The provider of digital marketing for dealers has added Dale Hewett as vice president of search, who will lead the company’s new search engine marketing and search engine optimization solutions, using organic and paid strategies.

Hewett comes on board with almost 10 years of experience in optimizing online visibility, most recently with Owner Search Services Group.

Tim Wilson has also joined the company as vice president of customer experience. Wilson’s 25-year career in digital media across multiple industries includes a stint with Google, helping Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive clients.

In his new role, Dealers United said in a news release, Wilson will “fuel customer digital ROI while delivering white-glove service.”

In addition, the company has unveiled three new digital services, which will be featured at the NADA Show, Feb. 1-4 in Las Vegas. Hewett called them “game-changers in the auto industry.”

Omnichannel social media advertising: Ad campaigns across top social platforms that engage and convert car shoppers.

Search engine marketing and search engine optimization: Data-driven paid, organic and local search campaigns tailored to help dealers cost-effectively reach high-intent car buyers.

“Based on the hundreds of dealership websites and paid search strategies we’ve analyzed, it’s clear there is such a massive opportunity for car dealers right now to own search engines,” Hewett said. “Many stores are just leaving money on the table with their existing tactics, and I want to help put that money back to their bottom line.”

Access to experts: Direct access to a dedicated performance manager and team of certified digital experts who strategically optimize campaigns with best practices and ongoing testing.

“As VP of customer experience, my No. 1 goal is to build a world-class team delivering actionable insights and strategies for our dealers in every conversation,” Wilson said. “Our performance managers know that results — leads and car sales — matter most, which is why we provide analytics that focus on driving sales and service growth.”

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It begins with BlueDriver Max, a plug-in diagnostic tool used in the auction industry that is now available to dealers, allowing them to read the diagnostic codes of vehicles at auctions, private trade-ins and other acquisition points.

“We’ve had a very successful run with all of the leading online auctions using BlueDriver to quickly and accurately determine the diagnostic codes of incoming used vehicles,” Repair OnDemand chief sales officer Greg Lubrani said in a news release.

“Dealers will now have the same instant plug-in access for their acquired vehicles, enabling them to make diagnostic decisions faster and bring in additional used vehicles.”

From there, Repair360 is designed to let all areas of the fixed ops department, from parts to service to reconditioning, to view, collaborate and manage the reconditioning process.

Repair OnDemand said Repair360 “creates a seamless workflow for the reconditioning process to reduce administrative and workflow complexity” resulting in “faster turnaround times, better interdepartmental communication and an elevated customer experience overall.”

Finally, the Repair Exchange platform is designed to streamline the recon and repair processes by providing access to a network of more 16,000 technicians.

The company said the system facilitates the subletting of repair jobs and is fully integrated into Repair360, allowing for efficient management of repair jobs, direct work order dispatch, progress monitoring and communication within a single system.

“Speed and efficiency are critical components of getting used vehicles through the reconditioning process and out on the lot for sale,” Repair OnDemand president Randy Kobat said. “The solution set we are launching at NADA 2024 will help guide dealers through the diagnosing, reconditioning and repair of those vehicles, giving them a critical advantage over their competition in getting cars front-line ready for retail this next year.”

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Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 inductee into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, has partnered with Carvana since 2021, when he competed in the IndyCar Series for the first time after more than two decades as a NASCAR driver.

“Jimmie is not only the true embodiment of a champion, as recognized by his Hall of Fame induction this year,” Carvana co-founder and chief brand officer Ryan Keeton said in a news relase, “he is also a leader on and off the track and we can’t wait to see what he accomplishes this season.”

Carvana will appear on the hood of Johnson’s No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE for three races in 2024:  The season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 18, the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 21 and the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

Johnson has won the Daytona 500 twice (2006 and 2013) and the Brickyard 500 four times (2006, 2008, 2009 and 2012). His seven Cup Series titles are tied with stock car legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the most in NASCAR history.

“I’m so proud to represent Carvana for a second NASCAR season, and our fourth season overall as partners, at some of my favorite races,” Johnson said. “Carvana is a fun brand that captures the joy of cars and racing, and they do a great job leveraging their partnership with Legacy M.C.”

“I’m excited to have a shot at another Daytona 500 trophy in our new Toyota Camry XSE’s and the paint scheme is sure to be a fan favorite.”

Carvana said its paint schemes will honor the legacy Johnson has built across his NASCAR and IndyCar career with three unique designs, the first to be unveiled before the start of the 2024 season.

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Zeigler Auto Group, which operates 41 dealerships in the Midwest among other businesses, and Penske Automotive Group, owner of some 500 dealerships worldwide, were both among the 100 companies with at least 1,000 employees chosen for Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work 2024.

Zeigler, which was 59th on the list, is on the Glassdoor list for the second consecutive year. The selection is the first for Penske, which ranked 76th.

