Competitors on Paper, Teammates in Reality: Jen Suzuki & David Kain Get Real

From Technician to COO: Mitch Kudler's Playbook for Fixed Ops Growth

If you're leading a service department or responsible for fixed ops performance, this is one of those conversations you don't skip. In this episode, I sit down with someone I've known and respected for years, Mitch Kudler, COO of Simms Auto Group… a guy who didn't just study the business, he lived every role in it. From technician to advisor to GM to executive leadership, Mitch brings a perspective that most leaders simply don't have. We dig into what most GMs misunderstand about service, why retention is the real game (not transactions), and the small decisions that quietly cost dealerships millions, like losing tire business or failing to create a real first service experience. Mitch breaks down the importance of transparency, why MPIs and video are still wildly underutilized, and how culture inside your store directly impacts customer trust. This conversation also hits leadership hard, how to unify sales and service, why most managers don't actually understand their numbers, and the simple but powerful act of walking your store and listening. If you want stronger retention, better CSI, and a team that actually works together… this one will stay with you. And personally? This one meant a lot. Mitch is one of those people I've always admired from afar—and every time we talk, I walk away better. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | 🎧 https://apple.co/38lmHM1 [https://apple.co/38lmHM1] 🎧 https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 [https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1] | Jennifer@edealersolution.com [Jennifer@edealersolution.com] | 954-873-8029 [tel:954-873-8029] | edealersolutions.com [http://edealersolutions.com] | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t [http://bit.ly/3J7011t] | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx [https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx] 🔥Check out our sponsors!🔥 LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships. ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals.|

Clean Notes. Faster Approvals. Bigger Paychecks. | Bad Notes Cost Money, Here's How to Fix It Fast!

If your write-up is weak… your paycheck is leaking. Period. In this episode, I'm going straight at one of the most overlooked, but most expensive breakdowns in your service department: the quality of your RO write-up. We're talking about the real impact of vague notes, rushed conversations, and missed questions and how they quietly destroy technician productivity, create comebacks, slow down approvals, and chip away at your income. I break down exactly how to level up your write-up process, what questions actually matter, and how to position yourself as the translator between your customer and your technician. This is one of those "simple but not easy" skills that separates average advisors from top earners. Better notes = faster diagnosis, smoother workflow, stronger trust, and more money in your pocket. If you're ready to clean up the chaos and take control of your lane… this is your play. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | 🎧 https://apple.co/38lmHM1 [https://apple.co/38lmHM1] 🎧 https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 [https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1] | Jennifer@edealersolution.com [Jennifer@edealersolution.com] | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com [http://edealersolutions.com] | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t [http://bit.ly/3J7011t] | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx [https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx] 🔥Check out our sponsors🔥 LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships. ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals.

Competitors on Paper, Teammates in Reality: Jen Suzuki & David Kain Get Real

If you've been in automotive for any amount of time, you already know the name David Kain and in this episode, we're going way beyond the highlight reel. This is a real conversation between two people who've been in the trenches, on stages, inside dealerships, and yes… technically "competitors" for years but never felt like it. We talk about what actually drives performance today (hint: it's not just AI), why most dealerships are still missing the basics, and how the best operators separate themselves through urgency, storytelling, and human connection. David breaks down his concept of "visual voicemail," why speed to lead is still wildly misunderstood, and what's really happening inside top-performing stores versus the ones just getting by. We also get into the truth about AI, where it helps, where it hurts, and why human intelligence still wins deals. If you're leading a team, working internet leads, or trying to stay relevant in a fast-changing market, this episode will challenge how you think about process, follow-up, and leadership. And honestly? It's just fun! Two longtime friends swapping stories, strategies, and a few laughs along the way. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | 🎧 https://apple.co/38lmHM1 [https://apple.co/38lmHM1] 🎧 https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 [https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1] | Jennifer@edealersolution.com [Jennifer@edealersolution.com] | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com [http://edealersolutions.com] | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t [http://bit.ly/3J7011t] | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx [https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx] 🔥Check out our sponsors!🔥 LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships. ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals.

ASOTU CON 2026 | Stop Sitting Through Conferences. Start Participating.

In this episode, I sit down with Paul Daly, co-founder of ASOTU (alongside Kyle Mountsier), and let me just say… this conversation is fun, real and relevant. We're talking about what the best operators are actually doing right now… And spoiler alert… it's not chasing shiny AI tools or buying the next "magic solution." It's people. It's culture. It's leadership that actually develops other leaders. Because here's the reality… our industry is losing billions to turnover every year, and the stores that are winning? They are obsessing over their people, giving them ownership, building real career paths, and creating environments where teams actually want to stay and grow. And that's exactly what makes ASOTU CON 2026 (May 12–14 in Maryland) different. https://www.asotucon.com This isn't a sit-and-listen conference. This is where ideas get challenged. Where failures get shared (yes… out loud). Where operators, innovators, and leaders actually collaborate. The theme? Year of the Human. Because while everyone's shouting "AI, AI, AI…" The real question is… who's leading the people behind it? If you're tired of surface-level conversations and ready for something that actually pushes your thinking, your leadership, and your business forward… You might want to be in that room. Check out our sponsors! LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships.ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | https://apple.co/38lmHM1 [https://apple.co/38lmHM1] https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 [https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1] | Jennifer@edealersolution.com [Jennifer@edealersolution.com] | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com [http://edealersolutions.com/] | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t [http://bit.ly/3J7011t] | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx [https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx]

The Deal You Missed Wasn't the Lead… It Was the Follow-Up

Dealers still ask me all the time, "Jen… what leads are the best?" And I always give the same answer… the ones already sitting in your database. In this quick class, I break down the biggest miss I see in dealerships everywhere. Salespeople are told to follow up… call for referrals… make birthday calls… but nobody really teaches them how to do it without feeling like a nuisance. So what happens? They stop. Here's the truth. The money isn't in the first call. It's in the one nobody makes. Follow-up isn't about checking a box. It's about building a career. Staying relevant. Staying human. And yes… staying in the game long enough to actually win. And here's the part that hit me personally. Just yesterday, while bringing my yard back to life after winter, my neighbor stopped by. We got to talking… and I found out he had once been homeless for two years, living out of his Suburban. What changed his life? Selling cars. That's this industry. It changes lives. It gave me everything. And when people ask me why I have so much energy… it's because I'm grateful. Grateful for the people, the opportunities, and the chance to help others find their path in this business. So if you're ready to stop chasing leads and start building a real pipeline… this one's for you. Check out our sponsors! LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships. ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | https://apple.co/38lmHM1 [https://apple.co/38lmHM1] https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 [https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1] | Jennifer@edealersolution.com [Jennifer@edealersolution.com] | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com [http://edealersolutions.com/] | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t [http://bit.ly/3J7011t] | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx [https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx]