Greg Thibault and Todd August met while working at the Alamo Rent A Car location at the Los Angeles International Airport in 1984.
Some 30-plus years later, the pair is front-and-center of the national remarketing organization at Avis Budget Group, a company they each have called home for two decades.
Thibault, who joined Avis Budget in 1997, is the company's vice president of fleet disposal, and August (who joined the previous year) is director of wholesale operations.
And this year, they can each add another title: National Remarketing Executive of the Year.
Auto Remarketing is proud to honor August and Thibault with this award — now in its fourth year and sponsored by ServNet — at the National Remarketing Conference as part of Used Car Week, scheduled for Nov. 14-18 at the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa in Las Vegas.
They will be presented the award at 4:30 p.m. (PT) on Nov. 16.
Auto Remarketing caught up with Thibault and August in October to learn more about their backgrounds and what they enjoy about the auction business, and to discuss industry trends and more.
A ‘fun,’ fast-moving business
August has never been a stranger to the industry. A “legacy of the automobile industry,” his father worked at Southern Auto Auction. August went to auctioneering school and eventually joined the auction business, working first with Manheim and then Alamo. He has been with Avis for slightly more than 20 years.
Thibault, meanwhile, was hired as one of Alamo's first employees at its Denver location in 1982, then met August in 1984 at the LAX location. Thibault has been with Avis for more than 19 years.
“Every day is a new day and it's an ever-changing market,” Thibault said when asked what he enjoys most about the business.
There is excitement and challenges each day and, they said, a lot of great people.
“A lot of it is the people,” August said.
In fact, August mentioned that many of the folks he works with now are the sons and daughters of the people he worked with years ago.
“That's kind of fun,” he said.
So, too, is the fast pace of an auction, they say. After all, when deals are being made in less than a minute, it's hard to get bored.
Change & balance
Just as cars change hands as they move down the auction lane, the industry changes paths as it moves through new eras.
When asked about the big changes in the remarketing business that they've seen since they joined the industry, the Avis Budget executives first pointed to the “pendulum” of OEM strategy on rental risk versus program cars.
As Thibault explained, automakers temporarily stopped selling risk vehicles and went to program cars back in the 1990s. That “pendulum” has since swung back, he said.
Additionally, they point out the major changes in technology that have impacted the remarketing industry. Thibault noted that over the past few years online has become a “big piece of the remarketing strategy for us.”
A challenge associated with that is the redistribution, Thibault said, as remarketers have to balance their consignors in the various channels, including online, in-lane, direct-to-dealer and so forth.
In other words, make sure the car is in the right channel or location and at the right time.
And that may include the digital environment.
“In 2016, if you’re not participating in the digital world, you’re going to fall behind,” Thibault said.
In July, Avis Budget Group and TrueCar signed a multi-year partnership agreement in which retail used-vehicle shoppers can access Avis Budget Group’s inventory of high-quality, well-maintained off-rental vehicles through TrueCar.com. When asked if there was potential for additional innovation like this in the rental remarketing space, Thibault said he sees “more of that coming” in the near term.
Another example of digital innovation would be Avis Direct, where dealers have a dedicated website to buy late-model, off-rental vehicles from the company. More than 5,000 have signed up.
But again, in remarketing strategy, it's always a balance.
Auto Remarketing has announced its 2016 National Remarketing Executives of the Year, and earning this year's distinction are Greg Thibault and Todd August of Avis Budget Group.
Thibault, who joined Avis Budget in 1997, is the company’s vice president of fleet disposal, and August (who joined the previous year) is director of wholesale operations.
Auto Remarketing is proud to honor August and Thibault with this award — now in its fourth year and sponsored by ServNet — at the National Remarketing Conference as part of Used Car Week, scheduled for Nov. 14-18 at the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa in Las Vegas.
The award will be presented at 4:30 p.m. (PT) on Nov. 16.
Auto Remarketing caught up with Thibault and August in October to learn more about their backgrounds and what they enjoy about the auction business, and to discuss industry trends and more. To read the complete feature on Thibault and August, see the Nov. 15 edition of Auto Remarketing (our Used Car Week issue) and our Auto Remarketing enewsletters during Used Car Week.
Auto Remarketing and SubPrime Auto Finance News have announced the winner of this year’s Re3 Executive of the Year Award, which is being presented by Consolidated Asset Recovery Systems (CARS).
