Auto Remarketing is recognizing the 2026 Women in Remarketing honorees in the April edition of the magazine and will be posting Q&As with each of these outstanding leaders on the website.

Next up, in alphabetical order by first name, is Michele Pierog, who is vice president of strategic partnerships at Privacy4Cars.

The Women in Remarketing program is presented by Ally.

What prompted/inspired you to join the auto industry and what do you enjoy most about it?
My career in the auto industry started almost by accident. While finishing my degree, I needed business and marketing experience that could lead to a career with growth potential. I took a part-time position at a local auto auction, working one day a week signing over titles and assisting dealers with transactions on sale day.

It was an entry-level role, but I immediately fell in love with the energy of the auction. After about six months, I accepted an administrative role in the medical field and gave my notice at the auction. To my surprise, the controller and general manager asked me to stay and offered me a full-time position in dealer registration on the spot. The location was close to home, the hours were great, and something about the auction environment had already captured my interest. I decided to stay — and that decision launched what has now been nearly 25 years in the remarketing industry.

Sometimes the path you stumble upon turns out to be even better than the one you originally planned.

What I’ve always loved most about this industry is its energy and unpredictability. The auction environment especially felt exhilarating — almost like being part of a cast in a live production. Every department prepares all week for the sale, and when sale day arrives everyone plays their role to make the entire operation work. If any part of the process breaks down, the whole system feels it.

I also loved getting to know the dealers and customers who made the auction lanes come alive. Each represented a different business, strategy, and personality, and helping create a marketplace where they could successfully conduct business was incredibly rewarding. That collaborative energy and sense of shared purpose is something that has stayed with me throughout my career in remarketing.

What is the top trend you’re watching in the used-car industry this year?
One of the most significant trends I’m watching is the continued convergence of remarketing channels. When I started in the industry nearly 25 years ago, the lanes were much more defined. Commercial and wholesale remarketing operated separately from retail channels, and vehicles typically moved through a fairly linear upstream-to-downstream process.

Today, those boundaries have largely blurred. Digital marketplaces, improved condition reporting, advanced analytics, and more sophisticated operational workflows have created a far more dynamic ecosystem. Consignors now have access to deeper data about vehicle condition, demand signals, and pricing trends, which allows them to make more informed decisions about where and how a vehicle should be sold to maximize residual value.

As a result, remarketing has become both more strategic and more complex. Portfolio managers can now evaluate multiple disposition paths: wholesale, retail, digital marketplaces, or alternative channels and optimize outcomes based on real-time insights. The growing role of AI and predictive analytics in those decisions is making the process even more powerful.

The other trend I follow very closely is the issue of vehicle data and consumer privacy. Modern connected vehicles collect and store significant amounts of personal data from drivers. As these vehicles move through the remarketing lifecycle, ensuring that personal information is properly removed is becoming an essential part of responsible remarketing.

Protecting consumer privacy isn’t just a compliance issue, it’s fundamental to maintaining trust in the automotive ecosystem. As vehicles become increasingly connected, our industry has an important responsibility to ensure that remarketing processes evolve to protect both the asset and the consumer.

What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?
When I reflect on my career, it’s not one specific accomplishment that stands out most, it’s the mindset that has guided my journey. I’ve always been deeply curious about how our industry works and how new ideas, technologies, and business models can create value within what has traditionally been a very established process.

That curiosity has pushed me to continually learn, adapt, and look for ways to improve the remarketing lifecycle. It has also helped me remain resilient throughout my career. I spent 15 years at my first auction, AANE, building a strong foundation in the industry, and later moved to IAA where I had the opportunity to contribute within a global organization focused on end-of-life vehicle remarketing.

One of the most defining moments in my career came in 2020 when I was laid off during the pandemic. Rather than viewing it as a setback, I made the decision to pivot and start consulting independently within the industry. In hindsight, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made professionally. It allowed me to explore new ideas, work with a broader range of organizations, and deepen my perspective on where the industry is headed.

I’m also proud of the role industry associations have played in my career and the opportunity I’ve had to give back. I’ve been actively involved with the Automotive Remarketers Alliance for more than a decade and currently serve on its board of directors. I also serve as a Council Woman for GROW (Global Opportunities for Women in Remarketing), where we work to help create more pathways to leadership for the next generation of women in our industry.

If there’s one thing I’m most proud of, it’s staying curious, open to change, and committed to helping move the industry forward while supporting the people who will lead it next.

What book, film or song has inspired you personally or professionally?
One book that has had a lasting impact on me is “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea that success rarely happens in a straight line. The book explores how opportunity, timing, culture, and persistence often combine to create what looks like a “perfect storm” of success.

That perspective resonates deeply with me because I’ve come to believe that most things in life are rarely black and white. Understanding the broader context — behavior, opportunity, and societal expectations helps explain why people and careers unfold the way they do. I spend a lot of time reflecting and journaling, and I strongly believe that many of the challenges we face are actually happening for us, not to us.

A film that has also inspired me is “Erin Brockovich,” starring Julia Roberts. In many ways, my own path into this industry has been unconventional. I had my first child at 16 and started a cleaning business as a teenager to support myself. I later waited tables while putting myself through school and raising a family before eventually beginning my career in the auto industry.

What resonates with me in that film is the idea that unconventional paths can still lead to meaningful impact. The character challenges the status quo, trusts her instincts, and refuses to let circumstances define her future. That combination of resilience, hard work, and belief in your own ability to make a difference is something I’ve carried with me throughout my career.

I’m always inspired by stories where people rise above adversity especially when they’re doing it not only for themselves, but for the people who depend on them.

 Who is someone who has inspired you personally or professionally?
Katie Karl is a best friend and colleague from my early years at the auction. She was the first woman at our auction to sell cars on the block, and that moment represented a real cultural shift. At the time, there was an unspoken expectation that men sold cars in the lanes while women handled the paperwork in the office. Katie challenged that norm simply by stepping up and doing the job. Watching her break that barrier helped change how many of us viewed what was possible.

Jamye Carpenter and I met on a plane while traveling to a remarketing conference, and we became instant fast friends. Since then, we’ve supported each other through many stages of our careers and lives. We’ve shared goals, challenges, and victories, and having that kind of mutual support system in this industry has been incredibly meaningful.

Kristin Slanina has also been a major source of inspiration. I met Kristin while building the advisory board for ParkMyFleet. She’s an MIT graduate who has spent her career succeeding in roles that have historically been male-dominated. What inspires me most about Kristin is her discipline and clarity. She keeps the promises she makes to herself. That level of integrity and commitment is something I admire deeply.

And finally, Marguerite Watanabe, who I first saw speak at a conference many years ago. I remember thinking at the time that I would work with her one day. When I began forming my advisory board, I reached out to her, somewhat boldly and she said yes. Since then she has become both a mentor and a friend. Marguerite has an extraordinary ability to connect people and build meaningful relationships across the industry, and she does it with authenticity and joy.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have learned from each of these women. Their courage, support, and leadership have shaped the way I approach both my career and my life.