In this episode of Kain & Friends, I sit down with Nicole Denoyer, fourth-generation General Manager of Denoyer Chevrolet in Holland, Michigan, to explore the leadership principles, culture, and operational disciplines that have helped her family dealership thrive for generations.

Rather than chasing the latest trends, Nicole shares practical strategies that create lasting success—from developing employees and strengthening communication to improving processes and delivering an exceptional customer experience.

In this conversation, you'll discover:

• Why great dealerships put employees first
• How strong communication builds trust and accountability
• The leadership habits that create long-term employee retention
• How Denoyer Chevrolet increased its Internet lead closing rate from approximately 8% to nearly 20%
• The role technology plays in supporting people—not replacing them
• Why dealership culture is still the ultimate competitive advantage

Nicole also shares candid insights about growing up in a family dealership, earning the respect of employees, leading through change, and encouraging more women to pursue leadership careers in automotive retail.

Whether you're a dealer principal, general manager, department leader, or simply passionate about building a better business, you'll come away with ideas you can put into practice immediately.

If you enjoy conversations with industry leaders who share real-world strategies and lessons learned, be sure to subscribe to Kain & Friends for more episodes.

#Automotive #DealershipLeadership #Leadership #CustomerExperience #EmployeeEngagement #DriveCentric #Chevrolet #BusinessGrowth #GeneralManager #KainAndFriends

In this episode of Kain & Friends, I sit down with my longtime friend Jim Fitzpatrick, Co-Founder of JBF Business Media, CBT News, and the America's Small Business Network, to discuss the remarkable journey that transformed an idea into one of the most trusted media platforms in automotive retail.

Jim shares the story behind launching CBT News, the challenges of building a business from the ground up, and why helping dealers become more successful has always been the company's North Star.

Along the way, we discuss leadership, innovation, the future of dealership operations, the FTC's growing focus on transparency, and why Jim believes the automotive industry still offers one of the greatest career opportunities in America.

If you're a dealer, manager, industry partner, or simply passionate about leadership and business, I think you'll find this conversation both inspiring and practical.

In this episode:

• The origin story behind CBT News
• Building a media company focused on dealers
• Lessons learned from more than 7,000 interviews
• How COVID changed automotive retail forever
• The FTC's impact on dealership operations
• Why dealership culture matters more than ever
• The importance of developing and retaining great people
• Jim's advice for the next generation of automotive leaders

One of my favorite takeaways:

"There are few industries where someone can start with nothing more than hard work and ultimately own multiple businesses. Automotive is still one of them."

Thank you for watching.

If you enjoy conversations like this, please Like, Subscribe, and Share with someone who is passionate about improving our industry.

#Automotive #Leadership #Dealerships #CBTNews #JimFitzpatrick #DavidKain #KainAndFriends #AutomotiveLeadership #DealerSuccess #RetailAutomotive

What separates great dealerships from everyone else?

According to Kevin Frye, the answer isn't technology.

It's thinking differently.

In this episode of Kain & Friends, David Kain sits down with one of automotive retail's most respected marketing leaders to explore how dealerships can build lasting competitive advantage by becoming more consumer-focused, data-driven, and operationally aligned.

Kevin shares the remarkable journey from selling vehicles on eBay in the early days of online retailing to leading marketing strategy for the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, where innovation, customer experience, and continuous improvement are woven into the company's culture.

Along the way you'll hear practical insights on:

• Why "Head Coaches" create stronger organizations than managers
• The evolution of dealership marketing over the past 25 years
• How AI is reshaping the customer journey
• Which KPIs actually matter today—and which no longer do
• The importance of strategic vendor partnerships
• Lessons learned as a U.S. Naval Aviator that still influence leadership today
• Why every business decision should answer one simple question:
"Does this make us more consumer-facing?"

Whether you're a dealer principal, general manager, marketing leader, or technology partner, Kevin offers thoughtful, practical advice built on decades of experience helping dealerships adapt and thrive.

If you're looking for ideas that will improve both your customer experience and your business performance, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Three Takeaways

1 - Keep the customer—not the technology—at the center of every decision.

2 - Measure what truly drives business results, not just what's easy to track.

3 - Great organizations don't simply manage people—they coach them.

Kevin Frye serves as Head Coach of Marketing for the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family and is recognized as one of the automotive industry's leading voices on digital retailing, customer experience, marketing strategy, and AI. His career spans more than two decades helping dealerships navigate changing consumer expectations through innovation, data, and operational excellence.