Podcasts about bdc

Why isn't Fixed Ops saving dealerships while vehicle sales and front-end gross are falling? In Service Drive Revolution #374, Chris, Hogi and Adam examine why service and parts departments are remaining flat when they should be carrying dealership overhead. Customers are keeping vehicles longer and driving more, yet many stores are booked out for weeks, losing customer-pay work and allowing independent shops to capture market share. The team identifies technician capacity as the primary constraint. When warranty repair orders begin matching or exceeding customer-pay ROs, it may reveal that customers who have a choice are going elsewhere. Chris explains why dealers must add technicians before the shop feels ready, price labor correctly and stop waiting for the mythical "unicorn" tech. They also challenge leaders to mystery-shop their own appointment process, reinvest in customer experience and replace systems that have barely evolved in a century. Plus: Is the AI bubble finally popping? The crew discusses failed AI phone systems, advisor kiosks and why AI works best as a tool that amplifies expertise—not as a replacement for human relationships. KEY TAKEAWAYS * Fixed Ops Should Carry the Store: When sales decline, service and parts should protect dealership profitability. * Capacity Is the Constraint: Being booked out sends urgent customer-pay work to competitors. * Watch the RO Mix: Warranty ROs exceeding customer-pay ROs can reveal technician shortages and lost retention. * Hire Before It Feels Comfortable: More technicians can improve work distribution, efficiency and available capacity. * Price Labor for Reality: Labor rates should reflect technician compensation, demand and the cost of timely service. * AI Should Amplify Talent: It can accelerate research, coding & internal systems, but cannot replace customer connection.  * Mystery-Shop the Process: Leaders often don't know how difficult their own BDC & appointment experience has become. FAQ Q: Why isn't Fixed Ops saving struggling dealerships? A: Many departments lack technician capacity, lose customer-pay work, use outdated systems and underinvest in retention and customer experience. Q: What does it mean when warranty ROs exceed customer-pay ROs? A: Warranty customers must return to the brand, while customer-pay clients can leave. A rising warranty mix may mean customers with choices are defecting. Q: Should a dealership hire technicians before its current techs are fully efficient? A: Yes. Additional capacity can improve workflow and efficiency while allowing the dealership to capture more work. Q: Should higher technician pay reduce service gross? A: It does not have to. Labor rates can be adjusted to reflect technician wages, market demand and the cost of timely service. Q: Can AI replace Service Advisors or the BDC? A: The team says current AI is better used as support. Advisors create trust, validation and relationships that automation cannot reproduce. Chapters 0:00 Live From Indiana 1:45 Why Isn't Fixed Ops Saving Dealerships? 2:35 Summer, Boats and Power-Sports Dealers 8:30 Buying Without a Test Drive 9:25 The Power-Sports Technician Shortage 1 0:20 Seasonal Service and Motorcycle Storage 17:55 Power-Sports Absorption 19:20 Parts and Service Between Two Flames 22:35 Is the AI Bubble Popping? 24:00 Tablets, Kiosks and Digital Inspection Hype 26:35 Why AI Phone Systems Are Failing 27:20 Where AI Actually Saves Time 30:40 AI vs. Human Customer Service 33:20 Use AI to Amplify Expertise 36:50 AI Is Changing Search 37:50 Why Fixed Ops Historically Carried Dealerships 40:55 Falling Sales and Flat Fixed Ops 44:00 Technician Capacity Is the First Problem 44:30 Warranty vs. Customer-Pay ROs 46:00 Add Capacity Before the Constraint 47:00 Why Independents Are Gaining Market Share 48:40 Mystery-Shop Your Dealership 50:40 Paying More for Technicians 53:25 Antiquated Dealership Systems 54:00 Consolidation and Customer Experience 57:20 Fixed Ops as a Force Multiplier 59:00 Dealership Leadership Needs Fixed Ops Experience 1:00:40 Final Thoughts

What happens when a global call center veteran steps into the automotive industry and starts questioning the way dealerships have always done things?  In this episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, Sean V. Bradley and LA Williams sit down with Lee Harris, current Internet Director at Minnesota Truck Headquarters, a BPO veteran turned automotive innovator who is bringing a completely different perspective to dealership customer engagement. "Your most valuable asset that you have in your dealership, it's not the cars on the floor, it's not the cars in the showroom, it's the people." – Lee Harris With years of experience leading high-volume customer service, operations, and technology organizations, Lee is taking lessons from outside automotive and applying them to one of the industry's biggest opportunities: how dealerships communicate with, follow up with, and ultimately serve today's customer. The conversation dives into the evolution of the traditional BDC, the growing role of AI and automation, the importance of stronger processes and training, and why technology should make dealership teams MORE effective without removing the human connection.  "AI doubles in capacity and capability every two weeks." – Lee Harris If you're a Dealer Principal, GM, BDC leader, sales manager, or automotive professional trying to prepare for where customer engagement is headed next, you're going to want to hear this conversation! Key Takeaways: ✅ Lee Harris highlights the value of integrating advanced AI tools and CRM customization to enhance client services' effectiveness within car dealerships. ✅ The automotive sector often lags in adopting modern technology, with Harris noting the industry's typical five to seven-year lag behind bleeding-edge solutions. ✅ Personalization and the human element remain crucial in customer interactions, even when leveraging high-end AI tools to streamline processes. ✅ Fostering a team environment where personnel investment in training and morale is prioritized can drive substantial success, as evidenced by record-breaking sales figures at MTH. ✅ Harris advises dealership leaders to rethink traditional managerial roles by emphasizing leadership qualities that inspire and genuinely connect with employees.   About Lee Harris Lee Harris is a seasoned professional with nearly three decades of experience in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry. He began his career as an agent and ascended to senior executive roles at large organizations like Conduent, Xerox Services, and Sutherland Healthcare. Harris has been involved with operations in numerous countries, managing substantial revenues and diverse teams. Currently, he is the Director of Business Development at Minnesota Truck Headquarters (MTH) in St. Cloud, where his expertise in technology, customer experience, and process development is helping redefine automotive sales strategies.     AI Revolution in Automotive BDC: Transforming Client Services in Dealerships   Key Takeaways: Adapting New Technologies: CRM technologies are increasingly seen as outdated; AI tools are proving indispensable for operational efficiency in auto dealerships. Focus on Human Capital: Building a dedicated, well-trained team with a strong culture and synergy is vital for success. Engagement Optimization: Increasing customer engagement through technology, particularly AI, is paramount for maximizing showroom visits and sales success.   The Shift from Traditional BDC to AI Integration in Dealerships In the ever-evolving landscape of automotive sales, dealerships are faced with the need to innovate or risk being left behind. This conversation brings to light the transformational journey from traditional Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems to Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven strategies. As Lee Harris from Minnesota Truck Headquarters shares, "AI doubles in capacity and capability every two weeks," underscoring the rapid advancement and adoption of technology that is necessary for modern dealerships to thrive. The podcast participants echo a pivotal revelation: the traditional CRM's limitations in dynamically adapting to ever-changing dealership needs. Sean V. Bradley emphasizes, "CRM is antiquated technology now," advocating for a shift towards tools like Podium's AI. This technology steps beyond static scripts, offering dynamic, personalized communication powered by an extensive knowledge base. This ability, Harris notes, allows dealerships to handle communications with precision, enhancing customer interaction and satisfaction. Through this integration, dealerships empower their sales teams to focus on high-impact interactions by letting AI handle routine, low-complexity tasks. Bradley states, "If we delegate all the tier one remedial activities to artificial intelligence, […] now my humans can focus on higher levels." This delegation not only optimizes human resource capabilities but also maximizes lead conversion, showcasing the multilateral benefits of AI over traditional CRM systems.   Emphasizing Human Capital and Leadership In the broader scheme of automotive business development, human capital remains the cornerstone of any successful dealership. Lee Harris passionately argues for investing in people, expressing, "Your people are the most precious thing that you have in your group, in your responsibility." This sentiment is a cornerstone for transformational leadership and modern business strategies within dealerships. The discussion probes into what sets excellent dealerships apart — their approach to nurturing and investing in a highly competent and motivated workforce. For Harris, leading a team goes beyond managing transactions; it's about cultivating a culture of excellence where team members understand their value and are equipped with the right tools and training. By stating, "Invest both professionally and personally into those individuals to be successful," Harris emphasizes the significance of a dedicated and well-supported team for achieving dealership objectives. Training and development play an integral role in this framework. Dealer Synergy's Bradley On Demand platform is applauded for its comprehensive training, ensuring that team members "don't even get to touch a phone until they are through the initial training," a practice that ingrains a regiment of quality assurance and preparedness foundational to operational success.   Revolutionizing Customer Engagement A recurring theme throughout the dialogue is the pivotal role of customer engagement strategies in dictating sales and dealership success. The integration of AI is poised to revolutionize how dealerships engage with prospective customers, significantly bridging gaps between inquiries and successful sales. Bradley notes the chronic issue of low engagement levels, stating that most dealership efforts result in "not talking to somebody." This reveals a critical area of opportunity — the need for effective engagement strategies. AI tools like Podium's Jerry 2.0 transform engagement dynamics by facilitating omnipresent communication, ensuring customer interactions are timely, relevant, and personalized. In integrating AI, dealerships can remarkably enhance appointment show rates, which Harris notes as being "73% appointment show ratio" — a staggering figure above industry averages. This indicates AI's profound impact on bridging communication gaps, ensuring prospects are guided efficiently through the sales funnel. The potential of AI in this capacity is magnified by its ability to analyze and learn from interactions, delivering nuanced conversations that are tailored to client needs and potentially increasing showroom traffic and sales. Harris concludes, adopting "convenience and a friction-free process" is essential for translating client inquiries into satisfied customers, highlighting AI's role in crafting seamless customer journeys. In the evolving landscape of automotive sales and services, the dealership's adaptability to AI-driven methodologies is not just a competitive advantage; it is becoming a standard of future-forward operations. The rich discussions from industry leaders cast a spotlight on the profound changes AI brings, demonstrating a roadmap for others to follow, where smart technology and human empathy work in tandem toward exceptional dealership success.     Resources + Our Proud Sponsors: ➼ Podium: The AI Platform Powering the Modern Dealership. From instant lead response to seamless test drive scheduling, Podium's AI Employee Jerry works 24/7 to turn every lead into a conversion, so your team can focus on closing. Trusted by thousands of dealerships nationwide and proudly featured on the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast. Learn how Podium can help you sell more cars, book more service appointments, and grow your dealership. Discover how Podium's innovative AI technology can unlock unparalleled efficiency and drive your dealership's sales to new heights. Visit www.podium.com/mcs to learn more!   ➼ The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Automotive Sales Mastermind Facebook Group with over 29,000 automotive professionals worldwide. The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group is the go-to community for car salespeople, BDC agents, sales managers, general managers, and dealer principals looking to increase performance, income, and leadership skills. Inside the group, members collaborate daily on automotive sales strategies, lead handling, phone scripts, closing techniques, CRM best practices, dealership leadership, and accountability systems. Learn directly from top automotive trainers, industry mentors, and high-performing sales leaders who are actively winning in today's market. If you're serious about growing your automotive career, increasing car sales, and building long-term success, join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today!   ➼ Dealer Synergy: Dealer Synergy is the automotive industry's #1 Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm, with over 20 years of proven dealership success nationwide. We specialize in helping car dealerships increase sales, improve processes, and build high-performing Sales, Internet, and BDC departments from the ground up. Our expertise includes automotive phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, lead handling strategies, BDC workflows, Internet sales processes, management training, and accountability systems. Dealer Synergy partners directly with dealership leadership to align people, process, and technology, ensuring consistent results and scalable growth. From independent dealers to large dealer groups and OEM partnerships, Dealer Synergy delivers measurable performance improvements, stronger teams, and sustainable profitability.   ➼ Bradley On Demand: Bradley On Demand is the automotive industry's most advanced interactive training, tracking, testing, and certification platform for car dealerships — built to develop top-performing teams across Sales, Internet Sales, BDC, CRM, Phone Skills, Leadership, and Management. In addition to LIVE virtual automotive training classes and a library of 9,000+ on-demand dealership training modules, Bradley On Demand now includes AI Phone Roleplaying and Coaching to help salespeople and BDC agents practice real dealership conversations before they ever get on the phone with customers. This AI-powered roleplay technology strengthens phone scripts, objection handling, appointment setting, lead follow-up, and closing skills, while providing measurable coaching feedback for continuous improvement. Bradley On Demand empowers dealerships to train faster, coach smarter, improve call performance, increase closing ratios, and sell more cars more profitably — all through structured, trackable, modern automotive training.

In this episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, Sean V. Bradley and LA Williams unpack what it really means to become part of your local community, and why simply sponsoring an event or putting your logo on a banner isn't enough. "People need to see people that look like them succeed." - LA Williams They explore how automotive professionals can build genuine relationships, create stronger local visibility, and become recognizable, trusted figures in the markets they serve. From finding the right organizations and causes to support, to using social media, networking, and modern tools to uncover new opportunities, this conversation is all about turning community presence into meaningful connection. "Use the resources to help us get what it is that we want." - LA Williams If you want to strengthen your personal brand, expand your local network, and create opportunities that go far beyond traditional prospecting, this episode will give you a fresh way to think about community building without giving away the entire playbook. Key Takeaways: ✅ Genuine community involvement goes beyond sponsorship; it requires personal engagement and relationship building. ✅ Becoming a local celebrity involves immersing oneself in community events and initiatives, acting as both a business leader and community advocate. ✅ Empowering employees to support causes that are significant to them can lead to increased passion and effectiveness in community outreach. ✅ Utilizing AI tools can streamline identifying potential partners and opportunities for community network development. ✅ Success in automotive sales can be amplified by focusing on the needs and interests of the community, thus building reciprocal relationships.   About Sean V. Bradley Sean V. Bradley is a renowned automotive sales training expert and the President of Dealer Synergy. With decades of experience, he has transformed car dealerships across the nation through innovative sales and marketing strategies. Bradley is the co-creator of the Millionaire Car Salesman podcast and a highly sought-after speaker and consultant in the automotive industry. About LA Williams LA Williams is the "Blind Master" Vice President with Dealer Synergy and co-creator of the Millionaire Car Salesman podcast. Despite being blind, he has made a significant mark in the automotive sales industry with his expertise in phone sales and business development. LA Williams is known for his motivational speaking and his remarkable ability to overcome life's challenges.     Becoming the Local Celebrity: Building Community Ties for Automotive Success   Key Takeaways Community engagement isn't just about sponsorships but involves personal, impactful involvement that resonates deeply with local residents. Transforming employees into advocates for their preferred charities enhances dealership reputation and motivates staff. AI tools can streamline and optimize community outreach, fostering meaningful connections that drive business success.   Embracing Community Involvement for Dealership Growth In the fast-paced world of automotive sales, dealerships often prioritize transactions over relationships. However, as Sean V. Bradley and LA Williams of the Millionaire Car Salesman podcast highlight, the true key to sustainable success lies in becoming a "local celebrity" — someone deeply involved in and connected to the community. Sean emphasizes, "If you want the community to support you, you have to support the community." This concept roots itself in genuine interactions, where dealerships are not merely transactional entities but community pillars. Local businesses, sports teams, and groups represent untapped potential. Engaging with them goes beyond placing logos in visible places; it demands real, face-to-face interaction. By attending games, sponsoring workshops, and directly contributing to community needs, dealerships can cultivate authentic relationships. LA Williams states, "Community is where the people are…we're in the people business, but we don't act like it." This sentiment underscores the notion that genuine community involvement creates an emotional bank account, fostering loyalty and repeated business. Building a Referral Network Through Community Ties Fostering relationships within the community extends beyond social obligations. It is a strategic move that can propel a dealership to new heights. As automotive professionals spend their days hunting for leads and closing deals, they might overlook the importance of nurturing lasting community relationships. Sean Bradley proposes a methodical approach: "I want to see what options there are, whether at the home field or at the home basketball court." Through consistent community presence, a dealership positions itself as a trusted entity — the first choice when a community member considers purchasing a vehicle. Engaging deeply within the local social fabric turns everyday interactions into potential referrals. For example, attending local sports events not only offers a platform to showcase the dealership but also opens dialogues that could lead to future sales. Sub-host LA Williams offers a practical method to ignite these conversations: "I have people…they'll come up to you…and you say, 'I'm glad you asked, I work with ABC Motors.'" Through these interactions, dealerships cultivate a network of recurring referrals, expanding their client base organically. Leveraging AI for Strategic Community Engagement While personal connections are invaluable, technology offers remarkable efficiency in managing and expanding these networks. ChatGPT and other AI tools, as demonstrated in the podcast, provide substantial support in creating a systematic engagement plan. Sean Bradley illustrates this during the show: "I had AI create for me all the different people in the Warminster area that I should reach out to." AI can automate outreach efforts, enabling dealerships to maintain consistent communication with potential collaborators and clients. This technology identifies which businesses to engage, offers scripts for interaction, and suggests optimal communication timelines. With these tools, dealers can manage wide-reaching community relationships efficiently, ensuring that no opportunity slips through the cracks. AI complements the personal touch, expanding the dealership's reach without sacrificing the depth of human connection. Utilizing AI, as Sean articulates, dealers can optimize their efforts, "Join all the local groups…Look at joining Facebook and LinkedIn groups." These platforms offer invaluable insights and connections, enabling the dealership to become a fully integrated part of the community's social and professional ecosystem. By Empowering Employees, Build a Passionate and Dedicated Team To achieve true community integration, dealership management must recognize and channel the passions of their employees. Inviting staff to voice the causes and charities they support allows dealerships to align their community outreach strategies with genuine employee interests. Sean Bradley proposes a democratic approach: "These aren't going to be the top eight coming from me… I want to get behind what's important to you." This inclusivity not only inspires and motivates employees, who often feel undervalued, but also personalizes and deepens the dealership's community engagement. When employees are actively engaged in causes they care about, they're more likely to put in the effort to ensure the success of these initiatives. Furthermore, this involvement enhances the dealership's reputation as an organization that genuinely cares, resonating well with the community and fostering trust and goodwill. Successful automotive sales go beyond the conventional metrics of transaction volume and revenue. By becoming local influencers, dealerships can tap into an authentic power that transforms community relationships into long-term business growth. As Sean V. Bradley and LA Williams emphasize, it's not just about being in the community but building the community that matters most. By melding strategic AI utility with genuine human interaction and employee empowerment, dealerships can cultivate an environment where success is inevitable, interconnected, and shared.     Resources + Our Proud Sponsors:   ➼ Podium: The AI Platform Powering the Modern Dealership. From instant lead response to seamless test drive scheduling, Podium's AI Employee Jerry works 24/7 to turn every lead into a conversion, so your team can focus on closing. Trusted by thousands of dealerships nationwide and proudly featured on the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast. Learn how Podium can help you sell more cars, book more service appointments, and grow your dealership. Discover how Podium's innovative AI technology can unlock unparalleled efficiency and drive your dealership's sales to new heights. Visit www.podium.com/mcs to learn more!   ➼ The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Automotive Sales Mastermind Facebook Group with over 29,000 automotive professionals worldwide. The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group is the go-to community for car salespeople, BDC agents, sales managers, general managers, and dealer principals looking to increase performance, income, and leadership skills. Inside the group, members collaborate daily on automotive sales strategies, lead handling, phone scripts, closing techniques, CRM best practices, dealership leadership, and accountability systems. Learn directly from top automotive trainers, industry mentors, and high-performing sales leaders who are actively winning in today's market. If you're serious about growing your automotive career, increasing car sales, and building long-term success, join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today! ➼ Dealer Synergy: Dealer Synergy is the automotive industry's #1 Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm, with over 20 years of proven dealership success nationwide. We specialize in helping car dealerships increase sales, improve processes, and build high-performing Sales, Internet, and BDC departments from the ground up. Our expertise includes automotive phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, lead handling strategies, BDC workflows, Internet sales processes, management training, and accountability systems. Dealer Synergy partners directly with dealership leadership to align people, process, and technology, ensuring consistent results and scalable growth. From independent dealers to large dealer groups and OEM partnerships, Dealer Synergy delivers measurable performance improvements, stronger teams, and sustainable profitability. ➼ Bradley On Demand: Bradley On Demand is the automotive industry's most advanced interactive training, tracking, testing, and certification platform for car dealerships — built to develop top-performing teams across Sales, Internet Sales, BDC, CRM, Phone Skills, Leadership, and Management. In addition to LIVE virtual automotive training classes and a library of 9,000+ on-demand dealership training modules, Bradley On Demand now includes AI Phone Roleplaying and Coaching to help salespeople and BDC agents practice real dealership conversations before they ever get on the phone with customers. This AI-powered roleplay technology strengthens phone scripts, objection handling, appointment setting, lead follow-up, and closing skills, while providing measurable coaching feedback for continuous improvement. Bradley On Demand empowers dealerships to train faster, coach smarter, improve call performance, increase closing ratios, and sell more cars more profitably — all through structured, trackable, modern automotive training.

Should your dealership replace its human BDC with AI? Not so fast. In SDR #372, Chris Collins, Hogi, and Adam break down what AI phone systems can—and still can't—do inside a dealership service department. Drawing on experience inside hundreds of dealerships, the team compares AI and human BDCs based on the outcome that actually matters: loading the shop, retaining customers, and creating a better service experience. AI can be a useful tool, but it doesn't know when a technician calls out, when a repair becomes a holdover, when the shop runs out of work, or when a customer's situation requires judgment and empathy. A trained BDC employee can react in real time, build relationships, recover missed opportunities, and become part of your dealership's future advisor bench. In this episode: • Why dealerships are rushing into AI-powered BDCs • The customer-service failures that expose AI's limitations • How one dealership chatbot reportedly agreed to sell a Tahoe for $1 • Why your BDC must understand what is happening inside the shop • How outbound calls recover declined work, no-shows, and lost customers • Why a human BDC can improve retention and manufacturer maintenance utilization  • How the BDC develops your next generation of service advisors • Where AI belongs today—and why dealerships shouldn't go all-in yet The question isn't simply whether AI costs less. The real question is whether you're trying to save a nickel today or build a stronger, more profitable customer base for the future. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome to Service Drive Revolution 01:00 AI or humans: Which BDC is better? 02:11 Driverless cars and the limits of automation 05:25 Bill Nye and Books That Changed My Life 11:49 A $600 customer-service nightmare 16:38 When airline AI can't solve the problem 22:01 The chatbot that sold a Tahoe for $1 23:00 Why AI still requires human oversight 28:19 Companies bring human employees back 33:14 The dealership BDC debate begins 34:15 Why AI phone vendors are everywhere 35:25 Are you saving money or making money? 36:46 Customers still want a real person 37:06 What a service BDC should actually accomplish 38:53 Outbound calls, retention, and declined work 40:26 The advantage of an in-house human BDC 41:26 Your BDC is your future service-advisor bench 43:40 The verdict: Is AI ready to replace your BDC? 47:09 Join the SDR Academy #ServiceDriveRevolution #AutomotiveBDC #FixedOperations

In this episode, we discuss how BDC equities continue to trade at significant discounts to NAV, reflecting skepticism toward reported marks, a concern reinforced by valuation levels that have yet to fully reset, even as BDC bonds continue to outperform their stocks.​‌ The discussion and content provided within this podcast is intended for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate for all investors. Reliance upon information provided in a podcast is at the sole responsibility of the listener. The information included herein is not based on any particularized financial situation, or need, and is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, a forecast, research, investment advice or a recommendation for any specific PIMCO or other security, strategy, product or service. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. All investments contain risk and may lose value. Investors should speak to their financial advisors regarding the investment mix that may be right for them based on their financial situation and investment objective. Podcasts may involve discussions with non-PIMCO personnel and such content contain the current opinions of the speaker but not necessarily those of PIMCO. Other podcasts may consist of audio recording of an existing PIMCO article and such material contains the current opinions of the manager. The opinions expressed in all podcasts are subject to change without notice. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. This is not an offer to any person in any jurisdiction where unlawful or unauthorized. For additional important information go to CMR2026-0521-5513952-T

Abdalla’s record splits between reform and buffer. Lenders circle BdC float. E-finance acquires Wilzy stake. Morning Drive is your daily download of the essential headlines shaping Egypt. From business policy and finance to the latest in tech, all in under 10 minutes. Hosted by ‘Synthetic Salma’ — an AI-powered version of our own Executive Editor Salma El-Saeed. You can read the full newsletter on the website. Morning Drive is brought to you by: Madinet Masr GRANITE Financial Holding Bonyan for Real Estate InvestmentsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's show features: - David Hennessey, VP of Fixed Operations at Harris Auto Group - Tully Williams, Fixed Operations Director at The Niello Company - Owen Montgomery, Service Advisor at Chariot Automotive Group This episode is brought to you by: 800% Elite Automotive Club – 800% Elite Auto is a whole-dealership solution. Live weekly training and 1-on-1 executive coaching align Owners, Sales, F&I, BDC, Marketing, and Culture into one well oiled machine. The result? A guaranteed 25% sales increase in 90 days. Get started today https://www.800percent.life/cdg Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cdgcircles.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CDG News ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://news.dealershipguy.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CDG Jobs ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CDG Recruiting ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ My Socials: X ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ➤⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ➤⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Everything else ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dealershipguy.com⁠

Matt and Katie talked in March to Boaz Weinstein of Saba Capital Management about his tenders for OBDC II and SREIT, semi-liquid fund liquidity, reflexivity, the lure of permanent capital, private credit NAVs, public vs. private BDC discounts, preserving brand value, volatility laundering, howling at the moon, bowling and, why not, DATs. You can also watch this episode on YouTube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's show features: - Glenn Lundy, President at 800% Elite Automotive Club - Jay Law, Head of Sales at Car Dealership Guy - Jad Naamani, Director of Marketing at Seez - Chad Cunningham, CEO at DuPONT Registry Exchange and Live This episode is brought to you by: 800% Elite Automotive Club – 800% Elite Auto is a whole-dealership solution. Live weekly training and 1-on-1 executive coaching align Owners, Sales, F&I, BDC, Marketing, and Culture into one well oiled machine. The result? A guaranteed 25% sales increase in 90 days. Get started today https://www.800percent.life/cdg Seez – Seez is a leading automotive technology company redefining the modern dealership through AI, data, and transformative digital tools. Its offerings include AI-powered chat solutions, AI-driven performance marketing, as well as omnichannel retail platforms and predictive pricing models. Visit Seez.co to book a demo. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cdgcircles.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CDG News ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://news.dealershipguy.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CDG Jobs ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CDG Recruiting ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ My Socials: X ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ➤⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ➤⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Everything else ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dealershipguy.com⁠

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop- Executive Director Curt Macysyn welcomes first-time guest Matthew Bushland, Director of Enterprise Strategy at North America Central School Bus (NACSB), 2026 NSTA Annual Meeting & Convention Business Development Committee (BDC) panelist, and NSTA BDC member. Matthew shares his journey into the student transportation industry, discusses his day-to-day role supporting strategic growth and partnerships, and explains what “bleeding yellow” means to him as a reflection of serving school districts, families, and communities. Curt and Matthew also recap the recent NSTA Annual Meeting & Convention in Denver, highlighting key takeaways from the BDC panel, “Doing More With Less: How Contractors Can Best Partner with Service Providers,” and explore why collaboration is critical to developing best practices and solving industry-wide challenges. The duo chat football, and cover Matthew's time as a Notre Dame alumnus and walk-on football player, as well as Notre Dame's upcoming football schedule. Finally, the episode wraps up with Matthew sharing where listeners can learn more about NACSB and its commitment to advancing student transportation. Become a podcast subscriber and don't miss an episode of NSTA: The Bus Stop - NSTA Vendor Partners should reach out to us to take advantage of our comprehensive advertising package that reaches your target audience - student transportation professionals!Support the show

How does a used car saleswoman go from brand-new to the business to earning more than $225,000 in ONE year? "It's not about selling. It's about solving a problem." – Sady Ahmed In this episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, Sean V. Bradley sits down with top-performing salesperson Sady Ahmed of Koons Automotive to uncover the mindset, strategies, and customer-first approach behind her rise in automotive sales. "Every customer is different. You gotta be able to mirror them." – Sady Ahmed Sady has built a powerhouse business by dominating one of the toughest opportunities in the dealership: Special Finance and credit-challenged customers. But her success goes far beyond simply selling cars. She's built a system around trust, credit education, personal branding, referrals, repeat business, and turning customers who hear "NO" elsewhere into long-term relationships. "If you don't believe that you're the best, how are you going to get other people to believe that you're the best?" – Sady Ahmed Sean and Sady also explore how today's automotive sales professionals can leverage AI, ChatGPT, community involvement, social media, and smarter follow-up strategies to create more opportunities and separate themselves from the competition. "You want the community to support you, you've got to support the community." – Sean V. Bradley How did Sady build a $225K+ income without chasing a management title? What helped her reach a record-breaking 34 cars in a single month? And what can other salespeople learn from her approach to some of the most challenging customers in automotive? Find out how this used car saleswoman earns over $225K in ONE year and the strategies helping her build a career, customer base, and personal brand that continues to grow. If you're serious about selling more cars, generating more referrals, building your brand, and increasing your income in automotive sales, you need to hear this conversation! Key Takeaways: ✅ Credit Mastery: Understanding and mastering credit intricacies play a crucial role in closing deals with subprime clients. ✅ AI Utilization: Using AI tools like ChatGPT can streamline credit analysis and improve customer experiences by drafting dispute letters or enhancing credit advisories. ✅ Personal Branding: Building a personal brand through social media and community engagement is essential for long-term success in automotive sales. ✅ Partnership Opportunities: Collaborations with credit repair firms can be a strategic method to assist clients with challenging credit profiles. ✅ Client Education: Educating clients about credit improvement methods can lead to increased customer loyalty and repeat business.   About Sady Ahmed Sady Ahmed is a top-performing automotive sales consultant specializing in Special Finance at Koons Automotive of Fredericksburg. Since entering the car business in 2019 with no prior automotive experience, she has grown into a consistent 20-car-per-month producer, recently achieving a personal best of 34 vehicles sold in a single month. Known for her honest, relationship-first approach, Sady helps customers navigate challenging credit situations, build stronger financial plans, and find the right path to vehicle ownership. Her success comes from keeping it real, solving problems, and putting long-term customer relationships ahead of simply making a sale.     Unlocking the Potential of Special Finance in the Automotive Industry   Key Takeaways Understanding customer credit intricacies is integral for automotive sales success. Leveraging AI in credit analysis offers enhanced insights for customers with subprime profiles. Personal branding and community engagement are crucial for establishing a successful automotive sales career.   Navigating the Special Finance Ecosystem in Car Sales In the world of automotive sales, special finance remains a challenging but rewarding niche. As the conversation led by Sean V. Bradley with Sadie Ahmed highlights, excelling in this sector involves not just selling cars but mastering the intricacies of credit. Sadie's approach to her work exemplifies the seamless integration of credit counseling within automotive sales, recognizing the importance of being "on their side" for customers with subprime credit scores. Sadie's dedication to special finance stems from her genuine desire to assist people, particularly those deemed 'at risk' or subprime. "I just like helping people. So I feel like when I have a customer that comes to me and they are in that weird spot of like a 550 to a 650, that can change overnight," she asserts. For Sadie, automotive sales are less about pitching a sale and more about "solving a problem," a notion that echoes throughout the interview. This empathetic approach transforms what could be a high-pressure sales interaction into a supportive experience for her clients, setting a standard for the industry. Harnessing AI for Enhanced Credit Analysis in Automotive Sales Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing how dealerships manage special finance operations. Sean Bradley emphasizes the potential of AI tools like ChatGPT in scrutinizing credit reports to advise clients effectively. "You can use, whether it's Claude or it's Google, Gemini or Chat GPT, or if your dealership has its own internal knowledge base, you could actually help Yourself and the prospect by using AI to analyze the credit bureau," Bradley affirms. The integration of AI doesn't stop at just analyzing credit. Sadie elaborates: "I've been doing this for about seven years. So I've learned what banks are looking for…and I've learned the nuances of how to get banks to overlook certain red flags if I can provide just the right context." With AI, sales professionals like Sadie can automate parts of the credit advice process, enhancing their ability to serve clients efficiently and improving the overall customer experience. In a competitive industry where the minutiae of financial history can make or break a sale, leveraging AI for credit analysis is a game-changer. It empowers car sales professionals to not only meet but exceed client expectations by providing insightful and actionable credit advice. Building a Personal Brand for Long-term Success in Automotive Sales Personal branding emerges as a powerful driver for success. Sadie Ahmed's journey evidences the power of building a personal brand rooted in reliability and expertise. Her mantra, "You incorporated," underlines the importance of self-belief and self-promotion. By leveraging social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok, Sadie creates a persistent presence, ensuring she remains top-of-mind for potential car buyers. Beyond digital interactions, Sadie highlights the value of community involvement. "I do sponsor a bunch of local events. I've sponsored some golf tournaments, base local baseball teams…," she shares, demonstrating her commitment to establishing relationships and goodwill within her community. This extends her brand's reach and cements her reputation as a trusted advisor, not just a salesperson. The world of automotive sales demands adaptability and innovative thinking. As Sadie Ahmed showcases, blending effective customer credit management with a robust personal brand paves the way for sustainable success. This approach, underscored by strategic engagement with global tech advancements such as AI, keeps industry professionals ahead of the curve. Ultimately, embracing a comprehensive understanding of client financial situations and utilizing technology not only transforms the customer experience but also empowers sales professionals to thrive in an ever-evolving market landscape.       Resources + Our Proud Sponsors:   ➼ Podium: The AI Platform Powering the Modern Dealership. From instant lead response to seamless test drive scheduling, Podium's AI Employee Jerry works 24/7 to turn every lead into a conversion, so your team can focus on closing. Trusted by thousands of dealerships nationwide and proudly featured on the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast. Learn how Podium can help you sell more cars, book more service appointments, and grow your dealership. Discover how Podium's innovative AI technology can unlock unparalleled efficiency and drive your dealership's sales to new heights. Visit www.podium.com/mcs to learn more!   ➼ The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Automotive Sales Mastermind Facebook Group with over 29,000 automotive professionals worldwide. The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group is the go-to community for car salespeople, BDC agents, sales managers, general managers, and dealer principals looking to increase performance, income, and leadership skills. Inside the group, members collaborate daily on automotive sales strategies, lead handling, phone scripts, closing techniques, CRM best practices, dealership leadership, and accountability systems. Learn directly from top automotive trainers, industry mentors, and high-performing sales leaders who are actively winning in today's market. If you're serious about growing your automotive career, increasing car sales, and building long-term success, join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today! ➼ Dealer Synergy: Dealer Synergy is the automotive industry's #1 Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm, with over 20 years of proven dealership success nationwide. We specialize in helping car dealerships increase sales, improve processes, and build high-performing Sales, Internet, and BDC departments from the ground up. Our expertise includes automotive phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, lead handling strategies, BDC workflows, Internet sales processes, management training, and accountability systems. Dealer Synergy partners directly with dealership leadership to align people, process, and technology, ensuring consistent results and scalable growth. From independent dealers to large dealer groups and OEM partnerships, Dealer Synergy delivers measurable performance improvements, stronger teams, and sustainable profitability. ➼ Bradley On Demand: Bradley On Demand is the automotive industry's most advanced interactive training, tracking, testing, and certification platform for car dealerships — built to develop top-performing teams across Sales, Internet Sales, BDC, CRM, Phone Skills, Leadership, and Management. In addition to LIVE virtual automotive training classes and a library of 9,000+ on-demand dealership training modules, Bradley On Demand now includes AI Phone Roleplaying and Coaching to help salespeople and BDC agents practice real dealership conversations before they ever get on the phone with customers. This AI-powered roleplay technology strengthens phone scripts, objection handling, appointment setting, lead follow-up, and closing skills, while providing measurable coaching feedback for continuous improvement. Bradley On Demand empowers dealerships to train faster, coach smarter, improve call performance, increase closing ratios, and sell more cars more profitably — all through structured, trackable, modern automotive training.

