Direct Auction Services detailed a major business restructuring on Thursday, announcing a trio of promotions in the process.

Direct Auction Services now has separate leadership for its two major brands — Roadrunner Services and Direct Reconditioning — while also looking to broaden its staffing solutions. The three promotions include:

— David Rush as president of Roadrunner Services

— Jeff York as president of Direct Reconditioning

— Renee Sherk as vice president of sales and staffing services for the Direct Auction Services team

“As industry solutions are developed for vehicle delivery to the end user, we are putting energy and leadership into becoming the certain number one provider in drive-a-way services, in keeping with our status as the only such company with a national footprint,” Direct Auction Services chief executive officer and founder David Nutter.

As the president of Roadrunner Services, Rush will lead the organization to provide advanced solutions to answer the increasing need for more options for local pick-up and delivery services to address the volume of vehicles being sold upstream coupled with the drive toward mobility.  During the coming year, the company plans to promote and hire additional managers and develop additional regions to further broaden leadership in the field as growth surpasses more than 50 locations.   

As founder of Roadrunner Services and since joining with Direct Auction Services, Rush has provided extensive leadership in the transportation area where he tried to create valuable, safe and efficient local transportation solutions for auctions as well as dealership, fleet management, railroad, captive lease and rental car company customers . 

“Roadrunner Services has established itself as the premier driveaway provider in the nation,” Rush said.

“Our exponential growth and success are testaments to the efforts of our management staff and team members,” he continued. “As we continue this growth pattern, I will be focused on providing cost effective solutions, innovative technology and our commitment to safety.

As the president of Direct Reconditioning, York will devote his time to leading the way in terms of operations and the customer experience within automotive remarketing. His primary focus in 2019 will have an emphasis on safety, standardization and training. 

“I’m a big believer in the adage you get out of people what you put into them,” York said. “Training our managers as well as our production line employees has become more critical than ever due to the changing workforce. 

“Using standardized practices and concentrating on structured training requires investment but it pays off in the mastery of their craft and accident prevention,” he continued. “When you focus on training and consistent process the quality, productivity and safety will follow.”

York’s career spans more than 40 years in the automotive business. His current role comes full circle, back to where it all started with reconditioning and owning a national reconditioning franchise company back in the early 1980s. 

“Jeff brings endless amounts of passion and attention to the fine details in quality vehicle reconditioning,” Nutter said. “At the same time, he is a model leader, known for cultivating inspired and high-performing teams that deliver in spades for his clients.”  

As vice president of sales and staffing for Direct Auction Services, Sherk’s emphasis is on developing new business opportunities across all brands with recruiting being the highest priority to support the new business.

The company highlighted Sherk is known for her transformative ideas to help clients navigate today’s complex world of labor shortages. She is passionate advocate for strategic alliances and partnerships with both automotive industry leaders, community-based organizations, community colleges and technical schools, employing the Neurodiverse (Autism Spectrum), and other groups with significant barriers to employment to fill the employment gaps within the automotive industry. 

“This comprehensive approach allows us to cast a wide net and provide training and opportunities for automotive related careers to those candidates who would otherwise be overlooked and underutilized,” Sherk said.

“I’ve seen the successes out there, and it inspires me every day to devote more energy into educating and communicating the benefits behind our impact hiring initiatives,” Sherk went on to say.  

In her 10-year career in the automotive industry, Sherk has worked at multiple Manheim and ADESA locations and as a regional manager. In addition to assisting with a successful independent auto auction startup, she has served as a trusted advisor to senior executives in automotive dealerships and auction groups nationwide on issues such as marketing, talent acquisition, employee and management development, and employment law. 

Renee joined Direct Auction Services in 2016 as director of staffing services.

Nutter said, “David Rush and Renee Sherk have played instrumental roles in taking our business to the next level — expanding our national presence and our capabilities.  Jeff York, having spent more than 25 years in various general manager positions with Cox Automotive and most recently, ADESA Auto Auctions, along with his reconditioning franchise experience, was made for this role.  Jeff brings an unmatched understanding of vehicle reconditioning and market dynamics, threats and opportunities facing our clients today and tomorrow.” 

Attendees can meet up with DAS’ team from both Roadrunner Services and Direct Reconditioning during the upcoming Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR) at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas on March 26-27.