CarMax wants to boost its workforce, so the used-vehicle retailer is set to host a major hiring event at 15 of its locations nationwide on Thursday.
The company said in a news release that it will be interviewing candidates for a variety of positions, including technicians, detailers, painters, supply associates and more.
CarMax indicated there will be job opportunities for both new and seasoned automotive professionals, with potential for jobs to be offered on-the-spot. Some positions will also offer sign-on bonuses of up to $5,000.
Additionally, CarMax said every candidate that RSVPs for a hiring event and applies for a technician position on the careers site will be entered into a drawing for a $300 gift card to an auto parts retailer. There will be one drawing per store following the event.
Interested candidates can visit carmaxautotech.com for more information and to RSVP.
Technicians at CarMax can earn $19 to $53 per hour, which varies by location and experience. CarMax said they also can find value in the company’s award-winning training program, strong opportunities to grow long-term careers, reimbursement programs for ASE certifications and free or discounted tools.
“CarMax leads the industry in providing an innovative and world-class experience for used car buyers and it’s our people who are central to our success,” CarMax vice president of regional service operations Tyrone Payton said in a news release. “We’re excited to welcome new automotive talent to join our team and experience first-hand what makes CarMax a great place to work.”
The following CarMax locations will be hosting hiring events on Thursday:
1. Cleveland: Cleveland East CarMax at 4900 Pointe Parkway, Warrensville Heights, Ohio
2. Columbus, Ohio: Sawmill CarMax at 2700 Farmers Drive, Columbus
3. Tulsa, Okla.: 9131 South Memorial Drive, Tulsa
4. Grand Rapids, Mich.: 4431 28th Street Southeast, Kentwood, Mich.
5. Norcross, Ga.: 1975 Beaver Ruin Road, Norcross
6. Hillside, Ill.: 101 North Wolf Road, Hillside
7. Des Moines, Iowa: 10315 Hickman Road, Urbandale, Iowa
8. Omaha, Neb.: 17606 Burt Street, Omaha, Neb.
9. Brooklyn Park, Minn.: 6900 Lake Drive Avenue North, Minneapolis
10. Salt Lake City: 11213 South Jordan Gateway, South Jordan, Utah
11. Oklahoma City: 1121 East Memorial Road, Oklahoma City
12. Parker, Colo.: 18220 Ponderosa Drive, Parker
13. Laurel, Md.: 8800 Freestate Drive, Laurel
14. Albuquerque, N.M.: 5500 Alameda Boulevard Northeast, Albuquerque, N.M.
15. Columbia, S.C.: 555 Jamil Road, Columbia, S.C.
CarMax offers competitive pay and generous benefits that include:
• Discounts on car purchases, which saves associates up to $3,000 on a vehicle and is extended to family members — including spouses, parents, grandparents, siblings and children.
• Immediate 401(k) eligibility with an industry-leading 6% match on contributions.
• Wellness benefits such as gym discounts and free access to Headspace, which provides guided meditation and mindfulness that can support overall well-being and better sleep.
• Endless career paths driven by our variety of roles with unmatched training and support for associate career growth.
• Volunteer team builders and opportunities to make an impact in our communities and support causes associates are passionate about.
• Additional benefits include paid time off, medical plan, tuition reimbursement, adoption assistance, employee stock purchase plan, and more.
CarMax is also a proud partner of TechForce Foundation, a national nonprofit focused on championing students through their education and into careers as professional technicians.
“CarMax has been a long-time donor to TechForce Foundation and its career exploration and workforce development programs,” TechForce chief executive officer Jennifer Maher said. “CarMax's charitable investment connects people who want to pursue a technical education and career in automotive to in-demand, flourishing futures.”
In addition to hosting in-person hiring events, CarMax is also accepting online applications from job seekers who may apply directly for open positions at careers.carmax.com.
An eight-year journey with the company so far has led Tony Compton to becoming chief technology officer of PureCars, a leading provider of digital marketing technology and services for automotive dealers.
The company highlighted in a news release announcing the promotion that Compton has consistently progressed with PureCars, beginning with his start in 2014 as a software developer.
The company said on Tuesday that Compton will now lead the planning for all digital and technology operations. He will focus on harnessing transformative technologies to unlock growth and enable continued efficiency for PureCars and their valued customers and partners.
“Tony has been an integral member of the PureCars team for close to a decade and we’re very excited to reward his hard work, commitment, and dedication by appointing him our new chief technology officer,” PureCars chief executive officer Stephane Ferri said in the news release.
“Tony brings both a proven track record of technical accomplishment and extensive management experience to his new role. I’m confident In Tony’s abilities to lead PureCars’ technology teams as we scale our business and advance our solutions,” Ferri continued.
