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Chad Graves, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Reunion Marketing, joins the Auto Collabs crew to talk shop about what really moves the needle in automotive marketing. With over a decade of experience guiding digital strategy for dealerships across the country, Chad breaks down how his team is pushing past surface-level metrics to deliver true business outcomes. Spoiler: it’s not about the flashiest dashboards—it’s about asking the right questions and making sure your SEO works just as hard as your sales team.

In this episode, the crew digs into Reunion's newly launched platform, Altitude, and how it's helping dealers connect marketing actions directly to sales and inventory performance. Chad offers a grounded take on the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, arguing they enhance—but don’t replace—the fundamentals of solid SEO. The conversation gets real about shifting consumer behavior, the surprising persistence of Google search dominance, and why making your website frictionless is more important than ever.

Takeaways:

0:00 – Intro with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, and Michael Cirillo

6:19 – Chad explains how Reunion balances a scalable SEO blueprint with localized customization by asking deeper questions

10:17 – The team discusses the resurgence of new car leads and the importance of simplifying website experiences

14:44 – Chad shares insights on how AI tools like ChatGPT are influencing consumer research and the continued relevance of SEO

17:34 – Reunion’s new Altitude platform integrates sales and inventory data to provide dealers with actionable insights

23:07 – The conversation turns to the growing importance of online reviews in influencing AI-driven search results

Learn more about Chad Graves and Reunion Marketing:

• LinkedIn: Chad Graves
• Company: Reunion Marketing

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Carol Marshall unpacks how culture, trust, and hospitality can supercharge your dealership.

In this episode, Paul, Kyle, and Michael sit down once again with the ever-insightful Carol Marshall, COO of ActivEngage, to talk about the power of intentional hiring and world-class hospitality. Carol shares the secret sauce behind her company’s team-building approach—spoiler alert: it involves “hiring for attitude,” a heat-packed conference room, and a pair of brown shorts. Drawing inspiration from industry classics like Be Amazing or Go Home and The Speed of Trust, she dives deep into how great workplace culture and thoughtful recruiting aren’t just HR buzzwords—they’re how you build a business with staying power.

From making ASOTU CON attendees feel like VIPs to setting up dealers for lead-gen success, Carol and her team aren’t just talking the talk—they’re walking it (in comfy shoes, ready to help). The trio reflects on what it means to really show up for your industry, how customer experience starts well before the sale, and why “fit” can trump even the best qualifications. This one’s got real takeaways for leaders, operators, and anyone who’s ever tried to build a team worth trusting.

Books Referenced In The Interview

• Hiring for Attitude by Mark Murphy
• Be Amazing or Go Home by Shep Hyken
• The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey

Timestamped Takeaways:

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier and Michael Cirillo

2:41 Carol Marshall joins to talk growth at ActivEngage and what makes team expansion exciting—and tough

4:58 Why hiring for attitude beats hiring for skill, and how Carol’s team smells out drama before it starts

10:52 Behind-the-scenes of how ActivEngage owned hospitality at ASOTU CON with cross-functional team support

13:48 Productizing service: from sticky website chats to flip-to-text, ActivEngage is all about real customer connection

17:18 A fresh client wins big: 8 appointments, 8 sales—how quality conversations can drive real ROI for dealers

Learn more about Carol Marshall:

• Carol Marshall on LinkedIn
• ActivEngage

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F&I veteran Rudy Graff brings decades of grit, grind, and gut checks into a conversation that reveals the high-stakes game behind the deal jacket.

Rudy Graff—aka “Rudy Boss”—joins the crew to unload decades of wild, real-world experience from the F&I trenches. From his early days dodging lemon law landmines and printing contracts with a daisy wheel, to leading compliance initiatives at one of the country’s largest dealerships, Rudy’s journey through automotive finance is anything but boring. He shares how a recession pivot turned into a career, why he operated under an alias in the Wild West days of F&I, and how working the phones and fighting for a spot gave him a front-row seat to the evolving auto landscape.

Now with ComplyAuto, Rudy breaks down the modern compliance tightrope, the hidden costs of a single digit typo, and how AI is changing the game—one autofilled form at a time. He peels back the curtain on how even tiny address mismatches can snowball into repo-level disasters and explains why today’s F&I professionals need more than sales chops; they need tools, process, and precision. If you’ve ever wondered what F&I actually does or why compliance is everyone’s business, Rudy makes it clear: protect the store, protect the customer, and never underestimate the power of automation.

Timestamped Takeaways:

[0:00] Intro with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier and Michael Cirillo

[3:02] Enter “Rudy Boss”: Rudy shares how his F&I alter ego was born out of early dealership antics and the need to fly a little under the radar.

[5:47] From Phones to Frontline: His improbable entry into auto, starting with cold calls and ending in battle-tested F&I leadership.

