March 22, 2025 • 10 mins
Lindsey Michael Longo is an accomplished automotive executive with a dynamic career spanning leadership roles in dealership operations, corporate strategy, and marketing. Currently serving as Dealer Principal/Vice President at both Beach Chevrolet and Beach Buick GMC, Lindsey has a proven track record of transforming underperforming stores into top performers. After acquiring Beach Chevrolet in January 2024, she quickly drove impressive sales results, surpassing monthly objectives and reenergizing the store’s performance. At Beach Buick GMC, she revitalized the dealership within 15 months, achieving high rankings in Buick and GMC metrics and growing its commercial presence as a Business Elite Dealer. Her commitment to elevating dealership standards is also reflected in her active involvement with the Women’s Retail Network.
In addition Lindsey plays a key role in strategic operations for Capital Auto Group, her family’s business, supporting General Managers across multiple brands and 30+ locations in the Carolinas. Her responsibilities span across sales optimization, BDC productivity, OEM relations, marketing and profitability improvement. Before her current roles, she honed her skills as an Account Director at Sokal Media Group, managing dealership clients across multiple states and leading the shift from traditional to digital and traditional marketing strategies. Lindsey is a 2022 Auto Remarketing "40 Under 40" honoree and a proud graduate of the National Automotive Dealers Association Academy, Class of 2023. She is actively involved in industry and community initiatives, serving as Co-Chair for the Make-A-Wish Central and Western NC Wish Ball Committee and supporting automotive education through partnerships with Wake Technical Institute and NASCAR Technical Institute. She is also a member of National Association of Minority Automotive Dealers, WOCAN ally, and General Motors’ Women’s Retail Network.
In addition Lindsey plays a key role in strategic operations for Capital Auto Group, her family’s business, supporting General Managers across multiple brands and 30+ locations in the Carolinas. Her responsibilities span across sales optimization, BDC productivity, OEM relations, marketing and profitability improvement. Before her current roles, she honed her skills as an Account Director at Sokal Media Group, managing dealership clients across multiple states and leading the shift from traditional to digital and traditional marketing strategies. Lindsey is a 2022 Auto Remarketing "40 Under 40" honoree and a proud graduate of the National Automotive Dealers Association Academy, Class of 2023. She is actively involved in industry and community initiatives, serving as Co-Chair for the Make-A-Wish Central and Western NC Wish Ball Committee and supporting automotive education through partnerships with Wake Technical Institute and NASCAR Technical Institute. She is also a member of National Association of Minority Automotive Dealers, WOCAN ally, and General Motors’ Women’s Retail Network.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the iHeartMedia Charlotte Women of Impact, celebrating women
in our community, presented by That Carolina Assent and New
Hope Treatment Centers.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
My name is Lindsay Michael Longo.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
I'm the Chief Strategy Officer for Capital Automotive Group and
then I'm also dealer Principal at TO Dealerships in Myrtle Beach.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
Thinking of empowering the next generation of women, which character
traits do you think have been most instrumental to your success?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Sure? So, I think a few things.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
I think being a female, the biggest thing for me
has always been leading with empathy.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
And I think.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Sometimes women, especially in the workforce, can be kind of
labeled as emotional, and I feel like that's not a negative.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
I think that's a positive.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
I think one of my strengths is the ability to
you know, rally our employees and kind of get to
know them, you know, at work and then at home,
because I really think to be effective at work, I
think you have understand one what drives people, but also
what they go home to. I mean, everybody goes home
(01:06):
to something different, it can be positive or negative.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
And I think to motivate people.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
At work, I think you really need to understand their
highs and their lows to be able to mold and
get the best out of them at work. So that's
been really important for me. And then being in the
automotive industry, it's kind of unique because only about twenty
five percent of the industry is women, and so we
are undervalued, I think in this industry, and it's been
(01:34):
one of the industries that's taken a while to catch
up to the times. It is that good old boy
mentality and it's an interesting industry to work in, and
I think for me it's been kind of that adaptability
to be able to accept what you're walking into and
own that you're being underestimated and prove them wrong. So
(01:55):
I think also leading into like a little.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Bit of confidence.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
You have to have confidence to be a female in
this industry and you know, really being able to kind
of push that envelope to take your seat at the table.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
So that's been the biggest things for me.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
We think often young people struggle with what they want
to do in their careers, so much pressure to figure
it all out when they're young. What are your thoughts
on trying to figure it all out in the beginning.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, I think back to when I started, and it
is daunting to think about you've got to go into
the workforce and just know it all. And I think,
you know, taking a beat and saying, you know, I
don't have it figured out. I think it's unrealistic for anyone,
even in your later twenties, to think you've got it
figured out. You don't have it figured out. I mean,
(02:41):
I think I sure has hacked today. Don't have it
figured out. I think that you know, you just really leverage.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Your experiences in life.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
I think it's really important to take every step and
may be positive or negative, but really embrace those experiences
and think, you know, it's a stepping stone. And I
think a big piece of it, whatever industry or job
you go into, I think you have to if you
want it to be a true career.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
I think you have to find passion in it.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I think if you don't have passion, I think it's
really hard to not to say that you couldn't be
successful at it. I just think you can take it
to the next level if you find passion.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
And it doesn't mean.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
That you could love every piece of everything you do.