What if your service drive became one of your dealership's most powerful—and consistent—vehicle sales channels? In this episode of Service Drive Revolution, Chris Collins, Hogi, and Adam reveal how dealerships can turn everyday service appointments into organic sales and trade-in opportunities without making customers feel pressured. The key isn't occasionally sending a salesperson into the drive—it's building a dedicated system where sales and service operate as one team. You'll discover how to: • Embed dedicated salespeople inside the service department • Use equity mining to identify the right opportunities • Incentivize advisors to facilitate strong customer handoffs • Introduce trade-in conversations before the appointment • Acquire valuable used inventory without relying on auctions • Use maintenance programs to create familiarity, trust, and retention • Build toward the future "portfolio manager" model—one person managing the customer's entire ownership journey The team also breaks down leadership lessons from Hard Knocks, explains why attention reveals a leader's true priorities, and explores how great systems make exceptional performance repeatable. If your dealership has "tried selling from the service drive" before and it didn't work, this episode will show you what was probably missing. #ServiceDriveRevolution #FixedOps #AutomotiveLeadership #AutomotiveSales #ServiceDrive #DealershipTraining 

Today's show features: - Phil Pecoraro, Operating Partner at Murdock CDJR - Jason Swiech, Sr. Product Marketer, F&I at CDK Global - Jimmy Anderson, GM at Checkered Flag Porsche This episode is brought to you by: 800% Elite Automotive Club – 800% Elite Auto is a whole-dealership solution. Live weekly training and 1-on-1 executive coaching align Owners, Sales, F&I, BDC, Marketing, and Culture into one well oiled machine. The result? A guaranteed 25% sales increase in 90 days. Get started today https://www.800percent.life/cdg CDK Global – CDK Global empowers dealers with the tools and technology they need to build deeper relationships with customers and sell and service more cars. Visit https://www.cdkglobal.com/ Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cdgcircles.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CDG News ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://news.dealershipguy.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CDG Jobs ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CDG Recruiting ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ My Socials: X ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ➤⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ➤⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Everything else ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dealershipguy.com

TNA Hard Justice 2006: Was This TNA's Golden Era?We're going back to 2006 to revisit TNA Hard Justice, BDC's pick!Sting challenges Jeff Jarrett for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, Samoa Joe battles Rhino and Monty Brown, AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels take on LAX, and the X Division is on full display.We break down the entire show and debate:

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop- Executive Director Curt Macysyn welcomes a new guest, John Ziegler, Vice President of Business Development at Summit School Services, 2026 NSTA COSSBA Presenter, and NSTA Business Development Committee (BDC) member. John starts the episode by sharing his journey into the student transportation industry, discusses the critical role business development plays in supporting students, drivers, schools, and communities, and highlights the recent deployment of 26 new electric school buses serving Duval County Public Schools in Florida. Curt and John also explore the importance of NSTA's BDC in advancing the association's mission, reflect on John's presentation at the 2026 COSSBA Annual Conference, and discuss why engaging school board leaders in conversations about student transportation outsourcing is more important than ever. The duo look at how John unwinds outside of work, and how college football has changed throughout the years. The episode wraps up as John shares where listeners can learn more about Summit School Services. Become a podcast subscriber and don't miss an episode of NSTA: The Bus Stop - NSTA Vendor Partners should reach out to us to take advantage of our comprehensive advertising package that reaches your target audience - student transportation professionals!Support the show

Your customer doesn't experience your dealership as service, parts, sales, and BDC.They experience one dealership.When an appointment is mishandled, a call isn't returned, a part update never arrives, or departments blame one another, the customer doesn't care which team caused the problem. They only know the dealership failed to solve it.In the season finale of Earned Influence Season 3, Mindy Williams, Kaylee Felio, Wendy Reeves, and Joshua Taylor discuss how service, parts, and the BDC can stop working in silos and start winning together.Wendy explains why dealerships are underusing their BDC teams. Beyond setting appointments, the BDC can support advisor overflow, missed calls, special-order parts updates, recall communication, customer retention, and relationship building.Kaylee discusses the importance of understanding the person behind the department. The parts employee who appears difficult may be managing technicians, advisors, warranty claims, inventory, and customer requests simultaneously. Sometimes the most useful question is simply, “Are you okay, and how can I help?”Mindy brings the conversation together with one clear message:“Just seeing each other as a whole rather than breaking it up into departments.”This episode covers departmental silos, internal communication, BDC utilization, employee workload, customer follow-up, cross-department relationships, and why every dealership must organize around the customer instead of its org chart.Send this episode to a service manager, parts manager, BDC manager, advisor, technician, or fixed-operations leader who wants their departments to work better together.Negative pushes. Positive pulls.God Blessj.Featuring:Wendy Reeves of BDC Angelshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-reeves/https://www.linkedin.com/company/bdcangels/Mindy Williams of Carter Myers Automotivehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-williams-700b791b7/https://www.linkedin.com/company/carter-myers-automotive/Kaylee Felio of PartsEdgehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio/https://www.linkedin.com/company/partsedge-inc-/Hosted by Joshua TaylorListen to The Wrench Turners Podcast:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45ebInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/⚠️ Disclaimer:I'm a licensed mechanic. That doesn't mean I know what I'm doing, whether it's fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence.Chapters00:00 Why Departments Become Silos02:18 BDC as the Glue03:14 Parts Communication Gaps03:56 Service Call Overflow05:11 Help Us Help You06:54 Helping Departments Win07:21 See the Human09:18 The Cost of Silos

What separates automotive sales professionals who merely show up from those who consistently dominate their market? "Everyone is a customer until they're not." - Stacey Orlowski In this episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, Sean V. Bradley sits down with Stacey Orlowski, an accomplished automotive sales professional whose success is rooted in discipline, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to improvement. Stacey breaks down why identifying your "why" can completely transform your performance, especially during the difficult days when motivation alone is not enough. Drawing inspiration from elite performers like Tom Brady, he explains how hard work, a positive mindset, and consistent execution can help sales professionals reach levels they once believed were impossible. "A goal and a dream are two very different things. A goal has time and accountability. A dream, that's not real." - Stacey Orlowski Sean and Stacey also dive into the real-world strategies that drive automotive sales, from converting showroom walk-ins to maximizing Internet leads. They explore how communication, customer rapport, and a genuinely customer-focused approach can separate top performers from everyone else. You'll also hear how Stacey's transition from law enforcement into automotive sales gave him a unique set of skills that translated powerfully to the showroom floor. His journey proves that your previous experiences can become a competitive advantage when paired with the right mindset and process. "No is a good thing because it's a way for you to get to yes." - Stacey Orlowski Whether you are entering automotive sales for the first time or searching for the breakthrough that will take your performance to the next level, this episode provides a practical roadmap for strengthening your mindset, improving your customer interactions, and maximizing every opportunity. Success begins with knowing why you started, but reaching the top requires knowing exactly what to do next. Listen now to discover the habits and strategies that can help you achieve automotive sales excellence. Key Takeaways: ✅ The significance of identifying a personal 'why' can drive motivation and focus in sales, transforming what seems like a daunting process into an achievable goal. ✅ Transitioning skills from previous jobs, even those unrelated to sales, can provide unique advantages in understanding and engaging with customers. ✅ Understanding the psychological elements of sales, such as active listening and body language, can lead to more effective and successful customer interactions. ✅ It's crucial to treat sales as a relationship-oriented field rather than merely focusing on transactions to foster retention and referrals. ✅ Utilizing a balanced approach to different types of leads can help maximize sales opportunities and overall success. About Stacey Orlowski Stacey Orlowski is an accomplished automotive sales professional recognized as the number one Nissan salesperson in Louisiana. With a background in law enforcement and government contracting, Stacey has transitioned into the automotive industry, achieving extraordinary success, including selling over 50 cars in a month. His focus on mindset, ethical sales practices, and customer relationships underpins his achievements. Stacey's unique approach and relentless drive earned him a place among the top 25 best automotive salespeople in the nation, and he is currently a key member of the team at Royal Nissan.   Transforming Car Sales: Lessons in Mindset and Mastery from an Automotive Champion Key Takeaways: Embrace the Right Mindset: Transform success through a mindset that balances personal drive with ethical customer engagement. Maximize Every Opportunity: View every interaction as a potential sale and leverage diverse selling strategies effectively. Learn and Adapt Continuously: Cultivate skills from varied experiences and remain open to adopting new strategies to refine your selling process.   Unleashing Potential with the Right Mindset The hustle and bustle of car sales is not just about hitting numbers; it's about grasping the essence of what it means to sell cars effectively. Within a lively podcast discussion featuring Sean V. Bradley and star salesman Stacey Orlowski, a detailed portrait of the car sales industry emerges, focusing on mindset as the ultimate game-changer. Orlowski, based in Louisiana and a leader in Nissan sales, attributes much of his success to a powerful mindset. "Mindset before skillset," emphasizes Stacey Orlowski, echoing a key philosophy. The foundation of success in sales, as illustrated in the dialogue, requires more than mere knowledge or technical prowess. It's a holistic approach steeped in the recognition of one's own capabilities and relentless drive to serve customers responsibly. Orlowski's journey is a testament to embracing positivity and determination, drawing parallels with iconic figures like Tom Brady: "Tom Brady wasn't the fastest, but he worked the hardest," remarks Orlowski. This embodies the idea that relentless effort, aligned with ethical practices, results not merely in sales but in lasting client relationships—a crucial aspect both speakers highlight through real-world insights. Beyond aspirational thoughts, this perspective profoundly impacts how sales are conducted, from understanding customer needs to showcasing empathy. It's a human-centered approach that transcends transactional interactions, paving the way for sustainable success.   Optimizing Sales Techniques for Maximal Impact One enlightening insight shared by Orlowski centers around the strategic engagement of sales opportunities. Every customer, refers to Orlowski, is a chance for conversion: "Everyone is a customer until they're not." This conviction lays the groundwork for actionable strategies that turn potential interests into concrete sales. Through consistent processes, he demonstrates the balancing act between pursuing floor 'ups' and nurturing online leads. This approach acknowledges that while internet leads offer one pathway, each interaction possesses the potential for success when cultivated properly: "Catch the effort and apply it toward every single opportunity you get," emphasizes Orlowski. This technique harnesses a broad spectrum of sales methods, integrating walk-ins and internet inquiries seamlessly. Orlowski attributes part of his success to thorough needs assessments, understanding customer pain points, and leveraging insights to match them with appropriate vehicles. This thoughtful evaluation system ensures a match between client needs and sales pitches, significantly enhancing the likelihood of successful outcomes. For Orlowski, the art of engagement involves an intricate dance of empathy and inquiry—listening deeply and tailoring responses to foster trust and, eventually, loyalty.   Continuous Learning and Adaptability: The Cornerstones of Sales Mastery In dissecting Stacey Orlowski's unmatched success, one theme stands paramount: the pivotal role of continuous learning and adaptation. Throughout the exchange, Orlowski's conversation reflects a persistent thirst for knowledge, grounded in a diverse professional backdrop, from corrections to government contracting, translating into a unique understanding of human psychology in sales. "My life experiences…have been essential in my success right now," notes Orlowski, signaling the value in embracing diverse learning opportunities. The dialogue references books like "Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voss as tools to refine negotiation tactics, illustrating how ceaselessly seeking wisdom outside one's comfort zone fosters transformation. Adjusting one's sales pitch to align with customer psychology showcases a nuanced balance between steadfastness and flexibility. For Orlowski, this adaptability encompasses not taking rejection personally—viewing "no" as a gateway rather than a barrier, reinforcing a mindset resilient to setbacks but open to modification and growth. With broader industry implications, this theme captures a universal truth: cultivating adaptability and a hunger for learning equips sales professionals to thrive, not just survive, in an ever-evolving marketplace.   By encapsulating these interconnected ideas of mindset, strategic engagement, and adaptive learning, the vibrant exchange between Sean V. Bradley and Stacey Orlowski offers profound insights into mastering the art of car sales. In the relentless drive to improve and innovate, these principles lay the foundation for reshaping how professionals approach not only their craft but the evolving needs of their clients.       Resources + Our Proud Sponsors:   ➼ Podium: The AI Platform Powering the Modern Dealership. From instant lead response to seamless test drive scheduling, Podium's AI Employee Jerry works 24/7 to turn every lead into a conversion, so your team can focus on closing. Trusted by thousands of dealerships nationwide and proudly featured on the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast. Learn how Podium can help you sell more cars, book more service appointments, and grow your dealership. Discover how Podium's innovative AI technology can unlock unparalleled efficiency and drive your dealership's sales to new heights. Visit www.podium.com/mcs to learn more!   ➼ The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Automotive Sales Mastermind Facebook Group with over 29,000 automotive professionals worldwide. The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group is the go-to community for car salespeople, BDC agents, sales managers, general managers, and dealer principals looking to increase performance, income, and leadership skills. Inside the group, members collaborate daily on automotive sales strategies, lead handling, phone scripts, closing techniques, CRM best practices, dealership leadership, and accountability systems. Learn directly from top automotive trainers, industry mentors, and high-performing sales leaders who are actively winning in today's market. If you're serious about growing your automotive career, increasing car sales, and building long-term success, join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today! ➼ Dealer Synergy: Dealer Synergy is the automotive industry's #1 Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm, with over 20 years of proven dealership success nationwide. We specialize in helping car dealerships increase sales, improve processes, and build high-performing Sales, Internet, and BDC departments from the ground up. Our expertise includes automotive phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, lead handling strategies, BDC workflows, Internet sales processes, management training, and accountability systems. Dealer Synergy partners directly with dealership leadership to align people, process, and technology, ensuring consistent results and scalable growth. From independent dealers to large dealer groups and OEM partnerships, Dealer Synergy delivers measurable performance improvements, stronger teams, and sustainable profitability. ➼ Bradley On Demand: Bradley On Demand is the automotive industry's most advanced interactive training, tracking, testing, and certification platform for car dealerships — built to develop top-performing teams across Sales, Internet Sales, BDC, CRM, Phone Skills, Leadership, and Management. In addition to LIVE virtual automotive training classes and a library of 9,000+ on-demand dealership training modules, Bradley On Demand now includes AI Phone Roleplaying and Coaching to help salespeople and BDC agents practice real dealership conversations before they ever get on the phone with customers. This AI-powered roleplay technology strengthens phone scripts, objection handling, appointment setting, lead follow-up, and closing skills, while providing measurable coaching feedback for continuous improvement. Bradley On Demand empowers dealerships to train faster, coach smarter, improve call performance, increase closing ratios, and sell more cars more profitably — all through structured, trackable, modern automotive training.

In this episode rugby league legend and sports parent Martin Offiah joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss aspects of his career, how it has shaped him and his approach today and his role as a father supporting his two sons Tyler (Professional Player at Bath Rugby) and Phoenix (Academy Scholar Tottenham Hotspur) on their sporting journey.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The power of storytelling and legacy in motivating young athletesWhy comparison should be "self to self for improvement, not self to others"Engineering resilience and adversity into a child's daily routineThe contrast between coaching a child in your own sport and parenting a child in a sport you don't knowUsing leverage, reward and consistency to build skills and motivationThe role of validation from other athletes and mentors in landing a message with teenagersDocumenting a child's sporting journey to build belief and connection over timeHonest reflections on the hardest, least "rosy" parts of being a sports parentMartin Offiah MBE is one of rugby league's all-time greats. He began his rugby journey at Ipswich and Roslyn Park before becoming a legend with Widnes and Wigan, scoring over 500 tries and earning a statue outside Wembley for his iconic 1994 try. Inducted into the Hall of Fame, he also appeared on reality TV, including Strictly Come Dancing. From 2018 to 2025, he was a Brand Ambassador for Connected Kerb, helping them grow from startup to the UK's second-largest public EV charging provider. He also co-created the Offiah Activ mattress with Romantica Beds and now supports businesses through BDC. Across sport and business, he continues to inspire.Martin's approach to sports parenting draws directly on his own journey from a state school in Hackney to the top of professional sport, and on what he has learned navigating two sons through two very different sporting pathways. His philosophy centres on consistency, resilience, self-belief and the importance of helping young people find their own drive built through story, connection and the lived, daily habits of a sporting household.

In this episode of Masters of Risk, host Stewart Webster speaks with Lionel Jolie, Partner and Head of Credit at J.F. Lehman & Company, about the growing tensions beneath today's private credit markets and the opportunities emerging for disciplined investors. As private credit assets have expanded rapidly in recent years, liquidity pressures, redemption requests, and shifting market dynamics are reshaping the landscape for business development companies (BDCs), direct lenders, and secondary credit investors. Lionel explains how his team navigates both public and private credit markets, providing liquidity to lenders while evaluating stressed, illiquid, and often misunderstood opportunities. Drawing on more than two decades of credit investing experience, Lionel discusses the evolution of the BDC market, the rise of liability management exercises, and why traditional refinancing strategies are becoming increasingly difficult in a higher-rate environment. He also explores how investors can distinguish between companies facing temporary liquidity challenges and those caught in a true operational decline. Together, Stewart and Lionel examine the sectors attracting capital today—including aerospace, defense, and industrial infrastructure—and discuss how government spending, supply chain constraints, and asset scarcity can influence credit outcomes. They also unpack the growing popularity of private credit ETFs, the risks of liquidity mismatches, and why market stress may be more nuanced than the headlines suggest. A timely conversation for institutional investors, credit professionals, risk managers, and allocators seeking deeper insight into private credit, secondary markets, and the risks shaping the next phase of the credit cycle. More S&P Global Resources: Proactive Risk Intelligence | S&P Global The Definitive Risk Conference | S&P Global Masters of Risk | Season 4 Episode 5 Video: Beyond Diversification Credits: Host: Stewart Webster Guest: Lionel Jolie, Partner, Credit, F. Lehman & Company LinkedIn Editor: Carl Schmidt Producer: Caitlin Bray Published with Assistance From: Sophie Carr and Feranmi Adeoshun

In this episode of the insuranceaum.com podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, speaks with Trevor Clark, Founder and Managing Partner of TPG Twinbrook Capital Partners, about the structural changes reshaping private credit and the enduring role of lower middle market lending. Trevor explains why private credit should not be treated as a single, uniform asset class and discusses how manager experience, direct origination, disciplined underwriting, financial covenants and active portfolio monitoring can influence investment outcomes.   The conversation also explores how insurance capital, BDC structures, retail redemptions, longer private equity hold periods and artificial intelligence are changing the direct lending landscape. Trevor shares why strong companies can still become vulnerable when overlevered, how lenders can use better data and monitoring to identify risks earlier, and what insurance investors should consider when evaluating both private credit managers and the structures used to access the asset class.

