2017 honorees
Click or tap to see more detail about each honoree
Below are the forty Under forty Retail honorees the Automotive News editorial staff has selected in the very first six years of this program. Something about each of them made them indisputable standouts to our selection team. We congratulate them, and hope you are inspired by their stories. Check back July two thousand eighteen when we announce the next class of forty Under 40.
2016 honorees
Story: Brothers get crash course in ownership
Click or tap to see more detail about each honoree
Sheena Banton
Improved sales and service results by developing a central customer database and automating email marketing
Zachary Brandt
Enhanced sales in immobilized ops by eighty percent in two years
Ben Burton
Revitalized Kia in the market using promotions such as local concert sponsorships and electronics giveaways
Richard DeAngelo
Highest-rated BMW dealership in Fresh York on DealerRater
Megan Desideri
Using creative events, among other marketing contraptions, to build customer relationships
Adam Fitzpatrick
Boosted revenue forty five percent as general manager of a Chevrolet dealership in Wisconsin
Tom Fohr
In very first year as general manager, enhanced dealership’s profits to a 10-year high and sales to a 20-year high
Jim Gallagher
Since joining the dealership last fall, toughly doubled unit sales, raised F&I results and quickened used-vehicle turns, resulting in the store’s swinging into the black
Alex Graham
Converted four stores to no-haggle pricing while enhancing sales, profits and customer satisfaction scores. In 2015, fresh and used combined sales were 12,177 vehicles for the six-store group, up thirty two percent from 2014
Hampton Graham
Restructured the six-dealership group, sold stores, raised money to pay down debt
Edward Hwang
Turned store from underperformer to top-tier dealership
Samantha Jacobson
Launched Via Luxury Rentals, an affiliate that treats service loaners and rentals
Tafi Jaji
Led his store to No. One in overall net profit among all Hendrick Automotive dealerships, the very first time a domestic franchise had achieved that distinction
Joshua Johnson
Expanded the group’s franchises to eight from three since two thousand six and boosted net profit forty six percent in 2015
Michael Kabcenell
Helped restructure how Penske sells finance and insurance products, resulting in gains in F&I gross profits
Robert Karbaum
Shaped online strategies for numerous Canadian dealership groups and oversaw increases for key digital-performance indicators at Dilawri
Walt Kelsey
Tripled the store’s previous volume in the very first year of ownership
Jason Kopp
Significantly raised market share and profitability
Ryan LaFontaine
Built company from three dealerships to 20
Matt Laughridge
Managing two dealerships and a hotel while serving as finance chairman of NADA’s political act committee
Greg Lefave
Turning two stores that previously averaged about five hundred eighty retail units per year into stores that sell 1,200 per year
Margot Miller
Enlargened Mills Auto Group’s F&I income thirty one percent
Steve Mudd
Boosted new- and used-vehicle sales since becoming general manager in July 2015, driving total net profit to $470,000 in the last half of that year, up from just $7,000 in the very first half
Allison Musante
Switched to one hundred percent digital advertising and targeted marketing in 2015. New-vehicle sales enhanced twenty two percent from 2014, to eight hundred ninety five units
Jon Oeltjen
Turned two sales departments from net losses into net profits and tripled the net profit of a third department by instilling a “quick-turn mindset”
Jennifer Oribello
With no automotive or finance background and just three years in her position, Oribello is consistently the top special finance performer among her peers in the six-store Champ Automotive Group
Mark Olson
Revamped the dealership’s Internet business, which now accounts for more than half the store’s total sales
Brady Peterson
Having the most profitable year ever in the history of the Lexus store in 2015
Jason Pickering
Led dealership to Berkshire Hathaway Automotive Honors title
Abe Razick
Took over a Hyundai store in March two thousand fifteen and more than quadrupled monthly sales by year end
Anthony Ries
Turning around a troubled Buick-GMC dealership
Robert Sickel
Set up business development centers to drive sales
Shujaat Siddiqui
Rated No. One U.S. dealership by BMW of North America in 2015, based on fifteen key spectacle indicators plus customer satisfaction score
Allen Tate
In a smaller market, his store sold more fresh vehicles in two thousand fifteen than half of the Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram dealerships in the Houston area
Shawn Vaughan
Enhanced net profit seventy five percent in three years at Toyota store ant took Nissan store from a $250,000 loss to a net profit of $1.Four million in his 2nd year of running it
Heather Wagener
Instituted weekly staff meetings, which led to improved service customer satisfaction scores
Dustin Walters
Johnson City store landed on Automotive News’ Best Dealerships To Work For list four years in row and, in 2015, was 2nd in the state among Hyundai dealerships in total new-vehicle volume
Brandin Wilkinson
After becoming part proprietor of the dealership in 2013, he grew sales volume sixty one percent and tripled net profits.
Kelly Wolf
Enlargened sales fivefold at Porsche of North Houston; helped expand luxury dealership group from one store to seven
Dan Zarrillo
Improved new-vehicle sales by more than fifty percent, contributing to the store’s record profits in 2015
40 Under forty – Automotive News
2017 honorees
Click or tap to see more detail about each honoree
Below are the forty Under forty Retail honorees the Automotive News editorial staff has selected in the very first six years of this program. Something about each of them made them unquestionable standouts to our selection team. We congratulate them, and hope you are inspired by their stories. Check back July two thousand eighteen when we announce the next class of forty Under 40.
2016 honorees
Story: Brothers get crash course in ownership
Click or tap to see more detail about each honoree
Sheena Banton
Improved sales and service results by developing a central customer database and automating email marketing
Zachary Brandt
Enhanced sales in immobilized ops by eighty percent in two years
Ben Burton
Revitalized Kia in the market using promotions such as local concert sponsorships and electronics giveaways
Richard DeAngelo
Highest-rated BMW dealership in Fresh York on DealerRater
Megan Desideri
Using creative events, among other marketing devices, to build customer relationships
Adam Fitzpatrick
Boosted revenue forty five percent as general manager of a Chevrolet dealership in Wisconsin
Tom Fohr
In very first year as general manager, enlargened dealership’s profits to a 10-year high and sales to a 20-year high
Jim Gallagher
Since joining the dealership last fall, harshly doubled unit sales, raised F&I results and quickened used-vehicle turns, resulting in the store’s swinging into the black
Alex Graham
Converted four stores to no-haggle pricing while enhancing sales, profits and customer satisfaction scores. In 2015, fresh and used combined sales were 12,177 vehicles for the six-store group, up thirty two percent from 2014
Hampton Graham
Restructured the six-dealership group, sold stores, raised money to pay down debt
Edward Hwang
Turned store from underperformer to top-tier dealership
Samantha Jacobson
Launched Via Luxury Rentals, an affiliate that treats service loaners and rentals
Tafi Jaji
Led his store to No. One in overall net profit among all Hendrick Automotive dealerships, the very first time a domestic franchise had achieved that distinction
Joshua Johnson
Expanded the group’s franchises to eight from three since two thousand six and boosted net profit forty six percent in 2015
Michael Kabcenell
Helped restructure how Penske sells finance and insurance products, resulting in gains in F&I gross profits
Robert Karbaum
Shaped online strategies for numerous Canadian dealership groups and oversaw increases for key digital-performance indicators at Dilawri
Walt Kelsey
Tripled the store’s previous volume in the very first year of ownership
Jason Kopp
Significantly raised market share and profitability
Ryan LaFontaine
Built company from three dealerships to 20
Matt Laughridge
Managing two dealerships and a hotel while serving as finance chairman of NADA’s political act committee
Greg Lefave
Turning two stores that previously averaged about five hundred eighty retail units per year into stores that sell 1,200 per year
Margot Miller
Enhanced Mills Auto Group’s F&I income thirty one percent
Steve Mudd
Boosted new- and used-vehicle sales since becoming general manager in July 2015, driving total net profit to $470,000 in the last half of that year, up from just $7,000 in the very first half
Allison Musante
Switched to one hundred percent digital advertising and targeted marketing in 2015. New-vehicle sales enlargened twenty two percent from 2014, to eight hundred ninety five units
Jon Oeltjen
Turned two sales departments from net losses into net profits and tripled the net profit of a third department by instilling a “quick-turn mindset”
Jennifer Oribello
With no automotive or finance background and just three years in her position, Oribello is consistently the top special finance performer among her peers in the six-store Champ Automotive Group
Mark Olson
Revamped the dealership’s Internet business, which now accounts for more than half the store’s total sales
Brady Peterson
Having the most profitable year ever in the history of the Lexus store in 2015
Jason Pickering
Led dealership to Berkshire Hathaway Automotive Honors title
Abe Razick
Took over a Hyundai store in March two thousand fifteen and more than quadrupled monthly sales by year end
Anthony Ries
Turning around a troubled Buick-GMC dealership
Robert Sickel
Set up business development centers to drive sales
Shujaat Siddiqui
Rated No. One U.S. dealership by BMW of North America in 2015, based on fifteen key spectacle indicators plus customer satisfaction score
Allen Tate
In a smaller market, his store sold more fresh vehicles in two thousand fifteen than half of the Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram dealerships in the Houston area
Shawn Vaughan
Enhanced net profit seventy five percent in three years at Toyota store ant took Nissan store from a $250,000 loss to a net profit of $1.Four million in his 2nd year of running it
Heather Wagener
Instituted weekly staff meetings, which led to improved service customer satisfaction scores
Dustin Walters
Johnson City store landed on Automotive News’ Best Dealerships To Work For list four years in row and, in 2015, was 2nd in the state among Hyundai dealerships in total new-vehicle volume
Brandin Wilkinson
After becoming part possessor of the dealership in 2013, he grew sales volume sixty one percent and tripled net profits.
Kelly Wolf
Enlargened sales fivefold at Porsche of North Houston; helped expand luxury dealership group from one store to seven
Dan Zarrillo
Improved new-vehicle sales by more than fifty percent, contributing to the store’s record profits in 2015
40 Under forty – Automotive News
2017 honorees
Click or tap to see more detail about each honoree
Below are the forty Under forty Retail honorees the Automotive News editorial staff has selected in the very first six years of this program. Something about each of them made them unquestionable standouts to our selection team. We congratulate them, and hope you are inspired by their stories. Check back July two thousand eighteen when we announce the next class of forty Under 40.
2016 honorees
Story: Brothers get crash course in ownership
Click or tap to see more detail about each honoree
Sheena Banton
Improved sales and service results by developing a central customer database and automating email marketing
Zachary Brandt
Enhanced sales in immobile ops by eighty percent in two years
Ben Burton
Revitalized Kia in the market using promotions such as local concert sponsorships and electronics giveaways
Richard DeAngelo
Highest-rated BMW dealership in Fresh York on DealerRater
Megan Desideri
Using creative events, among other marketing instruments, to build customer relationships
Adam Fitzpatrick
Boosted revenue forty five percent as general manager of a Chevrolet dealership in Wisconsin
Tom Fohr
In very first year as general manager, enhanced dealership’s profits to a 10-year high and sales to a 20-year high
Jim Gallagher
Since joining the dealership last fall, toughly doubled unit sales, raised F&I results and quickened used-vehicle turns, resulting in the store’s swinging into the black
Alex Graham
Converted four stores to no-haggle pricing while enhancing sales, profits and customer satisfaction scores. In 2015, fresh and used combined sales were 12,177 vehicles for the six-store group, up thirty two percent from 2014
Hampton Graham
Restructured the six-dealership group, sold stores, raised money to pay down debt
Edward Hwang
Turned store from underperformer to top-tier dealership
Samantha Jacobson
Launched Via Luxury Rentals, an affiliate that treats service loaners and rentals
Tafi Jaji
Led his store to No. One in overall net profit among all Hendrick Automotive dealerships, the very first time a domestic franchise had achieved that distinction
Joshua Johnson
Expanded the group’s franchises to eight from three since two thousand six and boosted net profit forty six percent in 2015
Michael Kabcenell
Helped restructure how Penske sells finance and insurance products, resulting in gains in F&I gross profits
Robert Karbaum
Shaped online strategies for numerous Canadian dealership groups and oversaw increases for key digital-performance indicators at Dilawri
Walt Kelsey
Tripled the store’s previous volume in the very first year of ownership
Jason Kopp
Significantly raised market share and profitability
Ryan LaFontaine
Built company from three dealerships to 20
Matt Laughridge
Managing two dealerships and a hotel while serving as finance chairman of NADA’s political activity committee
Greg Lefave
Turning two stores that previously averaged about five hundred eighty retail units per year into stores that sell 1,200 per year
Margot Miller
Enhanced Mills Auto Group’s F&I income thirty one percent
Steve Mudd
Boosted new- and used-vehicle sales since becoming general manager in July 2015, driving total net profit to $470,000 in the last half of that year, up from just $7,000 in the very first half
Allison Musante
Switched to one hundred percent digital advertising and targeted marketing in 2015. New-vehicle sales enlargened twenty two percent from 2014, to eight hundred ninety five units
Jon Oeltjen
Turned two sales departments from net losses into net profits and tripled the net profit of a third department by instilling a “quick-turn mindset”
Jennifer Oribello
With no automotive or finance background and just three years in her position, Oribello is consistently the top special finance performer among her peers in the six-store Champ Automotive Group
Mark Olson
Revamped the dealership’s Internet business, which now accounts for more than half the store’s total sales
Brady Peterson
Having the most profitable year ever in the history of the Lexus store in 2015
Jason Pickering
Led dealership to Berkshire Hathaway Automotive Honors title
Abe Razick
Took over a Hyundai store in March two thousand fifteen and more than quadrupled monthly sales by year end
Anthony Ries
Turning around a troubled Buick-GMC dealership
Robert Sickel
Set up business development centers to drive sales
Shujaat Siddiqui
Rated No. One U.S. dealership by BMW of North America in 2015, based on fifteen key spectacle indicators plus customer satisfaction score
Allen Tate
In a smaller market, his store sold more fresh vehicles in two thousand fifteen than half of the Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram dealerships in the Houston area
Shawn Vaughan
Enhanced net profit seventy five percent in three years at Toyota store ant took Nissan store from a $250,000 loss to a net profit of $1.Four million in his 2nd year of running it
Heather Wagener
Instituted weekly staff meetings, which led to improved service customer satisfaction scores
Dustin Walters
Johnson City store landed on Automotive News’ Best Dealerships To Work For list four years in row and, in 2015, was 2nd in the state among Hyundai dealerships in total new-vehicle volume
Brandin Wilkinson
After becoming part possessor of the dealership in 2013, he grew sales volume sixty one percent and tripled net profits.
Kelly Wolf
Enlargened sales fivefold at Porsche of North Houston; helped expand luxury dealership group from one store to seven
Dan Zarrillo
Improved new-vehicle sales by more than fifty percent, contributing to the store’s record profits in 2015