Janelle Jones: Being new to Seattle, I took a taxi to work on my first day (no Uber back then). The driver couldn’t find the location and I showed up late for work on my first day! Turns out I was assigned to a low-profile facility nicknamed the “Repo Depot” where Seafirst Bank sold their repossessions and lease returns to the public. The rest is history.

I’ve done just about every job related to remarketing that could exist at a bank repo depot, ranging from titles to condition reports to end-of-term lease collections/negotiated residuals to auction/wholesale/retail disposal channels. 

After ending up managing the facility, I helped relocate the functions to Brea, Calif., and closed the office. Throughout the consolidation, I transitioned my career into becoming an auction remarketing representative. It’s been a good fit, and I’ll celebrate 25 years with the bank this year.

I feel fortunate to have met the people I have, and traveled to the places I’ve been — basically to sell cars, trucks and specialty toys. There are some folks who have left the car business that I now consider my good friends. I’ve enjoyed sharing recipes, celebrating birthdays, and keeping up with kids/family events after meeting auction staff (and van drivers!) over the years. 

When I look back and think about all the different experiences I’ve had and the opportunity to do the fun things I’ve done, it’s surprising that it all happened as a part of my career. I consider myself lucky.

AR: How is the remarketing/used-car segment of the business most different from when you first started out? 

JJ: Back in the day, it was called “liquidations” and we built files for each car sold that contained every detail from start to finish of the life of that transaction. We never ran out of paper for our fax and copy machines.

Technology has improved the operations and execution of remarketing. It has simplified and allowed the industry to manage a larger volume of transactions with better historical data and tracking. 

AR: How would you describe your leadership style and approach to problem-solving?

JJ: I guess you could call both a balance of passion and practicality. I love what I do and I still get a rush from doing a sale. I have developed a unique skill set, being a “banker” in the automotive industry. I never know what will show up at auction and I hold myself accountable to my firm and my customer to do the best job when it comes time to sell. 

I also know that once we’ve gathered all of our facts, done our due diligence and weighed out the wins, we can identify a resolution that best fits the problem.

AR: What have been some of the top keys to your success in the car business?

JJ: Approaching our business with a risk-based mindset has helped me ensure our process is effective and consistently executed.

Just when you think you’ve got things figured out, the market changes. You’ve got to be able to adapt and continue to study and learn.

Embrace change. Remember when we moved from handwritten to electronic condition reports? 

Listen to the customer. Sometimes they are saying more than we can really do anything about at that given time, but there’s insight to be gained if you’re actively engaged.

AR: Who are some folks, whether in the auto industry or not, that you admire professionally, and why? 

JJ: Early on in my career, I met Lori Pidgeon (the former AGM) at Portland Auto Auction. I witnessed firsthand how she got the job done through empowering her people. She was compassionate and holistic in her approach to leadership and she had a knack for creating a positive client experience. Whether she knows it or not, she had a huge influence on my career in the car business, at a time when there were not many women reps on the block. 

AR: When you are able to get away from the office or work, what do you enjoy? What are your hobbies, interests, etc.? 

JJ: Being from Hawaii, I was raised camping and fishing. I continue to enjoy doing this with my family and friends. My team knows I take a week off from work in the summer to “get off the grid”. 

Bass fishing is my favorite … the weather’s warm and the fish are feisty — if you time it right. I also like to fish for salmon or steelhead in colder months, where we often enjoy a fresh catch for dinner. 

I love good music and there’s nothing like seeing a band play live. My husband and I have easily seen over 100 bands and been to many concerts where we were up close and personal.