Dealer Talk With Jen Suzuki

Latest Episodes:

Managers Mini-Series: Level Up Daily with Fast Coaching for Dealership Managers — Episode 1 Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

Part 1 of Jen Suzuki's 4-part mini-series for dealership leaders: a fast, repeatable coaching framework to level up your team one short session at a time.

In this episode Jen breaks down a 10–15 minute training format she uses in-store and at NADA Academy — how to open sharp, teach one skill in 60–90 seconds, demonstrate it under 3 minutes, then put reps into quick application with immediate feedback. No boring slides, no long lectures — just focused micro-coaching that builds skill, accountability, and energy.

Perfect for GMs, service managers, BDC leads and anyone who wants a simple daily rhythm to raise performance and keep teams engaged.

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Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships.

LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability.

How Elite Dealers Are Pulling Ahead: Bill Camastro on AI, People, and Performance! Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki, Jen sits down with Bill Camastro, dealer partner at Gold Coast Cadillac and Jersey, to explore the intersection of technology, AI, and human connection in modern dealerships.

Bill shares hard-earned lessons from growing up in the Bronx to running a top-rated Cadillac brand, and how he leverages AI—not to replace his team, but to make them 50% more effective.

From digital innovation to hands-on leadership, guest experience, and real-world strategies for scaling performance, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for dealers, executives, and service leaders ready to stay relevant, competitive, and human-first.

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LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership

Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships.

How to Build a Team That Loves Working With You (Not For You) with Clint Pulver! Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

What makes people stay… and what makes them walk out the door?

In this episode, Jen sits down with Clint Pulver — Emmy Award–winning speaker, author, and creator of the "Undercover Millennial" movement — for a raw, energy-packed conversation about leadership that actually inspires people to perform at their highest level.

Clint has interviewed over 10,000 employees across the country, gathering real, unfiltered feedback about what teams love, what they fear, and why they stay committed. And the patterns he reveals apply directly to every dealership, every department, every leader.

Together, Jen and Clint unpack:

The fastest way leaders unintentionally push good people out
How the best managers create "mentorship moments" that change everything
Why today's workforce craves connection, not supervision
How small leadership habits lead to massive culture shifts
The secret to motivating teams without pressure or burnout
Why recognition is the #1 performance accelerant
What dealerships can do this week to boost energy, trust, and accountability

This is a high-impact, unforgettable episode for anyone responsible for growing people — GMs, dealer principals, sales leaders, service directors, BDC managers, and anyone who wants a stronger, more motivated team.

🔥Check out our sponsors!🔥

LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability.

Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships.

Inside CDK's Data: What's Really Holding Service Departments Back With Kim Saylor! Nov 23, 2025

Show notes

What's really happening inside dealership service departments? In this episode, Jen sits down with Kim Saylor, Senior Director of Fixed Ops Product Marketing at CDK Global, to break down the real shifts, disruptions, and opportunities shaping fixed ops today.

Kim brings big data, real research, and boots-on-the-ground insights from dealerships across the country — and she's not sugarcoating anything.

Together, Jen and Kim dive into:

Why customer trust is still the #1 weak link—and how the best service departments are fixing it
How AI scheduling and communication tools are actually performing in the real world
Where dealers are unintentionally losing service revenue
What high-performing service departments do differently every single day
The three action steps every leader can implement in the next 90 days
Why videos, mobile approvals, and dynamic pricing are changing the game
How advisors and technicians can evolve without losing the human touch that customers crave

This is a candid, high-value conversation for dealers, GMs, fixed ops directors, BDC leaders, and anyone serious about elevating service performance with better processes, better tech, and better human connection.

🔥Check out our sponsors!🔥

Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships.

LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability.

Voice AI Is Exploding in Automotive: The New Era with Rich Sands, CEO of Stella Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

Wake up — it's here. Conversational AI has officially arrived in automotive, and it's transforming dealership operations faster than anyone expected. In this episode, Jen sits down with one of the true OGs of voice AI, Rich Sands, CEO of Stella Automotive AI, to unpack what's really happening behind the scenes as dealerships adopt AI in service and sales.

https://stellaautomotive.com

Rich shares the evolution of Stella—from early hurdles to the all-new rebuilt platform—and opens up about the human side of AI: the integration challenges, the mistakes, the breakthroughs, and the massive shift in customer adoption. You'll hear real data on engagement, booking speed, and why some callers now prefer Stella over a human.

Jen and Rich break down:

Why voice AI is accelerating dealership operations on both the service and sales sides
How customer behavior toward AI has radically changed in just two years
What "the new Stella" actually means (zero latency, deep integrations, powerful customization)
The ROI dealers are seeing—and why AI is now outperforming humans in call handling and appointment booking
The must-do steps for dealers deploying voice AI (yes, the greeting matters more than you think)
How data, context, and personalization are creating a new wave of VIP-level customer experience

If you want real talk about scaling voice AI in a dealership—without the vendor pitch—this episode is your roadmap. It's tactical. It's honest. And it'll prepare you for the next big operational shift already hitting stores nationwide.