I think you may love being in the environment, you
may love the people that you work with, and I
think if you find value there, I think you can
be successful. And I think, you know, being young, I
think it's really important one to figure out what you
really enjoy doing, because if you go to work and
you hate your job every day and what you do,
(03:40):
you're never going to be happy. And I think too,
just understanding that every person.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
You meet you should embrace that.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
I think finding mentors, finding people that you look up to,
and you know, taking every experience and making the most
out of it.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I think that's what really matters.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
And I think if you do that day by day,
I think anybody will be successful and you'll.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Get there based on the lessons that you've learned from
your experience. What would you say if you could go
back in time and speak to your twenty year old self,
would you do anything differently?
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Oh gosh, I think I do a lot of things differently,
But I think, you know, thinking about work related items,
I think just not being afraid to take up space.
I think back there were so many situations that I
think I went into and I was uncertain about myself.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
I had zero confidence.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
I doubted my own capabilities, and I think if I
could go back and instill some of that confidence even
when I maybe wasn't ready to step into a role
that I was given, I think that would have served
me well. I think confidence just it comes from action.
And I think that you know, you should build relationships
(04:57):
early on, leverage those relationships and and really take on
you know, like I mentioned before, mentors and allies to
help guide you. And you know, they always say fake
it before you make it, and I think that is
so true. I think it's all about your people's skills
and you don't have to know it all. I think
that it's all about just being willing to learn, and
(05:19):
you know, telling yourself, I don't know it all, it's okay,
ask questions and just again, just embrace every situation that
you've been given.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Have you experienced barriers in your career and how have
you broken those down?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah? So it's funny.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
You know, I talked about twenty five percent of this
industry and automotive is females. So absolutely I've experienced a
lot of this, especially being in the South, that good
old boy mentality.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
It's been a challenge.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
I think about one particular situation a few years ago
and I am a second generation, so my dad started
the company and then I've kind of followed in his footsteps.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
So I think this particular situation, I was stepping into
a new.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Role and completely underestimated, and at certain times I felt
disrespected as a female. And you know, I remember a
few calls that I made to my dad and I said,
I don't know if I can do this. I just
I can't take the disrespect and just being just constantly underestimated.
(06:27):
And his advice to me in that moment was, you know,
let them underestimate you.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
You prove them wrong.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
You keep your mouth shut, and you just work and
show them that you know what you're doing. And I
guarantee you in a few months time that that things
are going to turn around. It's not worth you know,
fighting back.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
You just prove to them.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
And honestly, that was the best advice because I did that.
It was very tough at certain moments, but I did it,
and you know, it took about six months and then
I had that kind of aha moment where I realized
the tides had turned.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
I'd proven myself.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
And to this day, if anything needs to be accomplished
with that team, I mean, I'm their first call. So
I feel like that's a win, even though they'll never
admit it. I think for me it's it's all about
just proving it and hard work and just making sure
that let them underestimate me. Now I feel like I
(07:24):
embrace that. I kind of like when I walk into
a room and I'm underestimated, because then that moment when
they're like, Okay, never mind, that's my first expectation didn't
turn out to be that way. That's what I love
the most. So for me, that's it's always a struggle.
I mean, to this day, I still walk into situations
(07:46):
where you know, I'm underestimated, but that's okay. And I
think you just have to constantly show up and do
what you.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Need to do.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
If you had the ears of young women in char
which you do, what advice would you give them as
they set out on their careers.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Yeah, I think and this goes for anyone, but especially women.
I think we have to advocate for ourselves. I think,
you know, you can't just assume you're gonna have a
seat at the table. I think you've got to push
the envelope a little bit. And you know, I mentioned
finding mentors.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
I think that's a great start.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
I think that you surround yourself with people that push
you to do better, and I think that you just
don't give up. I think that you keep pushing and
you create your own opportunities. And you know, no to
me doesn't mean no, It just means no right now.
