Expert Talks: Insights and Innovations in Automotive

Attending conferences is more than just showing up—it’s about preparing, executing, and following up strategically to maximize your networking, brand presence, and ROI. In this episode, Elena Ciccotelli (EVS for Everyone Podcast), Shasta Haddock (I'm A Car Chick Podcast), Kaylee Felio (Trailblaze Your Path Podcast), and Dana Nusbaum (Cherokee Media) break down: 🎯 Pre-Conference Prep: How to set yourself up for success before you even arrive 🎯 During the Conference: Top tricks & strategies to bu...

Live from NADA 2025, Shasta Haddock and Robin Wilson are joined by Darrell Steed, a seasoned innovator and consultant in automotive dealership strategies. With over two decades of experience, Darrell founded SmartWolf Consulting to provide transformative, sustainable solutions that help dealerships break free from repetitive mistakes. 🔹 About Darrell Steed: Darrell’s journey began in automotive sales and management, where he saw gaps in training and process implementation. This led him to creat...

Live from NADA 2025, Shasta Haddock sits down with Petra Sherbin-Fox, Customer Success Manager at Dealer Alchemist, to talk about the future of dealership solutions, industry trends, and her journey in automotive. Petra shares: 🔹 What she’s been up to & life as a military spouse & mom of three 🔹 The biggest surprises moving from the Northeast to Arizona 🔹 Why she joined Dealer Alchemist & her vision for dealership success 🔹 Exciting partnerships with Honda and Acura 🔹 How Dealer Alchemist’s sol...

Live from NADA 2025, Shasta Haddock sits down with Owen Moon, CEO & Co-Founder of FIXED OPS DIGITAL, to dive into the evolution of automotive advertising, fixed ops marketing, and what’s next for dealerships. Owen shares insights on: 🔹 The rise of Streaming TV and its impact on dealership advertising 🔹 The TradePending acquisition of FIXED OPS DIGITAL and what it means for the industry 🔹 His new role on the Advisory Board at Bowtie Solutions 🔹 Exciting news about launching a new company in 2025...

Live from NADA 2025, Shasta Haddock sits down with Rachel Blatt, CEO of Royalty Logistics, to talk about her journey in the automotive logistics world and the key to building a thriving business. Rachel shares: 🔹 The story behind Royalty Logistics and how she built a trusted brand 🔹 How AI is evolving in logistics—but why human connection still matters 🔹 What it takes to keep up with increasing vehicle transport demand 🔹 Her thoughts on the future of shipping in 2025 and beyond 🔹 Her fun NADA e...

Live from NADA 2025, Shasta Haddock sits down with Jennifer Blount Sanford, VP of Marketing & Enablement at automotiveMastermind, to explore the intersection of AI, marketing, and the future of automotive retail. With years of experience in AI before it became a buzzword, Jennifer shares her insights on how automotiveMastermind is leveraging data-driven strategies to empower dealerships. She also discusses: 🔹 Her journey in automotive and how she joined automotiveMastermind 🔹 How AI is shaping...

Live from the Authenticom booth at NADA 2025, Shasta Haddock sits down with Jonathan Dawson—renowned automotive consultant, sales trainer, and founder of Sellchology—to dive into what truly drives a team to success. With 24 NADA speaking sessions under his belt, Jonathan shares insights on how he crafts impactful presentations, including his 2025 session on 10 methodologies to motivate an organization. He emphasizes the power of culture, leadership, and the #1 resource in any dealership—people....

The digital advertising landscape is evolving fast, and paid media in 2025 is more critical than ever. In this episode of the I'm A Car Chick Podcast, host Shasta Haddock chats with Sarah Ciociola, VP of Paid Media at PCG Digital, to break down the latest trends, strategies, and innovations shaping the future of automotive marketing. As Vice President of Media Planning and Account Strategy at PCG Digital, Sarah leads the Search Engine Marketing Team, Paid Social Media Team, Graphics Departmen...

🚘 Welcome to the Chicks In Charge Podcast! In this episode, host Shasta Haddock sits down with Christine Gago, a seasoned digital marketing expert at Demand Local, to explore the latest trends shaping automotive advertising in 2025. About Christine Gago: Christine Gago is a marketing professional specializing in digital media and audience targeting, helping businesses connect with their ideal customers. With a passion for innovation, she blends data-driven insights with a human touch to drive i...

🚗 Welcome to the Chicks In Charge podcast! Host Shasta Haddock sits down with Matt Raymond, COO of Bowtie Solutions, to discuss how outsourced BDC solutions are transforming the automotive industry and why dealerships need to rethink their business development strategy for 2025. 📌 In this episode, we discuss: ✅ The biggest game-changer for 2024-2025 in automotive business development ✅ Why outsourced BDC is a must-have for modern dealerships ✅ How dealers are missing key performance metrics in ...

In this episode of Chicks In Charge, host Shasta Haddock sits down with Lisa Gener, Director of Digital & Marketing Operations at Covert Auto Group. With over 20 years in automotive marketing and management, Lisa shares her journey back into retail from the vendor side, her insights on BDC operations, and how she’s leveraging digital strategies for dealership success. We dive into: ✅ The best part of transitioning back into retail ✅ Digital strategies shaping the future of automotive ✅ Vendor p...

💡 How can women shape the future of automotive service and sales? In this episode, host Shasta Haddock sits down with Kate Bierowski, Director of Sales at Repair On Demand, to discuss the power of mentorship, mobile service innovation, and why the service department deserves more attention. 🚀 In this episode: ✅ Why women influence 80% of car-buying decisions ✅ How mobile service is transforming convenience for customers ✅ The importance of highlighting the value of technicians ✅ Kate’s journey...

