Expert Talks: Insights and Innovations in Automotive

Host Shasta Haddock welcomes back the ultimate industry insider to the I'm a Car Chick booth at NADA 2026: Yossi Levi, the creator behind Car Dealership Guy. Following up on their high-traction episode from last year, Yossi shares what it takes to run and scale a massive media property while keeping a tight, hectic schedule. They discuss the importance of getting authentic, diverse voices out to share the good news of the automotive space and building market transparency. Yossi also drops some p...

Host Shasta Haddock welcomes back a familiar face to the I'm a Car Chick booth at NADA 2026: Scott Simons. Since his last appearance, Scott has taken the ultimate leap from operator to owner, acquiring a dealership in North Carolina. Scott gets raw and real about the "shit-eating grin" that comes with finally owning his own store, even while balancing the stress of three loans and a long-distance commute. They discuss the professional power of the Las Vegas networking scene, the reality of "taki...

Host Shasta Haddock brings in the reinforcements at NADA 2026 with Owen Moon and Joe Dallas from Dealer Stream. In this high-energy session, the trio discusses the "art of the hustle" at major industry events, revealing why the best networking often happens after hours. Owen and Joe share the vision behind Dealer Stream’s evolution, focusing on how streaming advertising is moving from a trend to a fundamental requirement for modern dealerships. They dive into the importance of educational leader...

Host Shasta Haddock welcomes first-time guest Kelly Reis, Founder of Arris Corp, to the I'm a Car Chick booth at NADA 2026. A self-proclaimed "car chick" who started in retail in 1999, Kelly has transitioned her years of dealership experience into a niche focus on facility design. She breaks down why a beautiful building isn't enough—it has to actually work for your employees and your customers. They discuss the importance of workflow mapping, how facility design directly impacts the customer ex...

Host Shasta Haddock catches up with the insightful and always candid Kate Beirowski, the newly appointed VP of Sales for Dealer Image Pro. Recorded live at NADA 2026, Kate shares her transition from a career in Fixed Ops to leading the front-end charge in vehicle merchandising. They discuss the power of end-to-end photography in the modern dealership, the challenges of stepping into a new leadership role, and why "getting out of your comfort zone" is the best advice for anyone in automotive. Fro...

Host Shasta Haddock is joined by Amy Hitch, Executive Coach at Ascent Dealer Services, for a powerful conversation on the high-stakes world of automotive finance. Amy shares her journey from banking to mastering the F&I office, detailing why it remains one of the most stressful roles in a dealership. They discuss the critical shift from simply "doing the work" to developing people, the importance of early transparency in the car-buying process, and how to recognize the signs of burnout. Whether ...

It’s been two years in the making, but Veronica Dunford, co-owner of Women in Automotive (WIA), is back on the show! Recorded live at NADA 2026, Veronica and Shasta Haddock discuss the massive momentum behind the upcoming 2026 annual conference in Austin, Texas. They dive deep into the real mission of WIA: it’s not about "man bashing," but about changing the statistics of why women leave the industry and fostering true sponsorship—the kind where people advocate for your career when you aren't in...

In this episode of the I'm a Car Chick podcast, host Shasta Haddock sits down with Laura Fleischer, President of Orange Media Group. Coming from the legacy of the Roman Group (with 37 dealerships), Laura shares her transition from "dealer grandkid" to marketing innovator. We dive deep into why dealerships are sitting on "data gold mines" but are being held hostage by their own tech stacks. Laura reveals the staggering ROI of capturing abandoned service schedulers and explains why 50% of your dat...

Host Shasta Haddock kicks off Day 2 at NADA 2026 with a high-energy session featuring Michelle Phelps and Thomas Mancuso from Podium. In this episode, Thomas (not Scott!) breaks down the massive shift in dealership technology—moving away from generic, "canned" AI responses to intelligent AI agents that actually understand context. He introduces "Jerry," Podium’s AI agent that lives and interacts in real-time, providing the personalized experience today's car buyers expect. If you’re tired of cha...

Host Shasta Haddock goes global at NADA 2026 with Matthias Stoever, a visionary joining the show all the way from Hamburg, Germany. Matthias shares his unique perspective on the differences between the European and American automotive markets, the universal challenges of digital transformation, and why data is the international language of success. They discuss the rapid evolution of AI tools in the retail space and why, regardless of where you are in the world, the "human touch" remains the mos...

Host Shasta Haddock is joined by Heidi McMillen, Chief Revenue Officer at OttoMoto, live from the Authenticom booth at NADA 2026. In this candid and high-energy conversation, Heidi shares what it’s really like to be in charge of the money, the employees, and everything in between. Drawing from her 25 years of experience married to a car dealer, she discusses the versatility required of women in the industry and how OttoMoto is helping dealerships thrive. From "marrying the boss" to "becoming the...

Host Shasta Haddock sits down with Ashley Cavazos, a powerful voice in the automotive industry, live from the floor of NADA 2026. Ashley discusses her mission to empower women and bridge the gap in leadership within dealerships. They dive into the importance of mentorship, building a strong "girl gang" in a male-dominated field, and how intentional leadership can transform dealership culture. Whether you’re an aspiring leader or a seasoned professional looking to diversify your team, Ashley’s in...