AI can improve your writing, organize your thoughts, analyze reports, and remove hours of repetitive work.But what happens when everyone starts sounding the same?In Season 3, Episode 1 of Earned Influence, Wendy Reeves, Mindy Williams, Kaylee Felio, and Joshua Taylor discuss how leaders can use AI without losing their authenticity, judgment, privacy, or connection with the people they serve.Kaylee explains why she stepped away from social media after AI-assisted content started feeling too polished and predictable. Mindy shares how she uses AI for training, reporting, KPIs, and customer follow-up while making sure the final message still sounds like her. Wendy breaks down practical dealership applications, including BDC coaching, performance reporting, data analysis, and the risks of employees entering dealership or customer information into unsecured tools.The conversation also explores how AI can reduce administrative work, summarize overloaded inboxes, improve leadership preparation, and help technicians turn frustrating processes into prototypes that management and engineering can understand.AI should eliminate repetition, not responsibility.It should help organize your thoughts, not manufacture your beliefs.And it should make you more capable without slowly teaching you to sound like everyone else.Negative pushes. Positive pulls.God Blessj.Featuring:Wendy Reeves of BDC Angelshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-reeves/https://www.linkedin.com/company/bdcangels/Mindy Williams of Carter Myers Automotivehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-williams-700b791b7/https://www.linkedin.com/company/carter-myers-automotive/Kaylee Felio of PartsEdgehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio/https://www.linkedin.com/company/partsedge-inc-/Hosted by Joshua TaylorListen to The Wrench Turners Podcast:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45ebInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/⚠️ Disclaimer:I'm a licensed mechanic. That doesn't mean I know what I'm doing, whether it's fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence.Chapters00:00 Earned Influence Returns00:53 Why Kaylee Stopped Posting02:41 Using AI Authentically03:36 AI Inside the Shop05:11 Humanity Builds Trust06:47 Wendy's AI Workflow09:30 Dealership AI Integration11:51 Writing With Less13:55 Automating Daily Work15:26 AI Creates Opportunity

What separates an average automotive salesperson from someone capable of selling more than 40 cars per month? "The more you familiarize yourself with the customer, the more you're going to be able to use that for yourself to build your business as a car salesman." - Josh MacPhee In this episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, Sean V. Bradley sits down with Josh MacPhee, a top-performing sales consultant at McDonald Buick GMC Cadillac in Moncton, Canada, who sold an incredible 326 vehicles in only his second year in the automotive industry and went on to achieve a 40-car month. Josh reveals the mindset, daily habits, customer-service strategies, and modern tools that helped him rapidly build a powerful client base. From relentless follow-up and constant availability to using social media as a relationship-building engine, his approach challenges the traditional way many sales professionals operate. "Be kind, be honest, really help people, and care about what they're trying to accomplish in buying a vehicle from you." - Josh MacPhee You'll also hear how Josh transformed his experience working in a skateboard shop into a thriving automotive career, multiplied his results far beyond industry averages, and created relationships that continue producing business long after the initial sale. Whether you are brand-new to the showroom or an experienced salesperson looking to break through a performance plateau, this episode delivers practical strategies you can immediately adapt to generate more conversations, strengthen customer loyalty, and sell more vehicles. The numbers are impressive, but the process behind them is where the real value lives. Listen now to discover what Josh does differently. Key Takeaways: ✅ Building strong customer relationships and offering exceptional service are central to achieving consistent high sales figures. ✅ Utilizing social media platforms such as Facebook and Facebook Marketplace can significantly increase referral-based sales. ✅ Regular and effective follow-up is critical in maintaining customer interest and converting leads into sales. ✅ Working closely with managers and leveraging their expertise can help refine sales techniques and improve results. ✅ Embracing technology and community engagement can create additional pathways to expand a personal brand and reach in automotive sales.   About Josh MacPhee Josh MacPhee is a dynamic and successful automotive sales consultant at McDonald Buick GMC Cadillac in Moncton, Canada. With a notable track record of selling 326 units in his second full year and achieving a remarkable 40-car month, Josh has swiftly risen as an influential figure in car sales. Prior to his career in the automotive industry, Josh honed his customer service skills by working at a retail skateboard shop, where he was responsible for cultivating customer relations and building sales initiatives. His commitment to customer service, strategic use of social media for networking, and relentless follow-up tactics are key elements of his sales approach, enabling him to far exceed the national sales averages within his industry. Josh continues to push boundaries and set new records in automotive sales by constantly evolving and adapting his strategies.   Embracing the Grind: How Relentless Follow-Up and Customer Service Revolutionize Car Sales   Key Takeaways: Emphasize the importance of continuous growth and development, even in challenging markets. Foster a relentless commitment to customer service and follow-up. Leverage technology and team dynamics to excel in sales performance.   Relentless Customer Service and Follow-Up in Car Sales In the competitive world of car sales, consistency is key. Josh MacPhee's story illustrates how relentless follow-up and exemplary customer service can create extraordinary success in an environment where most salespeople average less than ten cars monthly. The approach is simple yet profound: make it easy for the customer and be accessible, whether on weekends, late at night, or even during holidays. MacPhee, a sales consultant at McDonald Buick GMC Cadillac in Moncton, Canada, credits his success to these values. "I just talk so much and create such a personal level with my conversations that they want to come back," explains MacPhee. His willingness to take calls late a night and work during off-hours underscores a broader principle: in a performance-based industry, accessibility can set you apart from competitors. This dedication to being available whenever the customer needs support leaves a lasting impact, evidenced by customers who choose him because he's consistently available and knowledgeable. "You wasted no time to get back to me and talk to me the whole time you were off on vacation," a customer reportedly said, highlighting trust and reliability as cornerstones of MacPhee's successful strategy.   Building a Sales Network through Referrals and Community Engagement Effective car sales extend beyond the dealership floor—into community networking and robust referral systems. For MacPhee, referrals significantly contribute to his sales numbers. "We offer $200 for a referral," he states, a small investment when aiming for a fruitful long-lasting business relationship. Beyond financial incentives, MacPhee emphasizes relationship-building by engaging customers on social media platforms like Facebook, maintaining the connection long after the initial sale. Moreover, MacPhee leverages local insights and community relationships. "If it's legit, think about this: why the hell would you not want to incentivize somebody?" he argues, stressing the value of forging lasting connections within the community. Understanding local relevance, he primes his sales strategy by ensuring his presence is acknowledged beyond the transactional relationship, positioning himself as a reliable advisor in the community. By fostering deep ties, both digital and personal, MacPhee's strategy aligns with broader community-focused practices that drive sustained success. His approach taps into a natural cycle—prioritize existing relationships to expand business, maximizing opportunities for referral-based prospects in a strategy that feeds itself.   Harnessing Technology and Team Dynamics In an era where technology plays a transformative role, integrating modern tools into traditional sales processes offers a distinct advantage. However, at McDonald Buick GMC Cadillac, MacPhee sees a fusion of personal effort and minimal tech dependence. "Artificial intelligence? What do you mean?" Queries MacPhee, indicating an opportunity for technological advancement that complements his human-centric approach. Still, the power of a cohesive work environment shouldn't be underestimated. Through collaboration with managers and peers, he builds a reservoir of sales knowledge and refined tactics. Allying with mentors and learning actively, MacPhee draws from a collective base of expertise that deepens individual knowledge, especially for complex negotiations. "It's important because you're getting a second person in to talk," MacPhee shares, emphasizing the value of team-based sales processes. Such environments promote skill sharing and adaptive learning, as colleagues become resources rather than competitors. Thus, success grows not only from independent initiative but from thriving in a supportive team context.   Josh MacPhee's story champions the idea that diligence, customer engagement, and a strategic approach to relationships can transcend the industry norm, catapulting sales beyond expected metrics. Insights from his journey reveal that relentless dedication to customers and collaborative learning environments can redefine success. Though not overly reliant on modern technology, salespeople like MacPhee showcase the power of grinding hard, building a network, and making each customer interaction meaningful. Through this lens, car sales emerge not as a routine job, but as a dynamic business driven by personalities who exceed boundaries through sheer tenacity and astute connection-making.       Resources + Our Proud Sponsors:   ➼ Podium: The AI Platform Powering the Modern Dealership. From instant lead response to seamless test drive scheduling, Podium's AI Employee Jerry works 24/7 to turn every lead into a conversion, so your team can focus on closing. Trusted by thousands of dealerships nationwide and proudly featured on the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast. Learn how Podium can help you sell more cars, book more service appointments, and grow your dealership. Discover how Podium's innovative AI technology can unlock unparalleled efficiency and drive your dealership's sales to new heights. Visit www.podium.com/mcs to learn more!   ➼ The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Automotive Sales Mastermind Facebook Group with over 29,000 automotive professionals worldwide. The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group is the go-to community for car salespeople, BDC agents, sales managers, general managers, and dealer principals looking to increase performance, income, and leadership skills. Inside the group, members collaborate daily on automotive sales strategies, lead handling, phone scripts, closing techniques, CRM best practices, dealership leadership, and accountability systems. Learn directly from top automotive trainers, industry mentors, and high-performing sales leaders who are actively winning in today's market. If you're serious about growing your automotive career, increasing car sales, and building long-term success, join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today! ➼ Dealer Synergy: Dealer Synergy is the automotive industry's #1 Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm, with over 20 years of proven dealership success nationwide. We specialize in helping car dealerships increase sales, improve processes, and build high-performing Sales, Internet, and BDC departments from the ground up. Our expertise includes automotive phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, lead handling strategies, BDC workflows, Internet sales processes, management training, and accountability systems. Dealer Synergy partners directly with dealership leadership to align people, process, and technology, ensuring consistent results and scalable growth. From independent dealers to large dealer groups and OEM partnerships, Dealer Synergy delivers measurable performance improvements, stronger teams, and sustainable profitability. ➼ Bradley On Demand: Bradley On Demand is the automotive industry's most advanced interactive training, tracking, testing, and certification platform for car dealerships — built to develop top-performing teams across Sales, Internet Sales, BDC, CRM, Phone Skills, Leadership, and Management. In addition to LIVE virtual automotive training classes and a library of 9,000+ on-demand dealership training modules, Bradley On Demand now includes AI Phone Roleplaying and Coaching to help salespeople and BDC agents practice real dealership conversations before they ever get on the phone with customers. This AI-powered roleplay technology strengthens phone scripts, objection handling, appointment setting, lead follow-up, and closing skills, while providing measurable coaching feedback for continuous improvement. Bradley On Demand empowers dealerships to train faster, coach smarter, improve call performance, increase closing ratios, and sell more cars more profitably — all through structured, trackable, modern automotive training.

"Stability is destabilizing." -Hyman MinskyBDCs are already cutting dividends. Blackstone, Blue Owl, and KKR are gating redemptions. The credit cycle signal is flashing — and almost nobody is watching it.There's a corner of the NYSE that nobody in crypto Twitter or macro Twitter is paying attention to. And it's insane to me — because if you want to know where the credit cycle is breaking, this is where you see it first.BDCs. Business development companies.They're sitting right there, publicly traded, yielding 12-13%. And almost nobody is watching them for the right reason.In this episode, Wasabi, Lux, Boomer, and Hal break down exactly what BDCs are, why they're the public window into a private credit market that's almost entirely dark, and why the signal is no longer hypothetical — the VanEck BDC Income ETF just cut its distribution in half, and Blackstone, Blue Owl, FS KKR, Apollo, Ares, and Morgan Stanley have all imposed redemption gates on their non-traded BDC vehicles. Investors trying to get their money out can't.This isn't a forecast. It's a current event.We walk through the full framework: what BDCs are, who borrows from them, why the structure forces transparency that private credit funds don't have, and how to use the dividend cut signal as a leading indicator for the broader credit cycle. One cut — note it. Two — pay attention. Three or more in the same quarter — deploy.This episode is free. Share it with someone who watches markets.SharePaid subscribers get:→ The daily market report — live BTC and ETH prices, macro color, fear & greed, and a straight read on what's actually moving→ Private Discord — talk through trades and theses directly with Hal and Lux. Not a community. Not a server with 10,000 people. A small room with the people who made this episode. And people like you.If you found this useful, the upgrade is worth it.subscribeDisclaimer on BCD's signal - while this podcast is fun this signal does not out perform buy and hold in back tests: The contrarian backtest completed. Here's the verdict:90 trades, 17.7% average return, 63% win rate. Sounds good right?But zero alpha. Every single trade has exactly 0% alpha vs buy-and-hold over the same period. That's because the "buy after cut" entry is just buying the stock — you'd get the same return just holding it through the dip.Here's the breakdown:• Big winners (2020Q1-Q2 trades): +80% to +161% — but that's just the COVID recovery. Buy-and-hold did the same.• Big losers (2019Q1, 2022Q1): -25% to -52% — you bought into a continuing decline• Win rate is decent (63-72%) but that's just BDCs being mean-reverting assets in generalThe honest answer: The contrarian angle feels right narratively, but the data says there's no edge. The dividend cut doesn't give you a better entry point than just buying the dip on price alone. You're not buying a "NAV discount opportunity" — you're buying a falling knife that sometimes recovers and sometimes doesn't.The 2008 story is a survivorship bias — we remember the BDCs that recovered, not the ones that didn't (OCSL -86% cut, NEWT with 13 cuts over 10 years).So both directions are dead: sell on cuts = no signal, buy on cuts = no alpha.

Ric Flair's Last Match is one of the most controversial wrestling events in recent history. Did The Nature Boy get the farewell he deserved, or should his final match have remained WrestleMania 24 against Shawn Michaels?In this episode of The It Doesn't Matter Podcast, Notorious Dom, BDC, Strap Facts, and Platano review the entire event—from the stacked undercard featuring Motor City Machine Guns, American Wolves, Josh Alexander, Jacob Fatu, Rey Fenix, Jordynne Grace, The Briscoes, and more—to the emotional and polarizing main event between Ric Flair & Andrade vs. Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal.Dom was in attendance live during SummerSlam weekend in Nashville, giving his firsthand perspective on the atmosphere, the crowd, and what it was like to witness Ric Flair's final walk to the ring.We also read over 30 fan comments from wrestling fans around the world, discussing whether Ric Flair's Last Match was a fitting tribute, a dangerous mistake, or something in between.What did you think of Ric Flair's Last Match?Leave your thoughts in the comments—we'd love to hear from you!

The premiere of TNA Impact is here in our WWE 2K26 Universe Mode, and the race to crown a new TNA World Heavyweight Champion begins!BDC joins me on commentary as the World Championship Tournament, Knockouts Championship Tournament, and Tag Team Tournament all get underway. The night delivers incredible action, including two GOAT-rated matches, a shocking opening draw between two legendary tag teams, and tournament victories from AJ Styles, Kurt Angle, and Moose.Match Card* Beer Money vs. Motor City Machine Guns* Chelsea Green vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Michin* The Briscoes vs. The Undisputed Era* Austin Aries vs. Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe vs. Sting* Awesome Kong vs. Gail Kim vs. Mickie James vs. Victoria* Drew McIntyre vs. Joe Hendry vs. Moose vs. Trick Williams* AJ Styles vs. Jeff Jarrett vs. Ken Shamrock vs. R-Truth

John Cole Scott, President of CEF Advisors, provides takeaways from the second quarter for closed-end funds and business-development companies, noting that the trend was for investors to make most of their money on net asset values rather than narrowing discounts, which creates potential for a strong second half of 2026 if there is an uptick in investor sentiment. Scott, the chairman of the Active Investment Company Alliance, brought forward data from his firm's quarterly outlook presentation this week, noting that it shows that while headline risks have hurt BDC prices, underlying strength should make for a strong rebound later in the year, particularly as the actions of the Federal Reserve become more clear.

The new era of WCW Monday Nitro begins in our WWE 2K26 Universe Mode! BDC joins me on commentary as Nitro makes its debut with a stacked card, shocking upsets, new champions, and championship implications from top to bottom.The biggest story of the night? Takeshita shocks Shawn Michaels, pinning the WCW World Heavyweight Champion in an instant classic to earn a future title opportunity! Plus, Goldberg survives Sting and Texas Tornado to move into the World Title picture, while Sol Ruca captures the AAA Reina Championship and the Wild Samoans become the inaugural WCW Tag Team Champions.Match Card* Charlotte Flair vs. Zelina Vega* Rey Mysterio vs. JD McDonagh* WCW Tag Team Championship Triple Threat* AAA Reina Championship: Lady Flammer (c) vs. Sol Ruca* Will Ospreay vs. Dominik Mysterio* Shawn Michaels vs. Takeshita* Goldberg vs. Sting vs. Texas TornadoWho stole the show on the first episode of Nitro? Was it Takeshita, Goldberg, Sol Ruca, or someone else? Let us know in the comments!

