ADESA has promoted two within its dealer services team.

C.J. Lopez, previously major dealer accounts manager, has been promoted to director of major dealer accounts. Kjersta Loyd, formerly general sales manager of ADESA Golden Gate, has been promoted to regional dealer sales manager for the Mideast/Midwest regions.

Both positions will report to Steve Dudash, vice president of dealer services.

Lopez will act as a strategic partner and oversee relationships with major dealer groups. He will be responsible for sharing the latest technologies, products and services to support customers’ evolving business needs and enhance their overall auction experience.

Lopez started his career with ADESA in 2006 as the dealer sales and services manager of ADESA San Diego. He won numerous awards, including 2009 first Place Dealer Consignment (Division 2), 2010 Western Region Dealer e-Business Champion and 2011 Dealer Sales MVP Western Division. In 2012 he was promoted to general sales manager, and in 2014 he was promoted to major dealer accounts manager. Lopez recently won 2015 Major Dealer Accounts MVP honors. He received a bachelor’s degree from Montclair State University.

“C.J. has consistently produced impressive results during his 10 years with ADESA,” said Dudash. “As major dealer accounts manager, he has successfully developed and implemented national partnerships while still working closely with his team and with customers. I look forward to working with him on strategies and tactics to enhance our product and service offerings to dealers on a national level.”

Loyd will collaborate with local auction sales managers and provide guidance on managing dealer sales activities. She will develop plans and sales strategies to ensure consistency across auction location and prioritize common goals, such as providing quality service to customers.

Loyd brings nearly 20 years of automotive industry experience to her new position. She began her career with ADESA Seattle in 1998 and served in roles of increasing responsibility for more than a decade.

She worked at Washington Liftruck for two years and then returned to ADESA Seattle in 2010 in outside sales for the dealer consignment team. She was promoted to dealer sales and services manager at ADESA Houston in 2011, where she won 2012 Central Region Dealer Sales MVP and 2013 West Region Online Champion honors. In 2014, she was named general sales manager of ADESA Golden Gate.

“Kjersta has been an outstanding performer throughout her two decades in the industry, and I welcome her to the national dealer services team,” said Dudash. “She will be instrumental in ensuring we implement best practices and standardization to provide more dedicated service and support to customers across the Midwest and Mideast regions.”

Aid to Canadian wildfire victims

Customers at ADESA’s Canadian auction locations recently donated $129,652 to support the Canadian Red Cross Alberta Fires fund.

The northern Alberta community of Fort McMurray was evacuated May 3 as the largest wildfire in Alberta’s history swept through the area. It destroyed roughly 2,400 homes and buildings and called for the evacuation of more than 88,000 residents. The wildfires burned for more than a month, consuming more than 1.4 million acres.

“This wildfire will have a tremendous impact on the Canadian economy,” said Gregg Maidment, senior vice president of Canadian operations. “We really wanted to find a way to make a difference in partnership with our colleagues in the industry.”

The fundraising drive at all ADESA Canada auctions allowed buying and selling customers to donate in denominations up to $2,500. Offering a range of donation levels allowed more members of the used-car auction industry to participate, said Maidment. “ADESA was just the facilitator. The credit really goes to our customers who gave generously to this relief event.

“Although our auctions are involved in a number of charity events every year, this is the first time we’ve done something like this,” Maidment continued. “This was a way for us to join forces with our clients to raise money to help out. Our hearts go out to the families affected, and we thank our industry partners for their generosity in raising these funds.”