CBT News 40 Under 40 honors recipients of the inaugural CBT News 40 Under 40 awards. In this exclusive interview, anchor Jim Fitzpatrick engages with Colin Liss, the General Manager of Green Mazda Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, delving into his remarkable 15-year journey within the automotive sector.
Key Takeaways
1. As the general manager, Liss emphasizes taking care of the customers, transparency, follow-ups, and ensuring that all the wheels in the store keep turning. As an importer of OEM brands such as Mazda and Lincoln, prices are increasing, and customer information is required. However, Liss believes that this is what makes being in the car business exciting.
2. Liss started working at the same dealership during the 2008 financial crisis. Despite the challenges, Liss considers his promotion to the general manager’s position as his proudest moment. Moving from the service department to finance was an eye-opening experience for Liss. When he got the opportunity to join the finance department as its manager, he prepared himself with new ideas to enhance customer service and efficiency. With the skills and knowledge he gained as a service manager and sales representative, he was able to guide customers to the financial products that worked best for their needs, resulting in higher profits and customer satisfaction for the dealership.
3. In five years, Liss intends to seek store ownership to demonstrate his commitment to the business. As a general manager, he sees several opportunities, but he acknowledges that the industry is continually evolving, and those who wish to join need to be adaptable. Liss advises that anyone seeking to succeed in this industry must be willing to put in the time, effort and be resilient.
