Beltway Talk

Rob Hood, Hyundai's Vice President of Government Affairs, joins Beltway Talk to discuss his background as a Washington veteran and what he brings to his position with Hyundai. With over 30 years of experience across the government and private sectors, Hood tells dealers about the policies on his radar this year with new leadership in Washington, as well as the biggest challenges he encountered while joining Hyundai's D.C. office in the middle of a pandemic.

Ross Tinkham, Director of OEM Sales and Business Development at AIADA Affinity Partner Podium, joins the Beltway Talk podcast to discuss how dealers can connect with customers in a contactless business world. He discusses the ins and outs of text messaging as a mode of customer engagement, how it has increased during the pandemic, and what dealers should consider as they maintain customer engagement in a post-pandemic environment. Find out more about what Podium can offer dealers at AIADA.org/Podium.

Ashley Burch, AIADA’s Senior Manager of Grassroots and Advocacy, joins the first Beltway Talk podcast of 2021 to talk about how dealers can get involved through AIADA’s Dealer Visit Program this year. Burch walks dealers through the process, including how to hold an in-person socially distanced or virtual visit with their legislators – and she explains why maintaining and building relationships with legislators is more important than ever in 2021. To schedule your own Dealer Visit, or learn more about the program, visit AIADA.org/DealerVisit.

Cox Automotive’s Charlie Chesbrough calls in to give listeners an overview of 2020’s auto sales and a peek at what lies ahead. He touches on a number of subjects, including his concerns for the 1st quarter of 2021, why dealers could see a blow-out second half of the year, and segment trends. This is a must-listen episode for dealers wanting a big-picture view of auto retail sales.

AIADA chairman Jason Courter takes a look back at 2020 and his year at the helm of the association. In a period filled with challenges, Courter chooses to focus on the resilience of dealers. He discusses what it was like to watch the COVID-19 epidemic unfold in his own community in March, his efforts to keep his employees safe, and the one thing his father told him that guides his decision making even today.

Following our eventful 2020 election cycle, AIADA's Vice President of Government Relations calls into the Beltway Talk studio to discuss the results. D.C. veteran Rachel Robinson breaks down the surprises she saw in the House, what remains to be decided in the Senate, and how the outcome of the presidential race could impact auto dealers. With all eyes on Georgia, Robinson, a Peach State native, walks you through the ins and out of our political landscape and gives you an insider's perspective of what the next four years may hold.

Damon Lester, president of The National Association of Minority Auto Dealers (NAMAD), joins Beltway Talk to discuss his organization's mission, the challenges they face, and his vision for a more inclusive auto retail industry. NAMAD celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and looks forward to many more decades of advocating for its members.

Audrey LaForest, Automotive News' government and lobbying reporter, takes a turn in the hot seat to tell listeners what it's like to cover the auto industry through a political lens. LaForest, who started her position in February, has reported on COVID-19 relief efforts, the new USMCA agreement, and a variety of regulatory issues impacting dealers. In this episode of BeltwayTalk , she talks about these topics and more - including her plans to move to D.C. and why she may already be driving her dream car.

AIADA President and CEO Cody Lusk joins this episode of Beltway Talk to discuss AIADA's recent work on behalf of dealers this summer, why he's encouraged at how dealers are forging ahead and serving their communities in the midst of a pandemic, and what he sees through the rest of 2020.

Capitol Hill veteran Jennifer Safavian is leading a new association dedicated to international automaker operations in the U.S. In this episode of Beltway Talk, Jennifer answers our questions about Autos Drive America - and explains what's driving her to ensure that the international nameplate industry is fairly represented in Washington, D.C.

In today's Beltway Talk, Cox Automotive's Charlie Chesbrough gives listeners an overview of 2020's second quarter auto sales. He touches on a number of subjects, including segment winners and losers for the year to date, what brands are best equipped to weather the recovery ahead, and how inventory constraints could impact sales for the remaining of 2020. For dealers wondering if the worst is behind us, and what lies ahead, this is a must-listen episode.

In this episode of Beltway Talk, Washington State Honda dealer and AIADA Chairman Jason Courter discusses what it's like operating a dealership at ground zero for COVID-19 in the United States. Listen to find out how he is tackling new restrictions on his stores, protecting his employees and customers, and keeping AIADA focused on its core mission in Washington, D.C.

Joanna Foust is North American Subaru's Vice President - Government Relations and a veteran of D.C.'s automotive universe. In this episode of Beltway Talk, Joanna explains why she considers herself both a lobbyist and an educator, what Subaru is doing to move it's mission forward in D.C., and how she sees the remainder of 2020 unfolding for the automaker and it's retailers.

AIADA President and CEO Cody Lusk joins the Beltway Talk podcast to discuss the auto industry's response to COVID-19, the relief coming from Congress, and what could, and should, happen next. It's been an eventful few weeks in Washington, D.C., and Cody takes us through what has taken place to date and how the federal government and the auto retail industry might intersect in the coming months.

Broadcasting from her home, Beltway Talk host Hannah Oliver discusses the 2020 outlook for the dealership buy-sell market with guest Erin Kerrigan, Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors, the leading sell-side advisor to auto dealers in the U.S. Armed with her latest Blue Sky Report, Kerrigan covers how dealership transactions performed in 2019, the challenges dealers face today, and her outlook for the months to come - including what brands and stores can best expect to weather the COVID-19 storm. After listening, if you have questions for Erin, please contact her here: info@kerriganadvisors.com.