In her final symbolic interview, outgoing Chief Marketing Officer and founding host of Cue the Next Leader podcast, Angela Rizzo, hands the microphone to Michael Hopkins, the person who will succeed her in both roles. Angela and Michael have a long history together and Michael credits Angela as a friend, a colleague, and a mentor for many years. They forged their decade long friendship through volunteer opportunities and shared community involvement, including the Metzler Mentor Program, started by Michael and on which Angela served as a mentor. Michael Hopkins has been with VINCUE since 2021, originally serving as Chief Marketing Officer for a year before a brief hiatus where he helped found a whiskey distillery in Kansas City. He came back in 2022 as Chief Experience Officer and worked closely with Angela and the marketing team to extend the VINCUE brand identity, messaging, and mission to current dealers and partners. During the interview, Angela shares some of her favorite memories at VINCUE and as host of the podcast, including some fun episodes with VINCUE dealers like Patrick Abad of @BeaverToyotaofCumming Liza Borches of @CarterMyersAutomotive Jose Lazo of @Southdadetoyota and Bob Kain with @jackkain1 . She also interviews Michael about plans for his new role and the future of the podcast. Michael answers that the next few years at VINCUE will be all about taking advantage of the momentum and structures in place and using them to scale sales, marketing, and onboarding exponentially. As host of the podcast, Michael plans to invite more VINCUE employees to share the mic and speak directly with #TamVINCUE dealers, partners, and automotive industry thought leaders. Cue the Next Leader is an automotive industry podcast from VINCUE, the company behind the only Vehicle Lifecycle Management solution that unifies every step of the inventory Plan, Buy, Manage, and Sell process. Cue the Next Leader is a series of conversations designed to focus on a common journey and help automotive leaders go further, faster, by learning from other operators in our industry. Find this episode, and all Cue the Next Leader episodes, at https://www.vincue.com/podcast . Schedule a Demo of VINCUE at https://www.vincue.com .…

Scooter Malloy, has been running Alma CDJR dealership since 2013. The dealership is located in the middle of Michigan's lower peninsula, serving a local farming community. Scooter’s wife, Jill is the GM and they sell roughly 50 to 60 vehicles a month. It’s a small community so Scooter and Jill run into customers all of the time. Scooter is an active participant in his 20 group. Over the past few months he’s referred half a dozen dealers to VINCUE from his 20 group. Scooter reports a unit increase of $700 in his used car grosses since switching to VINCUE. Scooter appreciates the system's ability to show what other dealers have paid for their vehicles, aiding him in setting metrics. He also praised the system's live data and its ability to track a vehicle's history. Scooter expressed satisfaction with his performance manager, Brian Ball, who has been helpful and responsive. He also mentioned improvements in her business, such as better pricing and improved turn. Scooter really likes the VINCUE Vehicle Buying Center, which allows him to purchase vehicles from private parties directly from Craig’s list and FaceBook Marketplace. There are no auction or transportation fees when buying from private parties and the vehicles are in much better condition. Scooter appreciates that most about the VBC.…

Beaver Toyota was looking to manage inventory effectively to balance acquisition costs, minimize aging stock, and improve sales cycles. Beaver Toyota faced significant challenges in recent years, with restricted new car inventory forcing them to rely heavily on used car sales. They struggled to acquire the right inventory, effectively engage leads, and streamline operations to maintain profitability.…

Jose Lazo, Director Digital Operations for South Dade Auto Group which includes three stores: South Dade Kia of Homestead, South Dade Kia of Miami and South Dade Toyota of Homestead. Jose Lazo shares how utilizing VINCUE has transformed dealership operations across three stores, particularly in inventory management, turn, time-to-line, and team communication. By utilizing the data, features, and third party integrations in VINCUE the stores have dramatically increased efficiency and improved performance. Key Results: Improved Turn from 8x to 23x - The integration of the Group’s processes with VINCUE data and capabilities has improved turn by a staggering 300%. Improved Time-to-Line to from 10 days to 3.6 days - “Our time-to-line and average days in recon were a minimum of 8-10 days, sometimes as much as 30 days. With VINCUE, we are now seeing just 3.6 days time-to-line average across all three stores.” says Jose Lazo. He credits the improvements to the VINCUE data and the integration with Rapid Recon, which has facilitated better communication across the dealership. Now the BDC, Sales, and Service teams all communicate better together and directly to the customer. Real-Time Data that Empowers the Team and Improves Communication - The sales and BDC teams use VINCUE to check on vehicle status without needing to call the managers. With the comprehensive data in VINCUE, they can see if a car is in recon, in the body shop, or front-line ready. This visibility has saved time and prevented miscommunication, leading to happier employees and a better customer experience. Streamlined Appraisal Process - Before the VINCUE integration with MaxOffer, appraisers would have to jump into the MaxOffer platform to wait for an appraisal leading to delays in getting the number. With the integration, all of the data is in VINCUE so sales leaders can make decisions right on the spot without delay. And because the capability is permission-based, only those resources with the authority to put a number on a car have the access to those specific features. AI-Powered Background Removal Improves Merchandising - The AI background removal feature has been a huge win for this group. This capability in VINCUE saves time and makes the picture taking process effortless. “We used to spend time positioning cars on the lot just right for photos,” says Jose Lazo. “Now we can take any picture, clean it up instantly, saving time and making our inventory look much more professional.” With Jose Lazo and his team at South Dade embracing VINCUE’s integrations and features it has dramatically enhanced their dealership efficiency, improved time-to-line, increased turn, and ultimately driven more sales while improving team collaboration and customer satisfaction.…

Discover how VINCUE and CarNow are transforming automotive retail through accurate data, innovative tools, and a focus on the consumer experience. Learn how this partnership empowers dealerships to increase engagement, streamline operations, and drive better results in a digital-first market.

In this episode of Cue The Next Leader, I had the pleasure of speaking with Diego Vargas, a seasoned automotive professional with over 30 years of experience, about his decision to join VINCUE in his role as Vice President of Dealer Services. Diego possesses a deep understanding of dealership operations and an unwavering passion for supporting dealer success in the ever-evolving automotive industry.…

Discover how VINCUE and DriveCentric are helping dealerships double customer engagement to 70% while streamlining operations. Learn how real-time integrations, mobile-first tools, and AI-powered features are transforming automotive retail, driving efficiency, and improving sales potential. Watch now to see the future of dealership success.…

Dealerships often struggle with communication and workflow inefficiencies between their fixed and variable operations. Used car managers and service teams operate in silos, leading to delays, missed opportunities, and lost profitability. Without a unified system, recon items, vehicle appraisals, and profitability forecasts often become disjointed, requiring manual updates and significant time investment. The integration of VINCUE inventory management platform with Rapid Recon addresses these challenges by creating a seamless connection between variable and fixed operations. This integration enables used car managers to access real-time data on recon items, prioritize tasks, and calculate their impact on gross profit—all from within VINCUE.…

Patriot Auto Group faced several critical challenges that hindered operational efficiency and profitability. These included difficulties in inventory management, pricing, and vehicle acquisition. The dealership sought a comprehensive, mobile-friendly solution to consolidate operations, provide actionable data, and improve productivity across all levels of staff.…

Katie has inspired audiences around the world to think differently about the female consumer, customer experience, and leadership. She has worked with globally recognized brands, including Volvo, Honda and more.

Robin Wilson is no stranger to automotive. She's spent the past 13 years of her career becoming an expert in building business that support automotive dealerships that include an outsourced BDC capability, a marketing agency, and has become an expert in social media for dealerships. Robin and her team have spent the past year creating a new application specifically designed for sales people in dealerships that allows them to drive leads by using organic social media on FaceBook. The app is called Social Grenade and is available now. Listen in to get the details and if you like what you hear, reach out to Robin directly at 417-629-8006 to learn more.…