What if selling more cars didn't mean working MORE hours? In this episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, Sean V. Bradley sits down with Kevin Rudolph, an automotive sales professional who has sold more than 60 vehicles in a single month while working only four days a week! "Selling cars nowadays is about being part of the community more than it is about sitting by your desk and making phone calls." - Kevin Rudolph But Kevin's success is not built on chasing leads, discounting vehicles, or living at the dealership. It comes from something far more powerful: becoming deeply connected to the people and organizations within his community. Kevin shares how building an authentic personal brand, supporting local causes, and creating meaningful relationships helped him develop a business where customers no longer feel like transactions. They feel like family. "I don't WANT to write a $5,000 check. But now you just literally got yourself into the most loyal customer base there is!" - Kevin Rudolph Sean and Kevin explore what it truly means to become the "mayor of your community," why generosity can become one of the strongest drivers of long-term sales success, and how automotive professionals can create more opportunities without sacrificing their personal lives. "Stock the pond with the fish you want to catch." - Kevin Rudolph This conversation will challenge the traditional dealership grind and reveal why the most valuable relationships are often built far beyond the showroom floor. Key Takeaways: ✅ Community Involvement: Establish deep connections through community service and support, fostering a reliable and loyal customer base. ✅ Personal Branding: Create a memorable and trustworthy personal brand that resonates with your community, encapsulated by Kevin's "Ride with Rudolph." ✅ Work-Life Balance: Adopt strategies that allow a fulfilling work-life balance while maintaining high sales volume, like working four days a week. ✅ Relationship-Driven Sales: Focus on building lasting relationships with customers, leveraging these for high sales without resorting to hard selling. ✅ Innovative Networking: Engage with local institutions such as schools and fire departments to become a recognized and valued community member.   About Kevin RudolphKevin Rudolph is a seasoned automotive sales professional known for his remarkable ability to sell over 60 cars in a month. With a deep-rooted background in the community as a humane law enforcement officer and a volunteer first responder, Kevin leverages his extensive community connections to fuel his successful career at Royal Buick GMC in Sussex, New Jersey. He actively engages in community service initiatives, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the local area, synonymous with trust and reliability.   Unleashing the Power of Community to Sell Cars and Build Loyalty In the ever-evolving world of car sales, there's an emerging philosophy that redefines how success is cultivated. Kevin Rudolph, with his record-breaking achievements in car sales from a small dealership in Sussex, New Jersey, underscores a profound shift from conventional selling tactics to community-driven, relationship-centric approaches. His narrative exemplifies the transformative power of engagement, personal branding, and strategic community involvement in creating a loyal customer base and redefining sales success. Key Takeaways Community Engagement is Crucial: Connecting with diverse local organizations and causes fosters robust relationships and boosts business growth. Personal Branding is Vital: Building a unique personal brand can significantly impact your sales career, highlighting distinctiveness and expertise. Work Smarter, Not Harder: Discarding the 'grind' mentality in favor of strategic, community-oriented work boosts both sales and life quality. Immersing in Community for Sales Success Building Local Trust and Loyalty Kevin Rudolph's strategy of embedding himself within the community revolutionizes traditional car sales methods. By partnering with local organizations, such as first responders and charitable events, he not only cultivates trust but also ensures repeated business and referrals. He explains, "Selling cars nowadays is about being part of the community more than it is by sitting by your desk and making phone calls." Creating symbiotic relationships with local entities like fire departments and youth sports leagues not only garners loyalty but also establishes a brand synonymous with community care and support. For example, his innovative program of donating $20 per car sold to a local fire department epitomizes a strategy that benefits both the dealership and the community. His efforts highlight, "Proper ad spend when it comes to things like that… is better than anything because… now I'm their walking, talking billboard." The broader implication is clear: integrating into the community creates a positive feedback loop. Such involvement not only enhances brand awareness but also makes the business an integral part of the local fabric, leading to sustained growth and loyalty. The Power of Personal Branding in Automotive Sales Making a Name for Yourself Creating a powerful personal brand is crucial for distinguishing oneself in any field, particularly in car sales. Kevin Rudolph's "Ride with Rudolph" campaign serves as a successful model of combining personal identity with business goals. His brand capitalizes on his unique name, making it memorable and distinguished in the crowded marketplace. As Rudolph shares, leveraging one's personal narrative and strengths can lead to substantive career achievements, helping transform sales encounters into meaningful relationships. He asserts, "Create a brand that is personal to you… and then you have to live, breathe, and be that brand." In the broader landscape, personal branding presents pronounced benefits in enhancing visibility, establishing authority, and crafting a niche audience. It pushes sales professionals beyond the daily grind, allowing them to connect more personally with customers and inspire trust and reliability. Strategic Networking and Public Engagement Creating Events that Foster Connections A key element in Kevin's strategy is leveraging strategic community events and partnerships to amplify outreach and build a robust referral network. By organizing car seat safety checks and sponsoring sports teams, Rudolph intertwines everyday business operations with public service and engagement. For instance, Kevin's involvement with the local prevention and counseling center demonstrates how aligning business interests with community needs can drive remarkable outcomes. He positions this involvement within his broader brand strategy — attending events and providing tangible support. "You have to be present at these events, whether it's your high school basketball team or whether it's your whole youth sports league administration side," Kevin emphasizes. This tactic reinforces the potential impact of proactive networking and establishing oneself as a community leader. It highlights that successful sales are less about selling products and more about building relationships, trust, and brand loyalty through meaningful interactions. Reflections on Success Beyond Conventional Sales Car sales, often perceived as a transactional business, is undergoing a transformation driven by relationship-building and community immersion. Kevin Rudolph's journey magnifies how adopting a community-focused ethos, coupled with strategic personal branding, reshapes traditional approaches. Rudolph demonstrates that success can be achieved without compromising personal satisfaction, balance, and genuine community impact. His insights are a clarion call for sales professionals to rethink their strategies, emphasizing that empowering connections and purposeful brand building can yield both personal and professional fulfillment. Through civic engagement and strategic outreach, Kevin exemplifies a business model that is as profitable as it is personally rewarding, forging a path for continued success in the dynamic world of car sales.     Resources + Our Proud Sponsors:   ➼ Podium: The AI Platform Powering the Modern Dealership. From instant lead response to seamless test drive scheduling, Podium's AI Employee Jerry works 24/7 to turn every lead into a conversion, so your team can focus on closing. Trusted by thousands of dealerships nationwide and proudly featured on the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast. Learn how Podium can help you sell more cars, book more service appointments, and grow your dealership. Discover how Podium's innovative AI technology can unlock unparalleled efficiency and drive your dealership's sales to new heights. Visit www.podium.com/mcs to learn more!   ➼ The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Automotive Sales Mastermind Facebook Group with over 29,000 automotive professionals worldwide. The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group is the go-to community for car salespeople, BDC agents, sales managers, general managers, and dealer principals looking to increase performance, income, and leadership skills. Inside the group, members collaborate daily on automotive sales strategies, lead handling, phone scripts, closing techniques, CRM best practices, dealership leadership, and accountability systems. Learn directly from top automotive trainers, industry mentors, and high-performing sales leaders who are actively winning in today's market. If you're serious about growing your automotive career, increasing car sales, and building long-term success, join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today!   ➼ Dealer Synergy: Dealer Synergy is the automotive industry's #1 Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm, with over 20 years of proven dealership success nationwide. We specialize in helping car dealerships increase sales, improve processes, and build high-performing Sales, Internet, and BDC departments from the ground up. Our expertise includes automotive phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, lead handling strategies, BDC workflows, Internet sales processes, management training, and accountability systems. Dealer Synergy partners directly with dealership leadership to align people, process, and technology, ensuring consistent results and scalable growth. From independent dealers to large dealer groups and OEM partnerships, Dealer Synergy delivers measurable performance improvements, stronger teams, and sustainable profitability.   ➼ Bradley On Demand: Bradley On Demand is the automotive industry's most advanced interactive training, tracking, testing, and certification platform for car dealerships — built to develop top-performing teams across Sales, Internet Sales, BDC, CRM, Phone Skills, Leadership, and Management. In addition to LIVE virtual automotive training classes and a library of 9,000+ on-demand dealership training modules, Bradley On Demand now includes AI Phone Roleplaying and Coaching to help salespeople and BDC agents practice real dealership conversations before they ever get on the phone with customers. This AI-powered roleplay technology strengthens phone scripts, objection handling, appointment setting, lead follow-up, and closing skills, while providing measurable coaching feedback for continuous improvement. Bradley On Demand empowers dealerships to train faster, coach smarter, improve call performance, increase closing ratios, and sell more cars more profitably — all through structured, trackable, modern automotive training.

When people think about a Service BDC, they usually picture someone answering phones and setting appointments. Emma Cole saw something completely different. When she stepped into one of the largest service departments in the country, there wasn't a blueprint waiting for her. She had to build the department, earn trust with advisors, hire the right people, create new processes, and figure out how to keep a team motivated while making hundreds of calls every day. And she did. In this episode, Emma shares exactly how she built one of the most impressive Service BDC operations I've seen. We talk about finding opportunities that most dealerships overlook, building a team that actually wants to win, handling declined services, keeping advisors and BDC on the same page, and why leadership has to be hands-on when the pressure is on. If you've ever wondered whether a Service BDC can make a real impact on retention, customer experience, and service revenue...this episode will probably change your mind. We cover: How Emma built a Service BDC from the ground up. The lead sources most dealerships never work consistently. Why declined services deserve their own strategy. How to hire people with hustle—not just experience. The biggest mistakes BDC teams make and how to avoid them. Why communication between advisors and BDC can make or break the customer experience. One thing I loved about Emma... She never waited for someone to hand her a process. She built one. Check out our sponsors! LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships.ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast |  https://apple.co/38lmHM1  https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 | Jennifer@edealersolution.com | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t  |  Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx

Who is the greatest wrestling family of all time?

This week on Swimming with Allocators, Earnest and Alexa welcome Senia Rapisarda of HarbourVest, who walks through her journey from Italy and Wall Street to leading venture and growth efforts in Canada, first at BDC and now as a major LP. She explains how Canada's venture ecosystem has evolved, the creation and impact of the Venture Capital Action Plan, and why innovation capital is critical to national sovereignty. The conversation covers what makes great Canadian fund managers (curiosity, humility, team-building, and agility), how emerging managers should approach institutional LPs and avoid basic fund management mistakes, and why valuation discipline and non-greedy founders matter in down cycles. Also, Nick Cassin explains how continuation vehicles (CVs) give LPs a choice between liquidity and extended exposure to high-conviction assets when a fund's term and capital are running out. He describes how the market has broadened to more types of investors and fund sizes, and outlines the conflict-of-interest controls that make these GP-led secondaries work. Highlights from this week's conversation include: Senia's Background, Global Career, and Move to Canada (0:21) Moving to HarbourVest and Designing Canada Growth Strategy (4:00) Canada's “Perfect Storm” and Agriculture vs Geology Metaphor for Venture (5:42) What Canada Needs to Fully Capture Innovation Opportunity (8:04) How US Allocators Should Approach Canada and Diversification Benefits (11:21) Expectations of Emerging GPs and Importance of Fund Management Basics (17:59) When Continuation Vehicles Make Sense for Venture (21:39) Trends in New Money Capital and Expansion of CV Market (23:40) Managing Conflicts of Interest in GP-Led Continuation Vehicles (26:29) LP Behavior: Who Rolls vs Sells in CV Transactions (31:14) Four Filters for Durable Companies and Role of Founder Non-Greed (34:29) Longevity as an Asset Class and Implications for Pensions (37:03) Applying Longevity and Defense-Tech Themes in Manager Diligence (41:00) Innovation Capital as Part of Canada's Sovereignty and Late-Stage Capital Gaps (44:33) How Emerging Managers Should Approach HarbourVest and Build Track Record (47:12) Connecting with Senia and Parting Thoughts (51:01) HarbourVest Partners is a global private markets investment firm managing approximately $150B in assets, with a 45-year history and venture as a core part of its franchise. The firm operates as a multi-strategy, multi-manager platform — primary fund investments, secondaries, direct co-investments, and credit — across North America, Europe, and Asia. Senia Rapisarda leads HarbourVest's Canadian strategy from Toronto, deploying capital across funds and growth-stage companies and serving as a bridge between the Canadian ecosystem and HarbourVest's global LP and GP network. Sidley Austin LLP is a premier global law firm with a dedicated Venture Funds practice, advising top venture capital firms, institutional investors, and private equity sponsors on fund formation, investment structuring, and regulatory compliance. With deep expertise across private markets, Sidley provides strategic legal counsel to help funds scale effectively. Learn more at sidley.com. Swimming with Allocators is a podcast that dives into the intriguing world of Venture Capital from an LP (Limited Partner) perspective. Hosts Alexa Binns and Earnest Sweat are seasoned professionals who have donned various hats in the VC ecosystem. Each episode, we explore where the future opportunities lie in the VC landscape with insights from top LPs on their investment strategies and industry experts shedding light on emerging trends and technologies.  The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this podcast are for general informational purposes only. HarbourVest Partners, LLC is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. This material is solely for informational purposes and should not be viewed as a current or past recommendation or an offer to sell or the solicitation to buy securities or adopt any investment strategy.  The opinions expressed herein represent the current, good faith views of the author(s) at the time of publication, are not definitive investment advice, and should not be relied upon as such. This material has been developed internally and/or obtained from sources believed to be reliable; however, HarbourVest does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of such information. There is no assurance that any events or projections will occur, and outcomes may be significantly different than the opinions shown here.  This information, including any projections concerning financial market performance, is based on current market conditions, which will fluctuate and may be superseded by subsequent market events or for other reasons. The information contained herein must be kept strictly confidential and may not be reproduced or redistributed in any format without the express written approval of HarbourVest. Nothing herein should be construed as a solicitation, offer, recommendation, representation of suitability, legal advice, tax advice, or endorsement of any security or investment and should not be relied upon by you in evaluating the merits of investing in HarbourVest funds or in any other investment decision. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it take to go from struggling on the showroom floor to becoming one of the highest-volume Toyota sales professionals in the country? "You've got to stop coloring in the lines. You've got to stop doing what everybody else is doing." - Sean V. Bradley In this episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, Sean V. Bradley sits down with Dimitri Azatov, a nationally recognized Toyota fleet manager who built an extraordinary career by thinking far beyond traditional retail sales. "Well, yeah, when you're just selling 12, 15 cars, that wasn't enough. And I'm not one of those people that, okay, so I'm making whatever few grand that's enough." - Dimitri Azatov You'll hear how Dimitri transformed his approach by developing strong relationships with auto brokers, pursuing business and commercial clients, and creating opportunities to sell multiple vehicles through a single transaction. He also breaks down the importance of resilience, strategic outreach, personal branding, and using technology to operate more efficiently. "Instead of it only being Dimitri making phone calls, trying to put deals together, Demetri is creating an entire network of auto brokers strategically." - Sean V. Bradley Discover how fleet sales can open new revenue channels, why the right partnerships can dramatically increase volume, and how tools like personal websites and artificial intelligence can strengthen your credibility and streamline your daily operations. This episode will challenge you to stop relying solely on showroom traffic, think bigger about your market, and start creating more opportunities for yourself! Key Takeaways: ✅ Strategic Targeting: Dimitri focuses on businesses instead of individual buyers, allowing for sales of multiple units per contract. ✅ Network of Brokers: Building a network of auto brokers extends sales reach and significantly increases car sales volume. ✅ Utilizing Technology: Dimitri uses personal websites and AI tools, highlighting the importance of tech in modern car sales. ✅ Learning and Adapting: Studying top performers like Cody Carter can provide valuable insights for success in automotive sales. ✅ Perseverance Pays Off: Dimitri's journey demonstrates the power of resilience and innovation in overcoming industry challenges.     About Dimitri Azatov Dimitri Azatov is a nationally recognized Toyota fleet sales professional known for his high-volume approach, broker relationships, and innovative use of technology. Born in the Republic of Georgia, Dimitri moved to the United States in 2002 and entered the automotive industry in 2007. After starting as a salesperson, he transitioned into fleet sales and built a business focused on brokers, companies, and multi-vehicle transactions. Today, Dimitri averages 80 to 90 new vehicles per month, has sold as many as 160 vehicles in a single month, and has ranked among Toyota's top 10 sales professionals nationwide. He continues to grow by embracing artificial intelligence, digital tools, and forward-thinking sales strategies.   How to Excel in Car Sales: Strategies for a Transformational Career in Automotive Sales Key Takeaways: Leverage partnerships with auto brokers and businesses to scale your car sales efforts. Understand the power of branding and strategic use of technology to streamline processes and maximize productivity. Shift from traditional methods to innovative approaches in sales to achieve remarkable success in car sales. Building Success Through Strategic Partnerships In the fiercely competitive world of car sales, a successful career hinges on the adoption of innovative strategies that transcend conventional practices. This insight is vividly demonstrated by Dimitri Azatov, an exceptional automotive sales professional, who has leveraged unique methodologies to elevate his career. As Dimitri explains, "Sean V. Bradley emphasized the significance of creating a network of auto brokers that assist in scaling sales efforts." By forming partnerships with auto brokers, Dimitri magnifies his sales ability beyond his individual capacity, thereby redefining the sales landscape. Auto brokers act as conduits between the dealership and prospective buyers, facilitating transactions that are beyond the reach of standard sales approaches. Dimitri mentions, "the broker, basically just the middleman… they bring the customers." This enables sales professionals to tap into a wider customer base with minimal effort, transforming their sales volume. Employing brokers is akin to enlisting a mercenary sales team that amplifies a salesperson's capacity. This model allows sales professionals to switch the focus from singular customer interactions to managing broader networks, thus paving the way for increased sales and revenue. Branding and Technology as Cornerstones of Success Dimitri's success is not only attributed to strategic partnerships but also deeply rooted in savvy marketing and the use of cutting-edge technology. Developing a personal brand is paramount, as indicated by the creation of a personal website—azatoff1.com—that serves to build credibility and acts as a referral point for business. A website is a crucial component for any sales professional striving to affirm their independent identity within a dealership. Dimitri elaborates, "I built it myself… it builds credibility." Today's car sales professionals can no longer rely solely on traditional approaches tailored to showroom sales. Leveraging technology, such as customer relationship management (CRM) tools and artificial intelligence (AI), provides immense benefits in streamlining operations and fulfilling customer needs expediently. Dimitri highlights the power of AI, "this AI SMS messaging that I have, that's probably like 80% helps me." Automating tasks through AI significantly relieves the burden of redundant activities, allowing salespeople to focus on value-generating activities. Furthermore, consistent engagement with prospective buyers and seamless follow-up processes offer the personalization customers anticipate in today's marketplace. Evolving from Traditional Sales Methods to Advanced Sales Strategies The automotive industry constantly evolves, necessitating that professionals in the field stay adept with emerging trends and expectations. As Sean V. Bradley frequently notes, the traditional "up bus" mentality—passively waiting for prospective buyers—is outdated and ineffective. Dimitri's journey shows how proactive strategies like targeting businesses and frequently engaging with brokers can substantially increase sales. His approach to engaging with businesses—a demographic requiring more than one vehicle—solidifies sales predictability and offers a contrasting dynamic versus individual retail customers. Dimitri provides invaluable advice to automotive sales professionals on the brink of reconsidering their career choice due to financial limitations. With strategic and innovative practices, it is conceivable to achieve substantial success in car sales. As Dimitri asserts, the business opportunities are plentiful, and sales professionals must capitalize on emerging sales models and networks to elevate their financial outcomes. His experiences offer a roadmap for aspiring sales professionals, encouraging them to deviate from the norm to explore novel avenues like utilizing customer analytics, venturing into AI personalization, and establishing strategic alliances.   Dimitri Azatov's journey underscores the importance of modernizing sales tactics and integrating technology into everyday processes within the automotive sales industry. Partnering with brokers, utilizing personal branding, and employing AI and CRM systems position sales professionals to thrive amidst ever-increasing industry demands and customer expectations. Such strategies are vital for transforming a stagnating sales career into a prosperous one. This meticulous narrative demonstrates the trajectory of a car salesperson who defies traditional norms, embraces innovation, and subsequently achieves unparalleled success. For those in the automotive industry, Dimitri's experiences reinforce that exceptional results are attainable with dedication, strategic foresight, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.       Resources + Our Proud Sponsors:   ➼ Podium: The AI Platform Powering the Modern Dealership. From instant lead response to seamless test drive scheduling, Podium's AI Employee Jerry works 24/7 to turn every lead into a conversion, so your team can focus on closing. Trusted by thousands of dealerships nationwide and proudly featured on the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast. Learn how Podium can help you sell more cars, book more service appointments, and grow your dealership. Discover how Podium's innovative AI technology can unlock unparalleled efficiency and drive your dealership's sales to new heights. Visit www.podium.com/mcs to learn more!   ➼ The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Automotive Sales Mastermind Facebook Group with over 29,000 automotive professionals worldwide. The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group is the go-to community for car salespeople, BDC agents, sales managers, general managers, and dealer principals looking to increase performance, income, and leadership skills. Inside the group, members collaborate daily on automotive sales strategies, lead handling, phone scripts, closing techniques, CRM best practices, dealership leadership, and accountability systems. Learn directly from top automotive trainers, industry mentors, and high-performing sales leaders who are actively winning in today's market. If you're serious about growing your automotive career, increasing car sales, and building long-term success, join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today!   ➼ Dealer Synergy: Dealer Synergy is the automotive industry's #1 Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm, with over 20 years of proven dealership success nationwide. We specialize in helping car dealerships increase sales, improve processes, and build high-performing Sales, Internet, and BDC departments from the ground up. Our expertise includes automotive phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, lead handling strategies, BDC workflows, Internet sales processes, management training, and accountability systems. Dealer Synergy partners directly with dealership leadership to align people, process, and technology, ensuring consistent results and scalable growth. From independent dealers to large dealer groups and OEM partnerships, Dealer Synergy delivers measurable performance improvements, stronger teams, and sustainable profitability.   ➼ Bradley On Demand: Bradley On Demand is the automotive industry's most advanced interactive training, tracking, testing, and certification platform for car dealerships — built to develop top-performing teams across Sales, Internet Sales, BDC, CRM, Phone Skills, Leadership, and Management. In addition to LIVE virtual automotive training classes and a library of 9,000+ on-demand dealership training modules, Bradley On Demand now includes AI Phone Roleplaying and Coaching to help salespeople and BDC agents practice real dealership conversations before they ever get on the phone with customers. This AI-powered roleplay technology strengthens phone scripts, objection handling, appointment setting, lead follow-up, and closing skills, while providing measurable coaching feedback for continuous improvement. Bradley On Demand empowers dealerships to train faster, coach smarter, improve call performance, increase closing ratios, and sell more cars more profitably — all through structured, trackable, modern automotive training.

