Whether it’s admiring the can-do spirit of his co-workers or helping others advance in their careers, it’s the interpersonal aspect that has endeared Ryan Hawley to the auto industry.
It was a phone call from a recruiter that got him started, but from there, “it was the people. Car dealers have the entrepreneurial spirit that other industries spend obscene amounts of money trying to create. Our industry has tens of thousands of small- to midsize businesses that are living out their idea of the American dream! Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?”
In his role as vice president of strategy and development for NextGear Capital, Hawley is responsible for ensuring his team members and clients have the tools to make them successful.
“Since NextGear Capital is a part of the Cox Automotive family, we have a unique advantage in bringing solutions to our clients that go beyond the simple lender/borrower relationship,” he explained. “Staying focused on the challenges our clients and team-members face is vital in guiding my team’s direction.”
When asked what makes him most proud in his career, Hawley said it was “without a doubt” helping other advance in their careers.
“Interacting with our team members and learning about their journey is fun. It becomes rewarding when the opportunity arises to impact someone else in a way that changes their career’s trajectory.”
Hawley cited his father as someone he admired professionally.
“Growing up, I watched him navigate his way through a career at the Air Force Academy and in higher education,” Hawley said. “Watching him groom future leaders was a treat. He always knew how to make people feel valued and empowered. My dad drilled into my head that putting others first, while staying focused on the objective, was the key to becoming a successful leader.
“And, as a young man, I truly didn’t understand what servant leadership meant,” he continued. “I thought it was just another textbook cliché. However, as I’ve grown into my career, I’ve witnessed firsthand how selfless leaders create an unbeatable organization. NextGear Capital, and Cox Automotive, have leadership teams that embody this characteristic and that’s exactly why I’m so passionate about our team. We make a positive impact in our organizations, our industry, and our communities every day.”
Ryan Hawley, 36, is vice president of strategy and development at NextGear Capital.
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Jeremy Cope wanted to make a career change about 15 years ago. An opportunity to enter the automotive industry presented itself. Cope took it, and now he’s a critical cog in MetroGistics’ machine.
“I am responsible for leading our experienced and motivated dispatch and operations team to exceed customer expectations, meet revenue and margin goals, increase company profitability and reduce operational costs,” Cope said. “My primary goal is to facilitate effective, successful relationships between our management team, internal staff, partners and clients.”
With a wide array of responsibilities, Cope pointed out what he enjoys most.
“I appreciate the constant evolution of logistics almost as much as the interaction with clients and partners. In this industry, you never have to worry about two days being the same,” Cope said.
“I am proud of working hand in hand with my colleagues each day to come up with, and execute on, the next great idea in our industry,” he continued.
Now nearly two decades later, Cope doesn’t appear poised to make another major career change, primarily because of MetroGistics’ leadership headed up by Scott Naz and William Billiter.
“Both gentlemen are true entrepreneurs who give their employees room to express themselves both personally and professionally, and encourage them to come up with their own ideas and new ways of doing things,” Cope said.
“In an industry that has been around forever and can often be hindered by routine, it is nice to see people who encourage the development and execution of fresh ideas,” Cope went on to say.
Jeremy Cope, 39, is vice president of logistics operations at MetroGistics
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For Peter Grupposo, professional fulfillment comes from being part of what he calls a dynamic ecosystem.
“Although my entry into the automotive industry was not strategically planned, once I became part of it, I became passionate about its people, complexity and opportunity,” he said. “I’m thrilled that players range from single-store independent dealerships to large, publically traded companies. From one end of the spectrum to the others, each plays an important role in the automotive ecosystem.”
Grupposo’s role as vice president, national accounts for Manheim has him leading a team of commercial account managers. “The team is responsible for providing a strategic remarketing vision for our Fleet, bank, third-party remarketers and rental car agencies,” he explained.
When asked to reflect on what has made him proudest thus far in his 12-year career, Grupposo’s answer was simple: being a leader.
“I have had the opportunity to lead and positively influence many people,” he said. “I’m proud of those who have progressed in the automotive remarketing space, many of whom continue to make strong contributions to the Cox Automotive family and industry.”
