Drawing from 13 years of experience as a dealer principal and more than a decade as a successful high-technology executive, serving the automotive retail industry, Dale Pollak is a highly sought-after authority on maximizing profits from used vehicle operations.Pollak provides profound insight into the everyday challenges faced by today’s principals and managers. Recognized as a speaker who educates, challenges, and motivates his audience; he has presented innovative management disciplines at every major automotive industry event and has worked extensively with Dealer 20 Groups, Dealer Associations and large dealer enterprises across the country.In addition to his regular contributions to auto industry publications like Dealer Magazine, Pollak is a published author of 2 books, Velocity: From the Front Line to the Bottom Line and Velocity 2.0: Paint, Pixels & Profitability. These books serve as guides for the used car department and compile Pollak’s more than 20 years of observations, best practices and strategies. Pollak also posts regularly on his blog at www.dalepollak.com.It captures ideas he continues to develop throughout his visits with the country’s leading dealerships, and often prompts fascinating discussions among industry leaders.Pollak was awarded the 2010 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award for Emerging Companies in the Midwest Region. vAuto was named in Inc. Magazine’s 2009 and 2010 annual ranking of the fastest-growing, privately held companies in America. In addition, vAuto ranked as the 17th fastest growing company in North America on Deloitte’s 2010 Technology Fast 500. Pollak received his B.S. in Business Administration from Indiana University and is a graduate of the General Motors Institute of Automotive Development. Pollak also earned a law degree from DePaul University’s College of Law, and is a four-time winner of the American Jurisprudence Award for top performance in his class.
Keith Jezek possesses more than 15 years of experience in executive management with high technology firms, holding key leadership positions with ADP, Digital Motorworks, LP, TraveLogix and Tallard BV in the last 10 years alone. Under his stewardship, those firms experienced revenue increases of up to 900% within a five-year period. One of these firms, Digital Motorworks, went on to be named among the fastest growing companies in North America by Inc. magazine in 2002. This acknowledged track record of providing leadership and "hyper-growth" to organizations has made Jezek a highly regarded and well-recognized principal executive. Elected to the Young President's Association in 2004, he stands among the most successful young leaders in the U.S. Jezek received his B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Austin, and his MBA in finance from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.
As co-founder of vAuto, Michael Chiovari has been instrumental in leading the company's software development team throughout all phases of the system's creation. Early in his career, as controller of a large metropolitan automotive dealership in the Midwest, Chiovari obtained a comprehensive inside view of all aspects of dealership management, providing insight and experience used in the design and implementation of the vAuto solution. Chiovari also has nearly a decade of experience as Vice President of Development with Deutsche Bank, a leader in global investment banking with more than one trillion dollars in assets and more than 60,000 employees. There, he guided several IT teams — ranging from corporate accounting, managing and developing technology applications — to support the company's extensive operations.Chiovari graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in computer information systems from DeVry University and a degree in Electrical Engineering/Computer Science from the University of Illinois. Chiovari is also a certified public accountant (CPA).
John Griffin brings a wealth of automotive retail experience to the vAuto management team. Griffin has more than 20 years of executive management experience at some of the most successful dealer groups in the country. Designing and implementing highly effective sales and operational management processes throughout his career, he has developed a specialty as an accomplished trainer, providing results-driven training programs for all levels of dealership personnel. Griffin has also provided consulting services to manufacturers, re-marketers, auctions and suppliers in the automotive industry. Griffin received his B.S. in economics from the University of Dayton, and his M.B.A. from DePaul University's Graduate School of Business. He has also completed comprehensive management training through OEM executive and dealer development programs
Michelle Drinnan brings more than 12 years of international experience and a total of 20 years in managing and leading customer service, commercial administration, sales, marketing and general business operations to the vAuto management team. Michelle is vAuto’s Vice President of Performance Management & Training and is focused on overseeing the Performance Management Team and client training activities – to both new and existing clients as well as supporting the overall retention and launch process. Prior to joining vAuto in 2007, Michelle was the General Manager of Dantherm Air Handling, Inc. where responsibilities spanned across all business disciplines with aim of creating value added process improvements. Earlier in her career, Michelle served as the Commercial Manager at Marconi Network & Services (Europe) where she was a member of “Engineering Change Review Board” focusing on internal and external improvements. Michelle has earned her Honors Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration as well as Business and Finance Diplomas and other professional development certifications.
David Hawkins brings more than 15 years of experience in developing products and technology for the automotive retail industry. Prior to joining vAuto, David was Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of R&D for Digital Motorworks (DMI). As DMI's first employee, David designed and architected the company's content delivery solution. He has developed innovative technology solutions which have enabled several of the automotive industry's most popular internet portals. Before joining DMI, David was a successful entrepreneur in Austin, Texas, where he ran several businesses, including an independent automotive consulting group.
Morrie Eisenberg is vAuto’s VP of Business Development and is focused on refining and executing upon the company’s long-term growth strategies. Prior to joining vAuto, Morrie served as CEO of Spleak Media Network, a venture-funded online media company, and beforehand as a global Internet and mobile business development executive at Microsoft. Earlier in his career, Morrie was Director of Business Development at Digital Motorworks (through the company’s acquisition by ADP) and a strategy consultant at Bain and Company. Morrie has an MBA from MIT Sloan and a Bachelors degree in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.