“Human capital is our most important asset,” Penske executive vice president of human resources Bud Denker said in a news release. “To be recognized as a Glassdoor Best Place to Work is a great achievement and a testament to the value we place on nurturing talent and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and personal growth.”

The list is based on employee reviews ranking workplace factors such as diversity and inclusion, compensations and benefits, culture and values, work-life balance, and more. Companies with 1,000 or more employee reviews were considered for the award.

“Receiving this level of acknowledgment from Glassdoor as one of the Best Places to Work for 2024 – especially among larger companies – serves as a clear reflection of our employees and culture,” Zeigler CEO and owner Aaron Zeigler said in a news release. “Our investment in ground-breaking training and development programs, along with growth-focused, employee-first initiatives, give our team members the best training to surpass customer expectations while ensuring that family is always at the center of everything we do.”

Zeigler Auto Group received a 4.4-star rating during the 12-month eligibility period, and said it currently holds an overall 4.7 rating and a 97% “recommend to a friend” score. Penske, which earned 4.3 stars, said it had top workplace factor ratings for diversity and inclusion, senior management, and culture and values.

Dealership donation supports automotive career education program

Atlanta-area dealership Jim Ellis Ford of Sandy Springs donated two vehicles, along with more than $1,500, to Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy, a career, technology and agricultural education magnet high school in Marietta, Ga., that offers tuition-free education to students in the Cobb County School District.

The funds will be used to support the high school’s automotive careers program, and the vehicles will be used as training vehicles for students to learn new skills.

“Supporting Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy in our local community fosters a profound sense of fulfillment for Jim Ellis Ford,” Jim Ellis Automotive vice president of domestic brands Ralph Sorrentino said. “Partnerships such as this one create a tangible connection with the community while contributing to the education and growth of future generations.”

Jim Ellis Ford has been a supporter of CITA since the school opened in 2020, supplying prizes for competitions, learning support and assistance in placing students in careers after graduation. The dealership currently employs two CITA graduates as technicians.

“In the time I’ve been the instructor here at Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy, Jim Ellis Ford has been our biggest supporter and partner,” CITA automotive instructor Mike Hagan said. “This donation will help with student success and placement of these professionals both immediately and for the future, as I see this partnership growing and flourishing in the coming years.”

The donation was made possible through Ford’s Drive 4 Ur School program, which donates $20 per test drive during designated Drive 4 Ur School events. Jim Ellis Ford held a Drive 4 Ur School event in November, with 76 people test-driving new Ford vehicles to support the cause.

During that event, CITA’s automotive career students tour Jim Ellis Ford and visited with its technicians.

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The company said Rowe will serve clients nationwide, but will focus primarily on Texas and other states in the Central and Southwest regions.

Rowe said in a news release that he has always admired Haig Partners and is “looking forward to working with owners of high-value dealerships as they look to grow or sell their businesses.”

Rowe most recently served for six years as chief financial officer for Sewell Automotive Companies, which operates 19 dealerships in Texas, leading the company’s finance, accounting, banking and insurance activities, and evaluating dealership acquisition opportunities.

Rowe’s 35-year career in auto retail also includes almost 30 years with Ally Financial, during which he was involved in analyzing and financing more than 100 acquisitions. His roles with Ally included Western region vice president and managing auto lending operations in the Central region, which included regional oversight of its dealer lending business and sales and marketing activities.

“He has a remarkable background with well-respected brands in automotive retail,” Haig Partners president Alan Haig said. “And Dave’s leadership experience with Sewell, a company renowned for its commitment to ‘customers for life,’ aligns seamlessly with the culture and values we uphold at Haig Partners.

“As we navigate the dynamic landscape of automotive retail, Dave’s industry insights and commitment to excellence will help our clients to achieve their financial and strategic objectives.”

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This episode features a keynote presentation from Dealer Training Tuesday. Automotive Training Network CEO Mark Gilbert orchestrated a session titled, “How to Manage Different Personalities As You Do Business.”

Listen to the episode in the window below.

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Washburn’s automotive marketing and retail experience covers 30 years, most recently with automotive digital marketing firms Gulf States Marketing as president and Force Marketing as a strategic advisor.

Her resume also includes positions with Ford, MSX International and a Lincoln dealership, and having served on the board of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

Group 1 president and CEO Daryl Kenningham called Washburn “an accomplished automotive industry leader who will bring innovation to our customer engagement and marketing strategies.”

Washburn said she is excited about “the opportunity to leverage my diverse marketing and automotive industry experience to drive continued company growth, shareholder value and, most important, customer experience.”

“With the changing landscape in how customers want to interact with dealers and how they consume media, it’s an exciting time to be part of such an innovative team where we can make a difference,” she said.

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This episode features a keynote presentation by Laurie Foster of Foster Strategies Group titled, “How to Optimize, Maximize and Monetize Your Dealer-Provider Partnerships.”

Listen to the episode in the window below.

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