And while Grupposo enjoys the opportunity to help others grow professionally, he is quick to point out folks who have helped him do the same.
“For example, Shane O’Dell, Brian Geitner and Rich Coutu played a key role in my development while at DSC/NextGear Capital,” he said. “Additionally, I learned a tremendous amount from Tim McKinley and many others within Manheim.
“The common trait among them is that each helped me grow professionally and personally. They provided strong leadership, invested their time and knowledge, and ensured I had the tools to progress throughout my career,” he continued. “They motivated me to work hard and long in this industry, and to positively impact others as they did for me.”
Peter Grupposo, 34, is vice president, national accounts at Manheim.
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As president of Dallas Pre-Owned Auto Group, Ray Chorfi is responsible for the purchase and remarketing of vehicles nationwide, while also having a hand in the company’s digital and online presence.
Despite being the boss, he never forgets his roots.
“I am proud of my humble beginnings from a one-man operation to the current team we have, without whom none of this would be possible,” he said.
“I’m also proud of the fact that we are trying to change customers’ perception of the industry, one customer at a time.”
And he loves sharing his own enthusiasm with customers.
“Fresh out of college, I always wanted to get into the car business because it was my passion, and I always loved cars ever since I was a kid. This allows me to share my passion with my customers as well and the excitement of finding the right vehicle for them.”
Asked about his role models, Chorfi said he admires everyone who is trying to change the image of the automotive industry through hard work and dedication.
“I have seen my fair share of dealers that came and left,” he said. “But there are no shortcuts in this industry, just integrity and hard work.”
Ray Chorfi, 35, is president of Dallas Pre-Owned Auto Group.
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Growing up, Scott Chesrown spent Saturdays roaming around his father’s dealership.
Today, the chief revenue officer for Vroom has a front-row seat to what he describes as the evolution of the auto industry.
“When we started the company, we never would have guessed that at this point in the company’s history, we would have achieved this level of success,” said Chesrown, who helped found Vroom three years ago. “Vroom is making it possible to buy, sell and finance cars all online, and I have a front-row seat to the evolution of the automotive industry.
“What I enjoy most about the business are the cars and the general excitement people feel when they get in their new cars,” he added.
In his current role, Chesrown is responsible for all activities that generate revenue for the company.
“I’m tasked daily with responsibilities including operations, sales, corporate development, marketing, pricing and revenue management,” he said. “I have overseen the company’s revenue growth activities since inception to $1 billion in annual revenue.”
When asked about someone he admires, Chesrown mentioned Virgin Group founder Richard Branson.
“He founded a very interesting company by building it around his core values,” Chesrown said. “He also built an incredible brand with Virgin America that took an industry with the same type of bad customer experience the automotive industry suffers from, and made it hip, cool and sexy to fly Virgin.”
Scott Chesrown, 31, is chief revenue officer at Vroom.
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Julie Derybowski is not one to shy away from a challenge.
“Throughout my career I have been given challenging tasks to make the vehicle remarketing process faster, easier and more profitable. Although these assignments have been weighing, I am proud that top industry leaders entrusted me with these important responsibilities,” she said.
“After tackling and discovering solutions that resulted in better operations for our industry, I am braced with a new confidence and ready to solve the demanding tests that remain ahead.”
In her role as executive director of sales operations, Derybowski is responsible for building the customer service and operation teams that are tasked with supporting the expansion of TradeRev USA. She also partners with sales leadership to identify opportunities for sales process, improvements and reporting.
Derybowski got her start in the industry 12 years ago as a market research analyst.
“My two main responsibilities were to study industry trends and to help vehicle remarketers make profitable decisions by providing insights through market studies,” she said. “I am a detailed and data-driven person. Once I was able to use these skills to impact my business colleagues’ profitability, I was hooked.”
She considers her team to be a primary source of inspiration.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with experienced professionals who have a wealth of industry knowledge and have shared their transformative ideas with me. Every day is a chance to learn something new. I consider myself lucky to continually make these discoveries with such an exceptional team.
