Michael. Crawford, Dealer Principal of Peoria Kia, has been awarded the 2008 F&I Pacesetter’s Award from F&I Management and Technology Magazine. Mr. Crawford’s nomination was put forth by the Automotive Dealership Institute, which has trained several members of Peoria Kia’s F&I Managers. Of the more than 26,000 considered for the prestigious award, only five were selected.
“We work with hundreds of dealerships around the country, and we considered many of them when it came time to choose our nominee,” reports Alan Algan, Executive Director and CEO of the Automotive Dealership Institute, “but Michael Crawford has transformed Peoria Kia into a textbook example of a perfect dealership: ethical, respectful of every customer, and incredibly successful.”
GMAC Insurance has selected the Automotive Dealership Institute’s Dean of Education Arzu Algan to contribute to it’s Front-End Operation Supplement. In this Supplement GMAC features it’s plans for the upcoming year as well as addresses tips on how to improve Front-End operations.
Dean Algan’s article focuses primarily on helping eliminate the disconnect between the Sales team and the F&I department. She includes specific tips on how to transition the customers as well as methods to optimize the work flow between the two departments.
These articles were first featured on ADI’s F&I Tips blog in a three part series:
- F&I Desk Integration Part 1: Working with the Sales Department
- F&I Desk Integration Part 2: Transition Approaches
- F&I Desk Integration Part 3: Cooperation
You can also download this article specifically from the GMAC Front-End Operation Supplement Here
National dealership consulting firm Chernek Consulting, Inc. (CCI) has obtained exclusive rights to the Automotive Dealership Institute’s revolutionary web-based F&I Management training program. According to Rebecca D. Chernek, President of Chernek Consulting, the highly-interactive online program, which utilizes a wide range of multi-media techniques and covers a wide range of industry topics, will be integrated into CCI’s dynamic workshops and in-house training sessions.
Ms. Chernek’s clients, who include some of the country’s most successful automotive agents and dealers, will enjoy the added benefit of four months of access to ADI’s online program. This will allow employees to create independent “refresher” courses for themselves, focusing on specific topics. This open accessibility is a unique feature of CCI’s already extensive services, and isn’t offered through any other consultant in the country.
The Asian Banker has confirmed the new dates for the popular Automotive Financing School from the Automotive Dealership Institute (ADI). This will be the third year that ADI has been showcased by The Asian Banker, with attendance increasing each consecutive year. This intensive three-day program will take place April 21-23, at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The workshop will be led by ADI’s Director of International Programs, Professor Marguerite Watanabe.
“Initially, we chose the Automotive Dealership Institute because we felt that their exceptional programs would be an asset to any bank in Asia”. Said Emmanuel Daniel, The Asian Banker’s President and CEO. “In the three years since we started, ADI has exceeded our expectations. We’re particularly thrilled that Professor Watanabe will be leading the workshop this year. She’s second to none when it comes to understanding the automotive finance sector and the impact it has had on automotive retailing marketing. We look forward to her sharing her insights on growth opportunities and best practices in auto financing.”
The first of the dealership-exclusive workshops hosted by the Automotive Dealership Institute has proved a resounding success. The packed workshop was led by acclaimed dealership consultant and ADI professor Rebecca D. Chernek. Dr. Robert W. Serum, former Vice President of Academics and International Programs at Northwood University and recipient of the 2007 Automotive Education Excellence Award, was among those in attendance, along with his wife, Dr. Camella Serum. They were joined by the publisher of F&I Management and Technology Magazine and Special Finance Magazine, Mr. David Gesualdo. Other attendees included finance directors, finance managers, sales managers and general agents from across the country.
“The automotive industry is evolving so quickly, it’s more important than ever for dealers to employ the most up-to-date methods available,” says Mr. Gesualdo. “This means refreshing and updating the education of dealership personnel, from upper management to sales personnel on the floor.”
This workshop is the result of the recent professional alliance between ADI and Chernek Consulting, Inc., a nationally respected dealership consultation company. “It’s been a great experience working with Ms. Chernek and CCI,” says Alan Algan, Executive Director and CEO of ADI. “In fact, Becky facilitates all of ADI’s in-store dealership consulting.”
The first day concentrated on interdepartmental cooperation, especially the transition between the Sales and Finance Departments. Day Two focused on the customer interview process, when the Finance Manager establishes a rapport with the customer. On the third day, participants honed their menu presentation techniques, which can significantly increase their customer acceptance ratio.
“The goal,” says Ms. Chernek, “is to teach dealers to minimize liability while maximizing profits both in the front and back end.”
Throughout the entire workshop, the focus was training dealership personnel to create consistent, effective dealership operations. At the same time, there was a strong emphasis on ethically practicing these new techniques. “It was a real world atmosphere,” reports Finance Director Sandra Parks of Green’s Toyota in Lexington, Kentucky. “The interaction and exchange of viewpoints between Ms. Chernek and the attendees was incredibly valuable.”
Due to the overwhelming response, the Automotive Dealership Institute has announced the next dealership-exclusive workshop, Closing Tools & Increasing F&I Revenue, will take place May 20-22, 2008. Seating will be limited, so early registration is recommended. For more information, visit our Automotive Dealership Workshop resource.