Fort Lauderdale, FL – AutoUSA Internet Sales Solutions announced today the addition of five panelists to their scheduled workshop at the 13^th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition. Phil DuPree and Josh Vajda will present and moderate “The Five Things in Common That Successful Internet Departments Share” on Tuesday, October 23^rd at 3:30 p.m. The panelists, all Internet sales and marketing professionals, represent several dealerships with highly successful Internet departments; in addition, two consultants will contribute their expertise towards the workshop discussion.

“We’re thrilled these panelists agreed to share their real-world experience about the type of support needed by management to build a successful Internet department,” said Phil DuPree, President of AutoUSA. “We’re confident attendees will walk away with concrete recommendations of how to create processes to boost Internet sales.”

AutoUSA recently surveyed nearly 200 dealership Internet marketing personnel. Analysis of the responses reveal the five most important processes necessary for an Internet department to be successful, as well as the five types of support from upper management critical to help Internet departments maximize their potential. Panelists will weigh in with their own experience and recommendations. Panelists include:

Coleman has been in the automotive industry for nearly 10 years, with a focus on Internet/marketing and BDC operations. In 2011 Coleman led the five-store Oxmoor Automotive Group to sell 4,088 Internet units. He has a master’s in business administration with a concentration in marketing and economics. He has managed several large BDC operations, and has a wide variety of managerial experience from phone center business development centers to cradle-to-grave Internet sales teams.

Brun is responsible for the management and direction of Acton Toyota’s online marketing strategy and presence. He has grown Acton Toyota’s digital footprint with two separately themed websites; one dedicated to service and the other focusing on Genuine Toyota ExtraCare Vehicle Service Agreements (VSA’s), the success of which has contributed to Acton Toyota’s #2 national ranking as a Toyota VSA retailer.

Tolsma joined Dan Wiebold Ford more than nine years, starting in the detail department, moving up to Reconditioning Manager, and then becoming Internet Manager three years ago. Originally a one-person operation selling five to twelve units per month, Dan Wiebold Ford’s Internet department has grown under Tolsma’s direction. In addition to Tolsma, the department now has five salespeople, an assistant, part-time photographer and is selling 50+ units per month.

Colome is widely recognized as one of the country’s top dealership trainers and a pioneer in helping auto retailers adapt their businesses to meet the needs of the ever-evolving Internet customer. He began his career selling cars in 1976 and spent 14 years running his own dealership before consulting dealerships. His nearly three decades of industry experience includes positions with Autobytel Inc., Izmocars, Half a Car Group and Reynolds & Reynolds.

Fenster has several decades experience in developing innovative e-commerce solutions for quality organizations, and has pioneered cutting edge applications for vendors and OEMs such as ImagicLabs, AVV, Autobase, Reynolds, ADP, Dealerskins, Blackbook, Carfax, eBay, AULtec, Autobytel, Ford, Lexus, and Saturn. He was one of the first Internet professionals that moved e-commerce into fixed operations and social media. Most recently a sales director with Sheehy Nissan, Fenster now focuses on coaching and training personnel and has provided training to many of the top Internet managers and directors in the country.

For more information on “The Five Things Successful Internet Departments Have in Common,” visit:  http://bit.ly/SyEmv9

AutoUSA Internet Sales Solutions brings the best-in-class tools to increase Internet sales and lower costs for automotive dealerships. Leading products include Payment Pro^SM, a payment-based pre-qualification tool for dealer websites; ShowPro^SM incentive program, proven to turn more leads into shows; Leads&Listings^SM, providing the highest quality, new and used car email and phone leads from 100+ sites; PowerListings^SM 2.0, helping dealers increase traffic to—and leads from—their social media sites; and AVA Virtual Sales Assistant, helping dealerships manage more leads at a reduced cost. AutoUSA products are currently benefiting thousands of active dealers all across the U.S.