Our Authors

Ryan Williams in the executive vice president of Fidelis Systems. For the past 18 years he has worked in this industry, while still finding time to get married, have two children and two dogs, and occasionally get out to the golf corse or go cycling. To contact him, email ryanw@fidelissys.com.

Shari Vance is the president of IPS Agency, a growing income development company based in Georgetown, Ky. Established in 2004, IPS Agency provides auto dealers with the tools to increase profit potential, improve customer satisfaction and reduce legal exposure. Before founding the agency, Shari worked for Zurich as the regional F&I manager representing the states of Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas.

Staff writers for Agent Entrepreneur are professional journalists. Industry-specific information is reviewed by topic experts to ensure accuracy.

Steve Burke is CEO of Portfolio, which has successfully marketed and managed reinsurance for dealers exclusively through independent agents since 1990. The Portfolio program has been one of the top ranked VSC-Reinsurance programs by the Auto Dealer Monthly Dealers’ Choice Awards every year since 2008.

In his compliance leadership role at EFG Companies, Steve utilizes his extensive industry experience to provide EFG clients a sophisticated analysis of their current compliance procedures and proactively prepare them for upcoming changes in federal and state regulations. Steve is an AFIP Senior Certified Professional in Financial Services, and has developed compliance training modules in the areas of Adverse Action, Privacy Rule, Risk-Based Pricing/Exception Notice, Red Flag Rule, Safeguards Rule, Deceptive Practices, and Federal and State Regulations. In addition, he has conducted several compliance courses, including: Compliance Workshop for Dealership Managers; AFIP Prep Course for F&I Producers; and, F&I Compliance Training for F&I Producers. Steve’s background in driving bottom-line results in F&I, sales and product management gives him strategic insight into the compliance hurdles facing both dealers and lenders. His experience includes consulting for Chrysler’s Five Star initiative, where he developed their training curriculum, conducted program pilots, and certified instructors. Steve has developed and delivered national training for Chrysler Capital, Santander Consumer USA, Hyundai, General Motors, Ford, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, and numerous dealer groups throughout the country.

Steve is the Training Director for the Great Lakes Companies, a diversified Michigan based provider of dealership services.  Steve has served on the Advisory Board for both the first annual Agent Summit and the 2011 Industry Summit.

Tariq Kamal is a former associate publisher of Bobit Business Media's Dealer Group.

Terry O'Loughlin is the director of compliance for Reynolds & Reynolds. Prior to joining Reynolds in 2006, he was employed by the Office of the Attorney General, State of Florida, from 1990, in the Economic Crimes Section. For most of those years he was involved in the investigation and prosecution of automobile dealers, manufacturers and finance and leasing companies. He was also the mediator of Florida’s Motor Vehicle Lease Disclosure Act, a statute that he assisted in drafting. He has served as a consultant to the Federal Reserve Board’s Leasing Education Committee, an observer/advisor for the Uniform Consumer Leases Act Committee, and has been a consultant to “PrimeTime Live,” “Dateline” and various other media and publications. In addition, Terry routinely assisted numerous states agencies nationally regarding motor vehicle fraud. In 2010, he was elected to the Governing Committee of the Conference on Consumer Finance Law.

Tom Canfarotta is a senior account executive that specializes in loss prevention and identity verification solutions for automotive dealerships at Veratad Technologies located in Teaneck, N.J.

Tom Cullen is the president and co-founder of Vision Marketing Group & Associates, LLC.  Tom is also the president of Repair Assurance.  He has more than twenty-five years of experience in the automotive industry and through his endeavors with Vision Marketing Group & Associates and Repair Assurance.

Tom Hopkins is world renowned for teaching practical, how-to selling strategies. His training increases competence and builds confidence when it comes to qualifying, presenting and closing sales. www.tomhopkins.com Or, Click Here to download a free e-book titled, “6 Practical Tips for Making More Automotive Sales.”