In this episode of Word on the Street, we’re joined by Curtis Driver, Omnichannel Digital Sales Manager at Capital Auto Group, to unpack why dealers so often fire vendors within the first 90 days — and what both sides get wrong during onboarding.

Curtis shares a candid dealer-side perspective on why onboarding breaks down, how silence and unclear expectations kill momentum, and why utilization is the most important metric dealers should be watching early on. The conversation covers how marketing, BDC performance, and in-store execution must work together, why dashboards don’t matter if managers aren’t trained for accountability, and how communication methods like SMS and short-form video outperform email inside the dealership.

The episode also explores omnichannel digital sales, realistic uses of AI in sales and service, the role of CDPs and lifecycle marketing, and why AI should scale employees — not replace them. Curtis explains how dealers evaluate vendors in the first 14–90 days, what causes frustration during rollouts, and why proactive communication is the biggest differentiator between vendors who last and vendors who get canceled.

If you’re a dealer, vendor, or automotive marketer looking to build stronger partnerships, improve onboarding outcomes, and cut through AI hype with real-world insight, this episode delivers practical takeaways straight from the store level.

Our Website: https://www.dealeromg.com/

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dealer-omg/

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Contact us:

info@dealeromg.com

512-436-9677

This week on Word on the Street, Andrew sits down with Chris Martinez, a 22-year automotive veteran who’s done it all — from managing at CarMax to building and selling dealership software, and now leading the charge in AI-powered follow-up.

Chris shares what it was like growing dealerships from 50 to 500+ used cars a month, spotting white-space opportunities before the industry caught up, and how he’s using AI voice, SMS, and email automation to help dealers stay connected with customers long after the lead goes cold.

They dig into:

• How foundational experience in used cars creates better general managers
• Why social and language-targeted ads were his early growth secret
• Where AI is actually moving the needle for dealers today
• What the next era of lead follow-up and customer retention will look like

Whether you’re a GM, vendor, or entrepreneur in automotive, this episode is a masterclass in curiosity, resilience, and staying a student of the game.

Our Website: https://www.dealeromg.com/

Find us on social:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dealer-omg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DealerOMG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dealeromg/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dealeromg

Contact us:

info@dealeromg.com

512-436-9677

From MBA courses to dealership leadership, Greg Smith has built a career on analytics—then discovered the power of people. In this episode of Word on the Street, Greg shares how his “Dad in the Desk Chair” newsletter took shape, the leadership lessons that reshaped his management style, and the data-driven strategies helping dealerships grow market share, boost service retention, and create winning cultures. Whether you’re in automotive retail or just love a good leadership journey, Greg’s insights blend hard numbers with human connection.

Topics We Cover:

• The story behind Greg’s Dad in the Desk Chair newsletter and how he built an engaged audience on LinkedIn
• Lessons from “The Quest” leadership program and transforming a numbers-first mindset into people-first leadership
• Using market share and overlooked KPIs to uncover hidden dealership growth opportunities
• Service department video strategies that drive higher approvals and retention
• Building a culture of accountability and buy-in across sales, service, and management teams
• What really moves the needle in marketing and digital retailing for automotive groups

Our Website: https://www.dealeromg.com/

Find us on social:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dealer-omg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DealerOMG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dealeromg/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dealeromg

Contact us:

info@dealeromg.com

512-436-9677