Winning Strategies in a Digital-First Wholesale World

Track: Business Essentials & Innovations

Saturday, January 28, 10:30 - 11:30 AM

Room: D174

Presenters: Connie Suozzo, Derek Hansen

Dealers have seen banner profitability in retail and wholesale recently, but that has more to do with favorable market conditions than newfound discipline. However, this experience has proven that wholesale can be a profit center. Learn how to keep generating wholesale profits as the market normalizes. Rethink how you approach wholesale — from both the buy and sell sides — to maximize profitability. Uncover the strategic steps to thrive in any market.

Presenter

Connie Suozzo

Cox Automotive

Vice President, Manheim Digital

As vice president, Manheim Digital at Cox Automotive, Connie Suozzo drives the vision and strategy for Manheim's digital marketplace and off-site solutions, including Manheim.com, OVE.com, Simulcast, the Manheim mobile app and Manheim Express. Suozzo's stellar record includes implementing an aggressive acceleration path for Manheim Express, which achieved triple-digit growth from 2020 to 2021, as well as supporting the foundation of Manheim Private Stores. Previously, Suozzo spent 16 years in IT services and operations in health care technology, where she gained considerable chops in organizational leadership and platform implementation. She holds a bachelor's degree from Kansas State University.

Presenter

Derek Hansen

Cox Automotive

Vice President, Wholesale Operations, vAuto

As vice president for vAuto, Derek Hansen leads wholesale operations for vAuto, Stockwave, iRecon and Upside. With a keen focus on driving integrations between Cox Automotive's portfolio of wholesale offerings, he aims to deliver dealers more profitable, efficient and seamless retail to wholesale workflows. Hansen previously served as vice president of off-site solutions for Manheim, where he led the development and integration of Manheim's digital/physical auctions and launched Manheim Express. Previously, Hansen worked for Bain & Co., Deloitte Consulting and Intel Corp. Hansen earned an MBA from Duke University and a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University.