Join us at 2024 Digital Dealer Conference & Expo (#DDCE2024) for the Women’s Meetup to network with women in the automotive industry. We are excited to announce the five leaders who make up the inaugural Women’s Meetup Ambassador Program.

We are hosting a sneak peek into what to expect onsite with a virtual meetup on Sept. 24 at 3:00 p.m. ET where you will hear tips from ambassadors and meet some of the Digital Dealer team.

Those 2024 ambassadors are:

• Brooke Furniss, CEO, BZ Consultants Group
• Laurie Halter, Owner, Charisma! Communications
• Hannah Lifson, Growth Marketing Manager, PureCars
• April Simmons, Corporate Internet & Marketing Director, Horne Auto Group
• Olivia Stapleton, Marketing Specialist, Sales Enablement, Dealer Teamwork

Conference Events

At the conference, the Women’s Meetup is geared to expanding your network and make new connections. There are two programs slated during #DDCE2024:

• Programming in the Innovation Lounge OCT 8, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Visit the Innovation Lounge to hear from some of the Women’s Meetup Ambassadors. The Ambassadors will share stories of support in the industry, insights into what fuels their passion for the Women’s Meetup, and more! Join us to learn more about the Women’s Meetup community and network with Digital Dealer attendees. Head from the Innovation Lounge to lunch to find tables for the Women’s Meetup participants!
• Networking at the DD Social Oct. 9, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM. Head to the Terrace Ballroom for the DD Social to network with women in the automotive industry! Join our Women’s Meetup Ambassadors to make new connections, then check out the rest of the DD Social.

Meet Our Ambassadors

• Brooke C. Furniss is a highly accomplished professional with over a decade of experience in the automotive industry. Her extensive work in various sectors such as retail, OEM, consulting, fixed ops, body shops, and entrepreneurship has given her a comprehensive understanding of every aspect of the industry. As a result, Furniss has a unique perspective on the dealer’s needs and opportunities for growth. Driven by her passion for advancing the automotive industry, she founded BZ Consultants Group to be a champion for dealers and provide them with education and guidance. With her expertise in the industry, Furniss is skilled at turning complex data into actionable insights that maximize a dealer’s profits. Her involvement in various boards and panels allows her to share her insights and expertise with others while also learning from fellow industry professionals. She is a committed advocate for the automotive industry and is dedicated to helping dealers achieve their full potential.

• Laurie Halter is the Owner of Charisma! Communications, a boutique PR agency specializing in the automotive technology space. Over the past two decades she has delivered on-brand PR strategies and marketing and social media campaigns to support people and companies across the automotive ecosystem. Armed with strategic connections and the belief that every brand has a unique story to tell, Laurie and her team create compelling PR opportunities that have led to features in Automotive News, Digital Dealer, Wall Street Journal, and Consumer Reports, just to name a few. Laurie is a sought-after speaker, moderator, and podcast guest and proud mom of two children, Ethan and Emerson.

• Hannah Lifson of PureCars is a seasoned event expert and technology marketing veteran with a proven track record ofdeveloping effective demand-generation strategies for companies spanning from start-ups to prominent players in theautomotive industry. With a keen understanding of technology, Lifson specializes in helping dealerships leverage innovative tools to connect with and establish trust among in-market shoppers and customers. Lifson’s expertise extends to social media management, where she has spearheaded the launch, management, and rebranding of corporate social media platforms for multiple companies. Furthermore, Lifson is recognized for her thought leadership in the automotive industry, having conducted over 50 industry interviews featured on reputable platforms.

• Olivia Stapleton of Dealer Teamwork is an emerging leader in the automotive industry, bringing a new, fresh approach to a new generation of consumers. Stapleton’s role in automotive sales enablement and marketing, has allowed her to witness firsthand the challenges, opportunities and importance of a strong digital presence, along with the criticality of partnerships. With an understanding of the evolving consumer expectations and the power of technology, Stapleton believes in the transformative power that lies in the next generation of automotive consumers, as well as automotive professionals who are willing to drive the industry forward. Stapleton motivating nature and empowering tone allows her to deliver a message that inspires others to adopt the future of change.

• April Simmons is the Corporate Internet and Marketing Director for Horne Auto Group located in Gilbert, AZ and oversees all aspects of the internet sales departments, processes, and training. Simmons oversees all aspects of the marketing for the metro stores including strategy, implementation, and results analysis. She grew up in NE where she started in Automotive in 1997 working on the banking side and moved to sunny AZ in 1999 where she transitioned to the retail automotive space and has been there ever since. Simmons has worked in every sales management role including finance manager, retail desk manager, internet director, GSM, and GM prior to moving into her current position in 2018.

DDCE2024 Events

#DDCE2024 is a 2.5-day event, Oct. 8-10, 2024, at MGM Grand in Las Vegas that will bring together automotive dealers, OEMs, thought leaders, and solution providers to power business growth and connections. The 2024 Digital Dealer Conference & Expo is your chance to discover innovative solutions and gain cutting-edge strategies, actionable insights, and new ideas to implement for maximum impact.

Digital Dealer Conference & Expo will include:

• Enhanced networking: more meetups and fun ways to connect throughout the event
• A Speed Networking program, which offers dealerships and vendors a relaxed yet efficient way to explore a variety of innovative solutions
• An expo hall with 120+ cutting-edge auto retail solutions
• 75+ actionable sessions
• Masterminds and interactive labs
• And more!

Digital Dealer offers full conference and expo badge options, as well as an expo hall-only option for Dealerships/OEMs. Digital Dealer Conference & Expo attendee badge types include:

• Dealership (exclusively for dealers and employees of a dealership)
• OEM (exclusively for vehicle manufacturers)
• Allied (anyone that supports, services, or sells solutions to dealerships falls under this category)

Click here to register now.