Alexi Venneri recognized when she oversaw advertising for the Van Tuyl Group that all dealerships, not just her employer at the time, needed assistance with social media. That’s when Digital Air Strike began to take shape at her kitchen table.
At that traditional gathering place, Venneri leveraged her extensive automotive and marketing background to formulate how dealers and their customers might congregate online. Now Digital Air Strike has 170 employees and 3,000 clients.
“It’s been very rewarding to see our patented technology be recognized while helping to create a new category of business — social media marketing and reputation management — that didn’t exist just six years ago,” said Venneri, a 2016 Women in Remarketing honoree. “Some of the best experiences involved seeing how what we do also helps consumers have a better experience.”
Her spark for wanting people to have a better experience back when Venneri was in high school. She spent weekends at a dealership serving cake and other free food to customers and other store shoppers, collecting names and contact information that turned into leads.
“That was my first taste of marketing and lead management,” Venneri said.
From there, Venneri career included stops in professional sports with the Seattle Mariners as well as in the auto technology space with Who’s Calling and Dealertrack Technologies. During her journey in various marketing posts, she recognized how customer satisfaction became paramount to what she wanted to accomplish.
“I love marketing and finding new ways to help businesses grow,” Venneri said. “The automotive industry is so fast-paced and open to new ideas so it was a perfect fit for my skillset. Many dealerships are still family run businesses and that is also appealing to me as I really appreciate their entrepreneurial nature.
“Knowing that we are helping businesses, business owners, their customers and employees motivates me,” she continued. “We are able to take the huge responsibility of managing social media and online reputation off a dealer’s plate so they can focus on selling and servicing more cars while also finding ways to get prospects and customers more engaged with the dealership.”
Keeping dealership customers engaged is one of the primary reasons why social media appeals to Venneri so much. She described the depth of which social media platforms have evolved not only during her automotive career but also since she became the co-founder and chief executive officer of Digital Air Strike.
“The car business has changed along with social media. At first social media was only used socially — dealers weren’t aware they could use it as a channel to reach customers,” Venneri said. “Today, dealers know they need to actively manage their social online reputations but they are still learning how — and they often don’t have the time to keep up with all the new features and options available to them.
“We are fortunate to have partnerships and close relationships with the social sites so we find out about changes before they are made and can help our clients navigate and leverage them to sell more,” she continued.
“The ability to target through social networks for a fraction of the cost of other mediums — including both digital and traditional mediums — is a huge revolution for our industry,” Venneri went on to say. “Social advertising gives dealers incredible tools to reach specific audiences and do tons of testing to hone in what works for each group — all very cost effectively. It can also enhance all other advertising mediums as well.”
While so much of her efforts are focused on social media, Venneri mentioned that she tries to “unplug” at least a couple of times a year during family vacations with her husband and son. Her family also has three rescue beagles, and Venneri volunteers with organizations that help animal welfare.
Check out the April 15 edition of Auto Remarketing to learn more about the entire class of 2016 Women in Remarketing honorees.
These outstanding leaders will be honored at Used Car Week 2016, where we will be launching our National Remarketing Conference partnership with the National Auto Auction Association.
Used Car Week is scheduled for Nov. 14-18 at the Red Rock in Las Vegas.
Ally Financial recently recognized its top performing auctions for 2015. Awards were given to auctions around the country for performance, leadership and growth throughout the year.
“The Ally team appreciates the effort and support provided by all of our auctions, without which we could not be successful. We are pleased to congratulate this year’s winners, who consistently demonstrate the highest levels of service and dedication to our dealer customers,” said Jason Alba, senior director of remarketing for Ally.
The winners include:
SmartLane Auction of the Year: ABC St. Louis
The SmartLane Auction of the Year award winner for the fourth year in a row was ABC St. Louis, continuing its tradition of performance and commitment to service excellence.
SmartLane is featured at participating physical auctions nationwide, and leverages Ally’s remarketing specialists to professionally represent and manage the auction sale process with the goal of maximizing net resale values for dealers and Ally. Dealers’ SmartLane vehicles are presented in the auction lane along with Ally vehicles, resulting in greater exposure for dealer units.
Leadership Auction of the Year: Columbus Fair Auto Auction
Columbus Fair Auto Auction, of Columbus, Ohio, was recognized for its top overall sales performance throughout the year. Columbus Fair AA is one of the largest independently owned auto auctions in the country, and continues to yield exceptional operational results.