The honoree who will be presented with the accolade at the Re3 Conference during Used Car Week is Jerry Shelby, who is the director of title lending at Advance America.
Since 1997, Advance America has helped millions of Americans with flexible and personalized financial solutions. The company has grown from just a few stores in the Southeast to become one of the nation’s largest consumer lending companies, with more than 2,100 locations in more than 25 states offering a variety of financial services.
Advance America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Grupo Elektra, one of the world’s largest providers of banking services, consumer finance, personal loans and specialty retailing. The company is a founding member of the Community Financial Services Association, which encourages fair and fully disclosed lending practices.
“Jerry’s knowledge and experience in the industry has been essential for Advance America as they are transitioning to a centralized repossession and remarketing department from that of a decentralized model,” said Terry Groves, who is co-founder and senior vice president of CARS.
“Jerry has created a strategic structure for managing over 1,000 centers in 15 states that has increased efficiency and streamlined the entire process for Advance America enabling him and his team to consistently exceed their corporate goals on recovery,” Groves continued.
Shelby joins previous winners of the accolade, including Jeff Haynes of BBVA Compass, Karen Nelson of Crescent Bank and Scott Phillips of Lendmark Financial Services.
“Congratulations to Jerry Shelby and the whole team at Advance America,” said Bill Zadeits, who is publisher of both Auto Remarketing and SubPrime Auto Finance News as well as Used Car Week chair.
“Repossessions and recoveries represent some of the most the challenging tasks of the finance business, and the company navigates these assignments successfully because of Jerry’s expertise and leadership,” Zadeits continued. “It’s proactive executives like Jerry that embody what the Re3 Executive of the Year Award means.”
Shelby will receive his award during the Re3 Conference, which is presented by MBSi Corp. The Re3 Conference comes at the midpoint of Used Car Week, which runs from Nov. 14-18 at the Red Rock Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
It’s not too late to join the nearly 1,000 executives — dealers, finance company and auction executives and other industry experts — who are registered to gather during Used Car Week for networking, presentations from experts and more. Used Car Week also includes the CPO Forum — America’s Used Car Conference as well as the SubPrime Forum and the National Remarketing Conference/NAAA Convention.
For more details, go to www.usedcarweek.biz.
The automotive segment of the 15th annual Chicago Innovation Awards honored six companies, including vAuto, DRIVIN, CarLease.com and ForeverCar.com.
The Chicago Innovation Awards is that region’s foremost recognition of the most innovative new products or services brought to market or to public service each year. A record-breaking 643 organizations were nominated for this year’s awards.
“Local innovators continue to illuminate the Chicago region as a growing hotbed of creative activity that cuts across all sectors and industries,” said Tom Kuczmarski, co-founder with Chicago journalist Dan Miller of the awards. “Every winner of the Chicago Innovation Awards demonstrates how a unique solution to an unmet need can bring transformative impact in the marketplace.”
The winners were announced at an event held at Chicago’s Harris Theater on Tuesday, with nearly 1,500 business and civic leaders in attendance. The winning organizations receive a variety of honors including the opportunity to ring the NASDAQ Bell in New York City, and meetings with the mayor of Chicago, governor of Illinois and president of Cook County.
In less than 30 days, more than 1,000 franchise and independent dealers signed up for Stockwave, an innovative tool from vAuto that can make finding and purchasing wholesale vehicles easier and more efficient for dealers.
Through deep integrations with leading auctions and Cox Automotive technology, Stockwave automatically can stream wholesale vehicles that match a dealer’s used-vehicle investment strategy, target profit, age, condition, equipment and other preferences.
DRIVIN is a marketplace that can allow dealer partners to sell, search and buy the right used vehicles to optimize inventory on their lot and increase profitability. DRIVIN combines data science with an experienced, high-touch service model to make vehicle elimination and acquisition seamless and efficient for dealers.
“We are very proud to accept a Chicago Innovation Award, joining many fantastic Chicago-area companies that have been recognized over the years,” said Kayne Grau, co-founder and chief executive officer of DRIVIN. “DRIVIN has seen incredible momentum over the past year with our commitment to disrupting the traditional methods for acquiring and selling used car inventory, and we look forward to continuing to drive value for our dealer partners.”