Compton has 12 years of experience envisioning and architecting advanced digital products. He has been a leader and key contributor in all phases of product development — requirements definition, product definition, system design, implementation and continuing engineering.
His expertise includes software design and development, systems engineering, project management and program management.
Prior to joining PureCars, Compton began his career in 2010 as a software developer with eVision Services before moving to HP Exstream in 2012 in a similar role.
On Tuesday, Fox Dealer announced the appointment of an automotive industry veteran to fill the newly created position of chief technology officer.
Coming over from Edmunds to take on this new position is Donnie Shilling, who will oversee the development, advancement and management of Fox’s current technical resources in addition to the assessment and integration of new technology acquisitions.
Fox Dealer connects dealers to vehicle shoppers across the U.S., Canada and Peru with custom websites, creative design, eCommerce solutions and digital and social media marketing products including Facebook Messenger ads and Instagram videos.
According to a news release, Shilling spent more than seven years at Edmunds in various technology management positions. Previously, he served as a software developer for Hulu after running a web design and development firm for theme parks, water parks, and family entertainment centers across the United States.
“As our brand continues to grow, bringing on an experienced automotive technology leader to innovate our platform for our dealers is essential,” Fox Dealer founder and chief executive officer GianCarlo Alabastro said in the news release. “Donnie will play a critical role in directing our technology team through innovation and uniquely defined solutions for clients.”
In June, STELLA Automotive AI, which provides conversational artificial intelligence technology, welcomed Sherri Eidenberg as its vice president of U.S. dealer sales.
This week, Eidenberg reinforced her team with 10 additional automotive technology experts to help STELLA Automotive meet market demand, which has been strong and growing since the market launch in March.
Forming the company’s national sales team are:
—Eric Painter, who comes from CarGurus and Cox Automotive, where he led teams in launching and implementing multiple industry software solutions, including Instant Cash Offer.
—Ron Smith, who has spent his life in the automotive industry, most recently with Cox Automotive. STELLA highlighted his passion for his dealership colleagues is matched by his knowledge and understanding of the automotive market and dealer process optimization.
—Nick Underwood, who has spent five years working in disruptive technology, most recently with Tekion. Prior to that, Underwood worked at Xtime and spent 10 years in retail automotive. STELLA mentioned his experience gives him a deep understanding of the impact of technological evolution on the future of the automotive industry.
Meanwhile, STELLA said dealer logistics team has Matt DeBusk as project manager.
DeBusk comes to STELLA from LivePerson where he worked with industry partners and OEMs to build standards and collaborative business relationships. The company mentioned his sales background includes managing sales teams for a multi-vertical CRM platform.
The rest of the team holding the position of director of dealer logistics includes:
—Brandi Counter, who started her career in a dealership and moved into a consultant position within Cox Automotive, where she honed her skill set to optimize dealer investments in marketing and fixed operations.
—Chris Trehern, who comes to STELLA from Cox Automotive, where she partnered with dealers for more than 10 years in the Southeast. Most recently, Trehern successfully launched its Instant Cash Offer solution, giving her valuable insights in the fixed operations department.
—Josh Capps, who comes to STELLA from Cox Automotive and LivePerson, where he led teams and assisted the product team in optimizing the dealer experience and customer satisfaction.
—Natalie Fox, who has a strong understanding of how dealers can optimize their market impact. This expertise proved invaluable when working with top tier OEM clients. She comes to STELLA from Friendemic where she managed their OEM relationships.
—Patrick Steeves, who brings extensive knowledge of dealer market trends as well as operational improvements from his previous positions with LivePerson and Reunion Marketing.
—Terin Burks, who comes from a background in automotive texting solutions with LivePerson, where she helped dealers find new ways to provide exceptional service to their customers.
STELLA reiterated that its AI solution answers the telephone, solving a huge problem for dealers overwhelmed by staffing shortages.
STELLA said its tool is similar to Alexa or Siri. It can speaks natural language and is smart and easy to converse with.
Eidenberg stressed that the product doesn’t require any supervision and is easy to install and operate.
“Demand for STELLA AI is extremely high. We plan to expand further in the months to come. It is a pleasure to deliver a product that saves money and really helps our customers,” Eidenberg said in the news release.
And now STELLA has more personnel to meet client needs.
“We are committed to serving our customers and taking some of the workload off of dealer staff so they can focus on their customers,” STELLA chief executive officer and founder Josselyn Boudett said. “Sherri is laser focused on helping dealers and is building a world-class team that dealers can trust.”
For more information about how the STELLA AI digital voice assistant can empower your dealership, call (727) 955-3550.