The SmartAuction Independent Mid-Stream Auto Auction of the Year: Flint Auto Auction
Flint Auto Auction based in Flint, Mich., won SmartAuction’s Mid-Stream Auction of the Year award for the fourth consecutive year. Flint AA was the top seller of vehicles on SmartAuction among all the Independent auctions on the site. Flint AA was also awarded SmartAuction’s newest award, the Soaring Eagle Award, for selling more than 1,000 vehicles in a year.
“Flint Auto Auction is well deserving of this award. They have done an outstanding job leveraging the SmartAuction platform over the years and providing the service excellence that our buyers and consignors have come to expect," said Steve Kapusta, vice president of dealership online services and remarketing at Ally. “We value their commitment to this business and look forward to another outstanding year.”
Highest SmartAuction Sales Percentage: North Shore Auto Auction
North Shore Auto Auction in Ipswich, Mass., was awarded the Highest Sales Percentage Award by an Independent Auto Auction on SmartAuction.
Greatest Year-Over-Year Sales Growth: ABC Detroit Toledo
ABC Detroit Toledo, based in Toledo, Ohio, was awarded SmartAuction’s Year-Over-Year Sales Growth Award for the greatest year over year growth in sales by an Independent Auto Auction on SmartAuction.
When Debbie Stokes gets time away from the office, one of her hobbies is golf.
While certainly a game of precision at any point on the course, each of its different tasks — driving, chipping out of a sand trap, putting, etc. — requires a diverse set of skills (and clubs, for that matter).
The same is true for Stokes in her role as national remarketing manager at PAR North America.
“My job has a variety of responsibilities that include meeting customer needs, working with a wide range of automobiles, not only requiring detailed auto knowledge, but multiple analytical skills for the work product completion, and staff training and management,” said Stokes, a 2016 Women in Remarketing honoree.
And sometimes, that skill set can be a moving target. For example, we asked Stokes what she has seen the car business change the most: “Automation in all areas has been the biggest change during my career. This is not only reflected in the conversion of written analysis and data to computer systems, but also to online auction sales.”
Whether it’s adjusting to industry changes or wearing multiple hats in a leadership role, Stokes’ path in the remarketing business certainly seems to have prepared her quite well for such responsibilities.
She has been the remarketing manager at PAR for four-and-a-half years, having spent the previous six with ADESA. Stokes was commercial accounts manager for ADESA Tampa before moving up to assistant general manager.
Her career in the remarketing business began at Florida Auto Auction in Orlando, where she was a driver before moving up to vehicle check-in and eventually the factory department.
Stokes had started the job while taking community college courses at night, and she continued her work in the business while a student at the University of South Alabama.
“Upon graduation I entered the Manheim Management Training Program and was advised I was the first female to complete the entire program,” she said.
Stokes worked for Manheim for 12 years and then Citi Financial Auto for two-and-a-half. Then, she got the ADESA job and has been in the KAR Auction Services family ever since.
“My advice for those interested in the auto industry is to work hard every day and learn as much as possible to understand the work flow between people, businesses, departments, and automobiles,” she said.
Stokes certainly has aced the hard work and learning game throughout her career.
Check out the April 15 edition of Auto Remarketing to learn more about the entire class of 2016 Women in Remarketing honorees.
These outstanding leaders will be honored at Used Car Week 2016, where we will be launching our National Remarketing Conference partnership with the National Auto Auction Association.
Used Car Week is scheduled for Nov. 14-18 at the Red Rock in Las Vegas.
Katie Rushing was a member of a sorority as a student at Georgia Southern University. Whether it was in athletics or automotive, a mantra she learned during that part of her life still influences her now as she is the national remarketing manager for Southeastern Auto Auction of Savannah.
“I am motivated to excel in all aspects life,” Rushing said. “Growing up, I participated in multiple various competitive activities including team and individual sports, choirs, mathematics teams, etc. When I do something, I do it 100 percent. I may not win every time, but it will never be because I didn’t give it my all.
“I strive to uphold a motto I heard first in college in my sorority, Kappa Delta: Let us strive for that which is honorable, beautiful, and highest,” continued Rushing, a 2016 Women in Remarketing honoree..
Rushing had the opportunity to excel as she was given more responsibilities by the auction owners, who had interests in real estate, equipment as well as automotive. The owners — Wayne DeLoach, Tommy Childs and Danny Williams — steadily gave her more challenges, including going on the road and representing the auction throughout the region.
“I’ve always loved cars and trucks but didn’t know how much I would enjoy working in the car business, especially at an auction, until I began as a dealer sales representative traveling throughout the state of South Carolina,” Rushing said.
