Automotive News World Congress 2008
Rethinking retail:
A hot topic at World Congress
Issues affecting dealers in the evolving automotive retail market were the subject of a panel discussion at the Automotive News World Congress on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 22.
The speakers were:
-- Sheldon Sandler, CEO, Bel Air Partners LLC
-- Walter Czarnecki, executive vice president, Penske Corp.
-- Randy Ortiz, general manager, Ford and Lincoln Mercury sales
-- Dale Willey, chairman, National Automobile Dealers Association
-- David Zuchowski, vice president of national sales, Hyundai Motor America
Sandler founded Bel Air in 1998 to respond to the complex financial needs of automotive retailers. The consulting firm represents dealers selling their automotive assets, such as inventory, real estate and franchises.
Czarnecki has more than 40 years in the auto industry. He joined Penske in 1978 and held a number of positions before being appointed executive vice president. Czarnecki is involved in nearly all of Penske's retail, motorsports, investment and transportation service activities.
Ortiz heads the U.S. sales operations of Ford Motor Co. Before being appointed to his current position in 2007, he was general sales manager of the Ford Customer Service Division.
Willey is the 2007 NADA chairman and has been a General Motors car dealer and NADA member since 1970. His dealership is Dale Willey Automotive, which sells Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Pontiac vehicles in Lawrence, Kan.
Zuchowski is responsible for Hyundai's sales, field operations and dealer relations in the United States. He joined Hyundai in his current role in February 2007 after a stint as vice president of sales and field operations for Mazda North American Operations. Zuchowski began his career at Ford in 1980.