A new era begins!

#ScrubHopTalk Ep. 292 - The guys celebrate the 4 year anniversary of the BDC album "Copious Notes All Kutt Up" and the conversation devolves into one of their oldest bits. J gets really passionate about his views, even taking them to social media as of late, surprising the guys with his newfound hobby. We find a story about Smokey Bear participating in an arson arrest and the guys fall deep into a Mandela Effect rabbit hole about his wardrobe. @troxy_cotton @scrubhopking @bigtrox303 #ScrubHop #itsstillcancelKidRock#IcommentonFacebooknow#thisisthatNelsonshitScrub Hop Talk is a weekly show with JDirty, Big Trox, and Troxy Cotton. The boys bring you their take on life and pop culture, reacting to crazy videos, and showcasing a different song from their catalog every week. Brand new episodes air here at YouTube.com/ScrubHop every Sunday night at 5pm Pacific time.Please comment, like, and subscribe!For more information, visit ScrubHop.com to learn all about the music and join the movement.Big Trox's hat selection this week is brought to you by Twiztid.Visit Howard's 3D Prints for all your 3D printing needs!https://www.instagram.com/howards3dprintsThis week's song:JDirty - "Before I Die"https://open.spotify.com/track/5fi7iNbQy7T4hcaVsKX5fD?si=cafdf6b4d5e84331Buy the merch at:http://ScrubHopShop.bigcartel.comFollow the socials at:@ScrubHop on EVERYTHING!JDirty:http://scrubhop.com/jdirtyhttp://instagram.com/scrubhopkinghttp://twitter.com/jdirty303http://facebook.com/JDirty303Big Trox:http://scrubhop.com/bigtroxhttp://instagram.com/bigtrox303Troxy Cotton:http://scrubhop.com/troxycottonhttp://instagram.com/troxy_cottonhttp://twitter.com/TroxyCottonhttp://facebook.com/TroxyCottonCO

In this episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, Sean V. Bradley sits down with Ross Tinkham, Vice President and General Manager of Podium, for a forward-thinking conversation about why artificial intelligence is no longer a future trend… It's becoming a competitive necessity for dealerships! "The ability for your team to work with AI is really important. You're hiring an employee; you are going to be using AI to communicate with your customers." - Ross Tinkham As consumer expectations continue to rise, dealerships are under increasing pressure to respond faster, communicate more effectively, and deliver a seamless customer experience around the clock. Sean and Ross explore how conversational AI is transforming the way dealerships engage with customers, manage incoming leads, and create operational efficiencies across both sales and service departments. "AI is not magical like anything else. What you get out of it is what you put into it." - Sean V. Bradley Without giving away the full conversation, this episode dives into the opportunities AI presents for automotive retailers looking to improve customer engagement, overcome staffing challenges, and scale their operations without sacrificing the customer experience. From lead response and appointment setting to service communications and dealership workflows, you'll discover why the dealerships embracing AI today are positioning themselves to lead the industry tomorrow. "Every dealership should have an AI strategy." - Ross Tinkham Whether you're a dealer principal, general manager, sales manager, BDC director, or automotive professional, this episode will challenge the way you think about AI and reveal why adapting now may be one of the smartest business decisions you make. Because the future of automotive isn't about replacing people with AI… it's about empowering people with AI. Key Takeaways: ✅ AI can significantly enhance dealership operations by automating customer interactions, leading to higher engagement and conversion rates. ✅ Hiring AI-savvy employees or training current staff in AI can provide a competitive edge and maximize the utility of advanced AI systems. ✅ Podium's Jerry 2.0 AI effectively manages inbound and outbound communications, improving response times and customer satisfaction. ✅ There is a growing necessity for an integrated AI strategy in dealerships, focusing on both sales and service departments. ✅ AI can take on routine tasks, allowing human staff to focus on more complex and personalized customer interactions.   About Ross Tinkham Ross Tinkham is the Vice President and General Manager of Automotive at Podium, where he leads the company's automotive division and helps thousands of dealerships leverage AI to transform customer communication, lead management, and operational efficiency. Over the past eight years, Ross has played a pivotal role in growing Podium's automotive business through sales leadership, strategic partnerships, and business development, helping establish the company as one of the industry's leading technology providers. Today, Podium serves more than 110,000 businesses worldwide, including over 9,000 automotive dealerships, with cutting-edge conversational AI solutions designed to improve customer engagement, accelerate response times, increase appointments, and drive dealership profitability. A recognized thought leader in automotive technology and artificial intelligence, Ross is passionate about helping dealerships embrace innovation while enhancing the customer experience. His expertise spans AI strategy, digital retail, dealership operations, and the evolving role of automation in modern automotive sales and service. When he's not helping shape the future of automotive retail, Ross enjoys spending time with his family and taking advantage of everything New England's four seasons have to offer.   AI-Powered Automotive Sales: Revolutionizing Car Dealership Strategies Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a futuristic dream; it's a present-day reality transforming industries at lightning speed—automotive sales being a prime example. In a recent dynamic conversation between Sean V. Bradley and Ross Tinkham on leveraging AI to streamline automotive dealership processes, several powerful insights emerged. From sales acceleration to service optimization, the application of AI invariably paints a promising landscape for dealerships striving to stay ahead in a fiercely competitive market. Key Takeaways Embracing AI can consistently enhance lead conversion rates by ensuring timely responses and personalized interactions. AI's ability to customize processes aligns with the unique needs of each dealership, driving operational efficiency. Investing in AI expertise within teams empowers dealership employees to leverage AI tools effectively, thereby maximizing impact. Revolutionizing Lead Conversion with AI AI's ability to revolutionize the lead conversion process cannot be overstated. As discussed in the transcript, AI ensures "every lead's getting the attention it deserves and it's happening in a timely manner," according to Ross Tinkham. With AI, responses to inquiries are not delayed but are instantaneous, engaging potential customers with precision and relevance. In the competitive automotive market, a timely response can be the difference between winning a customer or losing them to a competitor. Moreover, deploying AI allows for a consistent engagement strategy, addressing potential customers' needs immediately. Tinkham illustrates this by emphasizing that AI can interact with customers at any time of day, ensuring none of the inbound leads fall through the cracks. "AI is the first line of defense," he stresses. With technology like Podium's AI platform, dealerships can configure to cover all online leads, thereby converting more prospects to customers. This automation doesn't replace human roles but complements them, taking over repetitive tasks and allowing human resources to focus on higher-level customer interactions and strategy. Tailoring AI to Enhance Dealership Operations A standout advantage of AI is its adaptability to the unique operations of each dealership. Through training and customization, AI becomes an invaluable team member, each dealership can mold its AI to fit specific scenarios and protocols. As Tinkham mentions, "We want to make sure whatever process is working for you and your team can just be replicated with the AI agent that you're handling." The AI's ability to handle various customer interactions—from responding to Kelley Blue Book inquiries to scheduling test drives—showcases its seamless integration into existing systems. "The ability to fully customize, train, and give feedback to an agent" elevates the effectiveness of AI, ensuring that it augments, rather than conflicts with, a dealership's established workflow. This tailored approach means AI can address franchise, new car, and used car dealership needs specifically, setting AI-equipped dealerships apart in customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. The Human-AI Synergy: Building an AI-Ready Team The evolution towards AI-driven operations mandates a shift in mindset among dealership teams. The transcript offers a pragmatic perspective on the future workforce, suggesting the inclusion of AI proficiency as a desirable skill. The importance of "adding AI expertise to your hiring profile" beckons dealerships to recruit and train employees who can maximize the potential of AI tools. Understanding AI technologies equips employees to interact effectively with these tools and harness their full potential. Podium makes this integration seamless as Tinkham notes, "No AI expertise required to train your podium agent." Yet, having such expertise on-site enhances a dealership's edge, allowing for tailored AI applications that address specific needs, thus paving the way for enhanced customer engagement and internal operational capabilities. Revamping the Automotive Future with AI AI is more than a tool—it's a transformative force reshaping how car dealerships operate. From revolutionizing lead conversion rates with instantaneous, tailored responses to customizing operational workflows, AI is poised to become an indispensable part of the automotive sales industry. Dealerships that embrace this technological evolution not only elevate their current operations but also prepare themselves for future growth. As AI continues to advance, its integration into every aspect of the dealership experience—from internet lead conversion to service call management—shows promise. By recognising the value AI brings, dealerships can future-proof their operations, ensure profitability, and offer a customer experience benchmarks of quality and satisfaction. Looking to the horizon, the focus remains clear: the strategic incorporation of artificial intelligence into dealership operations is not optional—it's imperative. Embracing AI ensures not only survival but offers thriving potential in the rapidly evolving automotive landscape. As echoed throughout the broadcast between Bradley and Tinkham, the time to act is now, setting benchmarks for what future automotive customer experiences should embody.     Resources + Our Proud Sponsors:   ➼ Podium: The AI Platform Powering the Modern Dealership. From instant lead response to seamless test drive scheduling, Podium's AI Employee Jerry works 24/7 to turn every lead into a conversion, so your team can focus on closing. Trusted by thousands of dealerships nationwide and proudly featured on the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast. Learn how Podium can help you sell more cars, book more service appointments, and grow your dealership. Discover how Podium's innovative AI technology can unlock unparalleled efficiency and drive your dealership's sales to new heights. Visit www.podium.com/mcs to learn more!   ➼ The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Automotive Sales Mastermind Facebook Group with over 29,000 automotive professionals worldwide. The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group is the go-to community for car salespeople, BDC agents, sales managers, general managers, and dealer principals looking to increase performance, income, and leadership skills. Inside the group, members collaborate daily on automotive sales strategies, lead handling, phone scripts, closing techniques, CRM best practices, dealership leadership, and accountability systems. Learn directly from top automotive trainers, industry mentors, and high-performing sales leaders who are actively winning in today's market. If you're serious about growing your automotive career, increasing car sales, and building long-term success, join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today!   ➼ Dealer Synergy: Dealer Synergy is the automotive industry's #1 Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm, with over 20 years of proven dealership success nationwide. We specialize in helping car dealerships increase sales, improve processes, and build high-performing Sales, Internet, and BDC departments from the ground up. Our expertise includes automotive phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, lead handling strategies, BDC workflows, Internet sales processes, management training, and accountability systems. Dealer Synergy partners directly with dealership leadership to align people, process, and technology, ensuring consistent results and scalable growth. From independent dealers to large dealer groups and OEM partnerships, Dealer Synergy delivers measurable performance improvements, stronger teams, and sustainable profitability.   ➼ Bradley On Demand: Bradley On Demand is the automotive industry's most advanced interactive training, tracking, testing, and certification platform for car dealerships — built to develop top-performing teams across Sales, Internet Sales, BDC, CRM, Phone Skills, Leadership, and Management. In addition to LIVE virtual automotive training classes and a library of 9,000+ on-demand dealership training modules, Bradley On Demand now includes AI Phone Roleplaying and Coaching to help salespeople and BDC agents practice real dealership conversations before they ever get on the phone with customers. This AI-powered roleplay technology strengthens phone scripts, objection handling, appointment setting, lead follow-up, and closing skills, while providing measurable coaching feedback for continuous improvement. Bradley On Demand empowers dealerships to train faster, coach smarter, improve call performance, increase closing ratios, and sell more cars more profitably — all through structured, trackable, modern automotive training.

The best salespeople don't win because they know the most features. They win because they understand people. In this episode of Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki, we dive into one of the biggest mindset shifts in modern selling: customers don't buy logically... they justify their decisions logically after they've already made an emotional one. We'll explore why facts alone create price shoppers, how emotional connection reduces resistance, why customers never argue with how they feel, and how asking better questions uncovers the real reason they're buying. Whether you're in sales, BDC, service, or leadership, this conversation will challenge how you communicate with customers and help you create more trust, stronger relationships, and more confident decisions. If you've ever heard, "I need to think about it," this episode will help you understand what your customer is really trying to tell you and what to do next. Check out our sponsors! LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships.ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast |  https://apple.co/38lmHM1  https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 | Jennifer@edealersolution.com | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t  |  Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx

Is private credit the pin that pops the market bubble? The short answer is no—but that’s the wrong question entirely. Private credit is now a $1.8–$3.5 trillion market, rivaling the entire U.S. leveraged loan and high-yield bond markets combined. It’s direct lending, shadow banking, and middle-market finance all rolled into one, and firms like Ares, Apollo, Blackstone, Blue Owl, and Morgan Stanley are at the center of it. Business development companies (BDCs), are gating redemptions. Pension funds, insurance companies, and retail investors are all exposed. And the Financial Stability Board issued a formal warning in May 2026. So what is private credit, how did it get this big, and what does it actually mean for the broader economy if it seizes up? In this episode, Max breaks down the entire private credit ecosystem—from its origins in post-2008 regulation to the mechanics of SOFR-linked floating rate loans, PIK interest, covenant-lite structures, and the $410–$540 billion in bank lending that ties the whole system together. We look at the BDC redemption crisis of 2025 and 2026, the First Brands and TriColor fraud cases and Jamie Dimon’s cockroach comment that won’t go away. Resources J.P. Morgan: Understanding Private Credit Bloomberg Television: Why Private Credit Is Not a Financial Crisis Threat Blackstone: What’s Really Happening in Private Credit? Expert Answers CNBC Television: Inside Alts: Private credit fears resurface CNBC Television: This is the start of a big crisis for private credit, says Verdad’s Rasmussen The Federal Reserve: Bank Lending to Private Credit: Size, Characteristics, and Financial Stability Implications Federal Reserve Bank of Boston: Could the Growth of Private Credit Pose a Risk to Financial System Stability? IMF eLibrary: Chapter 2 The Rise and Risks of Private Credit in: Global Financial Stability Report, April 2024 Financial Stability Board: FSB warns on private credit vulnerabilities NAIC: How State Insurance Regulators are Responding to Growth in CLOs and Private Credit Bloomberg: Ares Private Credit Fund Caps Redemptions After 14% Seek to Exit Bloomberg: Apollo Caps Private Credit Fund After 17% Request to Exit Bloomberg: Private Credit Is Still a Hot Asset for Bond Investors Buying Debt Bloomberg: Morgan Stanley Caps Private Credit Fund After 11.6% Exit Request Bloomberg: Cliffwater Private Credit Fund Stung by 17% Redemption Requests Bloomberg: Blackstone Limits Withdrawals From $79 Billion Private Credit Fund BCRED Bloomberg: Private Credit BDC Redemptions Exceed Fundraising for First Time The Lead Left: Middle Market & Private Credit – 1/5/2026 - The Lead Left Financial Times: US debt investors raise alarm over lending standards UNFTR Resources Video: Will Private Credit’s Death Spiral Pop the Market Bubble? Essay: Is Private Credit the Pin That Pops the Bubble? UNFTR Newsletter UNFTR Progressive Trivia -- If you like #UNFTR, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook, Bluesky, and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at unftr.com. Become a member at unftr.com/memberships. Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee at shop.unftr.com. Visit our bookshop.org page at bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations. Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at unftr.com/accessibility.Support the show: https://www.unftr.com/membershipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie and Matt discuss summer vacation, SpaceX/Tesla, Elon Musk re-conglomeration, MacroHard, Meta prediction markets, human social behavior, Farmville, AI engagement, base revealed preferences, private credit redemptions, monthly liquidity and BDC arbitrage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Cole Scott, President of CEF Advisors, attended the Private Credit Summit hosted this week in New York City by Dechert LLP, and came away with a sense that private-credit markets have not yet gotten to the overheated levels that could turn investor fears of a blow-up into a financial reality. Scott, also the chairman of the Active Investment Company Alliance, discusses "stress tests" that Fitch Ratings did on some large perpetual business development companies to see how they would perform if market conditions changed dramatically, and found that the BDCs did not break under severe conditions. He also discusses how insurance companies putting money into the private credit and BDC industries is changing underwriting standards, adding a measure of safety that he says all private credit investors are likely to benefit from. Plus, he discusses his sense of where the market is in its current cycle, based on what he heard from institutional investors who were in attendance.

