The automotive industry is a thriving business sector, filled with passionate professionals who are eager to see others grow and succeed as they have. Today, we are putting a spotlight on one of those professionals, who, along with his business partner, has been a crucial source of insight for dealers across the U.S.
On this episode of Kain & Co., host David Kain, is joined by Fred Lennartz, co-founder of both the “Car Guy Coffee Podcast” and the Certified Solutionaries consultancy. Lennartz shares his professional journey over the last two decades along with his advice for other leaders in the automotive industry.
Key Takeaways
1. Lennartz joined the automotive industry after leaving the U.S. Air Force. He notes he was inspired to start this new career path after witnessing an acquaintance’s enthusiasm for the car business, which he soon came to share.
2. After roughly 18 years in the business, Lennartz felt he had hit a growth slump. “I was looking for something more,” he explains. Upon realizing that what he truly wanted was to share his appreciation for and knowledge of the automotive industry, Lennartz helped establish the “Car Guy Coffee Podcast.”
3. The “Car Guy Coffee Podcast” highlights the important events and happenings in the automotive industry. Leveraging their combined 40 years of experience co-hosts Lennartz and Lou Ramirez take listeners on a deep dive into everything automotive, from dealership management to fixed-ops.
4. Through their consultancy firm, Certified Solutionaries, Lennartz and Ramirez also help dealers drastically improve efficiency and effectiveness in sales by identifying and resolving common errors in their operations. Lennartz notes that many of the stores he has helped lacked actual sales processes outside of an arbitrary “ten steps of service” rulebook. Knowing what success looks like is key for dealers and their teams.
5. One area many dealers often sacrifice is family time, prioritizing their businesses over spending time with their relatives, spouses, and children. Lennartz urges automotive industry professionals, in leadership or otherwise, to maintain a healthy work-life balance and set boundaries that allow them to pursue short-term goals without sacrificing long-term ones.
"Our core focus is energy, but energy with process. A lot of times, people have processes, but there's no accountability for them." — Fred Lennartz
