VADA Live

Despite rising interest rates, gas price volatility, and macroeconomic headwinds, the U.S. auto industry continues to show remarkable resilience . In this episode of VADA Live, Brian Finkelmeyer, Senior Director of Enterprise Insights & Advisory at Cox Automotive, breaks down why the auto market is pacing over 16 million new vehicle sales while generating a record-setting $780 billion in overall revenue . Brian explores the massive consumer shift toward hybrids, the reality behind auto affordability, looming negative equity risks on dealer lots, and why F&I and Fixed Ops continue to drive dealer profitability . In this episode: Market Resilience & 16M Sales Pace — Why macroeconomic headwinds haven't halted demand and how total auto retail revenue hit $780B despite lower unit volume than 2019 . The Hybrid Surge — How gas prices and OEM line-ups have pushed compact SUV hybrid adoption from 25% to over 35% . Deconstructing Affordability — Why affluent households earning $200k+ now represent over 30% of all new vehicle buyers . Looming Negative Equity — How extended 72- and 84-month loan terms and reduced factory cash incentives are creating trade-in hurdles . Fixed Ops & F&I Profitability — Why dealerships are doubling down on service operations and capitalizing on high-yield F&I margins . AI Concierges & Global Competition — Measuring true ROI on AI in dealership operations, plus the impact of Chinese EV expansion on global OEMs . Resources & Links: Stream more episodes and access dealer resources: https://vada.com/live Learn more about Cox Automotive: https://www.coxautoinc.com/ About Brian Finkelmeyer: Brian Finkelmeyer serves as Senior Director of Enterprise Insights & Advisory at Cox Automotive . With decades of retail automotive experience across OEM and software sectors, Brian advises dealership leadership and executive boards on market trends, inventory strategies, and industry shifts . Enjoying VADA Live? Please leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Navigating over 150 local, state, and federal regulations while handling FTC advertising scrutiny, pay plan disputes, and rising dealership fraud requires more than standard legal advice — it requires real operational insight. In this episode of VADA Live Lisa Olivieri, Attorney and Chief Operating Officer at Davis, Agnor, Rapaport & Skalny, shares how dealers can strengthen compliance and protect their bottom line. Drawing on her background managing legal strategy and operations for one of the nation's top automotive groups, Lisa breaks down practical ways to structure transparent pay plans, prevent consumer protection disputes, and manage technology vendor risks. In this episode: The Regulatory Reality — Why managing 150+ laws governing sales and service requires deep operational understanding rather than traditional legal theory. FTC Scrutiny & Online Sales — How interstate commerce and third-party digital channels create legal exposure under legacy advertising laws. Eliminating Pay Plan Lawsuits — Why employee confusion over DMS cost calculations and pack fees drives litigation, and how back-office transparency fixes it. Consumer Protection & Risk Reduction — How standardized, clear buying processes prevent customer disputes before they escalate. Fraud & Theft Prevention — Practical ID verification techniques, paystub audits, and why local police relationships are vital when recovering stolen inventory. Tech & Vendor Security — Why GLBA privacy compliance makes vendor contract scrutiny a top priority for modern dealerships. 🎙️ ABOUT VADA LIVE VADA Live is the official video podcast of the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association. Each episode features candid conversations with industry leaders, analysts, and legal experts on the trends, regulatory changes, and strategies shaping automotive retail. Subscribe for new episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@VADALive 👤 ABOUT LISA OLIVIERI Lisa Olivieri is the Chief Operating Officer and Attorney at Davis, Agnor, Rapaport & Skalny LLC. A seasoned executive and legal strategist, Lisa brings decades of high-level experience navigating complex operations, enterprise-wide transformations, and deal transactions across highly regulated spaces. Prior to joining the firm, Lisa spent nearly a decade in executive leadership in the retail automotive sector, serving as Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer for MileOne Autogroup — one of the Mid-Atlantic's largest dealership networks. In that role, she led major M&A transactions, corporate governance, risk management, and operational modernization initiatives. 🏢 ABOUT DAVIS, AGNOR, RAPAPORT & SKALNY Davis, Agnor, Rapaport & Skalny LLC is a premier, full-service law firm based in Columbia, Maryland, dedicated to serving businesses, entrepreneurs, and families throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. They deliver sophisticated legal counsel wrapped in a high-touch, client-centric service model. With a deep understanding of corporate growth, commercial real estate, labor and employment, estate planning, and complex litigation, the firm serves as a trusted advisory partner for companies navigating crucial transition points, scaling operations, or protecting their hard-earned enterprise value.

