU CON coming to Baltimore in May!

On this episode of Connected, TrueSpot CEO/Founder Mike Hanna joins Greg in studio to discuss his experience working in a dealership and how the company got started. Watch the entire conversation to hear some of Mike's stories about how tracking down keys can put you in some unexpected places...like digging through a dumpster!

This week's episode of Connected is a bit of a special one. A few weeks ago at NADA, we had 11 great conversations in our booth on the show floor with people from different parts of the automotive industry: dealers, students, influencers, ADA presidents, vendors, and CEOs. Each conversation discussed a new and fun topic from service efficiency to AI, eContracting, and more. In this episode, Greg goes through some of his favorite moments to give you a quick recap of what people were talking about out in Las Vegas.

"For over 125 years dealers have been successful and adapted to every technological change in our industry. Whether it's how vehicles are sold or the technology used in the vehicles, dealers are constantly updating their ability to reach their customers." On this episode of Connected, Greg sits down with Brian Maas, president of the California New Car Dealers Association and outgoing ATAE chairman. Brian and his colleagues are responsible for updating the franchise laws that protect dealerships.

On today's episode, Greg sits down with Jose Mendoza, general manager at San Leandro Honda. With inventory levels beginning to stabilize, Jose offers some great tips for navigating the used vehicle market. Hear his thoughts on: -Selling new vs. used. -Finding profitable inventory. -Pricing to your specific market.

On today's episode, Dan Shine, senior editor of Automotive News, joins Greg in the Connected studio.  As a Detroit native and experienced journalist, Dan has great insight into what's going on in the industry and how's it being talked about in the media. Get Dan's insight on: -Important topics that aren't being talked about enough. -Subjects to keep an eye out for in the future. -How he identifies the stories and people he covers.

Today on Connected, Greg sits down with Curtis Lewsey, the founder of DealerCards and bestselling author of Appreciation Marketing. Curtis has figured out how dealerships can turn a simple "thank you" into a competitive advantage. Listen as they discuss: -What you can do to increase repeat business. -How to earn customer referrals, not just ask for them. -How to build a lasting customer relationship from the get-go.

It's the last episode of Connected before Christmas and we picked this guest just for you! Greg is joined in studio by Kelly Adkins, director of OEM programs at Reynolds, to talk about getting involved in your community and the joy of giving back. Kelly and her family do a lot of volunteering and she has some great tips for getting started!

Thanksgiving has come and gone but we're thankful for this week's guest, Owen Moon! Owen is the co-founder and CEO of Fixed Ops Digital and he sat down with Greg to talk about how you can use marketing to increase visibility and trust in your service department. Find out how you can make your dealership stand out when customers need proactive maintenance work or reactive vehicle repairs!

On today's episode of Connected, Greg talks with Lee Harkins, president and CEO of M5 Management Services, about the common issues he is seeing impacting dealerships' service operations and what advice he gives to help improve their processes. When it comes down to implementing those improvements in the service drive, there are often two different paths taken - investing in the process or investing in technology and tools. In regards to which he has seen drive more success, Lee shared: "Both have had a big impact. Technology in our business right now has been just over the top from a benefits standpoint to the stores... but they are not going to be as effective without the formal processes to support it."

There are many incredibly talented technicians out there. For the best of the best at Hendrick Automotive Group, there are few achievements as impressive as being invited to participate in the Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown. This week on Connected, Greg sits down with Roger Mesiemore, vice president of fixed operations at Hendrick Automotive Group, to talk about this year's event and why it's important to recognize talented techs. The 22nd annual Engine Builder Showdown takes place November 8-9 on the campus of Hendrick Motorsports in Concord, North Carolina. Watch it live at RacingAmerica.tv and HendrickEBS.com!

Happy National Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Well, we hope it's a happy occasion. This week on Connected, Greg sits down with Ken Wolf, the supervisor of Reynolds' Security Operations Center. While thinking about cyber incidents can be intimidating, Ken was able to talk through some things that can help you protect yourself and your dealership. Things like: -Where you have control when it comes to your data. -The impact of ransomware and cyberattacks. -What you can be doing to keep your data safe.

Today on Connected, Greg sits down with Tim Whalen, service manager at Voss Chevrolet in Dayton, Ohio. Technician turnover continues to be an issue for dealers but at Voss, Tim's only seen two techs move to different roles in the last five years! Watch the full conversation to find out how Tim manages retention in his dealership by asking questions and evaluating why employees might not be satisfied.

Implementing new systems into the dealership can have a huge impact on long term success, but it's not a one-sided process. It takes work from both the vendor and the dealership, each of which has unique insights on what it takes to successfully implement change. On this episode of Connected, Greg talks with Sean Sullivan,  general manager at Bill Currie Ford, and Brad Schafer, the founder of ReconTRAC®. Listen to Brad and Sean's takeaways on: -What kind of buy-in is needed to make a successful change. -Who should be included in the decision making process for widescale changes. -What leaders can do to smooth out the transitional period between two systems.

On today's Connected, Greg sits down to talk with Don Graff, owner of Don Graff Automotive Advisors. Don has spent many years on all sides of the industry, giving him so much knowledge to pull from in his current role as a consultant helping dealerships better understand their business and their workforce. During the conversation, Don shares his thoughts on: -How much impact you can actually have on employee retention. -If there's an appropriate level of attrition for a business. -Current and future trends to get the most out of your BDC. Interested in hearing more? Don will be speaking at our retail summit, Amplify, September 25-26 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Sign up at https://www.reyrey.com/cp/amplify

Let's chat about chat! This week on Connected, Greg welcomes Ashley Yard, director of client success at Gubagoo . Their conversation includes insights into the three layers of chat and lead generation, assistive tech's role in the car buying process, what lies ahead for virtual retailing, and an idea for how you can use ChatGPT's capabilities.

Today, we're looking back on Connected episodes that not only stand the test of time, but cover topics that are incredibly relevant to our changing industry today. Check out conversations with industry experts on: -Customer data platforms and how they can impact dealers -Protecting your dealership against cyberattacks -The evolution of the modern day service lane -How eContracting is changing the F&I department -Using data to strategically price vehicles