[10:47] First Rule of F&I—Protect the Store: Rudy emphasizes that compliance isn't optional—it's mission-critical.

[15:12] Real-Life AI Impact: How AI is catching human errors—like address mismatches—that can trigger costly customer blowback.

[19:22] Why Your Next Repo Might Be a Data Entry Problem: The ripple effects of a single mistake and why AI is essential to clean deals.

[23:37] Looking Ahead—AI, Blockchain, and Bulletproof Compliance: Rudy and the team envision the future of document validation and regulatory tech.

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Monik Pamecha is turning chaos into clarity with AI that actually understands what customers need.

In this episode, the Auto Collabs crew welcomes Monik Pamecha, co-founder of Toma, for a deep-dive into the noisy, often-overlooked world of dealership phone calls. With a background in engineering and a journey that spans from health tech to nipple covers on Amazon (yes, really), Monik shares how he and his team stumbled into the auto industry and found their niche by transforming chaotic call data into actionable AI. Through humor and honesty, he recounts the growing pains of early development—including one rogue cowboy-themed AI voice—and explains why dealerships were the perfect testing ground thanks to their willingness to embrace fast-paced innovation.

The conversation shifts gears into the philosophy of building with AI, where Monik emphasizes separating what should be automated from what needs a human touch. Having listened to over 4,000 calls (often at 3x speed), he reveals just how much of dealership communication is repetitive and ripe for automation. From reducing friction in service booking to futureproofing voice AI with better data integration and customer intent understanding, Monik paints a vision of a dealership experience that’s faster, smarter, and still deeply human where it counts.

Timestamped Takeaways:

[0:00] Intro with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier and Michael Cirillo

[4:08] Cowboy AI Goes Rogue: Monik shares a hilarious early bug where a forgotten prompt turned the AI into a Western character—proving even bad builds can lead to great stories.

[5:32] Why Dealers Move Faster Than Banks: Monik explains why dealerships were quicker to test voice AI compared to risk-averse industries like healthcare and banking.

[14:30] The Real First Step to AI in the Dealership: He outlines a simple rule: if a task doesn't need creativity, it's a candidate for automation.

[19:41] Beyond Voice—The Real Work of AI: Monik emphasizes that voice is just a channel; the real innovation lies in what the AI does after the call starts.

[23:24] Plumbers of the AI Age: As AI capabilities explode, Monik likens his team to plumbers—connecting tools, data, and insights to create seamless customer experiences.

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David Steinberg returns with the data-driven truth bomb that 88% of your leads might be telling you something you're ignoring—and it's costing you more than sales.

David Steinberg is back—and he’s not holding back. From his childhood days as a SAG card-carrying actor to founding FourEyes, David brings a mix of storytelling charm and ruthless data clarity to this episode. He dives deep into why dealers are drowning in leads but still missing sales, how bad CRMs are sabotaging great salespeople, and why marketing might be the most over-served segment in auto retail.

The conversation unpacks the dangerous comfort of “cherry-picking” leads, the myth that more traffic solves sales slumps, and the growing power of consumers in a reputation-driven market. With smart takes on AI, CRM failures, and why your sales process matters more than your ad budget, David makes it clear: the water’s rising in automotive retail, and it’s time to fix the foundation.

0:00 - Intro with Paul J Daly

6:01 – David’s unusual journey from software developer to lumber entrepreneur and how it birthed the idea for FourEyes.

8:48 – The sales process is the hardest—and most neglected—pillar of dealership success.

10:08 – Why flooding the pipeline with more leads almost never fixes a slow sales month.

12:59 – Only 2.3% of leads close after day 4; the industry’s cherry-picking model is a long-term liability.

15:08 – AI can supercharge your sales follow-up—if your CRM isn't a garbage fire.

20:42 – Customers have more power than ever, and ignoring the 88% creates ripple effects that cripple your future.

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Unpack how robots, data, and AI are quietly transforming the dealership—from the parts department to the showroom floor.

Greg Uland is back on the mic with Paul, Kyle, and Michael, and he’s bringing high-tech vibes straight from the Reynolds and Reynolds innovation lab. This time, they’re talking about RELO—a robot that delivers parts right to the service bay without breaking stride. It’s more than a novelty; it’s a tactical answer to the question every dealer should be asking: “How much money am I losing every time a technician leaves the bay?”

But that’s just the start. The crew dives into the real conversation: why dealership tech stacks are often bloated and broken, and how Reynolds is solving that through acquisitions and a focus on clean, connected data. Greg explains how unique identifiers, unified systems, and thoughtful AI deployment can actually drive efficiency instead of creating digital noise. It’s a look behind the curtain at how fixed ops and front-end retail are converging in the era of smarter software—and smarter strategy.