The ECW faithful were ready for war!On this episode of The It Doesn't Matter Podcast, Notorious Dom, Platano, BDC, Ringside, and Dante review ECW One Night Stand 2006, one of the most memorable and controversial wrestling events of the Ruthless Aggression Era.We discuss:

Today I'm joined once again by Alan Haig, President at Haig Partners. Dealer profits fell 16% in the first quarter of 2026, yet the number of dealerships changing hands surged 39% over the same period last year. Alan breaks down the capital stockpile dealers built during the COVID era, why franchise values have held steady despite softer earnings, and which brands represent the best buying opportunities right now. Topics: 00:20 Buy-Sells Boom As Values Drop. 01:45 The Profit Number Dealers Can't Hide. 05:35 39% More Stores Sold. 09:20 Two Beaten Brands Smart Money Buys. 11:35 VW's Disastrous Dealer Meeting. 14:10 Why AI Hasn't Made A Dime. 25:05 The Senator Blocking A 23% Crash. 42:10 The 20% Return Hooked Investors. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Experian Automotive - Experian's Fraud Protect solution helps dealers identify potential fraud risks earlier in the sales process by leveraging advanced data, analytics, and identity verification tools. Visit @ here for more info. 2. Matador AI - Discover why the biggest dealership groups in America are using Matador AI to enhance their Sales and BDC teams to sell and service more cars than ever before. Head to @ here and book your demo today. 3. Haig Partners - The Haig Report® sets the standard for dealership M&A data and trends in auto retail. Read it @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cdgcircles.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Industry job board ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://jobs.dealershipguy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dealership recruiting ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgrecruiting.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Fix your dealership's social media ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.trynomad.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Request to be a podcast guest ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgguest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgpartner.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Industry job board ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://jobs.dealershipguy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Request to be a podcast guest ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgguest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠x.com/GuyDealership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/cardealershipguy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiktok.com/@guydealership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠threads.net/@cardealershipguy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Everything else ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dealershipguy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Most AI conversations focus on the technology. This one focuses on the people building it. In this episode of Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki, I sit down with Tasso Roumeliotis, Founder & CEO of NUMA AI, for a candid conversation about leadership, change, AI adoption, customer experience and what dealership operators need to understand as artificial intelligence becomes part of daily operations. What fascinated me most wasn't the product. It was learning how an outsider to automotive earned trust inside one of the most operationally complex industries in the world and what dealership leaders can learn from that journey. We discuss: • Why most AI failures are actually adoption failures • The resistance employees feel when AI enters the workplace • How leaders should communicate AI change to their teams • Why understanding the people behind AI matters as much as understanding the technology • The future role of dealership leadership in an AI-driven world • How AI can improve visibility into customer experience and operational performance • Why empathy may become the most valuable human skill in automotive retail • What operators should be thinking about now to prepare for the next few years Whether you're a dealer principal, general manager, fixed ops leader, sales leader, service manager, BDC director, or simply curious about where automotive retail is headed, this episode offers practical insight into the leadership side of AI transformation. Because the future won't be determined by who buys the most AI. It will be determined by who leads people through change the best. Subscribe for weekly conversations focused on leadership, customer experience, AI, sales, service, and dealership growth. Check out our sponsors! LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships.ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast |  https://apple.co/38lmHM1  https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 | Jennifer@edealersolution.com | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t  |  Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx

Mark Henry's WWE journey is unlike any other. From the unforgettable Sexual Chocolate era to the dominant Hall of Pain run, we're breaking down the career, legacy, and moments that made The World's Strongest Man a wrestling legend.Join Notorious Dom, Strap Facts, and BDC as they discuss fan reactions, the famous retirement swerve, Hall of Pain, and whether Mark Henry was underrated, overrated, or properly rated.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Mark Henry01:44 Mark Henry's Early Career and Challenges05:19 Mark Henry's Matches and Memorable Moments09:43 Discussion on Mark Henry's Impact and Legacy13:50 Mark Henry's Evolution and Personal Insights14:50 Mark Henry's Absence in the Invasion Angle21:02 Fan Reactions and Retirement Angle26:42 Mark Henry's Booking and Legacy30:15 The Evolution of Mark Henry's Character32:35 Mark Henry's Hall of Pain Era35:17 The Legacy of Mark Henry37:48 Mark Henry's Impact on WWE40:15 Final Thoughts on Mark Henry43:00 Mark Henry: Overrated or Not?

In this episode of Tank Talks, Matt Cohen and John Ruffolo unpack the latest leaked details around Canada's national AI strategy, including a proposed Canadian Tech Growth Fund that would take direct equity stakes in AI startups and scale-ups. John pushes back on whether creating yet another government-backed fund solves the real problem or simply adds more confusion to an already crowded funding landscape.The conversation then moves into the AI capital arms race, where Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceX, and Alphabet appear to be racing toward public markets and massive equity raises at the same time. Matt and John unpack Anthropic's reported path toward a late 2026 IPO, Alphabet's massive $80 billion equity raise to fund AI infrastructure, and why even companies with enormous free cash flow may be rushing to secure capital before debt markets tighten further.The episode closes with what Matt calls the “fugazi” layer of the AI boom: complex GPU financing structures, off-balance-sheet debt, SPVs, and Michael Burry's criticism of NVIDIA's xAI-related financing arrangement. From Canada's AI strategy to Alphabet's infrastructure spend to opaque AI financing models, the core question is clear: is this the beginning of a new AI-driven market cycle, or are the biggest players trying to raise capital before the music stops?Canada's New National AI Strategy & Tech Growth Fund (00:52)Matt introduces leaked details of Canada's expected national AI strategy, including a new Canadian Tech Growth Fund that would take direct equity stakes in AI startups and scale-ups, along with additional funding for the AI Compute Access Fund.Direct Investment vs. Backing Canadian VC Funds (05:02)John argues that government capital may be more effective when deployed through BDC, EDC, and Canadian venture funds, rather than direct government selection of startups. The concern is that direct investment could create political complications and distort private capital markets.Anthropic's $65B Raise and Potential 2026 IPO (09:02)The conversation shifts to Anthropic's massive fundraising round, reported $900 billion pre-money valuation, and potential late 2026 IPO path. Matt frames it as part of a broader wave of trillion-dollar AI and space-related public market activity.The IPO Race Between Anthropic, OpenAI, and SpaceX (10:04)Matt and John discuss whether the IPO window is reopening or whether the biggest private companies are rushing to get out before capital markets become less forgiving. John speculates that Anthropic may want to reach public markets before OpenAI captures investor attention.Alphabet's $80B AI Infrastructure Raise (12:18)Matt outlines Alphabet's reported $80 billion equity raise, including a private placement to Berkshire Hathaway, a public offering, and an at-the-market equity program. The raise is positioned as fuel for Alphabet's unprecedented AI infrastructure build-out.The AI Infrastructure Cold War (14:41)Matt argues that hyperscalers like Google are proving that frontier AI economics are fundamentally different from prior technology waves. John compares the AI arms race to baseball owners escalating salaries because no one can afford to fall behind.Michael Burry, NVIDIA, xAI, and “Fugazi” GPU Financing (16:01)Matt breaks down Michael Burry's critique of NVIDIA's GPU financing structure involving Valor, xAI, Apollo, Athene, and an SPV. The arrangement raises questions about revenue recognition, asset ownership, credit risk, and who ultimately carries the liability.The Real Question: What Happens When the Music Stops? (17:55)The episode ends with Matt and John questioning how these layered financing structures will play out as AI CapEx continues to explode. From public markets to SPVs to off-balance-sheet risk, the AI boom is starting to look less like a clean growth story and more like a capital market stress test.Connect with John Ruffolo on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/joruffoloConnect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com

Private credit has hit a speed bump in the US, where the market is rapidly pivoting from growth to stricter risk discipline.   At our flagship “Credit Frontiers” event, we sat down with Moody's leaders to discuss what's behind these “bad vibes” about private credit and what they're hearing from market participants about the trajectory of the asset class.   Host: Giulia Calcabrini, Assistant Vice President, Analyst, Moody's Ratings   Guests:  Marc Pinto, Managing Director, Global Head of Private Credit, Moody's Ratings David Hamilton, Managing Director, Head of Asset Management Research, Moody's Analytics   Related Research:  Private Credit – Global – Volatility will intensify focus on liquidity, transparency 22 April 2026 Private Credit – Global – Seven key ways private credit is changing 14 May 2026 Private Credit – US – Asset quality indicators point to emerging risk in private credit direct lending 28 April 2026 Moody's Private Credit Insights © 2026 Moody's Corporation and/or its licensors and affiliates. All rights reserved. Go to www.moodys.com/pages/globaldisclaimer.aspx for complete legal terms and conditions governing use of Moody's information made available in this video. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this eye-opening episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, Sean V. Bradley sits down with CBT News co-founder and automotive industry veteran Jim Fitzpatrick for a conversation that every dealer principal, general manager, and automotive leader needs to hear. "The FTC is going to be saying, look, you can't play games with this. If your salesperson is out there pitching a price on a car... your salesperson is now going to be representing to the consumers what the sale price of that car is." - Jim Fitzpatrick As the FTC increases its focus on dealership advertising, pricing transparency, and consumer protection, many retailers are left wondering: Is my dealership truly prepared? Sean and Jim unpack one of the most important topics facing the automotive industry today, exploring how regulatory changes, compliance expectations, and evolving consumer demands are reshaping the dealership landscape. From pricing disclosures and advertising practices to the growing influence of social media and personal branding, this discussion highlights why old habits could create new risks in today's market. "We're really bringing together the smartest minds in retail automotive or most of them, to bring them together to say, look, let's help dealers figure this thing out." - Jim Fitzpatrick Without giving away all the answers, this episode challenges dealers to think differently about compliance, leadership, training, and accountability. More importantly, it highlights why staying informed and proactively adapting may be one of the biggest competitive advantages a dealership can have moving forward. Whether you're a dealer principal, GM, GSM, compliance officer, or automotive professional, this conversation will help you better understand the road ahead and why industry leaders are paying close attention to the conversations surrounding FTC enforcement, dealership operations, and the future of automotive retail. Register for the Auto Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. here and get $100 OFF with code 'SEAN100': https://www.cbtnews.com/auto-leadership-summit/ Because in today's environment, what you don't know could cost you far more than you think… Key Takeaways: ✅ The FTC is focusing on fair pricing and transparent marketing practices in the automotive industry to protect consumer interests. ✅ Dealers need a comprehensive training program that includes a structured compliance strategy to address pricing and social media marketing challenges. ✅ Social media influencers and individual sales representatives can unwittingly cause compliance issues if they post content related to pricing without understanding the implications. ✅ Establishing a robust audit system for social media content posted by dealership employees is vital to maintain compliance and protect brand reputation. ✅ The CBT News Auto Leadership Summit on Fair Pricing and Compliance will offer insights from experts across the industry on how to navigate these compliance challenges.   About Jim Fitzpatrick Jim Fitzpatrick is a 25-year veteran of the retail automotive industry. He began his career in 1980 as a new car salesperson at a high-volume Toyota dealership in South Florida and quickly rose through the ranks, holding executive positions with AutoNation and JM&A. In 2001 Jim became the Managing Partner of a Toyota dealership in Augusta Georgia.  In 2004 Jim, along with his son, John, co- founded Force Marketing in Atlanta, Georgia which currently serves over 1600 franchised dealers throughout North America. In 2012, realizing the need for new car dealers to have their own news and information platform, Jim and his wife Bridget, launched CBT Automotive Network.  In addition to providing daily news reports, CBT produces nine weekly shows, hosted by the industry's best known consultants and trainers. Each show focuses on different departments of the dealership operation. Over 54,000 dealer principals, OEM, and Association Executives throughout North America receive CBT's daily newsletters. A recent study found that more people view CBT's video segments than any other automotive media platform. A father of five and grandfather of six, Jim lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his family.     Harnessing Regulatory Compliance and Social Media Strategy in Automotive Sales: Insights from Industry Leaders   Key Takeaways Social Media Compliance: Dealerships must enforce strict social media policies to ensure compliance with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations and protect their brand image. Price Transparency: Aligning advertising strategies with FTC guidelines on fair pricing can prevent costly violations and enhance consumer trust. Training and Policies: Implementing comprehensive training programs and policies can safeguard dealerships against potential regulatory breaches and maintain operational integrity.   Navigating the Complex World of Social Media Compliance In the ever-evolving automotive industry, dealerships face a growing demand to maintain transparency and compliance, particularly in the realm of social media. The transcript from a riveting conversation between Jim Fitzpatrick and Sean V. Bradley highlights the importance of ensuring dealership employees adhere to social media guidelines set by the FTC. Fitzpatrick asserts that social media has become crucial in portraying a dealership's brand and customer experience. "Take the influencers and have them talk about the experience, have them talk about the selection," he suggests, emphasizing content that avoids pricing to remain compliant. The conversation underscores the significant role dealerships' social media strategies play in forming consumer perceptions and regulatory compliance. With employees potentially acting as brand ambassadors online, the repercussions of non-compliant posts can be detrimental. Discounted prices or misleading offers shared on personal platforms, as Fitzpatrick points out, can draw unwanted regulatory scrutiny. Dealerships are not just at risk of tarnishing their reputation but also face hefty fines. Simply put, ensuring a strategy that focuses on non-monetary aspects of the dealership experience can protect both brand and financial standing. Price Transparency: A Path to Building Consumer Trust Price transparency in dealership advertising is another crucial theme woven throughout the dialogue. The FTC, under the Biden administration, has intensified its focus on what it terms "junk fees" in various industries, including automotive. "Maybe the managers are saying, well, in order for us to be compliant, we're going to price ourselves right out of the marketplace," Fitzpatrick notes, acknowledging the balance dealerships must strike between competitive pricing and regulatory adherence. According to Bradley, the importance of consistency across advertised prices and what consumers actually pay when they walk into a dealership cannot be overstated. Misleading pricing not only disrupts consumer trust but also exposes dealerships to severe penalties. With the FTC reportedly sending out 97 warnings to dealerships about these practices, the industry is on high alert. Dealerships must ensure that their advertising reflects the actual purchase price, minus incentives, to maintain compliance and consumer confidence. Comprehensive Training and Policies for Sustainable Operations Both Bradley and Fitzpatrick adamantly express the importance of robust training and policy establishment to mitigate the risks of regulatory infringements. Fitzpatrick underscores the need for ongoing employee education, suggesting that training programs specifically tailored to reinforce compliance norms can be a dealership's strongest defense. "If you don't have ongoing training in this area…you have no defense," he mentions. Bradley concurs, emphasizing the necessity of consistent managerial oversight and the implementation of structured communication protocols, such as computer use policies. These measures not only ensure that the dealership aligns with federal regulations but also empower employees with the knowledge they need to uphold the company's reputation. Comprehensive, routine audits and training can preemptively address and rectify potential compliance issues before they escalate to external disputes or regulatory scrutiny.   Navigating the intricacies of compliance in the automotive industry requires a proactive and strategic approach. By fostering a culture of transparency and accountability through comprehensive training and controlled social media strategies, dealerships can fortify themselves against regulatory pitfalls. As the conversation between Bradley and Fitzpatrick poignantly illustrates, these measures not only safeguard against financial penalties but also contribute to building a resilient, consumer-focused brand reputation in a competitive industry landscape.     Resources + Our Proud Sponsors:   ➼ The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Automotive Sales Mastermind Facebook Group with over 29,000 automotive professionals worldwide. The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group is the go-to community for car salespeople, BDC agents, sales managers, general managers, and dealer principals looking to increase performance, income, and leadership skills. Inside the group, members collaborate daily on automotive sales strategies, lead handling, phone scripts, closing techniques, CRM best practices, dealership leadership, and accountability systems. Learn directly from top automotive trainers, industry mentors, and high-performing sales leaders who are actively winning in today's market. If you're serious about growing your automotive career, increasing car sales, and building long-term success, join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today! ➼ Dealer Synergy: Dealer Synergy is the automotive industry's #1 Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm, with over 20 years of proven dealership success nationwide. We specialize in helping car dealerships increase sales, improve processes, and build high-performing Sales, Internet, and BDC departments from the ground up. Our expertise includes automotive phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, lead handling strategies, BDC workflows, Internet sales processes, management training, and accountability systems. Dealer Synergy partners directly with dealership leadership to align people, process, and technology, ensuring consistent results and scalable growth. From independent dealers to large dealer groups and OEM partnerships, Dealer Synergy delivers measurable performance improvements, stronger teams, and sustainable profitability. ➼ Bradley On Demand: Bradley On Demand is the automotive industry's most advanced interactive training, tracking, testing, and certification platform for car dealerships — built to develop top-performing teams across Sales, Internet Sales, BDC, CRM, Phone Skills, Leadership, and Management. In addition to LIVE virtual automotive training classes and a library of 9,000+ on-demand dealership training modules, Bradley On Demand now includes AI Phone Roleplaying and Coaching to help salespeople and BDC agents practice real dealership conversations before they ever get on the phone with customers. This AI-powered roleplay technology strengthens phone scripts, objection handling, appointment setting, lead follow-up, and closing skills, while providing measurable coaching feedback for continuous improvement. Bradley On Demand empowers dealerships to train faster, coach smarter, improve call performance, increase closing ratios, and sell more cars more profitably — all through structured, trackable, modern automotive training.

