Fixed Ops Journal - June 2022 - F16

FIXED OPS JOURNAL
TOOLB X
The
A collection of news and notes from around the fi xed ops world
SPO T LIGHT IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Marketing professional
puts focus on community
D
uring the pandemic, Evelyn Kelly
Searle - Ev to her friends - and
her husband, Justin Searle, would
host a Zoom happy hour called
" Th irsty Th ursdays Th ink Tank. " It was through
these virtual get-togethers that the Searles began
meeting more fi xed ops professionals. Before
that , most of Ev's marketing work was on
the dealership sales side.
But in talking with fi xed ops directors, she
saw a need for service marketing, too. So the
couple, along with Russ Mann, founded SALT
Automotive almost a year ago. It provides
marketing expertise along
with some technologydriven
products to fi xed
ops departments - as
well as fi nance and insurance
products and dealership
consulting and training.
" We
are big believers in
building a community, " Ev
Searle says. " And we wouldn't be where we are
today if it weren't for the help of our colleagues
and other vendors helping us and
guiding us. "
In addition to the dealership community,
Searle is very devoted to charity work in her
hometown of Pittsburgh. In July, she will participate
in the Black Tie & Tailpipes Gala, part
of the nine-day Pittsburgh Vintage Grand
Prix event that has raised $6 million for the
Autism Society of Pittsburgh and other organizations
that help adults who have disabilities.
Searle's
8-year-old daughter Dolly has
Down syndrome
PAGE 16 JUNE 2022
" Life as a special-needs parent is beautiful,
but it's also very diffi cult, " Searle says. " And
you need a support system because things can
be very hard. So it's important to me to help
support these charities in Pittsburgh.
" One day, Dolly's going to be an adult, and it
doesn't get easier when they're an adult.
Sometimes it gets harder, " she says.
Searle says her personal and professional
worlds fi t nicely together because both revolve
around community.
" We believe it's just as important to treat
your peers in this industry with as much respect
and kindness as your clients because
we're all in this together, " she says. " And then
to extend that to your hometown, to where
you live. If you give out good things, it almost
always comes back to you.
" It's just very contagious. "
- Dan Shine
FOJ FAST 15
First car: An '80 s station wagon. It fi t all of
my friends, so I thought I was living the
dream.
First concert: Michael Jackson, when I was
around 5
Name a pet peeve: Not doing what you
want. Life is short.
Most thrilling/adventurous thing you've
done: Moved across the country and lived in
a 300-square-foot camper for a year with
fi ve of our children and a cat
Your personal hero: My husband
First job: Waitressing at my parents' Italian
restaurant when I was about 12
Evelyn Kelly Searle, one of the founders of
SALT Automotive, reads to daughter Dolly.
Something on your bucket list: Buy a boat.
One thing you learned on the job you never
forgot: Serve the pizza hot.
If you could pick up a new skill, what
would it be? Play an instrument or sing
3 people you'd invite to dinner, living or
dead: Just my grandmother Dolly. She is the
namesake of my 8-year-old daughter.
What did you want to be when you were a
kid? An accountant
What are your binge TV shows? " Game of
Thrones, " " The Morning Show " and
" Downton Abbey "
Favorite food: Fresh lobster and crab
Favorite line from a movie: " Did we just
become best friends? " from Step Brothers
Who's on your Spotify playlist? Chris
Stapleton, The Commonheart, Lucero,
Brandi Carlile, Paul Simon, Red Hot Chili
Peppers (among many others)
Fixed Ops Journal - June 2022

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