The Walk Around
JMA Group
Last episode 2 months agoA car dealership podcast that brings all things automotive to your listening ears! Learn how to grow your dealership, or grow your automotive career with sales, Finance, Fixed Operations, and Leadership insights.
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Episodes (112)
S4E13 - Tariffs & Transitions: Navigating Automotive Changes
Jonathan Jordan and Jamie Horowitz of JM&A Group dive into the latest uncertainties facing the automotive industry, including the impact of tariffs. Don’t miss strategic insights to help you navigate the changes at your dealership.For more about our guests, visit their LinkedIn: Jonathan Jordan & Jamie HorowitzEpisode Breakdown0:00 - Meet our guests!1:50 - Financial impacts of tariffs in the automotive industry6:55 - How dealers can reposition F&I products for customers9:54 - Claims patterns and service contracts patterns10:48 - Controlling costs at your dealership12:41 - One of the best tools for customer retention is...13:54 - Utilizing the service department to sell F&I16:35 - Streamlining online claims with AI21:57 - Staying informed and what dealers can do nowLiked this episode? Find our full episode library here.
S4E12 - What Dealers Should Know About Customer Sentiment | Chris Sutton
Chris Sutton, Senior Vice President of Auto Benchmarking and Customer Success at J.D. Power, talks data around customer sentiment in the dealership, digital retail and technology advancements and his view of the 2025 industry.For more info about Chris, visit his LinkedIn.Episode Breakdown0:00 - Meet Chris 2:59 - What should dealers be mindful of in 2025? 4:06 - Why some dealers are less focused on digital 7:15 - The top issue seen in customer experience data 8:08 - How to boost customer satisfaction 12:08 - Video Multi-Point Inspection in the dealership 14:27 - Is customer sentiment improving?Liked this episode? Find our full episode library here.
S4E11 - How Micro-Learning is Changing Dealership Training | Matthias Stoever
Training your dealership’s team is a continuous, yet important process. Discover ways to explore innovative training opportunities at your dealership and empower your team with Matthias Stoever, Co-Founder and CEO at RockEd.For more about Matthias, visit his LinkedIn. Episode Breakdown0:00 - Meet Matthias & RockED10:11 - The origin story behind his startup14:37 - What training behaviors are being seen from micro training?16:46 – Why is training in this area the least invested in?18:36 - How training plays a role in employee retention21:37 - What's next for RockED in 2025?22:09 - Reducing fear around artificial intelligence in the dealershipLiked this episode? Find our full episode library here.
S4E10 - How to Effectively Market Your Dealership with Special Guest Laurie Halter
Laurie Halter has worked in automotive marketing and PR for 20+ years with her company, Charisma! Communications. She shares valuable advice for developing a content strategy that empowers your team and engages your customers.For more about Laurie, visit her LinkedIn.Episode Breakdown0:00 - Meet Laurie! 0:57 - What are you excited about in the industry this year? 1:27 - AI technology in the service lane 3:05 - Are more dealers expanding mobile service options 4:48 - Balancing technology and human engagement 5:42 - Are customers and dealers thinking of 2025 optimistically? 7:46 - Giving customers payment options with technology 9:04 – How can dealers stand out with their marketing? 12:54 - How to start creating marketable content 14:27 – Laurie’s journey into the auto industry Liked this episode? Find our full episode library here.
S4E09 - Improving Your Online to In-Store Experience with Special Guest Steve Roessler
Steve Roessler, Chief Evangelist Officer at automotive CRM company, DriveCentric, discusses how your dealership’s CRM should be functioning, the usage of artificial intelligence in maintaining customer relationships and more.For more about Steve, visit his LinkedIn.Episode Breakdown0:00 - Steve, Buc-ee's and NADA 2025 5:08 - DriveCentric’s mission for dealers 9:06 - Will Artificial Intelligence replace humans in the dealership? 12:51 - How to improve the online to in-store experience 15:22 - What Virtual F&I has taught us 16:54 - Are dealers letting customers complete F&I paperwork at home? 18:33 - What should be top of mind for dealers right now?Liked this episode? Find our full episode library here.