In this episode of the Independent Dealer Podcast, Jeff Watson and Luke Godwin get real about one of the most pressing challenges facing independent dealers in 2026 — building and keeping the right team. From sales to collections to the shop, they break down how AI is reshaping every position on your lot, which roles are disappearing, which ones matter more than ever, and what it actually takes to hire and retain people worth keeping.What You'll Learn:Why the BDC agent as you know it is going away — and what kind of salesperson you actually need to replace them in an AI-driven dealershipThe debate: human-led lead management vs. full AI automation, and where the real closing magic still has to happen in personHow the collector-to-account ratio has nearly doubled and what that means for who you hire, how you train them, and what you pay themWhy hiring mechanics without experience and training them up beats poaching experienced techs — and how to run a working interview that cuts through the noise fastHow the Blytz and Ituran integration is eliminating after-hours headaches and cutting down the busywork your collectors shouldn't be doing anymoreWhy every dealer needs a numbers person — and what happens to your business when the person running gut instinct finally meets a spreadsheetIf you're a buy here pay here or independent dealer trying to figure out how to staff smarter, hold people accountable, and stop letting good be the enemy of great, this episode is for you.Support the businesses that support the podcast:Buckeye Risk Services - Reinsurance and wealth strategies for independent dealers. https://theindependentdealer.com/buckeyeBlytz - BHPH payment processing with fast funding and text-to-pay. https://theindependentdealer.com/blytzpay/Ituran GPS - Asset protection and customer management for BHPH and retail dealers. https://theindependentdealer.com/ituranFollow & Connect: Website: www.theindependentdealer.comFacebook Group: @independentautogroup Luke Godwin: @lukegodwin Jeff Watson: /sendtojeffwLike, subscribe, and share this with a dealer who needs to hear it.

In this high-energy episode of Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki, Jen Suzuki gets brutally honest about one of the biggest mistakes happening inside dealerships right now… slow lead response. This isn't about cheesy auto-responses, outdated templates, or "just checking in" emails that customers ignore. Jen breaks down why speed alone is not enough anymore. Dealers must combine fast response times with engaging, value-based conversations that actually pull customers in emotionally and stop them from shopping everyone else. From real dealership observations to simple but powerful examples, Jen explains why the first five minutes can determine whether your store wins or loses the deal. She challenges salespeople, BDC teams, and leaders to rethink how they approach internet leads, customer engagement, and communication strategy in today's hyper-competitive market. If your team is still responding an hour later with "Is this vehicle still something you're interested in?" this episode might sting a little. But it's the reality of modern automotive retail. This conversation is packed with practical takeaways on lead speed, customer psychology, conversation hooks, trust-building, engagement strategy, and why "professional speed" has become one of the biggest competitive advantages in the car business today.

In this episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, Sean V. Bradley sits down with top-performing automotive sales professional Stafford Brown for a conversation about what it really takes to create your own opportunities in today's car business! "The sky's the limit. The only limit that you have is the one that you place on yourself." - Stafford Brown Stafford's success did not come from waiting for showroom traffic or hoping the phone would ring. His rise in automotive sales has been built on consistency, visibility, prospecting, community connection, and the discipline to work opportunities that many salespeople overlook. "Stay green, stay trainable, stay open-minded, stay prospecting." - Stafford Brown This episode explores how modern sales professionals can use tools like social media, customer relationships, data mining, and personal branding to build a stronger pipeline and stay relevant in an increasingly competitive market. Without giving away the full playbook, Sean and Stafford dig into the mindset, habits, and strategies that separate proactive salespeople from those who are still relying on luck. "I would want to create content that's going to attract prospects and buyers." - Sean V. Bradley If you're in automotive sales and want to generate more opportunities, strengthen your brand, and build long-term success, this episode will challenge the way you think about prospecting, follow-up, and becoming known in your market! Key Takeaways: ✅ The power of being proactive in prospecting can significantly impact car sales success. ✅ Effective use of social media can drive substantial organic traffic and leads, accounting for approximately 30% of Stafford's monthly sales. ✅ Data mining and equity mining are crucial for identifying high-probability sales opportunities among existing and prior customers. ✅ Building strong customer relationships and offering personalized incentives foster repeat business and referrals. ✅ Taking ownership of personal sales endeavors and investing in oneself can lead to exceptional results in car sales. About Stafford Brown Stafford Brown is a seasoned automotive sales professional and the number one Nissan sales consultant in South Carolina. Known for selling an impressive 55 cars a month, Stafford's approach to sales emphasizes relationship-building and proactive prospecting. His expertise and innovative sales strategies make him a notable figure in the automotive industry. As a top performer, Stafford is adept at utilizing social media and data-driven approaches to maximize sales opportunities.     Mastering Automotive Sales: Strategies for Success from a Millionaire Car Salesman   Key Takeaways Relationship Building is Key: Being genuinely good to people not only builds trust but also attracts and retains customers. Harnessing Social Media for Sales: Effective use of social platforms can significantly boost car sales by as much as 30%. Proactive Prospecting Methods: Strategies like data mining and customer testimonials play a crucial role in achieving high sales figures. The automotive sales industry is not just about moving cars off the lot—it's about building relationships, strategic thinking, and innovative marketing. These are the cornerstones of Sean V. Bradley and Stafford Brown's discussion in the Millionaire Car Salesman podcast. Here's a detailed exploration of how to enhance sales performance, drawn from the insights shared by these industry titans.   The Power of Relationships in Car Sales Building meaningful relationships is the cornerstone of successful car sales. Stafford Brown emphasizes, "Be good to people, man. Serve. You know what I mean? Be good to people." This mantra is not just about ethics but also about strategy. When you treat customers well, they are more likely to return the favor with loyalty and referrals. Brown further illustrates this with a practical approach to sales. After closing a deal, he typically records a testimonial video with the customer's endorsement. These videos foster trust and serve as powerful social proof, attracting new customers who value detailed, real-world feedback from their peers. In the high-stakes world of automotive sales, such trust is invaluable. Bradley echoes this sentiment by highlighting the long-term benefits of customer-centric practices. "I want to create content that's going to be prospect friendly or, you know, customer-centric," he notes, aiming to provide value through engaging content that doesn't alienate potential buyers.   Leveraging Social Media as a Sales Tool In today's digital world, social media is not just a communication tool but a pivotal sales channel. Stafford Brown's experiences illustrate this vividly. "Putting my stuff out on social media, my social media platforms, it helps a lot." By strategically using Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, Brown reaches a broader audience, turning views and interactions into tangible sales leads. Brown reports that about 30% of his sales come directly through social media, with Facebook leading the pack. His approach is organic, focusing on authentic content that resonates with potential buyers. Whether it's through customer testimonials, intriguing posts about recent sales, or engaging scenarios that welcome people with less-than-perfect credit, Brown crafts content that speaks to users' needs and aspirations. This strategy not only keeps Brown at the forefront of potential customers' minds, but it also positions him as a trusted resource in the community. Bradley and Brown both stress the importance of ensuring that social media content remains positive and welcoming, avoiding the common pitfall of alienating would-be customers by making fun of poor credit or other challenges.   Proactive Prospecting: Data Mining and Equity Strategies Another vital strategy highlighted in the transcript is the use of data mining and equity mining to uncover sales opportunities. This dynamic approach involves analyzing existing databases to identify high-probability customers, particularly focusing on those current with a dealership's service department or holding high-interest loans. Brown explains his method: "I physically go in, but I'm looking at different things. Definitely high-interest rate, how long they've had the vehicle, you know, the bank that they went with." This strategic use of data ensures that Brown targets prospects who are not only likely to buy but are also in line for an upgrade or a better financial position. Such proactive prospecting is not left to chance. Stafford recommends using CRM systems, powered by AI where possible, to segment databases and identify the best contacts to reach out to. This technology-driven approach can drastically increase the odds of closing a sale by focusing efforts on the most viable leads.   Insights for Continued Success in Automotive Sales Drawing from this influential conversation between Sean V. Bradley and Stafford Brown, it's evident that a successful career in automotive sales hinges on more than just a knack for selling. It's about strategically building and nurturing relationships—online and offline—that foster trust and repeat business. Employing social media thoughtfully, leveraging data and customer history effectively, and investing in the community and customer satisfaction with genuine effort are paramount. As Bradley advises, adopting a business-like mindset rather than an employee one can transform a salesperson's approach, enabling them to achieve remarkable sales figures. For those new to the industry or feeling burnt out by suboptimal working conditions, embracing these strategies could revitalize and elevate their career. By taking control of their efforts and continuously learning and adapting, sales professionals can not only meet but exceed their goals, earning their place among the industry's elite.     Resources + Our Proud Sponsors:   ➼ The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Automotive Sales Mastermind Facebook Group with over 29,000 automotive professionals worldwide. The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group is the go-to community for car salespeople, BDC agents, sales managers, general managers, and dealer principals looking to increase performance, income, and leadership skills. Inside the group, members collaborate daily on automotive sales strategies, lead handling, phone scripts, closing techniques, CRM best practices, dealership leadership, and accountability systems. Learn directly from top automotive trainers, industry mentors, and high-performing sales leaders who are actively winning in today's market. If you're serious about growing your automotive career, increasing car sales, and building long-term success, join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today! ➼ Dealer Synergy: Dealer Synergy is the automotive industry's #1 Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm, with over 20 years of proven dealership success nationwide. We specialize in helping car dealerships increase sales, improve processes, and build high-performing Sales, Internet, and BDC departments from the ground up. Our expertise includes automotive phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, lead handling strategies, BDC workflows, Internet sales processes, management training, and accountability systems. Dealer Synergy partners directly with dealership leadership to align people, process, and technology, ensuring consistent results and scalable growth. From independent dealers to large dealer groups and OEM partnerships, Dealer Synergy delivers measurable performance improvements, stronger teams, and sustainable profitability. ➼ Bradley On Demand: Bradley On Demand is the automotive industry's most advanced interactive training, tracking, testing, and certification platform for car dealerships — built to develop top-performing teams across Sales, Internet Sales, BDC, CRM, Phone Skills, Leadership, and Management. In addition to LIVE virtual automotive training classes and a library of 9,000+ on-demand dealership training modules, Bradley On Demand now includes AI Phone Roleplaying and Coaching to help salespeople and BDC agents practice real dealership conversations before they ever get on the phone with customers. This AI-powered roleplay technology strengthens phone scripts, objection handling, appointment setting, lead follow-up, and closing skills, while providing measurable coaching feedback for continuous improvement. Bradley On Demand empowers dealerships to train faster, coach smarter, improve call performance, increase closing ratios, and sell more cars more profitably — all through structured, trackable, modern automotive training.

In this episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, LA Williams sits down with respected automotive leader Milt Whitesides from SS Auto and Cycle Brokers for a conversation that goes far beyond selling cars. What actually separates average dealerships from elite-performing stores? Is it inventory, traffic, advertising, or is it something much deeper happening inside the culture, leadership, and daily habits of the dealership itself? "Average never creates extraordinary." – LA Williams With decades of experience leading high-performing dealerships, building winning teams, and transforming store operations, Milt shares powerful insight into the mindset, structure, and discipline required to create long-term dealership success. "Serve your team, serve your leaders, and serve your guests. That's what makes the big difference." – Milt Whitesides This episode explores why leadership matters more than ever in today's automotive industry, how process consistency impacts profitability, and why culture is often the hidden factor behind both dealership growth and dealership failure. Without giving away the full blueprint, LA and Milt touch on the power of accountability, communication, relationship-building, inventory strategy, and the shift from traditional dealership operations to a more modern, intentional approach. "Mindset creates everything. If you think you're a 40-car-a-day store, you're a 40-car-a-day store." – Milt Whitesides If you're a dealer principal, GM, manager, or automotive professional looking to elevate your dealership beyond average performance, this episode will challenge the way you think about leadership, culture, and operational excellence. Remember, the great dealerships are not built by accident. They are built by intention!   Key Takeaways: ✅ The transformation from average to elite dealership performance hinges on a disciplined approach to leadership, process execution, and fostering a positive culture. ✅ Building strong customer relationships should be prioritized over traditional, transactional approaches, integrating service-minded principles throughout the dealership. ✅ Setting and sticking to systematic daily habits, such as the 'morning five,' can substantially impact personal and professional growth within the automotive industry. ✅ Developing a comprehensive acquisition strategy that goes beyond relying on auctions is crucial for sustainable used-car inventory management. ✅ Fostering a service-oriented culture requires ongoing mentorship, relationship building, and aligning everyday activities with overarching dealership goals.   About Milt Whitesides Milt Whitesides, a seasoned veteran in the automotive industry with over 35 years of experience, has held pivotal roles such as General Sales Manager, General Manager, and Managing Partner. He is renowned for his expertise in dealership leadership, culture development, and volume enhancement. His innovative strategies have been recognized with numerous accolades, including awards from FCA Stellantis, Mitsubishi, and Subaru. Milt's leadership at Sanderson Ford has been instrumental in achieving a groundbreaking sale of 734 units, making him a leading authority on high-performance dealership operations.      Unlocking Success in Car Sales: The Importance of Leadership, Culture, and Execution   Key Takeaways Transformational leadership and culture are essential for high-performing car dealerships. Successful execution in car sales relies heavily on systems that save stress, time, energy, and money. Effective team building and relationship management directly impact dealership performance and culture.   Transformational Leadership: Driving Change in Car Dealerships In the rapidly evolving automotive industry, old-school tactics are being replaced by transformational leadership, emphasizing relationship building over intimidation and fear. "They just used to beat it into us, right? They just used fear and intimidation," reflects Milt Whitesides, shedding light on an outdated model no longer effective in today's market. Now, building relationships and demonstrating leadership by example are crucial. The shift highlights the need for leaders to engage directly and personally with their teams, showing team members that they're committed to the same goals and willing to "do any of the things that you're coaching, you're willing to do and show them how to do it." Such engagement fosters a culture where employees aren't just workers, but integral parts of a larger vision, contributing significantly to the dealership's overall success.   Systematic Execution: Creating a Blueprint for Success Systems in car sales aren't just about maintaining order; they're about creating consistent, scalable success. As LA Williams aptly states, "Systems save you stress, time, energy, and money." This philosophy highlights the necessity for dealerships to adopt robust processes that ensure every member of the team understands their role and the steps needed to achieve their goals. Incorporating structured training programs for both sales staff and managers ensures everyone is equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for their roles. Milt Whitesides emphasizes the importance of thorough, hands-on training, stating, "We're coaching, we're training, we're mentoring, we're motivating, we're inspiring." This comprehensive approach ensures that processes are not just guidelines, but actionable, effective strategies that elevate performance across the board. The execution of such systems inevitably leads to improved sales outcomes, as demonstrated by dealerships achieving extraordinary sales figures, like 734 units. This level of performance isn't accidental; it's the result of consistent application of systems and processes designed to optimize every facet of sales operations.   Relationship Building: Fostering a Culture of Excellence The success of a dealership heavily depends on the relationships forged within its walls. Whitesides elaborates on the transition from a transactional mindset to one focusing on relationships, not just with customers, but within teams as well. "For me, it's about relationships now," he states, indicating a paradigm shift necessary in modern dealerships. To bridge the gap between average and exceptional, Whitesides suggests serving the team members and customers becomes the priority. "You serve them," he advises, underscoring how an attitude of service permeates every interaction, creating a cohesive and motivated workforce. This approach yields a twofold benefit — it enhances customer experience and bolsters internal morale, aligning everyone's efforts towards achieving common goals. The implications of such relationship-focused efforts are manifold. Dealerships become welcoming environments where employees thrive, leading to higher customer satisfaction and, ultimately, increased profitability and market share. In the dynamic world of automotive sales, success hinges on effective leadership, rigorous execution of systems, and strong relationship management. By shifting towards transformational leadership, instilling systematic execution through training, and fostering a culture where relationships are prioritized, dealerships can achieve unprecedented success. Embracing these changes positions them to not only compete but excel in a market where customer expectations and competitive pressures are continually rising. Such strategic realignment and commitment to innovation can transform dealerships into industry leaders.      Resources + Our Proud Sponsors:   ➼ The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Automotive Sales Mastermind Facebook Group with over 29,000 automotive professionals worldwide. The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group is the go-to community for car salespeople, BDC agents, sales managers, general managers, and dealer principals looking to increase performance, income, and leadership skills. Inside the group, members collaborate daily on automotive sales strategies, lead handling, phone scripts, closing techniques, CRM best practices, dealership leadership, and accountability systems. Learn directly from top automotive trainers, industry mentors, and high-performing sales leaders who are actively winning in today's market. If you're serious about growing your automotive career, increasing car sales, and building long-term success, join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today! ➼ Dealer Synergy: Dealer Synergy is the automotive industry's #1 Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm, with over 20 years of proven dealership success nationwide. We specialize in helping car dealerships increase sales, improve processes, and build high-performing Sales, Internet, and BDC departments from the ground up. Our expertise includes automotive phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, lead handling strategies, BDC workflows, Internet sales processes, management training, and accountability systems. Dealer Synergy partners directly with dealership leadership to align people, process, and technology, ensuring consistent results and scalable growth. From independent dealers to large dealer groups and OEM partnerships, Dealer Synergy delivers measurable performance improvements, stronger teams, and sustainable profitability. ➼ Bradley On Demand: Bradley On Demand is the automotive industry's most advanced interactive training, tracking, testing, and certification platform for car dealerships — built to develop top-performing teams across Sales, Internet Sales, BDC, CRM, Phone Skills, Leadership, and Management. In addition to LIVE virtual automotive training classes and a library of 9,000+ on-demand dealership training modules, Bradley On Demand now includes AI Phone Roleplaying and Coaching to help salespeople and BDC agents practice real dealership conversations before they ever get on the phone with customers. This AI-powered roleplay technology strengthens phone scripts, objection handling, appointment setting, lead follow-up, and closing skills, while providing measurable coaching feedback for continuous improvement. Bradley On Demand empowers dealerships to train faster, coach smarter, improve call performance, increase closing ratios, and sell more cars more profitably — all through structured, trackable, modern automotive training.