Digital Dealer - November 2019 - 24

C O V E R S TORY: Continued from pg. 23

JANE: Hands down, the internet. Simply
put, the internet has revolutionized the
way dealers do business. We are looking
to further expand our presence on mobile
platforms as well.
DEALER MAGAZINE: What are the
biggest challenges facing the retail auto
industry today?
JANE: I keep going back to the issue
of finding qualified employees, especially
attracting service technicians, because it is
a huge problem for the industry.
Another challenge is legislative. The
legal requirements put on dealers are
tremendous. So, the association is trying to
find ways to streamline regulations that can
hinder business or take up a lot of a dealer's
time.
We also have
product challenges.
Fortunately,
GNYADA runs the
New York Auto
Show, the largest
and oldest auto show
in North America;
more than a million
visitors attend the
show each year. This
year marks our 120th
anniversary. Because
of the show, we get to
see all the new vehicles coming in. Electric
vehicles, for instance. From today's vantage
point, these EVs are the wave of the future,
and we have to embrace it.
Dealers are in the transportation
business. Specific technology is not going
to change the need for transportation.
Instead, what will change is how we meet
our customers' needs. Most of the country
does not have access to mass public
transportation, yet people still need to get
from one place to another. That's why I
believe auto dealers will remain present
in the economy. I think the ridesharing
concept is great for individuals in their
20s, say, if they want to go out for dinner.
But most people are going to require an
automobile if they want to pick up and go to
the grocery store whenever needed.
That said, I think electric vehicles are the

SPECIFIC
TECHNOLOGY IS NOT
GOING TO CHANGE
THE NEED FOR
TRANSPORTATION.
INSTEAD, WHAT
WILL CHANGE IS
HOW WE MEET OUR
CUSTOMERS' NEEDS."

24

NOVEMBER 2019

D I G I TA L D E A L E R . C O M

future and a good way to go, especially since
it will help the environment. Dealers will be
the ones to sell and service those vehicles.
So, I don't see EVs as a radical change.
DEALER MAGAZINE: What are your
thoughts on attracting more millennials as
both customers and employees?
JANE: The truth is, millennials are the
same as any demographic, and they're going
to have to work someplace. They're going
to have to find a profession. As long as we
communicate with them about the benefits
of working in our industry, we will have no
problems attracting millennials. I think it
has to be done mostly on social media. Also,
by promoting the benefits of our industry as
a career choice in high schools and colleges.
Auto tech training should be very
appealing to young people. These are
essentially life-long career tracks and are
really high-tech jobs. Today's technician
has to be technical and a problem-solver,
two skills many millennials already possess.
Vehicles are much more about logical
problem-solving than mechanical skills-you're not taking apart a transmission
anymore. A service technician is a tech job.
One of the other ways the dealer
association attracts younger individuals
into our industry is through scholarships.
Since GNYADA's scholarship program
began, we have raised more than one
million dollars to attract students, including
post-secondary education in the auto
industry. This year, we raised $20,000
in scholarships. The money was raised
through the generosity of auto dealerships
and other business connected to the
industry, such as Reynolds & Reynolds, for
example.
DEALER MAGAZINE: How about
Riverhead, what's ahead for the family
business?
JANE: We're putting up a brand new
31,000 square foot facility because of the
growth we're experiencing. In addition to
the new facility, we're going to be doubling
our staff. The future is looking fantastic, not
to mention bright.
DEALER MAGAZINE: What one word or
expression best describes you?
JANE: Motivated. ■
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