ForeverCar.com is a full-service provider of vehicle repair protection plans as the company reached a strategic partnership with CUNA Mutual Group last month.
“ForeverCar.com is removing the hassle of repairing your car,” ForeverCar.com CEO Mark Hodes said. “We’ve used technology to completely reinvent the car repair experience so that our customers can get back to the things that matter. We’re proud to be recognized with the Chicago Innovation Award.”
Along with CarLease.com — a site that facilitates vehicle leases for consumers — the other two automotive winners at the Chicago Innovation Awards included HubTran, a provider of transportation back-office automation technology, and Four Kites, a transportation tracking software provider.
Ally Financial has announced that 49 U.S. auto dealers have been chosen as nominees for the 2017 TIME Dealer of the Year award.
The award, in its 48th year, recognizes the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a commitment to community service.
The nominees will be honored at the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Expo in New Orleans on Jan. 27. They will be welcomed by Meredith Long, senior vice president and general manager of news and luxury at TIME, and Tim Russi, president of auto finance at Ally.
“A remarkable group of dealers have been nominated for the 2017 TIME Dealer of the Year award,” said Russi. “We are honored to acknowledge these dealers that ‘do it right’ in their businesses and communities every day, and we are excited to recognize their achievements at the NADA convention in January.”
In its sixth year as exclusive sponsor, Ally will recognize the 2017 nominees and their community efforts by contributing $1,000 to each dealer’s 501(c)(3) charity of choice. The nominees will also be highlighted on AllyDealerHeroes.com.
Including the 2017 charitable grants pledged to this group of nominees, Ally will have committed nearly $480,000 as part of the TIME Dealer of the Year program. In previous years, nominee grants have supported various local community organizations, including educational programs, cultural offerings, youth athletic leagues and local nonprofits.
Previous winners have included Kitty Van Bortel of Van Bortel Motorcars in Rochester, N.Y., Andy Crews of AutoFair Honda in Manchester, N.H., Jeff Teague of Teague Auto Group in El Dorado, Ark., Michael Alford of Marine Chevrolet in Jacksonville, N.C. and Mike Shaw of Mike Shaw Automotive Group in Denver, Colo.
For a list of all 2017 TIME Dealer of the Year nominees, click here. Or to learn more about the nominees, click here.
Janet Barnard, president of Cox Automotive Inventory Solutions, received the 2016 Leadership Character Award in the CEO/President/Managing Partner — Large Company category.
The company said Barnard was recognized for her integrity; her commitment to treating clients, suppliers, co-workers and others with respect; and for maintaining a culture in which everyone takes responsibility for achieving results while upholding the organization’s core values.
“We are proud Janet has been recognized as a bold leader guided by foundational values and a belief that every decision should be grounded in service to others,” said Rock Anderson, senior vice president and chief human resources officer for Cox Automotive. “Her approach has helped this company thrive, well served our clients and supported the communities where our team members live and work.” Anderson nominated her for the award.
Barnard has helped to transform the 72-year-old wholesale auction operation into a dynamic organization that’s re-imagining the used car marketplace.
She’s worked to redefine business scope and structure, adapt new technologies and refine processes, tools and systems to to enhance client engagement and employee satisfaction. Barnard had to secure a multimillion dollar investment, overcome skepticism about an initiative that had been attempted previously without success, and manage expectations associated with a multi-year timeline.
“I’m deeply touched by this award, especially as it reflects values and beliefs that drive me every day as a business leader, community member and person,” said Barnard.
Barnard was honored during the 12th annual award event, a luncheon held Oct. 4 at the Georgia Aquarium hosted by Turknett Leadership Group and Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership. Cox Automotive was one of the event’s silver sponsors.
The wholesaling of vehicles certainly is a serious business at Manheim Fredericksburg. The facility registers 2,700 vehicles per week and hosts regular sales on Thursday mornings.
But as serious as general manager Craig Amelung wants the staff of 243 full-time and part-time team members to take auction chores, the leader at Manheim Fredericksburg tries to bring a balance to the situation, too.
“We stress the importance of finding the balance between working hard and having fun,” Amelung said. “Month after month, the team continues to grow closer together and collectively commit to helping each other. We also have an action team that is helping drive both employee engagement, as well as community service initiatives.