Promoting your top salesperson or master tech into management without proper leadership training is one of the fastest ways to burn through dealership talent . In this episode of VADA Live, NADA Academy Instructor Georgia Munson draws from decades of experience across Ford Motor Company, Faulkner Ciocca Automotive Group, and Berkshire Hathaway's XTRA Lease. Outlining how top-performing dealerships build intentional cultures, reduce costly turnover, and develop managers who deliver results through others, this is an episode you don't want to miss!   In this episode: Intentional Culture — Why outperforming dealerships focus on clear accountability, sustainable processes, and employee experiences rather than just monthly gross numbers . The Management Shift — Moving from doing the work yourself to achieving results through a team, and why top individual producers don't always make the best leaders . Combating Turnover — Employees rarely quit over a single bad day; they leave when they feel disconnected from the company's vision or lack career growth opportunities . The Communication Trap — Why assuming your team understands a priority just because you mentioned it once is a major leadership mistake . Tech vs. Trust — How to use AI and technology to remove friction for staff without eroding human trust . Crucial Conversations — Practical advice on delivering direct, candid feedback while leaving an employee's ego intact . Resources & Links: Stream more episodes and access dealer resources: https://vada.com/live Learn more about NADA Academy: https://www.nada.org/nada-academy About Georgia Munson: Georgia Munson is an Instructor at NADA Academy . With decades of retail and OEM experience—including leadership roles at Ford Motor Company, Faulkner Ciocca Automotive Group, and Berkshire Hathaway's XTRA Lease—Georgia educates dealership managers on financial management, fixed/variable operations, and strategic leadership . Enjoying VADA Live? Please leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Are you truly operating your stores, or are you just a holding company for automotive real estate? We caught up with Jim Fitzpatrick, Co-Founder of CBT News and retail auto veteran, for an exclusive sneak peek at the industry trends and leadership strategies he is bringing to the VADA '26 Convention stage at the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Register for VADA '26: https://vada.com/convention/ In this bonus "Convention Sneak Peek" episode, Jim hits hard on what it takes to survive modern automotive retail. He shares the operational data behind CBT's recent viral interview with VADA's Don Hall, explores the changing expectations of incoming Gen Z talent, and explains why dealership groups must professionalize their training programs to protect their bottom line. As Jim notes plainly on industry survival, "Engagement is the key". In this episode: The Engaged Operator — Flying off in a private jet or hanging out on a yacht is great, but the dealers winning right now are deeply embedded in the day-to-day operations. Jim explains why modern business pressures require hands-on leadership. The 750K View Sparring Match — Jim breaks down his recent global trade debate with Don Hall regarding Chinese OEMs. While their views differ on sealing off the market, the viral numbers prove that this topic touches a massive nerve across the country. The Critical Need for Association Voice — No individual dealer wants to sue or fight their OEM. Jim highlights why powerful state associations like VADA are vital for protecting the franchise model at the state house and in DC. Stop the Hiring Insanity — Dealerships readily burn $100,000 a month on ad spend but skip investing in actual staff training. Jim challenges dealers to hire dedicated in-house training managers rather than forcing untrained sales managers to do it. Recruiting Gen Z Transparency — The incoming generation demands an authentic work-life balance. Forcing recruits into grueling schedules without complete transparency upfront is fueling the industry's high salesperson turnover rate. Watch, then register: https://vada.com/convention/ 🎙️ ABOUT VADA LIVE VADA Live is the official video podcast of the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association, hosted by Dan Carrigan. Each episode features candid conversations with industry leaders, analysts, and experts on the trends, data, and strategies shaping automotive retail — from the showroom floor to the main stage at the VADA Annual Convention. Subscribe for new episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@VADALive 👤 ABOUT JIM FITZPATRICK Jim Fitzpatrick is the Co-Founder of CBT News, one of the most prominent digital media platforms serving the retail automotive industry. Jim has been embedded in the auto sector since the early 1980s, serving across various roles from variable operations to becoming a successful dealer principal himself. 