A2Z Sync has a new chief executive officer.
Replacing Chip Perry in the role is Natalia Giner, the company said in a LinkedIn post Wednesday.
One of Auto Remarketing's 40 Under 40 honorees last year, Giner was previously the company’s head of product and began her career with the Schomp Automotive Group. Perry will stay on as a board member.
A2Z Sync was founded in 2017 by Aaron Wallace, who is founder and CEO of Denver-based Schomp.
Wallace was quoted in the LinkedIn post as saying, “We would like to thank Chip for the tremendous results he posted while at the helm of A2Z Sync. A legend in the industry, Chip led A2Z’s transition from tech startup to innovative tech player. He helped triple our rooftop count and remains committed to the success of our clients and business as a key member of our Board.
“Natalia has always been focused on improving the experience for both employees and customers,” Wallace said. “She has helped create a software system that accomplishes this all while improving F&I income and reducing transaction time.
“A2Z Sync's current and future product lineup aligns with our original mission to keep improving the experience and keep the dealer at the heart of each transaction.”
Perry had led A2Z Sync since July 2020, following leadership roles with The Los Angeles Times, Autotrader and TrueCar
Lithia & Driveway has named a senior vice president of Driveway & GreenCars. Appointed to lead the strategy of these ecommerce platforms is Carol Deacon, who joined the retailer last year when it acquired Toronto’s Pfaff Automotive Group.
Deacon was Pfaff’s chief operating officer and previously worked at McKinsey & Company and Canadian Tire.
“Carol adds a powerful dimension to our operations team as we continue to leverage ecommerce technology to fuel new relationships with customers who are looking for alternate avenues to modernize their personal transportation needs,” Lithia’s president and chief executive officer Bryan DeBoer said in a news release.
“Carol brings a multi-industry record of growth and performance-driven results to this new assignment,” DeBoer said.
Probably not many individuals would dispute the point that Cox Automotive has vast of number of resources. Anyone who walked through the expo hall at NADA Show 2022 could literally see that with their own eyes.
As a result of those resources, we here at Cherokee Media Group receive multiple messages regularly from the Cox Automotive family; whether it’s the latest figures involving certified pre-owned sales, wholesale prices or credit availability.
When another of those messages arrived late this week, a component of it immediately caught my attention. The news release announced that Cox Automotive Retail Solutions made several key changes to its leadership team.
And all five executives mentioned in the announcement were women.
To mimic longtime sports broadcaster Tim Brando, “How about that?!”
According to that news release, Cox Automotive Retail Solutions president Lori Wittman said among the changes, Mandi Fang became the new senior vice president of client operations and Tracy Noonan Fred became the new senior vice president of dealer solutions. Both will now report directly to Wittman.
Joining Wittman’s team is Cheryl Miller, who will continue in her role as vice president of lender solutions. Jessica Stafford continues to report to Wittman in her role as SVP of consumer solutions but will now lead the combined consumer marketing power of Dealer.com, Autotrader, and Kelley Blue Book within Cox Automotive’s Retail group.
“With these promotions and alignments, Cox Automotive Retail Solutions is poised to lead our clients confidently into this new era of automotive retailing,” Wittman said in the news release. “This leadership team’s experience, determination, and passion will fuel the transformation of the automotive industry and drive greater success for our clients and partners.”
Certainly, this new era of automotive retailing includes the technology these five women oversee for Cox Automotive. But it’s also a new era for what it’s like at least at dealerships. In many stores, long gone are the stereotypes in the spotlight of these dealer commercials from a decade ago where the ad hook was “Tired of getting badgered?”
In one of the spots, the badger — characterized to be a chauvinistic male salesperson down to the plaid sport coat — quips to the potential buyer who was female, “there’s the rearview mirror where you can put on your makeup!”
Forward-thinking dealerships and big corporations such as Cox Automotive certainly are not the only industry shops lifting women to their well-deserved place in leadership. Celebrating that progress is part of the reason why we Cherokee Media Group created some of the awards programs we’ve orchestrated for many years now. They include Women in Remarketing, Women in Retail, Women in Auto Finance and new this year, Women in Collections and Recoveries.
All the newest honorees will be celebrated during Used Car Week, which begins Nov. 14 in San Diego. Perhaps you can make the trip to lovely southern California during the week before Thanksgiving to meet them in person and hear their stories about how they flourished to their respective positions.
In that latest news release from Cox Automotive, what Wittman said about her executive team rings true about a host of women in automotive leadership today.
“These women were purposefully selected for their innovative ideas and inclusive ways of motivating their teams to achieve goals, streamline processes and leverage technology to create a consistent, seamless client experience,” Wittman said.