Host Shasta Haddock is joined by the industry’s favorite duo, Fred Lennartz and Lou Ramirez of Car Guy Coffee, live from the floor of NADA 2026. Known as the "Certified Solutionaries," Fred and Lou break down why 2026 is officially the year of collaboration in the automotive world. They discuss moving past the "vendor vs. dealer" stigma, the energy of a record-breaking Las Vegas show, and why the "more beans we brew with, the better" philosophy is the key to driving the industry forward. If you ...

Host Shasta Haddock welcomes Courtney Doll from CP Handheld Technologies to the booth at NADA 2026 for a deep dive into the "clean data" side of the dealership. Courtney explains how CP Handheld helps automotive controllers move from manual headaches to seamless, automated inventory reconciliation. They discuss the critical importance of being "audit-ready" for floor plan inspections, how GPS locating systems are saving dealers time and money, and why clean reporting is the secret to a happy CFO...

Host Shasta Haddock sits down with Todd Smith, CEO of QoreAI and a lifelong "car guy," live at NADA 2026. Todd shares the pivotal moment in late 2024 when he realized AI agents were about to change everything—moving beyond simple chat to actually "using" computers to fill out forms and navigate sites. They discuss his new book, The Intelligent Dealership, and why the foundation of any AI strategy must be rock-solid data hygiene. Todd breaks down how Authenticom acts as the critical "go-between" ...

Host Shasta Haddock is joined by the one and only Michael Cirillo, host of The Dealer Playbook and a leading voice at ASOTU, live from the Authenticom booth at NADA 2026. Despite years of collaboration, this marks Michael’s first official appearance on the I’m a Car Chick podcast. In this candid conversation, Michael challenges the industry to drop the "negative vendor stigma," reminding everyone—from dealership staff to software providers—that "we are all vendors" working toward the same goal. ...

Host Shasta Haddock welcomes back "four-timer" guest Matt Raymond, founder of Bow Tie Auto Solutions, live from the Authenticom booth at NADA 2026. In this high-energy reunion, Matt tackles the biggest misconception in the industry: that you can "set and forget" your BDC. He breaks down why a true partnership beats a standard vendor relationship every time, the importance of "showing up" for your dealers, and how to build a BDC that actually moves the needle on results. Plus, stay tuned for the ...

Host Shasta Haddock welcomes Dimitrius Naylor, the "Equity King" and CEO of Dimitrius Naylor Consulting, to the I’m a Car Chick podcast live from NADA 2026. In this high-velocity episode, Dimitrius breaks down why the service drive is the most underutilized goldmine in the dealership. He dives into the "Service-to-Sales" transition, explaining how to identify high-equity customers and why the "equity" conversation is about more than just a monthly payment—it's about wealth management for the con...

Host Shasta Haddock welcomes three-time guest Darrell Steed back to the I’m a Car Chick podcast live from the floor of NADA 2026 in Las Vegas. In this high-energy session, Darrell cuts through the "AI buzz" to address the real reason dealerships fail to execute: a lack of human connection and leadership involvement. He challenges the industry to shift its mindset from "selling cars" to "acquiring customers and vehicles," proving that a dedicated focus on the used car lane is the true engine behi...

Host Shasta Haddock is reunited with one of her favorite industry voices, Brooke C. Furniss, live at NADA 2026 in Las Vegas. After a year-long hiatus that left the industry asking "Where is Brooke?", the host of the Facts Not Feelings podcast pulls back the curtain on the reality of content burnout and the intense preparation required to stay at the top of the podcasting game. They discuss Brooke's upcoming relaunch in April, the shift toward "walk and talk" content, and why she’s traded the neg...

Host Shasta Haddock welcomes Bri Newman, CEO at HR4, to the booth at NADA 2026 for an inspiring conversation on the heartbeat of the dealership: the people. Bri shares her journey from speaking at the Women in Automotive conference to leading operations for a company dedicated to transforming human resources in the car business. They discuss why culture is the ultimate competitive advantage, how to build safe and empowering spaces for first-time speakers and employees, and the "refreshing energy...

Host Shasta Haddock sits down with Brad Parker live at NADA 2026 for a conversation a year in the making. From his roots in the yachting industry to building the "Venmo for peer-to-peer car sales," Brad explains how his latest technology is helping dealers tap into an unlimited source of growth: private seller acquisitions. They discuss why dealers must move beyond auction reliance, the importance of "incentivized" acquisition roles, and how to build a transactional workflow so simple that anyon...

Host Shasta Haddock welcomes back industry veteran and leadership expert Glenn Pasch live at NADA 2026 in Las Vegas. In this deep-dive episode, Glenn discusses the impact of his book and new video series, You’re in Charge, Now What?, which helps leaders move beyond generalities to achieve true team alignment. They explore why "asking better questions" is the secret to uncovering the behaviors that drive results and how a lack of clarity is often the biggest hurdle for dealership teams. Glenn sha...

Host Shasta Haddock catches up with Drew Williams, Creative Director at Authenticom, for an off-the-cuff deep dive into the power of branding in the automotive industry. Live from NADA 2026, Drew shares his journey from a graphic design student to the mastermind behind Authenticom’s recognizable visual identity. They discuss why brand consistency is the "unfair advantage" for dealers and vendors alike, and how intentional design changes the way people perceive and do business. Drew also highligh...