S4E08 - High Performing Dealerships Do This with David Spisak
David Spisak is back on The Walk Around podcast! He's the President and CEO of Disruptive Growth Solutions, a consulting and advisory firm centered on retail automotive, while also being the podcast host of The David Spisak Show. In this episode, David speaks on his experience running a dealership and his advice for dealers’ process improvement this year. Plus, he discusses what an effective process looks like at your dealership and the ripple effect it brings. Don’t miss the wit and wisdom from a seasoned industry professional.For more about David, visit his LinkedIn. Episode Breakdown0:00 - The automotive industry’s resiliency is evident again 5:57 - David’s view on 2025? Not like most dealers 13:04 - Digital retailing & investing in your people 18:58 - What is the biggest obstacle to growth for consolidators? 24:24 - What should dealers pay attention to this year? Liked this episode? Find our full episode library here.
S4E06 - Developing Seamless Processes at Your Dealership with April Simmons
April Simmons has worked in the automotive industry for nearly three decades. Her experience spans across the retail side of the dealership; with positions as Finance Manager, Retail Desk Manager, Internet Sales Director and now as Corporate Internet and Marketing Director at Horne Auto Group. April shares how the finance office shaped her career path, why she thinks 2025 is going to “be a foundational year,” and she discusses how dealers should be proactively looking at regulations from the FTC. Plus, don’t miss her thoughts on artificial intelligence and how dealerships can benefit from technology like Virtual F&I in the sales process.For more about April, visit her LinkedIn.Episode Breakdown 0:00 - April’s intense journey to NADA!2:56 - What’s happening at Horne Auto Group & training trends5:08 - FTC regulations7:14- How the finance office shaped her career10:46- 2025 is going to be a foundational year14:07 - Creating a seamless sales process25:10 - April’s industry predictions for the year aheadLiked this episode? Find our full episode library here.
S4E05 - Protecting Your Dealership Data with Brian Kramer
Brian Kramer, EVP of Dealer Growth & Success at Cars Commerce and a former dealership General Manager, brings a wealth of industry experience (nearly 30 years!) to the podcast. Brian dives into key topics on dealership operations, data privacy, sales strategies, and vehicle trade-ins. He reflects on his career in retail automotive and shares what he misses most from those days, along with highlighting several interesting statistics from industry-disrupters like CarMax and Carvana. Plus, don’t miss the important trends that Brian is paying attention to this year.For more about Brian, visit his LinkedIn.0:00-Meet Brian! 3:50-What Brian misses about retail 6:12-Why NADA was important this year 7:38-What should dealers be looking at / Who has access to your data? 13:33-Data security tips for dealers 17:06-Why is the industry so afraid of price transparency? 18:59-Digital retail & in-store transactions Liked this episode? Find our full episode library here.
S4E04 - Rita Case on Building An Automotive Legacy
We had the honor of speaking with Rita Case, president and CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group and the largest female owned and operated dealer group in the nation with 12 stores operating in south Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. Rita shares about her incredible journey developing her personal brand in the industry as a female dealer; how she, along with her husband, built a well-known automotive company, and her top tips for running a successful dealership. From the importance of customer service and a centralized approach to operations to reducing turnover, her wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry runs deep. It’s no surprise that she was recognized as the TIME Dealer of the Year in 2024.Plus, we get a peek beneath the hat! Rita shares just how many hats she has, why she uses hats in her personal brand and more! For more about Rita Case, visit her LinkedIn.(00:00) - Meet Rita(07:40) - What made Rita want to stay in the industry(12:00) - Data and tech usage in the dealership(14:52) - Developing consistent dealership operations as your stores grow (21:06) - Rita's take on creating low talent turnover (24:35) - Should your kids work at your dealership? (29:05) - How to prepare for a new generation of car buyers(31:59) - Rita's best bets on 2025 profitability and vehicle sales(38:57) - The internet search we got totally wrong!(43:03) - Does Rita own 1,000 hats? Don't miss a surprise! Liked this episode? Find our full episode library here.