CBT News is proud to recognize Remarkable Leaders in F&I who are raising the bar inside their dealerships and across the automotive industry. Joining us to commemorate this achievement is Kimberly Garner, Director of Finance at CMA’s Colonial Kia and Colonial Hyundai. With more than 18 years at CMA, Gardner’s story is one of persistence, self-belief, and a career built from the ground up.
"I feel like a remarkable leader is somebody who does what they ask others to do, doesn't ask anyone to do something they're not willing to do themselves, kind of follows the same process they teach and don't try to skip steps."
Today, she plays a key role in helping customers navigate the vehicle-buying process while supporting the dealership’s profitability and compliance, earning her a reputation as a respected leader within her organization.
Garner’s path into automotive retail began unexpectedly after a chance encounter at a dealership where she had purchased a vehicle. Initially, she entered the industry as a used vehicle inventory manager and steadily advanced through a variety of roles, including salesperson, BDC representative, and BDC manager. The experience gave her a comprehensive understanding of dealership operations before she ultimately transitioned into F&I. She mentioned that the role initially intimidated her, but she inevitably embraced it with encouragement from dealership leadership.
One of Garner’s proudest accomplishments came during her first year in F&I. After setting a personal goal to become the top-performing finance manager in the company, she achieved exactly that, finishing her first year ranked No. 1. She credits her success to preparation, process discipline, and building relationships with customers early in the sales process. As today’s consumers arrive more informed than ever, Garner believes successful F&I leaders must focus on education, transparency, and trust while balancing the increasing responsibilities of compliance and fraud prevention.
Looking ahead, Garner’s ambitions extend beyond the finance office. She hopes to continue advancing into dealership leadership, with goals of becoming a general sales manager and eventually a general manager. With experience across multiple departments and a proven track record of success, she remains focused on growing her leadership skills and preparing for the next chapter of her automotive career.
