Beyond the Statistics: Veronica Dunford on Mentorship, the Austin Takeover, and the Future of WIA

The Streaming Revolution: Owen Moon & Joe Dallas on Connectivity, Networking Secrets, and the Future of DealerStream | NADA 2026

Host Shasta Haddock brings in the reinforcements at NADA 2026 with Owen Moon and Joe Dallas from Dealer Stream. In this high-energy session, the trio discusses the "art of the hustle" at major industry events, revealing why the best networking often happens after hours. Owen and Joe share the vision behind Dealer Stream’s evolution, focusing on how streaming advertising is moving from a trend to a fundamental requirement for modern dealerships. They dive into the importance of educational leadership, consistency in branding, and why the "deep connections" made in Las Vegas are the true ROI of the show. If you want to understand where automotive video and streaming are headed, this double-guest episode is a masterclass. #ImACarChick #NADA2026 #DealerStream #OwenMoon #JoeDallas #StreamingAdvertising #AutomotiveMarketing #Networking #DealerTech

Architecting the Experience: Kelly Reis on Facility Design, Workflow Mapping, and the Retail Shift | NADA 2026

Host Shasta Haddock welcomes first-time guest Kelly Reis, Founder of Arris Corp, to the I'm a Car Chick booth at NADA 2026. A self-proclaimed "car chick" who started in retail in 1999, Kelly has transitioned her years of dealership experience into a niche focus on facility design. She breaks down why a beautiful building isn't enough—it has to actually work for your employees and your customers. They discuss the importance of workflow mapping, how facility design directly impacts the customer experience, and the power of networking in the automotive industry. If you’re planning a renovation or a new build, Kelly’s insights on aligning architecture with operations are essential. #ImACarChick #NADA2026 #KellyReis #ArrisCorp #FacilityDesign #DealershipOperations #CustomerExperience #WomenInAutomotive

Cutting the Fat: Sandy Zannino on Tech Stack Audits, Telecom Savings, and Launching a Podcast

Host Shasta Haddock reunites with long-time friend and automotive industry veteran Sandy Zannino, Founder of Innovative Dealer Solutions. In this episode, they trace their history back to the Digital Dealer conference circuits and dive deep into Sandy's latest venture: launching her very own podcast. Sandy pulls back the curtain on how dealerships are consistently overpaying for their technology stacks, offering a masterclass in vendor management and cost reduction. She reveals how a free tech stack analysis can uncover thousands in hidden fees—particularly in telephony and telecom services—by leveraging enterprise-level pricing. If you want to stop bleeding cash on redundant software and learn how to audit your dealership's infrastructure, Sandy's "no-nonsense" advice is exactly what you need. #ImACarChick #SandyZannino #InnovativeDealer Solutions #TechStackAudit #TelecomSavings #DealershipOperations #VendorManagement #AutomotivePodcast

The Flip to the Front End: Kate Beirowski on Vehicle Merchandising, Sales Leadership, and Being Fearless | NADA 2026

Host Shasta Haddock catches up with the insightful and always candid Kate Beirowski, the newly appointed VP of Sales for Dealer Image Pro. Recorded live at NADA 2026, Kate shares her transition from a career in Fixed Ops to leading the front-end charge in vehicle merchandising. They discuss the power of end-to-end photography in the modern dealership, the challenges of stepping into a new leadership role, and why "getting out of your comfort zone" is the best advice for anyone in automotive. From winning "WIA Bingo" to taking on the VP mantle, Kate’s energy and honesty provide a masterclass in professional growth and fearless networking. #ImACarChick #NADA2026 #KateBeirowski #DealerImagePro #VehicleMerchandising #SalesLeadership #WomenInAutomotive #DealerTech

Beyond the Numbers: Amy Hitch on F&I Mastery, Leadership Coaching, and Avoiding Burnout

Host Shasta Haddock is joined by Amy Hitch, Executive Coach at Ascent Dealer Services, for a powerful conversation on the high-stakes world of automotive finance. Amy shares her journey from banking to mastering the F&I office, detailing why it remains one of the most stressful roles in a dealership. They discuss the critical shift from simply "doing the work" to developing people, the importance of early transparency in the car-buying process, and how to recognize the signs of burnout. Whether you’re an F&I manager looking to level up your leadership or a dealer principal wanting to improve change management, Amy’s expert coaching insights provide a clear roadmap for long-term success. #ImACarChick #AmyHitch #AscentDealerServices #FandI #AutomotiveFinance #LeadershipCoaching #DealershipSuccess #MentalHealthInAuto