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.”