If you’ve ever wondered what happens when the automotive industry’s brightest thinkers sit down in one room, buckle up. This conversation feels like stepping into the control room of a rocket that’s already taking off.

In this episode, joining the conversation are two heavy hitters who are right at the center of that momentum: Mike Cavanaugh of Lithia and Driveway and Dr. Matt Bennett of Northwood University.

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What we discuss in this episode:

You’ll hear why the CAMS Industry Summit has quickly become Northwood’s Super Bowl. Matt breaks down the original vision behind bringing industry and education together, and why this bridge matters more now than ever. Mike gives us a behind the scenes look at Lithia’s DART program, career development pipelines, and what it really feels like to work inside the world’s largest automotive group. He calls it holding onto a rocket ship for a reason.

We dive into the power of partnerships, why friendships beat transactions every time, and how a simple alignment of values can create programs that shift entire career paths. You’ll get an inside look at the evolution of Northwood’s automotive executive MBA, the leaders who helped build it, and the global impact this program is already making. There’s talk of legacy, of leadership, of passing the torch to the next wave of innovators who will shape mobility for decades to come.

If you're in automotive today and want to understand where the industry is heading, this is the conversation you listen to. If you're a leader, educator, or aspiring professional, this gives you a front row seat to the people designing the future. And if you're simply someone who loves seeing what happens when collaboration becomes the catalyst, you’re going to want to hit play.

Listen to the episode featuring Mike Cavanaugh and Dr Matt Bennett for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Mike Cavanaugh and Dr Matt Bennett

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement

What happens when you mix the next generation of automotive leaders with a campus that breathes innovation and free enterprise?

You get something electric.

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What we discuss in this episode:

In this episode of the Fixed Ops Roundtable, I sit down with CDK Global’s Mike Stoll, alongside Sarah Vantine, from the heart of Northwood University during the International Auto Show, and let me tell you, the energy here is contagious.

Mike shares how CDK is helping shape the future of Fixed Ops by mentoring and empowering students who are already asking the right questions — questions about what consumers actually want, how to make dealership service experiences simpler, and how to bring genuine hospitality into the car business.

We talk about the Fixed Operations class Mike leads, why he keeps driving hours just to spend time with these students, and what it’s really like to build a pipeline of passionate young professionals who are ready to rethink how dealerships operate from the inside out.

There’s something truly special happening at Northwood, an entrepreneurial spark that’s redefining what it means to serve customers, lead with integrity, and innovate for the future of automotive.

If you’ve ever wondered how we can attract, train, and retain the next generation of talent who care deeply about people, this episode is your sign to hit play.

Because as Mike says, “Our best is yet to come.”

Listen to the episode featuring Mike Stoll for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Mike Stoll

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement

What if the future of automotive doesn’t depend on AI—but on how humans learn to work with it?

That’s exactly what we dive into in this episode of the Fixed Ops Roundtable, recorded live at the Northwood University International Auto Show. Ted Ings and Sarah Vantine sit down with Cobi Collins of Go Trego, a leader who’s helping the industry rethink what it means to find, train, and retain top talent in a tech-driven world.

👉 Register for the upcoming Fixed Ops Roundtable Event

What we discuss in this episode:

Cobi brings powerful insight into how dealerships can uncover the right people for the right roles, and why not everyone is built to be a GM (and that’s okay). You’ll hear how Go Trego’s data-driven approach is helping educators and dealers close skills gaps before students even graduate, giving them a head start in the real world.

We also talk about the human side of technology, why people, not machines, will continue to drive automotive forward, and how creating an environment where talent and innovation work together is the real competitive edge.

If you’ve ever wondered how to future-proof your dealership’s people strategy, or what it really takes to attract next-generation talent, this conversation will open your eyes to what’s coming next.

🎧 Hit play to hear how Go Trego is changing the way the industry thinks about people, progress, and purpose.

Listen to the episode featuring Cobi Collins for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Cobi Collins

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement