In strategic growth moved as part of its new market structure, Manheim announced four general manager promotions in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Utah.

Those include:

• Butch Herdegen III (Manheim Jacksonville and Manheim Daytona Beach)
• Ellie Johnson (Manheim Statesville)
• Doug Kramer (Manheim Atlanta)
• Cade Rindfleisch (Manheim Utah)

Each of those GMs have at least 20 years in the remarketing business.  

“Choosing strong leaders is a key part of our growth strategy, and these leaders are poised to attract and retain customers in enticing ways in these vital markets,” Tim Janego, Manheim’s regional vice president for the East region. “These professionals have served in all different types of roles in the dealer auction business over a number of years, and they have seen it all. I’m thrilled to work alongside general managers with such solid backgrounds in the industry.”

Herdegen has been with Manheim since 2006. His positions have included dealer services manager of Manheim Lakeland, Manheim Central Florida and Manheim Palm Beach, as well as his most recent post as GM of the Go Auto Exchange Orlando.

Johnson, currently the board chair of the National Auto Auction Association and its former president, has been with Manheim for 30 years. Her most recent role was as GM of Manheim North Carolina.

Kramer joined Manheim 21 years ago and his time in the remarketing business goes back 30 years. His most recent post was GM of Manheim Central Florida.

Rindfleisch is new to Manheim, but worked with Cox Automotive on the Go Auto Exchange auction operation. His background in the remarketing and wholesale business goes back more than 20 years.

“These GMs will lead dealer volume growth, enhance local market share, set a new standard of service orientation and drive development of our team members at each operating location,” said Mark Ford, Manheim’s RVP for the Southeast. “It’s a great benefit to have rising leaders who are results-oriented with proven track records of extraordinary performance.”

In another Manheim move, the company brought on Cary Donovan, formerly of the Sam Swope Auto Group that sold most of its stores last fall.

Donovan is now the company’s senior director of operations tasked with supporting Manheim’s locations in dealer business development, said a Manheim spokesperson.

Dealer.com partnership with Contact at Once

In news from another Cox Automotive company, Dealer.com is partnering with Contact at Once. As part of the deal, Dealer.com will offer the company’s chat and text solutions, including several packages that are integrated with Dealer.com websites.

“Contact at Once! has a history of delivering leading chat and text products and services," said Wayne Pastore, senior vice president of Dealer.com. “The Contact at Once tools allow us to give dealers a powerful, convenient and mobile solution to better connect one-on-one and service car buyers wherever they are, whenever they need help.”

The two companies also partnered back in 2013. Their partnership then incorporated chat functionality into the Dealer.com Control Center.

With the new partnership, Dealer.com clients can choose from options that include chat and text that is fully managed or co-managed.

John Hanger, general manager of Contact At Once, said: “Those services can help dealers round out a comprehensive solution for connecting with online and mobile shoppers. Dealer.com understands the power of giving consumers the options to chat and text and wants to make the implementation, from integration to invoicing, straightforward for their dealer clients. We are proud to be selected as their provider.”