Russell Tabone’s Formula: Love People, Love Cars, Use VINCUE

Ryan Junek of Junek CDJR Triples Appraisal Volume and Expands to New Markets with VINCUE

In this episode of Cue the Next Leader, VINCUE CMO Michael Hopkins sits down with Ryan Junek, owner and GM of Junek CDJR in Spearfish, South Dakota, to talk fourth-generation dealership legacy, used car acquisition in one of the most isolated markets in the country, and how data changed everything. With nearly 30 years behind the dealer's desk and a family business rooted in the Black Hills since the 1930s, Ryan brings a perspective on rural dealership survival that every independent operator needs to hear.

Michelle Hutchinson, SYCN Auto Logistics: The Logistics Mistakes Costing Dealers Thousands

In this episode of Cue the Next Leader, VINCUE CMO Michael Hopkins sits down with Michelle Hutchinson, Director of Strategic Accounts at SYCN Auto Logistics and founder of Leveling Up Logistics, to talk vehicle transport, dealer inefficiencies, and the hidden costs most dealerships never see coming. With nearly two decades of experience across automotive logistics, Michelle brings a perspective that every dealer moving cars across the country needs to hear.

Ed Hyde of Legacy Auto Group Found His Competitive Edge with VINCUE

In this episode of Cue the Next Leader, VINCUE CMO Michael Hopkins sits down with Ed Hyde, dealer principal at Legacy Nissan, Legacy Ford, Legacy GMC Chevrolet, and Tinker Williams Chevrolet out of London, Kentucky — and one of VINCUE's longest-tenured customers. Ed's path to dealer principal is anything but conventional: it winds through a family grocery store, his dad's transmission shop, the Marine Corps, and a used car lot he opened in 1997 before landing his first franchise store three years later. That grit and resourcefulness still defines how he runs his stores today. In this conversation, Ed and Michael dig into the real challenges of multi-rooftop inventory management, why sourcing used cars remains the toughest puzzle in the business, and how Ed's team is using VINCUE — from trade appraisals to service-to-sale outreach — to gain a competitive edge that pricing tools alone can't deliver. Ed also shares his candid take on AI in the dealership ("it's not going to eliminate jobs — it's going to make everybody's job better"), what he's learned about building a team that grows together, and why transparency might be the most powerful tool any dealer has right now.

Chip Perry & Steve Greenfield of Autotrader with Danny Zaslavsky

This episode of Cue the Next Leader is a special exclusive, hosted by VINCUE President Danny Zaslavsky, and joined by Chip Perry, former CEO of Cox Automotive, and his friend and colleague, and former Vice President of Product & Business Development, Steve Greenfield.  These two men are true industry titans, arguably the primary architects of the first major digital transformation in automotive. Together, they created an empire and forever changed the way dealerships appraise, acquire, manage, and sell inventory.  As advisors to VINCUE, they are again looking into the future and helping us define Vehicle Lifecycle Management for the next generation of retail automotive. We were honored to host them during a recent visit where they toured our building, met with our teams, and inspired us keep innovating.  During that visit, they sat down with Danny Zaslavsky to talk about their history in the industry, major achievements, and where they see automotive retail going in a future where AI will dramatically change everything from inventory operations to customer experience.

Russell Tabone’s Formula: Love People, Love Cars, Use VINCUE

In this episode of Cue the Next Leader, host Michael Hopkins sits down with Russell Tabone, General Manager and Dealer Operator at CMA’s Hyundai of Lynchburg. From 19 years in the car wash industry to leading one of the most successful dealerships at Carter Myers Automotive, Russell shares his unconventional journey, and how he went from avoiding car sales to becoming a champion of people-first leadership. Under his guidance, CMA’s Hyundai has opened a state-of-the-art showroom and is nearing completion on a cutting-edge service department expansion. Russell is a proud NADA Academy graduate and a passionate advocate for CMA’s employee-owned model. He believes that when people love where they work, whether it's employees or customers, great results follow. He talks openly about: * Why perfecting the customer experience matters more than inventory * How VINCUE has helped streamline operations, grow used inventory, and cut costs * What it means to lead with transparency, trust, and real-time data * The value of dealer feedback in building better tech * His personal advice to new salespeople and dealers considering VINCUE Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just breaking into automotive, Russell’s perspective on culture, process, and purpose is packed with wisdom and heart. As he says: “Love people. Love cars.”