“They are not afraid to try something new and disrupt the norm,” she continued. “The team lead by Keith Crerar, executive vice president of TradeRev USA, are forward thinkers that want to make the vehicle buying and selling experience easy and pain free all through a mobile app. I’m proud to be part of an organization that is changing the industry for the better.”
Julie Derybowski, 36, is executive director of sales operations at TradeRev USA.
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Holly Callan grew up across the street from Corry Auto Dealers Exchange in Corry, Pa., but it wasn’t until a few years ago that she began working for the auction. And now, she finds the auction business to be “such a significant part of my life.”
Callan is the commercial account manager for both CADE and Winchester Auto Auction, located in Bunker Hill, W.Va.
“I facilitate every aspect of the remarketing process from the initial contact with a potential consignor through the final sale process,” she said, describing her role with the auctions. “I have an extremely hands-on approach to the remarketing business and auction process, which has allowed me to grow quickly within our organization. From Day 1, I strived to learn every aspect of the business.”
Callan said she has known the Swift family, which owns the two auctions, for a long time, but most of her career has been spent outside of the remarketing industry in general management positions at two other small businesses, she said.
“The Swift family brought me on as part of their team to build relationships and create depth in our commercial and fleet department. In three short years, we have increased our annual volume more than 90 percent and drastically diversified our consignment regionally and nationally,” Callan said.
When asked what makes her the most proud about her career, she said: “I am most proud of the success and growth that we have experienced as an auction and a company over the last four years. I have had the opportunity to guide our auctions not only in steady volume growth, but most importantly in the growth of relationships.
“These relationships are what make us a success. Together as a team with our remarketing partners we not only succeed in business but also succeed in the impact that we have in the industry,” she said. “The relationships and friendships that I have built within the industry mean the most to me.”
Lastly, Callan shared a bit about folks she admires in the business.
“There are so many impactful leaders and mentors that have influenced my journey in the auto industry. Many remarketers and fellow independent auction staff have been instrumental in my growth over the years, and I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of an industry that fosters such growth and development among their peers,” she said.
“That is why it is so important to me to strive each day to develop and grow my team even further. I want to mentor and teach my team as so many people in the industry did for me. Our focus will continue to be to provide the best possible remarketing experience for our consignors and dealers. Their satisfaction is the key to my success!”
Holly Callan, 36, is the commercial account manager at Corry Auto Dealers Exchange and Winchester Auto Auction.
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Joanna Anderson insisted the “auto industry runs through my blood.” The statement isn’t surprising considering that Anderson held a position at a rental car company by the time she was 15, detailing vehicles, verifying insurance and taking payments. Upon leaving home for her college education, she reached out to Manheim and secured a part-time position, handling duties such as sale-day block clerk, title clerk, front counter and receptionist.
And with her 31st birthday coming on Sept. 17 — a day after one of Abingdon Auto Auction’s weekly sales — Anderson is continuing to juggle a wide array of responsibilities for the family owned, independent operation that was honored by BB&T in 2015.
“As the old saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. Born and raised with a father and brother as auctioneers, the auto industry runs through my blood and many aspects come as second nature to me,” Anderson said.
“I’ve been fortunate to be a cog in the wheel since we opened the doors almost seven years ago at Abingdon Auto Auction,” she continued. “You can find me doing anything from acting fleet manager, handling sale day arbitrations, marketing, transportation, customer service, human resources and anything in between.
“Some days I feel as if I’m an octopus with eight arms and 100 tasks on each, but that always keeps things interesting,” Anderson went on to say. “There is never a dull moment in this business. Year after year we continue to grow and continue to be blessed with success.”
Anderson not only credited her time with Manheim for impacting her career — “They literally treated me like family and I will always be so thankful for such a rewarding experience in my short time there” — she hailed the team that’s now a part of Abingdon Auto Auction, including her father and brother who still are involved with the Bristol, Va., operation.