“I tell my team, ‘Don’t take yourselves too seriously.’ I want my team to know that it’s OK to laugh at yourself and that each leader at the auction is here to support them regardless of what department they work in,” he continued.
“I make sure that the team has my complete support. We use all of our decision making (good and bad) as a learning opportunity to help make us better. The freedom the team has to make a decision and know that their decision will be supported is a top priority for me,” Amelung went on to say.
So if Manheim Fredericksburg can have fun, what does it mean for the dealers and consignors who use the facility?
“If we provide an environment where our team enjoys coming to work and feel free to have fun while they are working, it translates to how we interact with our clients,” Amelung said. “Our customers continue to provide positive feedback that they see this difference in our team.”
Whatever way Manheim Fredericksburg is finding that balance of efficiency and fun, it’s certainly working now with this award to its credit.
“This honor validates all of the effort and hard work that this team has put forth to raise the level of service, not only to our external clients but also to one another,” Amelung said. “I am proud to lead such a great group of individuals who understand the importance of not letting your fellow team member fail.”
View the complete list of honorees here.
Keep an open door and be upfront. That’s crucial for management in communications at an auction.
“Priority No. 1? I don't think anything is more important than communication both on a one-on-one and cross-departmental basis,” said Stephanie Gingras, general manager at Dealers Auto Auction of the Southwest.
“Never has an employee not been able to walk into my office or Jim’s and ask a question about anything,” she said, referring to Jim DesRochers, the auction’s vice president. “You might not like our answers all the time, but we will be 100 percent upfront with you.”
That’s part of what it takes to have a healthy and positive workplace environment, which helps the bottom line for sure.
“We are a customer service oriented business, competing with the industry’s largest competitors. If our employees aren’t happy, our customers know and they have lots of options,” Gingras said. “When our employees are having fun and proud of where they work, then they make it enjoyable for our customers.”
When asked what makes the auction stand out in terms of being a great place to work, Gingras said: “I guess we don't even look at it as ‘standing out.’ We are a tight-knit, cross-trained group and we realize that what affects each person professionally and personally affects us all. Treat each other fairly and understand each other’s wants and needs, and in the end, it seems to (be) the right thing.”
Part of the equation is keeping morale strong. So how does Dealers Auto Auction of the Southwest do it?
“I have been truly affected by my three adult children and listening about their workdays and their managers,” Gingras said. “They make me reflect on what the next generation’s expectations are.
“And like old guy Jim with 30 years in that industry, trying to figure out my generation,” she joked, adding, “morale is a function of equal treatment; recognition of personal successes and events like birthdays, weddings, births; and being there for your staff when either a professional or personal crisis occurs.”
View the complete list of honorees here.
When asked what sets Dealers Auto Auction of the Rockies apart as a great place to work, executive vice president Michele Noblitt said it’s all about: “Stability, a sense of community, a genuine caring attitude not only professionally but personally for our employees. Passion for growth.”
The top priority for her as a manager is to make sure employees understand not only what their responsibilities are, but how integral they are to the success of the entire operation.
Also impactful is having an enjoyable workplace environment, which can certainly be good for business, too.
“Our customers walk in the door every week and see smiling and welcoming faces. People want to frequent businesses where they are treated with kindness and respect,” Noblitt said.
And that often starts with management. Noblitt goes by the Golden Rule in boosting team morale.
“I have always told my employees, I would never ask them to do something I wouldn’t do or have not done myself,” she said. “When you as a manager recognize and understand the challenges each employee faces on a day-to-day basis, you empower them to take ownership in their job, the auction and our customers’ vehicles.”
View the complete list of honorees here.
At ADESA Las Vegas, general manager Brenda Aden said it’s “excellent teamwork and communication, along with a dedication to regular employee recognition and development” that makes the Nevada auction stand out as a great place to work.
Teamwork, in fact, is her No. 1 priority in managing her staff.
“We take a personal interest in our team and communicate with them to encourage them to meet their goals,” she said when asked how she aims to boost morale as a manager.
Having a positive environment in the workplace can be critical, she said.
“Anytime you have employees who enjoy coming to work, it’s apparent to our customers. Our employees really put forth extra effort to ensure customer service is at its best,” Aden said. “This, in return, provides a comfort level for our customers who then enjoy working with us.”
View the complete list of honorees here.