💡 What does it take to turn parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability? In this episode, Robin Wilson sits down with Kaylee Felio, Sales & Marketing Director at PartsEdge, to explore the balance between data-driven strategy and creative marketing — and why parts departments are the key to dealership success. 🚀 In this episode: ✅ The often-overlooked role of parts departments in profitability ✅ How data-driven strategies drive efficiency & customer retention ✅ Kaylee’s journey into auto...

💡 How can dealerships strengthen their online presence and customer relationships? In this episode, host Shasta Haddock sits down with Courtney Paschal, Client Success Manager and automotive industry powerhouse, to discuss her journey and the pivotal strategies dealers need to thrive in 2025 and beyond. 🚀 In this episode: ✅ Why Courtney transitioned from dealership sales to consulting ✅ Key strategies for enhancing dealership online presence & customer engagement ✅ Where dealerships should sta...

🚀 AI is transforming the automotive industry—so what’s next? In this episode, Dave Perry and Ashleigh Norton of Blink AI discuss their journey, the impact of AI in dealerships, and where the industry is headed in 2025. 🔹 Key Topics Discussed: ✅ Dave’s journey from dealership cashier to CEO. ✅ Ashleigh’s transition into her VP of Marketing role. ✅ Key takeaways from NADA and what’s next in AI for dealerships. ✅ How Blink AI simplifies service and enhances the customer experience. ✅ What sets Bli...

Join host Shasta Haddock as she sits down with Sam D’Arc, COO of Zeigler Auto Group, to dive into the strategies behind one of the top-performing dealer groups in the country. They discuss Zeigler's growth, leadership philosophy, and how launching an internal podcast led to unexpected opportunities—including a connection with Car Dealership Guy. Sam also shares his journey before stepping into the COO role, insights from NADA, and what 2025 holds for auto retail. Plus, they explore how dealersh...

🚗 From Dealer to Marketing Powerhouse! | Kendra Brown, The Dream Team Media Co. 💡 What does it take to stand out in automotive marketing? In this episode, host Shasta Haddock chats with Kendra Brown, Founder and Strategy Director of The Dream Team Media Company, about her journey from dealer principal to marketing expert — and the big trends coming in 2025. 🚀 In this episode: ✅ Why Kendra shifted from dealership to digital marketing ✅ Key differences between franchise vs. independent marketing...

🚗 Car Dealers: Meet Your New Best Friend! | Agile Auto w/ JR Toothman & Scott Simons 💡 What if you could revolutionize your used car operations? In this episode, host Shasta Haddock sits down with JR Toothman & Scott Simons to discuss how Agile Auto is changing the game for car dealers. 🚀 In this episode: ✅ How JR Toothman & Scott Simons teamed up to launch Agile Auto ✅ Why dealerships MUST focus on used cars & service for long-term success ✅ The mission behind Agile Auto & how it helps dealer...

🚗 Every Dealership NEEDS This Product! 💡 Why isn’t EVERY dealership using TradePending? Host Shasta Haddock sits down with Matthew Davis, CMO of TradePending, to discuss why this game-changing software is reshaping automotive sales and service. 🚀 In this episode: ✅ What makes TradePending an essential tool for dealerships? ✅ How their latest acquisitions are expanding their portfolio ✅ The #1 issue dealerships face & how TradePending solves it ✅ Why fixed ops is the next big move for TradePend...

💰 Earn Rewards at Your Dealership? | Jacob Zachs & Sean Hopper on Fasten’s Game-Changer! 🚘 Is your money at the dealership working for you? Imagine earning rewards every time you service or buy a car! Jacob Zachs, Founder & CEO of Fasten, and Sean Hopper, Head of Business Development, join host Shasta Haddock to discuss how Fasten is revolutionizing customer loyalty in automotive. ✅ Why dealerships NEED a loyalty and rewards program in 2025 ✅ How Fasten turns dealership spending into valuable ...

📢 "The companies that win are the ones that deliver the right info in fewer steps!" — Angela Rizzo on Vincue’s game-changing approach. In this episode, Angela Rizzo, CMO of Vincue, joins host Shasta Haddock to discuss how Vincue is revolutionizing dealership operations with cutting-edge tools, dealer-driven innovation, and a focus on efficiency and profitability. Plus, Angela shares insights on her upcoming retirement and future plans! ✅ Vincue’s booth was buzzing! What’s driving dealer intere...

In this episode, Scott Trainor & Justin Silver of Modives join host Shasta Haddock to discuss how Check MyDriver is revolutionizing insurance verification for dealerships and how authentic relationships drive industry success. ✅ How Check MyDriver by Modives is changing insurance verification for dealers 🛡️ ✅ The roller coaster ride of the automotive industry—why we thrive on it 🎢 ✅ What inspired the creation of Modives? Justin Silver shares the story ✅ Why Scott Trainor knew Modives was the ri...

📢 "Saving time, saving money— dealers move cars faster with transparency." — Frank Zombo on revolutionizing auto logistics! In this exciting episode, Frank Zombo, VP of Sales at Auto Hauler Exchange (AHX) and Super Bowl Champion, joins host Shasta Haddock to discuss his journey from the NFL to automotive logistics and how AHX is transforming the industry. 🚀 ✅ Life in Kansas City & playing for the Chiefs 🏈 ✅ How Frank transitioned from pro football to automotive & logistics ✅ Why transparency i...

📢 "Owning your data gives you flexibility and the power to grow." — The future of dealership success starts here! In this episode, Kyra Miller, Fixed Operations Performance Manager at Thomas Automotive, joins host Shasta Haddock to discuss: ✅ How Thomas Automotive is leveraging NADA Vault to collect & own their data 📊 ✅ Why data flexibility & strong partnerships are key for dealership success ✅ Kyra’s journey in the automotive industry & Thomas Automotive’s focus on building people ✅ Why every...