“I have learned so much in the past seven years and continue to learn more and more every day,” Anderson said. “With such a fierce, evolving industry, it is important to stay ahead of your competition. With my father’s vision of owning an independent auto auction, I am blessed to be the vehicle that carries out a lifelong dream.”
Joanna Anderson, 31, is the general manager of Abingdon Auto Auction in Bristol, Va.
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ADESA announced on Monday that ADESA Northwest has been named the U.S. Bank 2015 Auction of the Year, Marine/RV Segment.
ADESA Northwest was known as Brasher’s Northwest Auto Auction at the time of the award.
The auction has received this honor every year since U.S. Bank began awarding it in 2010 as a way to recognize its top specialty auctions.
Criteria to determine the winning auction include conversion rates, NADA retentions, and operational benchmarks such as days to transport and days to condition report.
“I would like to thank Jason Herman and the U.S. Bank team for their continued partnership and support, which have enabled us to achieve this award six years in a row,” said Mark Melton, general manager of ADESA Northwest.
“Jodi Rowland and the fleet lease team, our reconditioning team, the sales department and other teams at the auction have played instrumental roles in reaching and exceeding these benchmarks.”
Melton and Rowland, fleet lease manager, accepted the award on behalf of the ADESA Northwest staff earlier this month in Cincinnati. The trophy was presented by U.S. Bank representatives Herman, senior vice president, director of asset remarketing, and Mike Ryan, assistant vice president, auction sales and performance manager.
Kansas City Independent Auto Auction (KCI Auto Auction) has earned the inaugural 2016 Western Auction of the Year Award from the National Auto Auction Association, which is celebrating National Auto Auction Week from Monday through Friday.
Kansas City, Mo.-based KCI Auto Auction is one of four auctions from each of NAAA’s membership regions to win the award, which honors excellence in community service. Each regional chapter award winner receives $5,000, to be donated to the charity or charities of the auction’s choice.
The NAAA’s National Auction of the Year Award will go to one of these four regional award winners. The auction that earns the national honor will receive an additional $10,000 to be donated at the auction’s discretion. In addition, NAAA’s On the Block magazine will feature a January 2017 cover story about the auction and its charitable efforts.
The auction will also grace the cover of the 2017 NAAA Member Directory. The National Auction of the Year winner will be announced on Nov. 17, during the Presidential Gala at the NAAA Convention/National Remarketing Conference.
NAAA Western Chapter President Russ Smith said KCI Auto Auction’s community involvement efforts are well-known throughout the region, and he said it would be an honor to announce the Western Chapter award winner during National Auto Auction Week.
“KCI Auto Auction is a business that serves as a testament to what it means to have a dedication to excellence,” said Smith, who is the general manager of Dealers Auto Auction of Idaho. “Their community service efforts are widely recognized as having far-reaching effects in the community and beyond.”
“We want to congratulate Kansas City Independent Auto Auction and thank those involved at the auction who consistently give unselfishly of their time, effort and money to so many wonderful community service organizations,” said NAAA president Mike Browning, who added that he is pleased to be president during the creation of this award.
Three community organizations — Camp Quality USA, Court Appoint Special Advocates (CASA) for Children and Sheffield Place — nominated the auction.
“KCI Auto Auction’s involvement has included a remarkable level of support with a combined total giving of $441,136 to the three organizations over the past four years,” their joint nominating letter stated. “This funding has provided each organization with resources to expand and strengthen client services in ways that would not have been possible. The auction and its staff members have also volunteered, conducted drives for immediate needs and adopted client families for the holidays, among other roles.”
Camp Quality is a summer camp experience and year-round support program for children with cancer and their families. CASA advocates for abused and neglected children. Sheffield Place is a treatment and supportive housing program for homeless women and their children.
NAAA chief executive officer Frank Hackett said this award is designed to not only honor the efforts of NAAA members, but to boost awareness of the many causes that auctions around the country support.
“I’m continually pleased to see the efforts our member auctions take to support their local community’s charities and service organizations,” Hackett said. “If we can play a small role in helping them help others, it’s a very good result.”
