Auto Collabs
Collaboration through connection. Hosted by Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, and Michael Cirillo, Auto Collabs is your connect point to the human side of the retail automotive industry: what motivates its leaders, how they navigate change, and what keeps them pushing forward. It’s beyond-the-business-card conversations with real people powering dealerships, technology platforms, and everything in between. From the team behind the More Than Cars movement, this podcast is built on one big belief: thriving people create thriving businesses. With candid conversations, industry insight, and just enough unfiltered banter to keep things interesting, Auto Collabs delivers authentic stories that inspire real collaboration. // Auto Collabs is produced by Automotive State of the Union (ASOTU). Learn more at https://www.asotu.com
Episodes
Most companies chase growth—Sanjay Varnwal is chasing velocity, and it’s changing how dealers think about inventory, AI, and survival.
In this episode, the crew sits down with Sanjay Varnwal, co-founder of Spyne, to unpack how dealerships can compete in an industry where every day a vehicle sits unsold costs real money. From AI-powered merchandising to appointment-setting agents that never sleep, Sanjay explains...
Most industries are still complaining about the talent shortage. New Jersey decided to fix it.
In this episode, Laura Perrotta, President of NJ CAR, breaks down a bold, fully funded technician training program that’s flipping the script on workforce development. Backed by state grants and built in partnership with dealerships, the program pays students to learn, trains them inside real service departments, and g...
Most dealers think they’re losing on price—but the real reason customers walk away is far more human (and far more fixable).
Tom Kondrat, Advanced Analytics Director at Urban Science, joins Auto Collabs to unpack one of the most misunderstood problems in retail automotive: customer defection. Drawing on real-time sales data and post-purchase surveys, Tom reveals a surprising truth—price isn’t the main reason cus...
Jen Suzuki doesn’t walk into a room, she revs it.
In this episode, she brings her signature “Jenergy” to a direct conversation about what’s really holding dealerships back: comfort. From outdated sales processes to leaders who’ve stepped too far away from the front lines, Jen makes it clear that if you’re not pushing yourself, someone else is already catching up.
This episode also dives into the role of ment...
If your competitive edge is still price, you’re already losing—the real battle is happening in experience, simplicity, and how you make people feel.
Glenn Pasch has logged over a million miles in the air and many hours helping dealerships rethink how they market, sell, and retain customers. In this episode, the crew unpacks what he’s seeing now. The market has shifted. Inventory is no longer the advantage, and t...
Automotive spent years patching old systems together and now AI is forcing the industry to confront what should have been rebuilt a long time ago.
Misty Tippets of Podium joins the show with a perspective the industry badly needs: one foot in modern SaaS, the other in the reality of retail automotive. With a background in agency work, Salesforce implementations, and enterprise tech, she brings an outsider’s clar...
At the NY Auto Forum, Lance Woelfer, Vice President of Automobile Sales at American Honda, breaks down a major shift in strategy as the EV transition slows across the U.S. market. While early momentum was driven by government incentives and aggressive timelines, changing consumer demand and infrastructure gaps are forcing automakers to rethink their approach.
This conversation goes beyond headlines to explain wh...
At the NY Auto Forum, Tom Castriota, former NADA Chairman and Owner of Castriota Chevrolet, breaks down the growing pressure dealers are facing from regulation, affordability challenges, and shifting market dynamics. With increased scrutiny from the FTC around pricing practices, the industry is being pushed toward greater transparency—creating both clarity and new competitive realities.
This conversation goes be...
At the NY Auto Forum, Liza Borches, President of Carter Myers Automotive, breaks down a growing disconnect in the service lane. Despite years of innovation and record service growth, only a fraction of customers are receiving basic transparency tools like video multipoint inspections. The result: a widening gap between what customers expect—and what dealers consistently deliver.
This conversation moves beyond su...
At the NY Auto Forum, Alan Cooper shares a deeply personal perspective on an often-overlooked reality in the automotive industry—mental health. After decades in retail and leadership, Cooper opens up about his own battle with depression and the hidden toll of an industry that demands resilience but rarely creates space for vulnerability.
This conversation goes beyond surface-level discussion to address a hard tr...
At the NY Auto Forum, Steve Greenfield, CEO of Automotive Ventures, breaks down how dealers need to rethink their business for the next 5–10 years. While most operators are stuck managing a 30-day cycle, the real challenge is building long-term resilience in a market shaped by AI, affordability pressure, and global disruption.
This conversation moves beyond short-term tactics to focus on structural change. From ...
At the NY Auto Forum, Stewart Stropp, VP of Customer Success at J.D. Power, breaks down how service is becoming one of the most critical drivers of customer retention and long-term profitability for dealers. As consumer expectations evolve, transparency, convenience, and communication are no longer differentiators—they’re becoming baseline requirements.
This conversation goes beyond surface-level service tactics...
At the New York Auto Show, Mark Schienberg, President of the show, breaks down what it actually takes to bring one of the largest automotive events in the world to life. With nearly 2,800 workers, millions of pounds of equipment, and just days to execute, the scale is massive—but the bigger story is what these events represent in a post-COVID, increasingly digital industry.
As manufacturers doubled down on digit...
At the NY Auto Forum, Senator Bernie Moreno lays out a blunt, high-stakes reality facing the U.S. auto industry. With China’s massive overcapacity, government-backed subsidies, and global expansion strategy, the threat isn’t theoretical—it’s structural. Moreno argues that without decisive action, the Western auto industry risks being undercut at scale, with long-term consequences for jobs, innovation, and economic s...
At the NY Auto Forum, John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, breaks down one of the most critical moments facing the global auto industry. With rising geopolitical tension, China’s growing dominance, and shifting retail dynamics, the stakes for U.S. dealers and OEMs have never been higher. This conversation goes beyond headlines to unpack what “fair competition” actually means—and why it’s not...
At the NY Auto Forum, Force Marketing CEO John Fitzpatrick breaks down the real forces shaping automotive retail right now—from tariffs and policy shifts to EV adoption and affordability pressures. With insights tied directly to Senator Moreno’s surprisingly accurate market predictions, this conversation challenges the “doom and gloom” narrative and reframes where dealers actually stand today.
Fitzpatrick dives ...
This episode was originally released on April 24, 2025.
In 2025, we joined up with Erroll Bomar III to bring the world the Unscripted podcast, live from the ASOTU CON floor. This was our first long-form conversation with him and the More Than Cars mindset that he has is on full display. Erroll will be back at ASOTU CON 2026, from May 12-14 in Hanover, MD. You can get tickets and learn more at https://www.asotucon.com...
A candid, hosts-only conversation about the mindset shift quietly transforming the automotive industry from the inside out.
Somewhere between a conversation and a checkpoint, Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, and Michael Cirillo zoom out on what “More Than Cars” actually means when you’re living it day to day. From dealership floors to global conversations, they unpack how a simple mindset shift is helping people see...
Behind every dealership is an unseen battle over regulation, competition, and control—and the next few years may decide who really owns the future of the automotive industry.
Ted Smith has spent his career in the engine room of the automotive industry—working inside associations that quietly shape how cars are sold, serviced, and protected across America. As President of the Florida Automobile Dealers Associatio...
If service drives sales, why are dealers letting their best customers slip through the cracks?
Shane Wilson, President of Connected Dealer Services, joins Auto Collabs with a bold claim: dealers don’t have a pricing problem in service—they have a trust and communication problem. While most consumers believe dealerships cost more, the data tells a different story. In fact, independent shops are often $10–$15 high...
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