Auto Remarketing is recognizing the 2021 Women in Remarketing honorees in the March issue of the magazine, and will be posting Q&As with each of these outstanding leaders on the website.

Next up is Adele Lococo, who is a fleet lease manager at America’s Auto Auction.

Auto Remarketing: What do you enjoy most about working in the remarketing industry? But, also, what aspect(s) of the business would you change – and how?

Adele Lococo: I have been very fortunate during my career to be surrounded by people who have encouraged me to grow my career, giving me the ability to expand remarketing world.

I think it is important that we concentrate on our customers’ needs, while providing them with services that allow them to grow as well.  The auction industry has undergone many changes and advancements over the years, which has improved the accuracy and timeliness of information and enhanced our customer service.  That innovative technology has allowed us all in the industry, both customers and providers, to grow together.

Over the past 25 years, I have found that people do business with companies who take care of them and allow them to meet their growth expectations.  I have discovered that the best and closest relationships I have built during my career are rooted in my industry experience and my focus on providing customer service.

To maintain the health and vitality of our industry, I think it is important that we all share our experiences and knowledge, and forward this to the people who are new and just entering into the business. We’ve seen great success with Safety Sam in teaching employees how to be safe at work.  I think it would be great to expand this program to include the fundamentals of our business, and offer monthly training sessions so that we can all continue to learn and improve.

AR: What are some improvements that need to be made in the industry from a diversity and inclusion perspective? What are some examples you’ve seen of D&I programs that have worked?

AL: To me, inclusion and diversity carry the same resulted principles. It is my sincerest thought that we lack women and people of color in management throughout this industry.  I believe that we need to establish a woman’s network that empowers women to excel within the remarketing industry at all levels. 

When I entered the industry 25 years ago at an entry-level position in dealer registration, women held administrative positions with limited opportunity for growth.  While I have observed some changes over the years and seen more women advancing into prominent positions, I would like to see more.

As I reflect over my career, I have seen women working together and encouraging each other to venture into what was once viewed as a “male-dominated industry.”

As a result, this has set the framework in building the foundation for including and diversifying the workforce with women who not only possess an unlimited amount of talent, but also the skills set to be successful.

AR: Describe a time when you were either a mentor or a mentee, and how that has shaped your career.

AL: I have been extremely fortunate to have had many mentors in my life, but the person who stands out most is my husband. We have been married for 29 years, and he has always been there to support me both in my career and life decisions.

I had worked in Idaho for over 25 years and was looking for a new challenge, when my husband, who originally grew up in New Orleans, said that he would love to move back to the South. When I first accepted the position at America’s Auto Auction Baton Rouge, I did question whether I had made the right decision for both of us.

As with most life changes it takes time to adjust, and my husband was there to encourage me.  Now I can honestly say in looking back, that it was the best decision that I could have made. The people who are now in my life here in Baton Rouge are truly the most hard-working and true friends that I could ever wish for.

AR: Describe a time in your career where you were challenged and how you overcame that challenge.

AL: As we all know, life is always throwing creative challenges at you, and success is a result of how you handle and control those challenges. The COVID pandemic was a record-breaker. Late in March, we were forced to reduce our staff, as most other companies did, and we had to adjust to changes in our operations. It became part of our normal life to follow new protocols, wearing masks and all of the necessary PPE equipment. 

Most of us were novices but worked hard to adjust to things outside of our normal routines. Despite the begrudging tones during the reconditioning process, this inspired a more passionate appreciation for the team members we dearly missed. When it was time to start cleaning cars and removing the trash, there was a lot of screaming and broken nails, but also a lot of laughter, which resulted in our team growing stronger.

It has been with great joy that we have been able to strengthen our team with our missed colleagues.

AR: What is the top trend/storyline in the remarketing industry that you’re watching this year?

AL: To state the obvious, of course, I follow very closely what is trending with the COVID pandemic and how our partners are overcoming the day-to-day issues, so that we can adjust our own practices in order to serve our clients better.  As both our sellers and buyers are faced with travel restrictions, we have made adjustments in order to provide additional services so that they can better manage their inventory and buy with confidence.   

AR: What is something you would tell your younger self if you could go back to when you started your career in remarketing?

AL: If I could speak to the younger Adele, I would tell her, “Your voice matters.  Don’t be afraid to take a leap into the unknown.”  I have learned that in order to achieve growth, you must first be willing to take chances, to be open to making mistakes, and to turn those mistakes into opportunities.

In closing, I would tell the younger me that we are continually evolving, remarketing ourselves, if you will, to be a better person today than we were yesterday