Executive Profile with Jim Fitzpatrick, Powered by CBT News

The Pohanka Legacy: A Century of Automotive Excellence

Geoffrey Pohanka shares the remarkable story of Pohanka Automotive Group, founded by his grandfather in 1919 and now spanning 22 dealerships across three states. He reveals how the company's focus on service excellence helped them survive the Great Depression and World War II when many dealerships failed. • Third-generation dealer whose grandfather was a jockey before starting the business in 1919 • Promotes from within - including a former switchboard operator who will become NADA chair • Believes customer convenience drives service department success with extended hours • Owns multiple EVs personally but advocates for consumer choice rather than mandates • Working to address technician shortages by funding community college automotive programs • Maintains collaborative relationships with manufacturers while representing dealer interests • Foundation donates millions annually to community initiatives and financial literacy education • Family legacy continues with two of his three children working in the business • Started all three children as mechanics to learn the business from the ground up The Pohanka philosophy remains consistent after 106 years: "The customer can fire all of us. I've got to take care of the customer and so do you, because they'll fire us if we don't." Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Executive Profile with Jim Fitzpatrick. For more interviews with the leaders shaping retail automotive, visit CBTNews.com [https://www.cbtnews.com] and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform. If you enjoyed the episode, please rate, review, and share it with someone in the industry.

The Zeigler Legacy: Building an Automotive Empire

Aaron Zeigler has transformed his family's single dealership into a nationally recognized automotive powerhouse with 41 locations and 88 franchises across four states while fostering an exceptional workplace culture with remarkably low turnover. • The Ferrari dealership in Lake Forest is one of the largest in the country, spanning 70,000 square feet with vehicles that can sell for over $3 million • Zeigler's father started the company in the mid-70s after saving money from selling cars to purchase a small Ford dealership out of bankruptcy • Building a world-class culture starts with their "Keys to Success" program that teaches new employees expectations and empowers them to make customers happy without manager approval • Promoting from within and strong development programs are key strategies that have enabled the company's growth • Technology enhances the car-buying process but relationships still drive sales - very few customers purchase completely online without human interaction • Mobile service has been enormously successful with 14 vans at 100% capacity, while the Ferrari dealership will pick up and deliver cars within a 500-mile radius • Zeigler started their own technician school graduating 40 techs annually to address the industry-wide technician shortage • The automotive market remains strong with luxury brands showing particular resilience, and Zeigler predicts the second half of 2024 will outperform the first half Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Executive Profile with Jim Fitzpatrick. For more interviews with the leaders shaping retail automotive, visit CBTNews.com [https://www.cbtnews.com] and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform. If you enjoyed the episode, please rate, review, and share it with someone in the industry.

Leading with Purpose: The Jane Vaden Thacher Story

Jane Vaden Thacher didn't expect to follow in her father's footsteps. Her primary goal after high school was to escape Savannah and the family name plastered across vehicles throughout the city. But thirty years after returning to the business her father started in 1968, Jane has transformed Vaden Automotive Group into a powerhouse representing Chevrolet, Cadillac, Nissan, Infiniti, Hyundai, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram across 13 dealerships with 762 employees. The journey wasn't easy. Jane began in a trailer beside the body shop, worked her way through F&I, and eventually convinced General Motors to award her a second Chevrolet point in Savannah—which she opened at age 34 while pregnant with twins and still managing other dealerships. "I just outworked them," she explains about overcoming initial resistance as a female leader in automotive retail. What sets Vaden Automotive apart is a philosophy Jane calls "The Vaden Way"—a culture built on employee development, transparency, and community commitment. This approach has created remarkable loyalty, with many senior team members boasting over 20-year tenures. While approximately 35% of Vaden's workforce is female (many in leadership positions), Jane dismisses gender as a determining factor: "To me it absolutely makes no difference. It's always about what you can do." Looking ahead, Jane remains pragmatic about industry challenges from EV adoption to digital retailing evolution. She's focused on growing Vaden from a half-billion to a billion-dollar enterprise while preparing her son Jack to eventually take on leadership responsibilities. But following family tradition—her grandfather died selling cars on the showroom floor—Jane has no plans to retire: "That's not what we do in my family." Experience the wisdom of this automotive pioneer who continues to prove that trust, transparency, and outworking the competition never go out of style. Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Executive Profile with Jim Fitzpatrick. For more interviews with the leaders shaping retail automotive, visit CBTNews.com [https://www.cbtnews.com] and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform. If you enjoyed the episode, please rate, review, and share it with someone in the industry.