And I think that that's what drives me to put
(08:41):
make it into a yues. So I think that for me,
the people that I look up to, they they're strong
leaders because they don't.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Know it all and they will never know it all.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
And I think the minute that you forget that, we're
always learning. I think that when you lose control, and
I think that the minute you know it all, you're wrong.
And so I think that if you look at, you know,
the Forbes top leaders, I think they're there because they're
always willing to embrace other ideas other people. And so
(09:17):
I think for women especially, I think we have to
take it upon ourselves to push it and prove our worth.
And that's okay because I think that once you're in,
you're in. And I think that I think that for
the most part, and I speak about the automotive industry,
but this goes for any I think that that people
are willing. I think they want more women at the
(09:39):
table because they see our value and they see all
these things that for years have been said in a
negative connotation are actually positives, and we make great managers.
We are really good at rallying the troops and creating
that team mentality and using that emotion to our benefit.
And so I think that's the biggest thing, is just
fight for it each every day.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
iHeartMedia. Charlotte Women of Impact, celebrating women in our community,
presented by the Carolina Ascent and New Hope Treatment Centers,
This is the iHeartMedia Charlotte Women of Impact, celebrating women
in our community, presented by That Carolina Assent and New
Hope Treatment Centers.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
My name is Lindsay Michael Longo.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
I'm the Chief Strategy Officer for Capital Automotive Group and
then I'm also dealer Principal at TO Dealerships in Myrtle Beach.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
Thinking of empowering the next generation of women, which character
traits do you think have been most instrumental to your success?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Sure? So, I think a few things.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
I think being a female, the biggest thing for me
has always been leading with empathy.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
And I think.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Sometimes women, especially in the workforce, can be kind of
labeled as emotional, and I feel like that's not a negative.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
I think that's a positive.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
I think one of my strengths is the ability to
you know, rally our employees and kind of get to
know them, you know, at work and then at home,
because I really think to be effective at work, I
think you have understand one what drives people, but also
what they go home to. I mean, everybody goes home
(01:06):
to something different, it can be positive or negative.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
And I think to motivate people.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
At work, I think you really need to understand their
highs and their lows to be able to mold and
get the best out of them at work. So that's
been really important for me. And then being in the
automotive industry, it's kind of unique because only about twenty
five percent of the industry is women, and so we
are undervalued, I think in this industry, and it's been
(01:34):
one of the industries that's taken a while to catch
up to the times. It is that good old boy
mentality and it's an interesting industry to work in, and
I think for me it's been kind of that adaptability
to be able to accept what you're walking into and
own that you're being underestimated and prove them wrong. So
(01:55):
I think also leading into like a little.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Bit of confidence.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
You have to have confidence to be a female in
this industry and you know, really being able to kind
of push that envelope to take your seat at the table.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
So that's been the biggest things for me.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
We think often young people struggle with what they want
to do in their careers, so much pressure to figure
it all out when they're young. What are your thoughts
on trying to figure it all out in the beginning.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, I think back to when I started, and it
is daunting to think about you've got to go into
the workforce and just know it all. And I think,
you know, taking a beat and saying, you know, I
don't have it figured out. I think it's unrealistic for anyone,
even in your later twenties, to think you've got it
figured out. You don't have it figured out. I mean,
(02:41):
I think I sure has hacked today. Don't have it
figured out. I think that you know, you just really leverage.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Your experiences in life.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
I think it's really important to take every step and
may be positive or negative, but really embrace those experiences
and think, you know, it's a stepping stone. And I
think a big piece of it, whatever industry or job
you go into, I think you have to if you
want it to be a true career.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
I think you have to find passion in it.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I think if you don't have passion, I think it's
really hard to not to say that you couldn't be
successful at it. I just think you can take it
to the next level if you find passion.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
And it doesn't mean.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
That you could love every piece of everything you do.
I think you may love being in the environment, you
may love the people that you work with, and I
think if you find value there, I think you can
be successful. And I think, you know, being young, I
think it's really important one to figure out what you
really enjoy doing, because if you go to work and
you hate your job every day and what you do,
(03:40):
you're never going to be happy. And I think too,
just understanding that every person.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
You meet you should embrace that.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
I think finding mentors, finding people that you look up to,
and you know, taking every experience and making the most
out of it.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I think that's what really matters.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
And I think if you do that day by day,
I think anybody will be successful and you'll.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Get there based on the lessons that you've learned from
your experience. What would you say if you could go
back in time and speak to your twenty year old self,
would you do anything differently?