“I met so many different people visiting both large franchise dealerships and small independent car lots. Once I moved into remarketing our institutional accounts I really knew this was what I enjoyed,” she went on to say.
While she now has one of the most important positions at Southeastern Auto Auction of Savannah, Rushing still is striving for excellence — both within the organization and the auction industry as a whole.
“I enjoy both the challenges and the people,” Rushing said. “Every car has a different story and tackling the issues that each one brings is invigorating. I love learning new things so each time a problem arises and our team finds the solution the rush of enthusiasm and satisfaction is very fulfilling. I also treasure the different relationships I have with each client. The social interactions within the workplace fascinate me and I am intrigued by the different ways individuals communicate and work together.
“Always be open to new ideas and never settle with the way things have always been done,” she continued. “Our world is ever changing and we must be able to adapt quickly and efficiently. Accountability is key, if you tell someone you’re going to do something, follow through.
“Being a member of the IARA Education and Conference Management Committee has been very influential and beneficial to both my career and personal development,” Rushing added.
Beyond that industry organization, Rushing also mentioned the impact of her family, which “set wonderful examples of strong work ethic and accountability throughout my life and I strive to exhibit the same attributes as they have shown me.”
Rushing also reiterated the vital role DeLoach, Childs and Williams played in her professional career, “by believing in me and guiding me throughout my journey in the automotive business.”
She added: “They instilled in me the value of doing business the right way and doing the right thing. Their persistence in upholding positive values continues to inspire me.”
Here’s something to which many of our readers can probably relate.
We asked Sheryl Watson, the general counsel and senior vice president at ADESA Canada, when she knew the car business was for her.
“When I watched my first live auto auction,” said Watson, a 2016 Women in Remarketing honoree. “An exciting mini-drama unfolds as each car crosses the block.”
If an auto auction is a series of mini-dramas, then the way they’re often sold today might be akin to a sci-fi film. Except there’s not much “fiction” involved.
That’s the biggest change to the industry that Watson has seen during her 17-plus years in the car business.
“Technology has made significant changes in the auto auction business. When I joined the business in 1999, very few — if any — cars were sold online and many people doubted that the Internet was a viable sales channel,” she said. “At that time, the idea of listing and selling cars through a smartphone was in the realm of science fiction.”
Of course, things changed quickly, as they often do in the remarketing business. That’s something Watson enjoys about the industry.
“Every day is different and never boring. I have been working in this business for over 17 years and haven’t had a dull day yet. It is energizing to work in an environment where so many people are passionate about what they do,” she said.
As mentioned above, Watson’s passion for the car business goes back to attending her first live auction. Watson joined the auto industry through her work as an attorney.
“In 1999, I was working as a lawyer in a large Toronto law firm and the Canadian Auction Group — which was acquired by ADESA in 2000 — was one of my firm’s clients,” Watson said. “I was assigned to handle a few legal matters for CAG and became fascinated by the auto auction business. CAG offered me a job as general counsel, I happily accepted and have never looked back.”
Her years in the car business have brought some pretty rewarding experiences. Among those, chairing the National Auto Auction Association’s Canadian Committee from 2007 to 2009.
“During that time, the Canadian Committee developed the NAAA Seller Disclosure Standards-Canada which has since been embraced by numerous Canadian lawmakers who regulate what a dealer needs to disclose when selling a used vehicle,” Watson said.
“It was a great deal of work, but ultimately very worthwhile. When I finished my term as chair, Manheim presented me with a lovely award thanking me for my contribution. I was very flattered,” she said.
To get a sense of how Watson tackles big projects, we asked her to share her approach to problem-solving.
“In my prior life as a litigation lawyer, I learned that the story your client tells you is likely true but is unlikely to be the only truth,” she said. “So, my approach is to dig into a problem and explore the facts from multiple perspectives. Problem-solving becomes much easier when you understand the viewpoints of all stakeholders.”
Lastly, when she gets out of the office, Watson enjoys family time, exercise and an interesting design project.
“Between my husband and I, we have five children. Although they are all ‘off the payroll’ (mostly), they still keep us pretty busy,” she said. “I work out regularly and, in my spare time, design and make jewelry.”
Check out the April 15 edition of Auto Remarketing to learn more about the entire class of 2016 Women in Remarketing honorees.
These outstanding leaders will be honored at Used Car Week 2016, where we will be launching our National Remarketing Conference partnership with the National Auto Auction Association.
Used Car Week is scheduled for Nov. 14-18 at the Red Rock in Las Vegas.
