Tru Images, an automotive software provider specializing in automotive imaging solutions, has hired Glen Garvin to be president.
Garvin joins Tru Images after more than 20 years of automotive experience specializing in merchandising and inventory management. His most recent position was as national sales director for AutoSoft, a DMS provider.
“We are ushering in a new era at Tru Images with Glen’s leadership,” Mark Agor, founder and majority owner of Tru Images, said in a news release. “I don’t think there is anyone better suited in our industry to guide the next level of leadership for the company. His success in building teams, companies and culture is a pre-cursor to where our company is headed and soon!”
"I am honored and excited to lead the Tru Images team. The commitment of everyone in this company to our customer’s success is refreshing and infectious,” Garvin said.
“There is an excitement here amongst our staff, dealers and industry at large. The next chapter of improving dealership’s merchandising through efficient software solutions is going to be a win for everyone involved.”
Garvin received a bachelor’s degree in business management from the Crouse-Hinds School of Management at Syracuse University. After being co-owner in the largest franchise of data collection companies, Garvin was a vice president with Dominion Dealer Solutions overseeing the Dealer Specialties, DataOne Software and SelectQu businesses.
Amid what the company is calling a period of significant growth in sales and technology, VinSolutions has promoted Chase Abbott to vice president of sales and Ken Wiebke to senior director of technology.
In his new role, Abbott will oversee the entire sales team at VinSolutions. He joined the company in 2008 as regional sales manager over the Southeastern U.S. In 2011, he was promoted to director of sales over the East Coast, and then senior director of sales, where he led the company’s inside sales teams.
“Chase has been with VinSolutions from almost the very beginning, and is a great example of the career advancement that’s possible as the company continues to experience strong growth,” said Lori Wittman, senior vice president and general manager of VinSolutions and Dealertrack F&I.
“Chase has already been an integral part of driving success in the sales team. This new role just allows us to fully recognize his contribution and formalize the leadership he has already demonstrated. I’m extremely proud of Chase’s accomplishments and thrilled to work him in his new role.”
As vice president of sales, Abbott will focus on further improving efficiency and culture within the VinSolutions sales teams. He said his goal is to set a standard to which other sales organizations will aspire.
“It has been a dream of mine to run this department,” said Abbott. “We have built one heck of a team — one that continues to turn heads — and I am elated to have the opportunity to keep making it even better.”
Wiebke served as the company’s director of software development for the last two years. He brings more than 25 years of software technology experience to the role, including expertise in architecting large-scale distributed computing systems that involve complex integration.
“Ken has a wealth of knowledge in software delivery, engineering and Agile practices, and, even more importantly, he has shown an incredible ability to lead those around him and transfer his knowledge to the teams he builds,” said David Rice, vice president of research and development at Cox Automotive, VinSolutions’ parent company.
“This promotion is a reflection of his personal ability, consistency, commitment to quality, and drive to remove the roadblocks that may get in the way of the larger team’s success.”
Wiebke oversees the entire engineering department and will lead the department’s CRM re-platforming effort, which will allow the software to double in both capacity and support. His goal is to mature the platform to support more than 7,000 dealers, while continuing to deliver new product capabilities.
“Leading the engineering teams during a time of significant growth and evolving technology is an exciting challenge,” said Wiebke. “I look forward to helping drive the CRM to the next level of maturity and capability.”
ADESA has announced changes to its management teams at ADESA Orlando and ADESA Los Angeles, effective immediately.
Theo Jelks, previously general manager of ADESA Los Angeles, will lead ADESA Orlando as general manager. Jeff Brinkley, previously assistant general manager at ADESA Indianapolis, will step into the role of assistant general manager.
“Theo is a proven leader with a unique ability to build strong teams and provide the highest levels of customer service,” said ADESA chief operating officer Paul Lips. “And Jeff’s operational expertise will play a key role in setting up ADESA Orlando for the future.
“They are both industry professionals who bring an exceptional depth of knowledge about auction operations,” Lips continued. “Together, they will form the base of a strong management team at that location.”
Jelks joined ADESA in 2001 as executive sales director and was named general manager at ADESA Tampa in December 2005. He transferred to ADESA Los Angeles as general manager in 2009 and was named general manager at ADESA Las Vegas in 2011. He returned to ADESA Los Angeles as general manager in 2014.
Brinkley has more than 30 years of industry experience, having started at Indianapolis Auto Auction in 1985 as operations manager. He was general manager at ADESA Southern Indiana for two years and has been at ADESA Indianapolis for 16 years, most recently as assistant general manager.