Check Out Our Sponsors!

Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships.

LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability.

Ep6 Internet Sales Series: Work Smarter, Not Harder! AI Strategies for Dealership Teams Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

AI is no longer optional—it's a must-have tool for every salesperson, service advisor, and dealership professional. In this episode of Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki, learn how to leverage AI to save time, boost efficiency, and personalize every customer interaction.

Jen walks you through:

The must-have AI tools for your phone and desktop
How to prompt AI effectively for emails, texts, objections, and follow-ups
Using AI for customized, value-driven communication with car buyers
Real examples of AI-generated emails, subject lines, and texts that get engagement
Tips for AI-assisted product knowledge, brand building, and objection handling

Stop spending hours on repetitive tasks—learn how AI can become your ultimate sales assistant.

🔥Check out our sponsor!🔥

LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability.

P4 AI Mini Series: Sales & Service are Leading the AI Shift Inside Dealerships — with Carla Ksonzek, Head of Sales at Matador AI Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

AI is changing the way dealerships connect, communicate, and compete!

In Part 4 of our Matador AI mini-series, Jen sits down with Carla Ksonzek, Head of Sales at Matador AI, to talk about how top dealers are winning the long game through automation, culture, and leadership.

Carla breaks down what she calls the SMS-first world—where 90% of customers respond within minutes—and how dealers can use AI as an extension of their people, not a replacement. You'll hear how Matador scales without losing personal touch, the power of leadership buy-in, and why adoption beats innovation every time.

If you lead a sales or BDC team, this episode will help you build consistency, protect your people from burnout, and create an edge your competition can't match.

https://matador.ai/ | Carla Ksonzek 514-452-1347 | Carla@matador.ai

🔥Check out our sponsors!🔥

LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability.

Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships.

P3 AI Mini Series: From Demo to Daily Use: How to Make AI Actually Work Inside a Dealership — with Joshua Bagley, Head of After Sales at Matador AI Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

We all love a shiny new tech demo—but what happens after the install?

In Part 3 of our AI mini-series with Matador AI, Jen sits down with Joshua Bagley, Head of After Sales, to talk about what really makes AI work inside a dealership.

Joshua breaks down the people side of implementation—why collaboration across departments, leadership buy-in, and consistent follow-up are the difference between success and failure. He also shares Matador AI's unique "client success pod" structure that keeps dealers supported, engaged, and achieving real results long after the onboarding call.

From onboarding to retention, Josh shows that AI's success depends on culture, not code—and why adoption beats innovation every time.

https://matador.ai/ | Joshua Bagley, | joshua@matador.ai

🔥Check out our sponsors!🔥

LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability.

Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships.

P2 AI Mini Series: From GM to Dealer Advisory Board Member: How AI Is Changing the Way Dealerships Operate Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

Not every day do you meet someone who's worked their way from the sales floor to the GM's office — and now sits on the advisory board for an AI company that's changing how dealerships leverage AI in operations.

In Part 2 of our AI mini-series with Matador AI, Jen sits down with Uli DeMartino, a seasoned operator turned advisor, to talk about how AI is being used inside real dealerships today—from improving follow-up consistency to bridging sales and service for a stronger customer experience.

Uli shares what he's learned turning around underperforming stores, what he looks for first when he walks into a struggling dealership, and how he's helping shape Matador AI into a dealer-first platform that augments people, not replaces them.

If you've ever wondered what AI looks like through the eyes of a real GM who's lived the grind, this one's a must-listen!

https://matador.ai/ | Uli DeMartino | uli.demartino@matador.ai

🔥Check out our sponsors!🔥

LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability.

Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships.

P1 AI Mini Series: How to Collab with AI in Your Dealership with Kevin Esmezyan, Matador AI Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

AI isn't here to replace humans—it's here to amplify them. In this first episode of our new mini-series with Matador AI, Jen sits down with Kevin Esmezyan, Head of Product at Matador AI, to explore how dealerships are using AI to eliminate repetitive tasks, reduce burnout, and empower their people to focus on what they do best—building relationships and delivering a remarkable guest experience.

From automating lead follow-ups to intelligently syncing with your CRM, Kevin explains how the right human + AI collaboration transforms workflow, increases productivity, and sets a new standard for efficiency in modern dealerships.

If you've been curious about how AI actually works in practice (not just in theory), this episode is your starting point.

https://matador.ai/ | Kevin Esmezyan, 514-793-1488 | Kevin@matador.ai

🔥Check out our sponsors!🔥

LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability.

Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships.