Midwest Dealer Association Releases “Superstar Issue” and Zoomcast Replay Spotlighting 2026 Auto Trends: Branding, AI Marketing, and Credit Education
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
By Breck J. Hapner
Four industry leaders unite for a high-impact roundtable on what salespeople, brokers, and dealerships must do now to stay ahead in 2026
COLUMBUS, OH — December 29, 2025 — The Midwest Dealer Association (MDA) announced the release of its “Superstar Issue — 2025 Automotive Impact Leaders” alongside a special Zoomcast roundtable featuring four standout voices who helped define the automotive conversation in 2025: Dee Jones, Jim Beck, Flame Newton, and Jon Stagall.
The Zoomcast, hosted by Dee Jones, delivers a fast-moving, real-world breakdown of the trends reshaping automotive retail: personal branding, AI-driven marketing systems, consumer attention shifts, and the growing necessity of credit education. The episode is positioned as a practical wake-up call for auto sales professionals, independent brokers, and dealership owners—from small lots to high-volume operators—heading into 2026.
“I wanted to show people what I’m doing behind the scenes and who I’m working with—because the truth is, your network and your systems determine your future in this business,” said Dee Jones, founder of ColumbusCarCredit.com and RocketCarLoan.com. “I’m sharing the playbook because I believe in collaborating with people at the top—not competing with everyone.”
Spotlight: Four Impact Leaders, One Industry Message
The Zoomcast and Superstar Issue feature four distinct perspectives:
Dee Jones — Known for building powerful consumer-facing brands in auto finance and credit-challenged markets, and for performance benchmarks highlighted in the issue.
Jim Beck — Owner of Baytech Companies, a Columbus-based digital marketing agency, and the force behind the BizApp247 marketing + CRM system discussed in the Zoomcast as a core “engine” for automated lead follow-up and dealer growth.
Flame Newton — Phoenix-based author of The School of Credit series and a leading voice on credit education, lending psychology, and consumer financial strategy.
John Stegall — A newly retired 33-year car sales veteran, bringing a legacy perspective on what has changed—and what never will—about trust, follow-up, and human connection in selling.
A 2026 Message Dealers Can’t Ignore
During the discussion, the panel emphasized that while technology has transformed communication and consumer behavior, the fundamentals remain unchanged: trust wins, and attention must be earned.
“Sales hasn’t changed—people buy from people they trust,” said Jon Stagall, 33-year automotive sales veteran. “AI can be powerful, but only if you put real customer understanding into it. If you don’t, it’s just noise.”
Flame Newton shared a framework for better customer communication and conversion by identifying buyer types and aligning the message with the buyer’s motivation.
“The consumer tells you who they are—your job is to recognize it fast, educate with confidence, and build trust,” said Flame Newton, author of The School of Credit. “When you treat people like people—not numbers—you create repeat customers and long-term relationships.”
Jim Beck added that the pace of change is accelerating—and consistency is now the competitive advantage.
“If nobody knows who you are and what you stand for, you’ll never own your market,” said Jim Beck, owner of Baytech Companies. “Branding gets attention. Systems create follow-through. AI increases speed. But your message has to stay sharp—and consistent—going into 2026.”
Availability
The Midwest Dealer Association’s Superstar Issue (2025 Automotive Impact Leaders) and the Zoomcast replay are now available through MDA’s official channels.
To access the issue and watch the Zoomcast replay:
https://midwestdealerassociation.com/live-industry-zoomcast-start
About the Midwest Dealer Association (MDA)
The Midwest Dealer Association is an automotive industry resource dedicated to helping dealers, independent brokers, and sales professionals improve performance through practical training, market insights, and modern strategies across marketing, technology, sales process, and finance fundamentals.