Nick Zulovich is senior editor with Cherokee Media Group and can be reached at [email protected].
CDK Global’s former top executive is back as acting president and chief executive officer, replacing the leader who replaced him.
Brian MacDonald, who was the president and CEO of CDK Global from January 2016 to November 2018, takes over for Brian Krzanich, who the company announced is stepping down.
Back in November 2018, it was MacDonald who stepped down from the position, with Krzanich becoming president and CEO.
“We are pleased to welcome Brian MacDonald, a respected executive with deep expertise in automotive retail, back to CDK,” said Doug Bayerd, director on CDK’s board, in a news release. “He joins an experienced team to help enhance CDK’s value proposition for its customers.”
MacDonald added: “CDK is a mission-critical software platform for automotive commerce with a bright future, and I am excited about our path forward and accelerated growth.”
Montway Auto Transport reinforced its leadership team on Tuesday with an executive to oversee the company’s business segment used to serve private individuals.
The third-party logistics brokerage announced the hiring of Erin Almand as vice president of moving and relocation. In this role, Montway said Almand’s focus will be to develop long-term relationships with its moving and relocation partners through innovation, leadership, teamwork and a high level of customer service and satisfaction.
Montway explained through a news release that the pandemic created a new landscape, where working remotely has proven to be a successful, long-term opportunity for millions of Americans who have moved homes since its onset in early 2020. With an increased focus on corporate relocation policies tied to employee satisfaction, Montway highlighted companies are seeking the expertise of an auto relocation expert.
Montway said it has the stability and customer service experience needed to serve relocation management companies and their end customers successfully.
And Almand now will be leading that charge.
“Moving can be a stressful time and I want to do everything possible to make the process easy for both the employer and their transferee,” Almand said in the news release. “Montway is an amazing organization with a customer-centric culture.
“I look forward to building on Montway’s stellar service reputation to continue improving the customer journey while adapting to changing needs as employers continue to evolve to support the demands of a flexible workforce,” she continued.
With 20 years experience in privately-owned vehicle relocation, Almand has an extensive background in sales, service, operations, IT and claims. Prior to joining Montway, she was vice president of business development for CarsArrive Auto Relocation, where she built processes focused on delivering a great customer experience.
Almand also holds seats on several volunteer and industry associations, including:
— Move for Hunger – Corporate Action Network (member)
— American Trucking Associations Moving & Storage Conference Supplier Committee (vice-chair)
— Arizona Moving Association (member at large)
— Corporate Relocation Council Planning Committee (member)
“Erin prioritizes building long-lasting relationships with customers and embodies our mission of delivering a five-star experience to every customer,” said Kaye Ceille, who is president of the business solutions group at Montway Auto Transport.
“As we build our account services team to further personalize our service, her proven and specialized leadership will drive growth in Montway’s moving and relocation sector,” Ceille went on to say.
To learn more about Montway Auto Transport, visit www.montway.com.
Manheim named a new vice president of remarketing last week, promoting Marty D’Amato to the position.
D’Amato has been with the company since 2019, when he joined to lead retail reconditioning operations for Manheim’s Texas market center.
His background also includes time with Amazon, Serta Simmons Bedding and the U.S. Army.
“Marty’s operational leadership and hands-on reconditioning experience position him well to lead this essential part of Manheim’s business, and its importance will only grow with the evolution of digital retailing and mobility,” said Patrick Brennan, senior vice president of Manheim Marketplace, in a news release.
“As we continue to invest to meet growing client demand, we look forward to all that Marty will contribute.”
Changes on CarLotz board
In another executive move within the remarketing space, CarLotz said Tuesday that Blaze Technology, Inc. co-chief executive officer Nanxi Liu has been named a director on its board.
Liu co-founded that company in 2022 and is also the chief financial officer of Nanoly Biosphere, Inc.
Among other areas of experience, Liu’s auto-specific background includes her current role on the board of CarParts.com and a prior board position with the California New Motor Vehicle Board in the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
“We are pleased to welcome Nanxi to the CarLotz Board. As a founder and executive of several technology companies coupled with her extensive experience encompassing innovation, strategy, and the technology industry, she will be a valuable addition to our Board. We look forward to her unique perspective that will complement our current Board,” CarLotz board chair Luis Solorzano said in a news release.
CarLotz also announced that Sarah Kauss has resigned from the board and notes that it “was not due to any disagreement with the company on any matter relating to the company’s operations, strategy, policies or practices.”
Solorzano said: “We sincerely thank Sarah for her contributions and dedication to CarLotz. We appreciate the strong marketing and customer insight expertise she brought to the board.”
