Automotive Innovators Unplugged

Automotive Innovators Unplugged. Spotlighting the innovators, disruptors, and forward-thinkers shaping the future of automotive retail. Each week we’ll dive into the tools, tech, and strategies that help dealers win in today’s market and get a little personal with our guests!

Automotive Innovators Unplugged is a business podcast hosted by Sean Kelley, with 10 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Sean Kelley hosts Automotive Innovators Unplugged, a business show with 10 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #10

  Fixed Ops Friction: Bridging the Gap Between Parts and Service | Ep. 10 ft. Randy Pennington

  Jul 30, 202651 minS1

  Why is there almost always friction between parts and service departments, and what is it quietly costing your dealership? In Episode 10 of Automotive Innovators Unplugged , hosts Sean Kelley (#thecarbizcoach) and JP Burkemper sit down with Randy Pennington, Parts Manager at Bruce Titus Group and Fixed Ops 20 Group member. Randy shares his unique transition from an 8-year US Army military logistics background to running high-volume dealership parts operations. Randy breaks down the root causes of parts vs. service tension, the danger of overpromising parts timelines to service advisors, and how his team grew gross profit by 27% and net retention by 34% simply by streamlining communication, embracing different learning styles, and fostering a culture of empathy over entitlement. Watch & Listen to the Full Episode Here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AutoInnovatorsPodcast Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/automotive-innovators-unplugged/id1882360166 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7DPd6wnQhgFFJ9BoKWmTJD?si=f7b38885af894784 #AutomotiveIndustry #Automotive #CarBiz #AutomotiveRetail #DealershipOperations #DealerPrincipal #AutoSales #DealershipGrowth #AutoTech #DigitalRetailing #AutomotiveTech #AutoFintech #SalesLeadership #AutomotiveCoaching #automotiveinnovation #dealershipinnovation #automotivepodcast #automotivetalkshow #automotivehosts #cartech

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  Episode #9

  Bridging the Customer Retention Gap | Ep. 9 ft. Matt Raymond, Anthony Alagona, & Vic Turselli

  Jul 15, 202638 minS1

  Most dealerships think they have a sales or marketing problem, but the real breakdown happens after the customer leaves the lot. 💭 In this special panel episode of Automotive Innovators Unplugged , hosts Sean Kelley (#thecarbizcoach) and JP Burkemper assemble a powerhouse lineup of industry experts to dive deep into the multi-thousand-dollar gap in automotive retail: customer retention. Joining the panel are Matt Raymond (COO of Bowtie Auto Solutions), Anthony Alagona (Founder/CEO of Appointments That Show), and veteran industry strategist Vic Turselli. Together, the panel breaks down the sobering reality that only 1 in 4 customers schedule their first service appointment at the time of delivery—costing dealerships roughly $12,000 in lifetime value per lost customer. They reveal the operational friction points causing this decline, how to align your sales and service teams under a collaborative "group reward" framework, why your CRM might not be serving your retention goals, and how leveraging next-gen AI tools can automatically enhance customer engagement and keep buyers coming back for life. 📺 Watch & Listen to the Full Episode Here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AutoInnovatorsPodcast Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/automotive-innovators-unplugged/id1882360166 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7DPd6wnQhgFFJ9BoKWmTJD?si=f7b38885af894784 #AutomotiveIndustry #Automotive #CarBiz #AutomotiveRetail #DealershipOperations #DealerPrincipal #AutoSales #DealershipGrowth #AutoTech #DigitalRetailing #AutomotiveTech #AutoFintech #SalesLeadership #AutomotiveCoaching #automotiveinnovation #dealershipinnovation #automotivepodcast #automotivetalkshow #automotivehosts #cartech

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  Episode #8

  Why the Best Car Salespeople Are Actually Problem Solvers | Episode 8 ft. Eric Hedges

  Jul 1, 202648 minS1

  The Shift to Servant Leadership - How do you maintain a high-performing dealership culture across decades of continuous industry disruption? 💭 In Episode 8 of Automotive Innovators Unplugged, hosts Sean Kelley (#thecarbizcoach) and JP Burkemper sit down with Eric Hedges, General Manager of Audi Huntsville. With nearly 35 years of experience in the car business, Eric shares his incredible path from starting out as a young salesman to successfully running a luxury high-line store. Eric drops massive truth bombs on the absolute breakdown of today's digital retailing space, explaining why a jaw-dropping 70% of car buyers expect to work their deals online—and how the best sales teams are using AI to target and filter those leads. He shares his unfiltered thoughts on the dramatic pullback from EVs, his fascinating prediction about hydrogen fuel cell technology, and his strict rule on why you can never judge a buyer by their cover. Finally, Eric dives into why the top 5% of producers are always problem solvers who lead with a servant mindset. Watch & Listen to the Full Episode Here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AutoInnovatorsPodcast Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/automotive-innovators-unplugged/id1882360166 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7DPd6wnQhgFFJ9BoKWmTJD?si=f7b38885af894784 #AutomotiveIndustry #Automotive #CarBiz #AutomotiveRetail #DealershipOperations #DealerPrincipal #AutoSales #DealershipGrowth #AutoTech #DigitalRetailing #AutomotiveTech #AutoFintech #SalesLeadership #AutomotiveCoaching #automotiveinnovation #dealershipinnovation #automotivepodcast #automotivetalkshow #automotivehosts #cartech

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  Automotive Innovators Unplugged

  From Marine to VP: The Mindset Required to Run a Store | Ep. 7 ft. Hermann Cuadros

  Jun 10, 202642 min

  From Employee to Indispensable Operator — What separates someone who just works at a dealership from a leader who becomes completely indispensable to the business? 💭 In Episode 7 of Automotive Innovators Unplugged, hosts Sean Kelley (#thecarbizcoach) and JP Burkemper sit down with Hermann Cuadros, Vice President of Fair Oaks Motors. Cuadros shares his remarkable journey from a 17-year-old Marine squad leader to the top of the sales board, graduating from the NADA Academy, and ultimately rising to Vice President. Hermann drops massive wisdom on dealership culture, the exact mindset shifts required to think like a partner instead of an employee, and his secret weapon for turning around underperforming teams. He also dives into today's sales and finance realities, explaining why front-end gross margins require strategic value packages, how to successfully integrate AI with human connection, and why outworking the competition will always be the baseline for long-term opportunity. Tune in on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube! Follow us for more content. #AutomotiveSales #CarBusiness #AutoIndustry #CarSales #DealershipTech #DigitalRetailing #AutoTech #SalesLeadership #BusinessCoaching #DealershipCulture

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  Automotive Innovators Unplugged

  Stop Selling Cars, Start Changing Lives | Episode 6 ft. Don Brown

  May 13, 202645 minS0

  <p>Are you treating your customers like a transaction, or are you offering them a life-changing opportunity? 💭<br /></p><p>In Episode 6 of Automotive Innovators Unplugged, Sean Kelley #thecarbizcoach and JP host Don Brown Jr. and Don Brown III of Don Brown Chevrolet to discuss the deeply human element of the car business and the true power of customer retention. The Browns reveal the profound impact of their subprime leasing program—complete with an integrated credit coach—that helps buyers rebuild their credit and secure reliable transportation.</p><p><br />They also dive into the evolution of dealership technology, explaining how the...

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