Meet Liza Borches, CEO of Carter Myers Automotive (CMA) and a dynamic leader who has transformed the company into a regional powerhouse. As the fourth generation of the Myers family to lead CMA, Liza took the reins in 2003 when the company operated just three dealerships. Under her visionary leadership, CMA has expanded to 24 dealerships across Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina, with a 25th set to open in Maryland, marking its expansion into a fourth state. Representing 18 diverse brands, CMA now operates in eight markets and employs over 1,200 associates, with a steadfast focus on strategic growth and market leadership.…

Glenn Lundy, founder of the 800% Elite Automotive Club and 800% Elite Auto Sales, emphasizes the importance of growth in both business performance and employee development. Drawing from his experiences, Glenn transformed a stagnant Nissan dealership in Flagstaff, Arizona, into a thriving Chevy dealership in Paris, Kentucky. He focused on growth and boosted sales from 120 to over 850 cars per month. In November 2019, he established the 800% Elite Automotive Club to help dealerships scale quickly, increasing sales by an average of 25% within the first 90 days. To further enhance his consulting, Glenn purchased an independent dealership in Lexington, Kentucky, creating a real-life testing ground for his teachings. This approach provides concrete examples and real-time demonstrations, bridging the gap between theory and practice. Glenn's strategies are crucial for navigating the evolving automotive landscape, where competition is national. His recent partnership with VINCUE equips his dealership with advanced technology and insights, giving them a strategic edge. Glenn’s people-first approach ensures a focus on personal development, team cohesion, and overall excellence. Listen to Glenn's inspiring story of transformation and resilience, as he shares how embracing growth and innovation can lead to success and fulfillment.…

With over 30 years in the car business, Scott Wilkinson, the self-described car guy, knows how to run a dealership. As the General Sales Manager at Tynan’s Volkswagen in Aurora, Colorado, Scott has honed his expertise in both cars and customer relations. In our conversation, we covered topics from his kids to cars and his secrets to running a successful dealership. Key Principles for Success: Keep it Simple Follow Your Processes Measure Your Results Make Friends with Your Customers Always Be Kind - To Everyone Embracing Technology Scott is likely the number one fan of VINCUE. He appreciates the software's ease of use and how it empowers his sales team to accurately appraise cars using data and processes. The ability to work within one integrated system that provides real-time insights is a game-changer for Scott and his team. Family and Business Intertwined Pride is evident in Scott’s voice when he talks about his four grown children: daughters Morgan, Chloe, and Lillee, and his son Kole. He beams with pride as he describes Kole working alongside him at the dealership as a lot attendant. A Holistic Approach Scott’s approach to life and his dealership are deeply intertwined. His commitment to simplicity, process, customer relationships, and kindness extends beyond his professional life and into his personal values. Conclusion Scott Wilkinson’s story is a testament to how leading with simplicity and kindness can drive success in the car business. We hope you enjoy listening to this podcast as much as we enjoyed creating it.…

Rudy Padilla's journey into the car business was serendipitous. As a young husband and father, Rudy needed to support his family while waiting to apply for the California Highway Patrol. He answered a newspaper ad for a local dealership over four decades ago, intending it to be a temporary job. This "temporary" job, however, evolved into a lifelong passion for serving people and working with numbers. Today, Rudy is the Used Car Director at Berkeley Toyota in Berkeley, California, and also pursues a side gig selling real estate in the San Francisco Bay Area. From an early age, Rudy recognized the importance of building relationships and networking. Early in his career, he earned the nickname DTK, or Dealer Trade King, for his skill in establishing strong connections with other dealers to facilitate car trades. Rudy's dedication to customer service is unwavering. Whether his clients are buying cars or houses, his focus remains on providing them with the best experience and cultivating lasting relationships. In November 2023, Rudy attended UNLEASHED, the VINCUE dealer conference in Kansas City. His participation was nearly derailed by a tragedy at his store, but he made it to the conference, where he met three individuals who profoundly influenced his personal and professional life: Glenn Lundy, Danelle Delgado, and Bill Donius. Their impact on Rudy's outlook is profound, and his story is a testament to the power of connection and resilience. Please be aware that this episode contains some sensitive material.…