At ADESA Los Angeles, Vic Yancone, previously assistant general manager of operations, has been promoted to general manager. Cheryl Toler, previously assistant general manager, has been promoted to auction manager. Jesse Estrada, previously general sales manager, has been promoted to assistant general manager of sales and administration. Jeff Hyde, previously operations director, has been elevated to assistant general manager of operations.
Yancone has more than 25 years of auction and remarketing industry experience, including 13 years as senior vice president for BSCAmerica. He joined ADESA Los Angeles in 2008 as operations director and later was promoted to assistant general manager of operations.
Toler began her career in the auction industry in 1988 with ADT Automotive. She joined ADESA Los Angeles in 2002 as factory manager for Toyota. She was promoted to commercial account manager in 2008 and to assistant general manager in 2009. She transferred to ADESA Las Vegas to assist with its opening, then returned to ADESA Los Angeles as assistant general manager.
“Vic and Cheryl have dedicated themselves to the success and growth of this auction,” Lips said. “They know their market, they know their customers, and I’m confident ADESA Los Angeles will continue to thrive under their leadership.”
Estrada began his career with ADESA in 2001 as an outside sales representative for dealer consignment. In 2005, he was promoted to dealer consignment sales manager. In 2014, he was named general sales manager overseeing dealer consignment, e-business and the dealer relations team.
Hyde has more than 20 years of auction experience, including managing body shop and reconditioning departments. He held the role of commercial accounts manager before being promoted to operations director in 2015.
“Jesse and Jeff each have many years of experience in the auction business,” continued Lips. “They have established themselves as go-to guys, and they are ready to step into these roles and serve as an essential part of the auction team.”
Two ServNet members — Bel Air Auto Auction and DAA Seattle — each highlighted new developments happening at their operations this summer.
BSC America president R. Charles Nichols announced that industry veteran Tommy Rogers has joined Bel Air Auto Auction as general manager of its Clayton Station Auction Center. As part of the BSC America management team, Rogers will also perform regional oversight for Tallahassee Auto Auction, working closely with Tallahassee’s general manager Doug Rodriguez.
Clayton Station is located in Edgewood, Md., near Bel Air, and sells run-and-drive/scratch-and-dent rental vehicles, repossessions and donations each Thursday morning. The Clayton Station Auction Center is also home to BSC America’s specialty division, which includes power sports, boats and RVs and monthly truck and equipment auctions.
“BSC America’s Clayton Station has expanded over the past three years, and we know that Tommy will be instrumental in continuing to build our position and influence the weekly Thursday auctions and the specialty sales markets,” Nichols said. “He will lead their operations and sales to the next level of technology and service, and we are proud to welcome him to our family of auctions.”
Rogers explained why he took this new position.
“It goes without saying that I am thrilled to be a part of the BSC America family. I have followed their progress for almost 20 years and have seen the growth and innovation that has contributed to their continual success,” Rogers said.
“I cut my teeth in the auction business with one of the leading independent auto auctions in the Southeast, Carolina Auto Auction,” he continued. “I am thankful for the opportunity to join with the Nichols family as they incorporate the newest ideas and most up-to-date features with their new 175-acre facility expansion to the new site.
“It is an exciting time to be a part of BSC America, and I believe the best is yet to come,” Rogers went on to say.
Clayton Station’s auction arena features double blocks and accommodates theater-like seating for customers as they bid on vehicles and specialty assets. Located at 1300 Business Center Way in Edgewood, Clayton Station is just a few miles away from the main auction campus and includes more than 15 acres for storage.
“Clayton Station produces our power sports and truck and equipment sales, as well as the damaged, rental wrecks and inoperative auction sale operations,” BSC America vice president Michelle Nichols-Neff said.
“The depth of experience that a recognized industry leader like Tommy Rogers will bring to our organization is invaluable, and we welcome Tommy to the BSC team,” Nichols-Neff added.
BSC America, headquartered in Bel Air, Md., operates several full-service companies including Bel Air Auto Auction in Maryland and Tallahassee Auto Auction in Florida, both of which are members of the ServNet auction group and the National Auto Auction Association.
DAA Seattle growth fuels expansion
Management recently highlighted DAA Seattle's growing national account lineup now includes American Honda Finance Corp. (AHFC), Ally Auto Remarketing and GSA.
The auction's inaugural GSA Public Auction took place on June 24, while AHFC made its debut in the lanes and online on July 15.
Ally’s initial sale will be held Aug. 5.
The three national accounts join ARI, Enterprise Holdings, PAR North America, Element, ROA and others as DAA Seattle's featured national accounts.
“We’re excited to provide this expanded offering to the Puget Sound marketplace,” DAA Seattle general manager Dave Blake said. “Our auction is now in its fourth year. Our team is solid, and we are rolling.”
Blake mentioned the increase in volume has warranted an expansion of DAA Seattle's lot.
The auction broke ground on eight additional acres adjoining its current facility, which will increase its paved and secured consignment parking capacity to include 1,300 more units. The project will be completed in September.
Together with DAA Northwest and KCI Kansas City, DAA Seattle is a member of the McConkey Auction Group. All three locations are ServNet auctions, powered by Auction Edge.
AutoAlert, a data-mining and trade-cycle management platform, has promoted of Kimberly Cowan to vice president of business operations from director of business development.
In her new role, Cowan will oversee operational improvements, content and other strategic initiatives. Before joining AutoAlert in March 2015, she was at Cox Automotive for more than a decade supporting several divisions, such as VinSolutions, Autotrader and AutoMart, where she held roles of increasing responsibility.
“As AutoAlert continues to develop innovation for the automotive industry, Cowan’s valuable contributions will help define future opportunities, as well as ensure company-wide excellence through change management,” the company said in a news release.
Cowan has brought a combination of superior leadership, sales, operations and marketing expertise to AutoAlert, and progressive customer satisfaction makes her a natural fit and a valuable asset as she leads the AutoAlert team in providing the highest quality services and insights to a growing customer base, the company said.
Cowan recently presented "Drive it Like You Stole It: Taking Control of Your Journey" during the 2016 Women in Automotive Conference in Orlando, Fla.
CDK Global’s Customer Experience Center officially became operational on Wednesday, with more than 500 employees assuming roles ranging from client services to inside sales at the new facility.
"Our new Customer Experience Center will incorporate best-in-class technology and service models to help our dealers navigate issues with speed and efficiency,” Bob Karp, president, North America at CDK Global, said in a news release.
“We chose to locate in Cincinnati because of the well-educated, diverse labor market and strong business climate. We’re looking forward to giving back to the local community and being the employer of choice in the region.”
CDK will continue its expansion and recruitment at the Cincinnati center during the All Professions Cincinnati career event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Sharonville Convention Center. CDK will also be attending campus recruiting events in September at the University of Cincinnati, Xavier University and Northern Kentucky University.
Available positions include:
— Client support: Provides primary support to customers using CDK’s products and solutions. Client support resolves customer concerns raised during installation, operation, maintenance or product application or compatibility matters.
— Sales contract specialists: Responsible for the entire processing of sales contracts. Contract specialists write and key contracts of basic product sets and deal types. Additionally, they closely collaborate with internal business partners of all levels to ensure contractual and legal compliance.
— Inside sales specialists: Coordinates and focuses on growing existing accounts, prospects for new opportunities through phone calling, speaks with decision makers to analyze their needs and effectively deliver value-added solutions.
—Training and implementation focused roles: Supports the activities of the implementation organization for new installations. Works with customers, vendors and multiple CDK business units on scheduling resources and equipment to complete network-computing installations.
“We’re evolving the way we approach service for our customers and all of the employees joining us in Cincinnati are a part of this journey,” said Karp. “We want each and every one of our dealers to have a great experience when they interact with us.”
Interested applicants may apply at jobs.cdkglobal.com.
Dent Wizard International, a provider of automotive reconditioning and SMART (Small to Medium Area Repair Techniques) repairs, recently appointed Paul Spears as regional operations director for the company’s Mid-South region.
Spears will be responsible for leading Dent Wizard’s safety and compliance efforts, as well as providing additional operational support for the company’s paint shops and dealerships that use Frontline Fast (a SMART repair program). Spears will report to Addison Thomas, Dent Wizard’s vice president of the Mid-South region, which includes Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.
Spears most recently was reconditioning manager for Manheim Dallas-Fort Wort.
“Paul brings an extensive knowledge base and practical firsthand understanding to his new role,” Thomas said in a news release. “I am confident that Paul possesses the technical skillset and industry expertise to thrive in his new role.”
“Safety and compliance are top of mind throughout the Dent Wizard organization,” added Mike Black, Dent Wizard’s chief operating officer. “Paul’s experience and perspective will ensure we’re meeting our high standards as we continue to grow Frontline Fast in this 10-state territory.”
Dent Wizard operates throughout the U.S. and Canada and is an affiliate of Gridiron Capital.
NADAguides, a provider of pricing and shopping information for new and used vehicles, has welcomed Hana Shanaa as partner optimization manager.
Shanaa brings almost two decades of digital marketing, e-commerce and integrated partner optimization experience. Her experience with and strategic approach to integrated digital campaigns will be used to enhance current product and service offerings on NADAguides.com and future programs within the industries of autos, powersports, marine, RV and manufactured homes.
Shanaa previously was senior digital marketing manager with Toshiba America Information Systems, where she was responsible for identifying new digital marketing channels, partners and targeted promotions as well as working with partners to maximize market reach and achieving optimal consumer satisfaction.
Before joining Toshiba, Shanaa spent time with National Pen, Jarden Consumer Solutions, Office Depot and Viking Office Products in roles focused on e-commerce and digital marketing communications.
“We are very excited to have Hana Shanaa and her deep level of digital commerce experience and insight within the NADAguides team,” Troy Snyder, National Appraisal Guides chief operating officer, said in a news release. “In her role as partner optimization manager, Shanaa will be responsible for optimizing our integrated NADAguides.com partners providing competitive products and services sought after by consumers in the vehicle shopping and purchase stages.
“Shanaa will work seamlessly with our trusted integrated NADAguides.com partners to offer added value and enrich the consumers’ shopping process,” Snyder went on to say.
Automotive digital marketing technology provider LotLinx recently announced John Lane joined the company's executive team as chief marketing officer. In this role, Lane will lead all LotLinx marketing and communication initiatives.
Lane joins LotLinx after a 30-year career working for some of the world's largest advertising agencies as well as Fortune 500 companies. Most recently, Lane served as an angel investor and advisor within the startup community, working to develop marketing strategy and drive digital impact for growing companies such as Revolution Health, HealthLine, Chug and [x+1], which was acquired by RocketFuel in 2014.
Previously, he spent three years as senior vice president of online marketing at AOL and seven years as vice president of online marketing at Charles Schwab.
“John has proven time and time again that he understands digital marketing inside and out,” LotLinx chairman Len Short.
“Over the course of his career, John has been at the forefront, advocating for the latest and greatest in marketing technology,” Short continued. “We are overjoyed to have an individual who shares our dedication to transforming the digital marketing space in such a pivotal leadership role.”
Lane described what drew him to LotLinx.
“I have long been impressed with the dedication of LotLinx in helping car dealers to leverage the power of digital advertising,” he said. “LotLinx is doing something extraordinary. By focusing on only one industry, the mar-tech we have built is designed to meet the unique needs of auto dealers. Rather than using technology to assemble a digital audience for dealers to purchase, LotLinx begins with the for sale vehicle inventory that needs exposure, and directs shoppers to them.
“This novel approach is why LotLinx customers can improve their business and reduce waste at the same time,” Lane went on to say. “I’m beyond excited to apply my digital marketing expertise to the industry to continue this forward momentum.”
Automotive Finance Corp. (AFC), a business unit of KAR Auction Services, named two vice presidents this week.
AFC highlighted Tiff Arcella joined the company as vice president of sales and Devra Callaghan was promoted to vice president of marketing and business development.
A sales leader and strategic management expert, Arcella joins AFC with nearly 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and management with an emphasis in technology solutions that serve dealers. Arcella will report to Joe Keadle, AFC senior vice president of operations.
“I am honored to join AFC and to have the opportunity to expand their already impressive sales team through coaching and tactical execution,” Arcella said.
Prior to joining AFC, Arcella was with CDK Global for more than 10 years, serving most recently as the director of sales. Prior to that post, Arcella spent three years in business development with Sutton Ford/Suzuki in Matteson, Ill., and Webb Ford in Highland, Ind.
“Tiff has an impressive track record of driving results and leading teams to their greatest potential, and I am excited about the expertise she brings to the table,” Keadle said.
Callaghan joined AFC in 2013 as director of marketing with more than 25 years of marketing and management experience and has held numerous executive leadership roles in both marketing and operations.
“Devra has demonstrated a proven track record of providing savvy leadership and delivering meaningful results,” AFC president Jim Money said. “With her combination of experience and insight, she is an excellent leader for this role.”
Callaghan will report to Money and continue to be based out of AFC’s corporate office in Carmel, Ind.
“I am excited for the opportunity to leverage my operations and marketing experience to continue driving impressive results for AFC,” Callaghan said.