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Oh gosh, I think I do a lot of things differently,
But I think, you know, thinking about work related items,
I think just not being afraid to take up space.
I think back there were so many situations that I
think I went into and I was uncertain about myself.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
I had zero confidence.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
I doubted my own capabilities, and I think if I
could go back and instill some of that confidence even
when I maybe wasn't ready to step into a role
that I was given, I think that would have served
me well. I think confidence just it comes from action.
And I think that you know, you should build relationships
(04:57):
early on, leverage those relationships and and really take on
you know, like I mentioned before, mentors and allies to
help guide you. And you know, they always say fake
it before you make it, and I think that is
so true. I think it's all about your people's skills
and you don't have to know it all. I think
that it's all about just being willing to learn, and
(05:19):
you know, telling yourself, I don't know it all, it's okay,
ask questions and just again, just embrace every situation that
you've been given.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Have you experienced barriers in your career and how have
you broken those down?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah? So it's funny.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
You know, I talked about twenty five percent of this
industry and automotive is females. So absolutely I've experienced a
lot of this, especially being in the South, that good
old boy mentality.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
It's been a challenge.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
I think about one particular situation a few years ago
and I am a second generation, so my dad started
the company and then I've kind of followed in his footsteps.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
So I think this particular situation, I was stepping into
a new.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Role and completely underestimated, and at certain times I felt
disrespected as a female. And you know, I remember a
few calls that I made to my dad and I said,
I don't know if I can do this. I just
I can't take the disrespect and just being just constantly underestimated.
(06:27):
And his advice to me in that moment was, you know,
let them underestimate you.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
You prove them wrong.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
You keep your mouth shut, and you just work and
show them that you know what you're doing. And I
guarantee you in a few months time that that things
are going to turn around. It's not worth you know,
fighting back.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
You just prove to them.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
And honestly, that was the best advice because I did that.
It was very tough at certain moments, but I did it,
and you know, it took about six months and then
I had that kind of aha moment where I realized
the tides had turned.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
I'd proven myself.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
And to this day, if anything needs to be accomplished
with that team, I mean, I'm their first call. So
I feel like that's a win, even though they'll never
admit it. I think for me it's it's all about
just proving it and hard work and just making sure
that let them underestimate me. Now I feel like I
(07:24):
embrace that. I kind of like when I walk into
a room and I'm underestimated, because then that moment when
they're like, Okay, never mind, that's my first expectation didn't
turn out to be that way. That's what I love
the most. So for me, that's it's always a struggle.
I mean, to this day, I still walk into situations
(07:46):
where you know, I'm underestimated, but that's okay. And I
think you just have to constantly show up and do
what you.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Need to do.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
If you had the ears of young women in char
which you do, what advice would you give them as
they set out on their careers.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Yeah, I think and this goes for anyone, but especially women.
I think we have to advocate for ourselves. I think,
you know, you can't just assume you're gonna have a
seat at the table. I think you've got to push
the envelope a little bit. And you know, I mentioned
finding mentors.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
I think that's a great start.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
I think that you surround yourself with people that push
you to do better, and I think that you just
don't give up. I think that you keep pushing and
you create your own opportunities. And you know, no to
me doesn't mean no, It just means no right now.
And I think that that's what drives me to put
(08:41):
make it into a yues. So I think that for me,
the people that I look up to, they they're strong
leaders because they don't.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Know it all and they will never know it all.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
And I think the minute that you forget that, we're
always learning. I think that when you lose control, and
I think that the minute you know it all, you're wrong.
And so I think that if you look at, you know,
the Forbes top leaders, I think they're there because they're
always willing to embrace other ideas other people. And so
(09:17):
I think for women especially, I think we have to
take it upon ourselves to push it and prove our worth.
And that's okay because I think that once you're in,
you're in. And I think that I think that for
the most part, and I speak about the automotive industry,
but this goes for any I think that that people
are willing. I think they want more women at the
(09:39):
table because they see our value and they see all
these things that for years have been said in a
negative connotation are actually positives, and we make great managers.
We are really good at rallying the troops and creating
that team mentality and using that emotion to our benefit.
And so I think that's the biggest thing, is just
fight for it each every day.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
iHeartMedia. Charlotte Women of Impact, celebrating women in our community,
presented by the Carolina Ascent and New Hope Treatment Centers,
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