2018 Speaker Biographies

Keynote Speakers

Greg Goebel

President, DealerStrong

Greg Goebel is the President of DealerStrong and the author of “The Complete Guide to Special Finance.” He’s the previous CEO of Auto Dealer Monthly magazine and former Dealer Principal with extensive experience in all types of dealership operations. He currently moderates a 20 group for NCM Associates, Performance Groups for DealerStrong and continues to consult and coach auto dealers on Special Finance and strategic growth plans. His insights and attention to market trends in the automotive space make him a reliable resource for many industry publications and a recognized dealer expert witness.

David Lewis

President, David Lewis & Associates Inc.

David Lewis is the President of David Lewis & Associates (DLA), located in Melbourne, Florida. Since 1986, David has been training Dealers, General Managers, Sales Managers, F&I Managers, Service Managers, Service Advisors and Salespeople on the “Art of Inspirational Selling.” His unique ideas have helped thousands of dealerships nationwide achieve their sales and management goals. David started his career in 1979 selling cars for a local Chevrolet Dealership in Lawrence, MA. David has authored 5 industry books: The Secrets of Inspirational Selling, Common Mistakes Salespeople Make, The LEADERSHIP Factor, Understanding Your Customer and Winners versus Losers.

Conference Speakers

Devon Ader

Director of Sales, AutoFi

Close to 20 years in the car business! Retail and Remarketing experience, always working to meet the customer where they are!

Janet Crabtree

Director of Operations, Reahard & Associates Inc.

As Director of Operations, Janet assists all of Reahard & Associate’s agents and dealerships through the contracting process and provides ongoing client and dealer support. Prior to joining Reahard & Associates in 2007, Janet was a branch manager for a regional bank. Janet has 18 years of experience in various administrative fields; holding positions of project coordinator, customer service administrator and administrative assistant. Delighting customers – at every turn – is her passion.

Vince D'Antoni

Business Development Manager , AUL Corp.

Vince started his career in the car business in 1983 in Tampa Florida after finishing his studies at the University of South Florida. Vince worked in a dealership sales department each as a Used Car Manager, GSM, GM, and VP/Dealer Partner. In 1998, Vince took on an agent role working for American Financial which led to the opportunity to become a partner of a new dealership in his home town of Jacksonville. Today, Vince works as a Business Development Manager for AUL Corp. and takes great pleasure in supporting growth and new opportunities with his agents and dealers in the southern region of the United States.

Scott Jacobsen

National Director of Business Performance, SAVY, Driven by EasyCare

Scott Jacobsen is the National Director of Business Performance for SAVY, driven by EasyCare. In this role, Scott leads the business development, implementation and support teams for the award-winning technology designed to bridge the gap between digital shopping and the dealership’s in-store experience. Scott joined EasyCare in 2011, where he played a pivotal role in the development and launch of 7th Profit Center, a dealer support program that drives service retention and increases VSC and vehicle sales. Among his various achievements, Scott was awarded the EasyCare Employee of the Year award in 2013 and 2015. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of South Carolina.

Tariq Kamal

Associate Publisher, Bobit Business Media Dealer Group

Tariq Kamal is a 15-year publishing veteran with a coverage focus that includes automotive sales, finance, service, agency, and fleet operations. He serves as associate publisher, editor, and contributor for a range of industry publications and digital channels and as an organizer and speaker for the Summit series of events.

Rick McCormick

National Account Development Manager, Reahard & Associates Inc

Rick McCormick has more than 25 years of sales experience, with over 6 years in the retail automobile business. Rick has also served as an Ordained Minister, and attributes his success in both vocations to consistently asking one question… “What’s your story?” Rick believes the key to helping others is the ability to listen effectively. Over the last 11 years Rick has conducted training for Dealer Groups and General Agencies across the country. He has authored articles on F&I that have appeared in F&I Showroom and Agent Entrepreneur magazine and has consistently presented at the annual F&I Conference and Agent Summit.

Eric Mélon

Senior Vice President, Head of the Dealer Channel, IAS

Eric Mélon, AKA "Frenchy" has spent more than 32 years working in the automotive industry, developing a world-class reputation for training thousands of successful sales and management personnel throughout the world. Frenchy is currently Senior Vice President, Head of the Dealer Channel at IAS. He first joined First Dealer Resources, now IAS, in 2004 to direct their sales training initiatives and grow dealer relations nationally. Prior to joining FDR, Frenchy served as a dealer development consultant for Chicago based Stuker & Associates, a premier, world-renowned sales training organization. While there, Frenchy was responsible for both national and international accounts as he trained management and sales personnel through the United States, Australia, Canada, and Europe. Prior to working with Stuker & Associates, Frenchy enjoyed a successful career working in automotive retail, with extensive experience in sales, sales management, and upper management.

Robert Newman

Director of Product Consulting, DealerTrack

Robert is a 26-year veteran of the Retail Automobile Business. In 1992 Robert started in the F&I office to GM in 1998. Dealertrack acquired in 2005 for field sales direct to dealers. Director of Sales in 2014 covering half of USA.
Currently with Cox Automotive, as Director of Product Consulting, bring his dealership background, understanding of the market and product knowledge into assist Dealers, Product teams and Sales in creating a connect workflow that dealers are looking for to meet the ever-demanding retail automotive environment.

Joseph Pesce

CEO, TecAssured, LLC

Joseph Pesce is the Co-founder and CEO of TecAssured, a leading software company that provides innovative technology solutions for the automotive insurance industry including rating engines, streamlined administration software for full lifecycle management of aftermarket and self-insured F&I products, and online dealer-direct-to-consumer F&I product eCommerce websites. He has more than 20 years of technology management experience with specific concentration in online dealer contracting and modernizing processes with dynamic, technology-driven solutions.

Michael Reth

President & CEO, Axiom Product Administration

Michael has spent the last 24 years in the Automotive industry working in Automotive Retail, Insurance, F&I Product Development, Reinsurance, and Technology. The past 17 years have been devoted to creating, building and managing risk-based F&I protection and automotive benefit programs for some of the biggest brands in the automotive industry. In addition to traditional and innovative protection products, he has focused on technology and software development related to the F&I and Connected Car industry. With a 360-degree acumen in Automotive Product Development, Administration, Product Compliance, Pricing, Risk Management, Reinsurance and Technology, Michael offers a unique perspective in bringing solutions to Axiom.

John Tabar

Director of Training, United Development Systems, Inc.

John has spent the past 30+ years dedicated to the automotive retail business. John worked for 16 years in the dealership environment before becoming a trainer for a Fortune 300 insurance company utilizing his dealership experience to train and develop dealership personnel throughout the United States. He went on to become Vice President of Business Development for that same company working with dealers, dealer groups, third party administrators, manufacturers and other insurance companies throughout the Americas. Today, John directs all training programs for UDS – Ranked 14 consecutive years as a top F&I Training company in America by Dealer vote, as well as a top-rated Compliance provider.

Matt Trudeau

Vice President F&I Sales, Dent Wizard International

During his 21-year tenure with Dent Wizard International, Trudeau has held a number of key positions; including Sales Manager, Regional Sales Manager, District Manager and Northeast Regional Director, as well as Director of National Sales, all prior to his most recent role as Vice President of F&I Sales. As a function of his position, Matt is responsible for increasing the overall growth of Dent Wizard’s F&I market with the division’s regional vice presidents and their respective teams. Matt’s extensive market knowledge, passion, and determination makes him one of Dent Wizard’s most valued and respected leaders.