🏢 ABOUT CBT NEWS CBT News (Car Biz Today) is an industry-leading multimedia platform providing daily news, analysis, dealer interviews, and high-impact training resources for automotive professionals nationwide. #VADA26 #AutomotiveRetail #VADALive #CBTNews #DealershipOperations #SalesTraining #JimFitzpatrick

With regulators increasingly urging consumer communities and dealers to "turn in your neighbor," your dealership cannot rely on local complacency to escape compliance penalties. We caught up with Lauren Bailey, Vice President of State and Regulatory Affairs at ComplyAuto, for an exclusive sneak peek at the advertising, privacy, and safety compliance strategies she is bringing to the VADA '26 Convention stage at the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Register for VADA '26: https://vada.com/convention/ In this bonus "Convention Sneak Peek" episode, Lauren challenges dealers to shift their mindsets away from viewing legal compliance as a dry line-item cost. Instead, she outlines how robust compliance gives dealerships a massive edge in customer experience and employee retention. Lauren breaks down the shifting rules of AI-generated advertising, emerging state privacy laws, and why your physical service drive setup might be making you a target for unexpected OSHA inspections. In this episode: The "Turn In Your Neighbor" Era — Regulatory agencies are actively hunting for deceptive automotive retail ads. Relying on the excuse that "the guy down the street is doing it" is no longer a safe harbor. The Deceptive Reality of AI Ads — Dealerships are leveraging AI for customer testimonials, virtual chatbots, and credit decisions. Lauren highlights the legal risks of automated deception and the mandatory disclosures required by attorneys general. The Looming Privacy Patchwork — State privacy regulations have expanded across 21 states. Assuming your business is fully exempt under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) is an operational trap. OSHA's Heat Enforcement Trap — Franchise dealerships are usually excluded from OSHA's national emphasis program on heat injury. However, depending on your NAICS code classification and whether your service center is a non-contiguous location, your shop could be hit with steep penalties under the General Duty Clause. Once Every 100 Years — Statistically, a standard dealership is only inspected by OSHA once a century. But disgruntled employees or unsatisfied consumers change those odds instantly. Lauren details how to handle complaints proactively. Watch, then register: https://vada.com/convention/ 🎙️ ABOUT VADA LIVE VADA Live is the official video podcast of the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association, hosted by Dan Carrigan. Each episode features candid conversations with industry leaders, analysts, and experts on the trends, data, and strategies shaping automotive retail — from the showroom floor to the main stage at the VADA Annual Convention. Subscribe for new episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@VADALive 👤 ABOUT LAUREN BAILEY Lauren Bailey is the Vice President of State and Regulatory Affairs at ComplyAuto. With over 15 years of experience embedded within the NADA legal department, Lauren is an industry-leading expert in automotive policy, federal compliance, and operational risk mitigation. At VADA '26, she will be co-presenting on stage alongside industry heavyweight Barry Shrapp. 🏢 ABOUT COMPLYAUTO ComplyAuto is a premier compliance technology platform purpose-built for automotive dealerships. By translating complex state and federal regulations into automated, boots-on-the-ground software solutions like Guardian, ComplyAuto helps dealerships seamlessly manage privacy, advertising, and workplace safety compliance.