Timestamped Takeaways:

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier and Michael Cirillo

4:30 RELO the Robot: Reynolds’ parts delivery robot automates the journey from parts counter to service bay, letting techs stay put and keep turning hours.

7:00 Minutes as Inventory: Greg reframes technician time as a sellable unit, emphasizing how reclaiming just 20 minutes a day can significantly impact dealership profitability.

8:30 The Productivity Slide: Tech productivity has actually declined over the last decade—Greg and the crew discuss why, and what’s needed to reverse the trend.

14:00 Unified Data Strategy: Reynolds is stitching together its software ecosystem (CRM, DMS, rentals, and more) into a single source of truth to eliminate duplicated work and bad data.

18:00 Smarter AI Needs Smarter Data: Greg explains that AI isn’t magical—it only works when it’s built on accurate, integrated dealership data. Otherwise, it just makes the wrong decisions faster.

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Eric Flow is building a dealership legacy rooted in promises, not just profits—and his take on vendor partnerships and culture is anything but ordinary.

Eric Flow of Flow Automotive joins the crew for a conversation that reaches deep into the DNA of one of the most intentional dealer groups in the country. With roots tracing back to a post-WWII used car lot and a family legacy that includes working for Douglas MacArthur and Henry Ford II, Eric doesn’t just represent the third generation of dealers—he’s pushing the business forward with a distinct blend of care and challenge. His use of the word “covenant” isn’t marketing fluff; it’s a framework for how Flow engages both customers and employees with a sense of sacred responsibility.

The episode also dives into how Flow Automotive integrates tech like CarCutter to maintain quality merchandising across 50 rooftops. Eric explains why vendor flexibility, API access, and store-level execution matter more than just off-the-shelf functionality. He’s not chasing shiny objects—he’s looking for tools that align with their culture and empower their people. From evolving customer touchpoints to developing a scalable LMS, this conversation is a deep-dive into how values-driven leadership meets the realities of modern auto retail.

Timestamped Takeaways:

1. [0:00] The gang kicks things off by reflecting on their own family histories—and sets up the challenge to learn about Eric Flow’s great grandfather.
2. [4:48] Covenant over contract: Flow Automotive treats customer relationships as sacred, promise-based commitments.
3. [14:32] A legacy of leadership: Eric’s grandfather served MacArthur and worked for Henry Ford II before launching a used car lot with purpose.
4. [20:50] Scaling culture: As Flow grows, their learning management system is key to training and maintaining a values-first mindset.
5. [22:55] People-powered tech: Eric explains how automation frees up time for human-centric service—and how the right tools make that possible.
6. [23:37] CarCutter in action: A look at why Flow chose CarCutter for consistent, enterprise-wide vehicle merchandising—and how ease of use for store teams sealed the deal.
7. [28:28] Autonomy with alignment: Eric unpacks the balance between giving store leaders ownership while maintaining brand and cultural cohesion.

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Cindy Allen brings the soul of a musician and the mind of a technologist to one of the auto industry's most quietly transformative companies.

On this episode of Auto Collabs, the crew chops it up with Cindy Allen, CEO of StoneEagle, whose journey through auto, tech, and travel is anything but ordinary. From launching one of the industry's first web-based rating engines to leading a data-driven mission rooted in human connection, Cindy proves that growth and soul can coexist—if you focus on the "and." With infectious energy and a jazz-like approach to business, she shares how her early musical training, a stint in the travel industry, and front-line dealership experience shaped her leadership philosophy.

Whether it's bringing floppy disks to early adopter dealers, decoding data myths, or navigating the complexities of family business dynamics, Cindy keeps it real with insight and humor. The conversation dives deep into the resilience of dealers, the real story told by performance metrics, and the need for curiosity-fueled innovation in today’s fast-moving industry. This one’s got strategy, soul, and a little Italian opera on the side.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro

The crew riffs on the name “StoneEagle” and sets the tone for the episode.

3:02 – From Front Desk to the C-Suite

Cindy talks about how answering phones turned into building a tech-first F&I company.

6:33 – Teaching Dealers the Internet

Floppy disks, AOL, and convincing early adopters—it was the wild west of dealership tech.

10:21 – Falling in Love with the Industry

How resilient people, mentors, and agency culture pulled Cindy in for the long haul.

15:28 – The Power of “And”

Cindy explains how StoneEagle balances scale with soul—and why you have to be intentional about it.

18:43 – What the Data Really Says

Forget the headlines. Cindy unpacks key insights from industry-wide F&I data trends.

22:28 – Travel Secrets and Amex Lore

The hosts push for insider perks from Cindy’s time at American Express. She doesn’t crack.

25:46 – Closing Thoughts

Musicianship, leadership, and why staying curious will always be in style.

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally!

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