Santander Consumer USA recently gave awards to 10 different auction locations when the consignor honored them for the wholesale work performed not only for SCUSA, but Chrysler Capital as well.
Taking the accolades as both Santander Consumer USA Auction of the Year as well as Chrysler Capital Auction of the Year was Manheim North Carolina.
The company also honored Kristine White, SCUSA’s AVP of asset remarketing for the Midwest region, as its Auction Manager of the Year.
The complete list of auction winners are as follows:
— ABC Detroit-Toledo: Santander Consumer USA Operations
— ADESA Long Island: Santander Consumer USA Northeast, Chrysler Capital Northeast Region
— ADESA Golden Gate: Chrysler Capital West Region
— ADESA Phoenix: Santander Consumer USA West Region
— ADESA Atlanta: Santander Consumer USA Q4 Auction Partner, Chrysler Capital Q4 Auction Partner
— Manheim North Carolina: Santander Consumer USA eCommerce, Santander Consumer USA Southeast Region, Santander Consumer USA Auction of the Year, Chrysler Capital Southeast Region, Chrysler Capital Auction of the Year
— Manheim San Antonio: Santander Consumer USA Central Region, Chrysler Capital Central Region
— Manheim Louisville: Santander Consumer USA Midwest Region
— Manheim Kansas City: Chrysler Capital Midwest Region
— Americas AA: Santander Consumer USA Auction Partner, Chrysler Capital Auction Partner
Before joining Cox Automotive, Amy Mills worked on several advertising and marketing projects with manufacturers and other automotive clients on the agency side of the business. Then, one of Mills’ acquaintances mentioned an opportunity at Manheim.
“Once I met the people, I never looked back,” said Mills, who now is vice president of global strategic planning at Cox Automotive and a 2016 Women in Remarketing honoree.
Soon after Mills interacted with other Manheim personnel in her first post, she visited one the company’s auction facilities. Not only did she find herself bonding with those people, the activities in the lanes and beyond left a permanent impression.
“It is the truest representation of the live, dynamic, complex nature of our business that makes it unique and addictive,” Mills said.
The wholesale business certainly has become even more complex during Mills’ time with Manheim and Cox Automotive. She recollected that at the time she joined the company, Manheim was setting up the technology that allowed activity in the lanes to be seen worldwide through the Internet via the company’s Simulcast product.
Mills pointed out that technology created the most dramatic change she has seen during her time in the industry, “growing into a global commerce platform for our business and an indispensable part of how we operate.
“That digital transformation and all the new mobile tools for dealers to manage their businesses over the past decade has been the most significant,” she added.
No matter how much technology evolves, Mills still harkens back to what initially brought her to Cox Automotive — people. As in both coworkers and clients.
When asked to pinpoint what’s been most rewarding about having a career in automotive, Mills replied that “working real time with our customers to solve their business challenges, and seeing those through to positive results.
“Among my first few roles at Manheim was as marketing manager, partnering with our key customer accounts on strategic marketing and sales programs,” she continued. “Momentum was just beginning to build with the Simulcast product, opening up a lot of new options to get creative in how we reach buyers nationwide for vehicles coming off-lease or out of the rental fleet. We experimented with everything from ‘postcard’ image-only sales to theater style evening bid events, all which led to increasing sell-through, opening new sale venues and discovering a lot about how our digital tools needed to evolve.”
Outside of her responsibilities for Cox Automotive, Mills again mentioned the importance of people, especially her husband, parents and siblings.
“As I advance in my career, I realize how much I really learned from my mom and dad,” Mills said. “Each had a very different but unique gift in how they related to others, coupled with a resilient and tenacious drive and work ethic. That lives on in my siblings and their families and children, who teach me something new almost every day.”
Even with an executive post at Cox Automotive, Mills isn’t about to rest on her laurels for a specific reason. What? Yes … people.
“I have met and worked with some of the most brilliant leaders and entrepreneurs,” Mills said. “The bar is continually raised by the quality of my colleagues and industry partners. I also believe we have yet to see the greatest days of our industry and a truly global automotive marketplace.”
Check out the April 15 edition of Auto Remarketing to learn more about the entire class of 2016 Women in Remarketing honorees.
These outstanding leaders will be honored at Used Car Week 2016, where we will be launching our National Remarketing Conference partnership with the National Auto Auction Association.
Used Car Week is scheduled for Nov. 14-18 at the Red Rock in Las Vegas.
Susan Moritz calls her road to the car business “almost accidental.”
