What happens when "being nimble" stops meaning clever marketing tweaks—and starts meaning leadership, discipline, and brutal honesty about what's actually changing week to week?

In this episode of In Search Of, Dan Barker and Wikimotive Co-Founder Zach Billings sit down with Andrew Ruck, GM of LaFontaine Automotive Group, for a real-world look at what it took to win in 2025—and what it'll take to build even bigger in 2026 and 2027. Andrew breaks down why his team chose to hit the accelerator when others tightened up, how over-communication with customers turned uncertainty (tariffs, inventory swings, EV whiplash) into opportunity, and why vendor relationships succeed or fail based on one critical factor: the person on the other end of the phone.It's a candid conversation about "bridging islands" inside the dealership, building a vendor bench that matches your operating personality, avoiding the trap of 30-day decision-making, and staying ruthlessly aggressive about learning—because in today's market, the dealer who stops learning gets left behind.

Why Watch
• Win through volatility — why 2025 felt like "a new problem every quarter," and how LaFontaine stayed profitable by adapting faster
• Get aggressive when it's tough — how "bulking up" inventory and leaning in (without fear-mongering) created real momentum
• Choose vendors by people, not pitches — why the account rep often matters more than the logo on the contract
• Stop reporting the news — what dealership leaders actually need from vendor meetings (and how to tell when engagement is dying)
• Bridge the islands — how parts, service, sales, and body shop interconnect—and why communication is the multiplier
• Avoid the 30-day trap — balancing today's urgent goals with the long-term moves that protect brand and market share
• Crawl, walk, run — how 2026 sets up 2027, and why disciplined planning beats constant "panic switching"
• NADA survival guide — how to shop smart, avoid shiny AI wrappers, and not leave with a cart full of stuff you don't need

If you're a GM, Dealer Principal, or operator trying to scale in a market that refuses to sit still—this one's for you.

• Cut through AI hype: learn why there's no "flip-the-switch" product for AI Overviews/LLMs—and what actually increases your odds of being cited
• Separate paid from organic: understand why "paid AI placement" isn't SEO, and how vendors blur lines to sell "new" solutions
• Get schema and fundamentals right: hear why "2013 SEO" best practices still matter—and how to sanity-check what's really implemented
• Own your data or stay blind: why dealers who don't control their analytics are forced to trust dashboards instead of truth
• Avoid panic changes in Q4: how market headwinds can make great marketing look "flat," and why changing too many variables at once breaks diagnosis
• Break out of OEM handcuffs: what's driving the surge in dealers exploring off-program solutions, dual-site strategies, and co-op tradeoffs
• Build real accountability: why leadership can't be the expert in everything—and the case for a trusted, objective partner who protects the store first

• Understand why dealers are finally moving past theoretical "innovation theater" and into real implementation
• See how leading groups are integrating platforms vertically across the dealership for actual decision-making
• Learn how CXO-level insights are elevating conversations at MRC and DMSC
• Get clarity on how education, not tools, is driving the biggest shifts in automotive
• Hear Zach's breakdown of AI myths, dealership misconceptions, and the real behavior patterns behind LLM vs Google search
• Discover why chasing "step 47" tech is derailing fundamentals like CTAs, processes, and actual customer experience
• Walk away with a clear understanding of what deserves dealer attention in 2025 — and what doesn't