Beyond the Dealership: How Family Values Drive Business Growth

Mario Murgado shares his remarkable journey from Cuban immigrant arriving in America at age four to building a 24-dealership automotive empire across three states. His story reveals how passion for cars, commitment to exceptional customer experiences, and innovative business practices created one of the most successful dealership groups in the country. • Arrived in America as a political refugee just days before his fourth birthday • Started selling Hondas at Braman in 1981, working his way up to leadership positions • Purchased his first dealership in 2001, transforming a struggling operation into one selling 9,000 vehicles annually • Created the unique Ocean Cadillac Museum to celebrate automotive heritage and enhance customer experience • Implements forward-thinking workplace policies with 30% female employees and flexible schedules • Takes a measured approach to electrification, advocating for market-driven rather than government-mandated adoption • Believes strongly in physical dealerships while embracing digital retail options • Maintains core values instilled by his father: perfect attendance, sitting at the front of class, and reading voraciously • Views dealers as essential community pillars rather than just business operators • Encourages the next generation to maintain strong manufacturer relationships while adapting to industry changes • Lives by the philosophy "dream when you're awake" - having clear goals and working persistently toward them Visit our brand new state-of-the-art Cadillac dealership and museum in Miami to experience the Murgado difference for yourself. Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Executive Profile with Jim Fitzpatrick. For more interviews with the leaders shaping retail automotive, visit CBTNews.com [https://www.cbtnews.com] and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform. If you enjoyed the episode, please rate, review, and share it with someone in the industry.

Car Dealer by Day, Racing Champion by Night: Ben Keating Defies All Limits

The journey from washing cars to building a 31-dealership empire and winning the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans isn't one traveled by many, but Ben Keating has navigated this extraordinary path with unwavering determination and a competitive spirit that defies conventional limits. In this revealing Executive Profile, Ben Keating shares the remarkable story of how a college engineering graduate who once "hated the car business" transformed into one of the most successful automotive entrepreneurs in Texas. After witnessing the profit potential during a college internship, Keating dove headfirst into car sales, selling an astonishing 26 vehicles his first month and earning $11,400 when his engineering peers were making $40,000 annually. This early success, however, was just the prelude to a journey filled with both triumph and adversity. Perhaps the most defining moment came when philosophical differences with his father led to his termination from the family business, leaving him unemployed with paper assets but no cash flow. With just $1,000 in the bank and a $1,200 mortgage payment looming, Keating faced a pivotal crossroads. Through creative financing and sheer determination, he purchased a bankrupt Ford dealership in Port Lavaca, Texas, transforming it into the foundation of what would become Keating Auto Group. His perspective on this challenging period reveals his entrepreneurial spirit: "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose. Everyone asks me how I take all this risk, and the answer is: when you have nothing, there is no risk." Today, Keating's business philosophy centers on developing talent from within and creating equity partnerships with store operators, fostering an ownership mentality throughout his organization. Beyond the showroom, his passion for competitive motorsports has led him to the winner's podium at the world's most prestigious racing events, including an emotional victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023. Looking toward the future of automotive retail, Keating maintains an adaptable approach to industry challenges: "I'm an omni-channel retailer. I don't care what Americans want to drive or how they want to buy it – I want to sell it to them." This flexibility, combined with his competitive drive, positions Keating Auto Group for continued success in an evolving marketplace. Tune in to hear the full, unfiltered story of how Ben Keating built his automotive empire while pursuing his passion for racing at the highest levels of motorsport. Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Executive Profile with Jim Fitzpatrick. For more interviews with the leaders shaping retail automotive, visit CBTNews.com [https://www.cbtnews.com] and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform. If you enjoyed the episode, please rate, review, and share it with someone in the industry.