But it’s certainly an inspiring one, and speaks to not only overcoming challenges, but thriving in their wake.
“I was adopted as an infant with a minor ankle deformity that required me to wear leg braces for the first several months of my life. The doctor felt that dance training may help to strengthen my ankles, but no one ever expected that this therapy would develop into so much more,” said Moritz, vice president of business development at NextGear Capital and a 2016 Women in Remarketing honoree.
“However, at the age of 4, I began training to become a professional ballet dancer. I attended the Indiana University School of Music with a major in ballet, dancing semi-professionally until the age of 23,” she said. “And just like that, I had overcome my first significant challenge without really knowing it.”
As many of us can relate, she said her two most pressing needs after graduation were a car and employment, “in that order.”
Moritz found a position as an assistant business manager at a franchised dealership, and serendipitously, the job came with a company car. Talk about two birds with one stone.
But the job was more than just employment and a set of wheels.
“Almost immediately, I felt connected to the people I worked with at the dealership. I was an anomaly in the mid-80s and I think everyone looked at me as a social experiment. I became energized by the excitement of the ‘sale,’ and the dealership lifestyle,” Moritz said.
“My dance career had already prepared me to completely commit to anything I took on in the future. The discipline and attention to detail I relied on as a dancer became the foundation for my success as an F&I manager,” she added. “I spent six years at the dealership, and along with finance, found myself managing the new-car sales team. I was a 20-something female managing seasoned car salesmen older than my father. I learned quickly not to take myself too seriously.”
Moritz said she stepped away from the dealership world for a bit when she started a family, and changed over to managing a mortgage processing and closing department. She got back into the car business with a job at ADESA in 2001, also working with some of its sister companies over the next few years.
Moritz has been with what is now known as Cox Automotive since 2009.
“When the market collapsed in 2008, I found myself unemployed for the first time in my life not by choice. This was a dark time for many of us. In May of 2009, I received a job offer from Manheim and little did I know that this would be the catalyst for the career and achievements I have today. When a door closed for me, a REALLY big one opened,” she said.
“In 2014, I transitioned to the Cox Automotive brand NextGear Capital, where I was tasked with business development for this rapidly growing company. I approach business development by understanding the needs of our dealers and looking for opportunities to come in and assist with their daily operations,” she said.
“My focus is to create, develop and implement products and services that will educate, protect and allow our dealers to achieve their goals,” Moritz added. “For me, independent dealers represent the family-owned businesses of a better time, the embodiment of the American dream.
“These are dealers who commit their life savings to creating a business that serves their communities and provides jobs for their neighbors. In my role, I believe that if our dealer fails, we as a company have failed.”
Outside of the day-to-day work, Moritz and the team at NextGear has put an emphasis on community service. She is on the board at Chaucie’s Place, an organization whose mission is to prevent childhood sexual abuse and adolescent suicide. Moritz is also on the board at Indianapolis School of Ballet.
NextGear provides support to these causes, as well as others.
“Outside of that, you can find me playing with my dogs and sharing the company of my daughters and fiancé, Jack. My daughters, along with being independent, are also hilarious and keep me laughing,” Moritz said. “We joke that we should have our own reality TV show, but alas, no call yet from E!”
Check out the April 15 edition of Auto Remarketing to learn more about the entire class of 2016 Women in Remarketing honorees.
These outstanding leaders will be honored at Used Car Week 2016, where we will be launching our National Remarketing Conference partnership with the National Auto Auction Association.
Used Car Week is scheduled for Nov. 14-18 at the Red Rock in Las Vegas.
It didn’t take long for the auction business to capture Kay Hudson’s attention.
“After my first auction sale, I was hooked: the pace, sale day excitement, the energy,” Hudson said. “It was incredible and I wanted to do more.”
To say Hudson did more would be an incredible understatement.
Having worked 13 years with a major restaurant chain and finding further growth potential there “limited,” Hudson decided to apply for a part-time sales clerk position at Chattanooga Auto Auction upon the suggestion of one of her brothers.
Turned out to be an apt move: she spent a dozen years at the auction, moving up through the ranks and getting a range of experience along the way — in human resources, as general operations manager, as fleet/lease manager.
Then Hudson turned to CARS Recon and forged a similar path there. Hired as the HR director, she advanced through all levels of the company en route to her current post as chief operating officer.
“In order to become a leader, I would tell someone to learn everything you can — and get dirty. Learn how each step of the remarketing affects the next step,” said Hudson, a 2016 Women in Remarketing honoree.
“Never stop learning and growing within your field; continue to push yourself out of your comfort zone,” Hudson added. “Always remember to appreciate what others do every day, and to say ‘Thank You.’
“Some of the most rewarding opportunities have been to travel and see the auto industry in other countries and learn how remarketing may have its differences,” she continued. “I have made some dear friends in the UK and in New Zealand I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to meet without my involvement with the auto industry.”
And her love of travel goes beyond work life. Hudson says, “My joy outside of work is traveling; and even with all the travel I do for work, taking family and friends remains such a thrill. The memories and experiences I have shared with them will last me a lifetime. “
When it comes to problem-solving, you might think of Hudson’s strategy like putting together a puzzle — or better yet, rebuilding a classic car.
“Problem-solving for me is tearing the problem apart, looking at each step, and then putting it back together again with specific goals, actions, results, and accountability,” she said.
As for what drives her to reach such high accomplishments, Hudson said: “My inspiration stems from some of the legends in the industry who I am fortunate to work with, and line associates who are working every day in our shops.
“I know how hard they work, and they inspire me to work harder to provide them with a safe and enjoyable work environment; and a job that offers them and their families the opportunities that I have been fortunate to have been given,” she said.
Check out the April 15 edition of Auto Remarketing to learn more about the entire class of 2016 Women in Remarketing honorees.
These outstanding leaders will be honored at Used Car Week 2016, where we will be launching our National Remarketing Conference partnership with the National Auto Auction Association.
Used Car Week is scheduled for Nov. 14-18 at the Red Rock in Las Vegas.
When Auto Remarketing asked Susan Hughes a series of questions about her industry experiences, the senior lender solutions manager at Black Book mentioned three different people for a variety of different reasons.
Hughes first mentioned Jeannie Chiaromonte, who heads up remarketing at Bank of America and is a past Women in Remarketing honoree. Hughes summarized a past conversation they shared.
“I asked her what kept her up at night,” Hughes said. “Her response was keeping the people that worked for her employed. It wasn’t her profit margins or keeping her bottom line right. It was the people she was worried about most.
“It is evident that she truly cares not only about what she does but also about everyone she works with,” added Hughes, a 2016 Women in Remarketing honoree.
Next, Hughes mentioned the recently retired Ricky Beggs, who served Black Book for more than 30 years and was honored last year during Used Car Week.
“He is truly a man of integrity, sound work ethic and immense knowledge. He made it his mission to know this industry inside and out,” Hughes said. “He was relentless in his efforts and inspiring in his enthusiasm.
“I worked with him on our quarterly calls with our clients, and it would have been easy to just clone the presentations from client to client,” she continued. “But he personalized each and every one of them, knowing each client, what issues they faced, and what population of vehicles would be most concerning to them. He was always available, always working, always thinking about how to make things better. His insights in the industry and life have been invaluable to me.”
Finally, Hughes noted the work of Mike Compton, who now is vice president of information technology at Black Book. Hughes indicated she started her career with the company at about the same time Compton did; back in 1999 when “there were floppy discs, typewriters and data reels. Obviously there has been a lot of change since then.” Hughes credited the work of Compton for helping to position Black Book where it is today.
“We were a publication company turning into a data company. This changed everything we did from the way we gathered and processed our data to our end products, and everything in between,” Hughes said. “Our company’s executive team did an incredible job hiring the best technology people around.”
That trio of industry professionals helped to mold Hughes into the Black Book executive she is now. Hughes described her approach to working with clients.
“I approach problem-solving by breaking it down into the smallest parts and then connecting it back together and looking for the problems,” she said. “Many times when there is a problem, what we think of as solutions turn out to be just a Band-Aid on the underlying issues. When you break down the process into its smallest parts, the true source of the problem is more evident.
“If a customer or colleague comes to me and says, ‘I need to know how to do this?’ I rarely just answer them even if I know,” Hughes continued. “I typically have a barrage of questions. ‘Why are you doing that? What outcome are you looking for? What do you do before that? What systems or processes are involved?’
“In most cases what they initially wanted from me isn’t what they truly need and you have to get to the source and identify the need before you start solving the problem,” she went on to say.
Check out the April 15 edition of Auto Remarketing to learn more about the entire class of 2016 Women in Remarketing honorees.
These outstanding leaders will be honored at Used Car Week 2016, where we will be launching our National Remarketing Conference partnership with the National Auto Auction Association.
Used Car Week is scheduled for Nov. 14-18 at the Red Rock in Las Vegas.
