Kristen is a CPCU with over 20 years of product management and underwriting experience working for a major insurance company and general agency.

Kristen joined AAGI in 2007 and has been responsible for the creation of new products and coordinating the related distribution. Kristen’s work with AAGI’s agents, insurers and other business partners has consistently produced quality products across the board, which AAGI is proud to present to the industry.

With over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, Andrew’s career began in retail and included time as a Salesperson, Sales Manager and F&I Manager.

Andrew has also held a number of training, sales and executive positions within the F&I consulting and vehicle service contract industry. Andrew’s career includes the recruitment, development and leadership of an OEM direct sales force responsible for the eastern US. Additionally, Andrew has been a partner in an F&I consulting firm that focused on helping dealers both drive F&I performance and optimize the returns in their reinsurance ventures.

Andrew joined the AAGI team in January 2012 and is responsible for developing and managing the eastern region of the country.

The partnership includes processing credit application and contract data within the dealer management system (DMS) as part of VCI’s FinanceSource™ dealer program. The FinanceSource program allows VCI and various dealer service providers (DSPs)—like ADP Dealer Services, Inc. and The Reynolds and Reynolds Company—to streamline the F&I process within the DMS to expedite application processing and ensure accurate and validated contracts.

“This integrated solution will help our dealers improve profitability and the overall sales experience by creating a more efficient and smooth funding process,” said David Wicks, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for VCI.

Successful pilot programs with Audi and Volkswagen dealers using ADP and Reynolds and Reynolds systems in California and Massachusetts have showed promising results. Full dealer rollouts will continue on a state-by-state basis over the next 24 months.

“Open Dealer Exchange is proud to partner with an industry leader like VCI to provide technology solutions that allow the dealer and lender to interact seamlessly within the DMS. There’s no need for their dealers to ever leave the DMS in the first place,” said Steve Luyckx, General Manager for Open Dealer Exchange.

“And, with our solutions, a dealer doesn’t have to worry about the integration costs associated with third-party portals that go outside their normal workflow.”

Open Dealer Exchange, founded in 2009 as a joint venture between ADP Dealer Services and Reynolds and Reynolds, integrates a finance source or F&I product provider directly within an auto dealership’s DMS.

By eliminating the need for dealers to log into multiple systems or re-key data into various applications during a vehicle sale, this innovative process results in increased operational efficiencies, reduced contract errors and a more streamlined process with a lender or provider’s franchised dealerships.

Known in the automobile dealer industry as a provider of vehicle service contracts, CNA National was established as Western National Warranty Corporation in January 1982 as a family-owned business operated by Paul and Judy Askos.

“Every day we feel entrusted to continue the dream that Paul and Judy started three decades ago,” says Joe Becker, president and chief executive officer of CNA National.

“We have gone through many transitions and trends in the industry, but our commitment to providing the highest quality product and customer service has never changed. We enjoy the financial stability provided to us by CNA, while valuing the family-owned roots that built the foundation for our enduring success.”

On August 31, 1995, Western National Warranty Corporation was sold to CNA Financial Corporation and eventually renamed CNA National Warranty Corporation. The company has seen exponential growth over the years, with nearly 2 million contracts in force today.

“Our goal was never to be the biggest, but to be the best,” says Alan Miller, senior vice president of sales for CNA National. “We are proud to have achieved this goal and have implemented a strategy to continue our success as we expand in the future.”

The 30th anniversary is being celebrated with employees, sales agents and strategic partners to provide CNAN stakeholders unique opportunities to interact with each other. This year, CNAN will also introduce new advertising, marketing and media outreach campaigns.

“Matt has spent the last decade taking great ideas and making them into the F&I industry’s most robust and well designed software suite. He is passionate about the benefits of F&I software and an expert in his field,” said Bob Corbin, president and CEO at IAS.

“In his tenure at IAS he has done absolutely remarkable things with our software division and we’re very excited to see what growth will come as a result of this promotion.”

Mr. Nowicki started the SmartDealerProducts division of IAS and was the lead architect and developer of SmartMenu, SmartEye, SmartTrac and most recently SmartPad, the company’s tablet based software program. He has also been instrumental in advocating for eBusiness for F&I by creating dealer friendly eContracting and eRating for IAS dealership customers.

“I am excited to continue to play a part in the advancement of technology in F&I,” said Matt Nowicki, vice president of retail software. “Watching the industry adopt and embrace new ideas that create a faster and more friendly dealership experience is a win-win for both dealers and their customers.

Today, the SmartDealerProducts division of IAS is home to nearly twenty software professionals including developers, database administrations, technical support, customer service, and quality assurance analysts.

Before joining IAS, Mr. Nowicki worked as software developer, network administrator, database administrator, technical support representative, and quality assurance analyst. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin.

“At CNA National, we continue to enhance our sales organization in order to expand our position as an industry leader,” said Alan Miller, senior vice president of sales. “Mark’s career is highlighted by multiple successes in the sales and management of finance and insurance products. His professional experience will greatly benefit CNA National.”

Prior to his most recent position as national sales director for Profit Plus, Wheeler spent five years as regional vice president for the asset-protection division of Protective Life Insurance Company, managing the Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska regions. Prior to that, Wheeler served as regional sales manager for Universal Underwriters Group in New Jersey.

“It is exciting to join CNA National during this time of growth,” Wheeler said. “I am confident my time in operational management and sales experience in the field will help build even stronger relationships for CNA National for future business.”

Michael is a results driven executive who has been working in the finance industry for nearly two decades. Most recently he held the post of Vice President of Operations for Imagine Technology Group where he provided financial leadership during their acquisition phase, managed investor relations and was a primary driver of growth within the organization.

Prior to that, he held finance and operations roles for MWB Business Systems and Danka Industries. He has a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas.

“The expansion of our executive team will fuel RoadVantage’s growth while allowing us to continue to service our agents and dealerships at the highest level,” said RoadVantage CEO and founder, Garret Lacour.

“Michael’s executive experience in finance and operations, impressive track record for exceeding expectations, and his enthusiasm for business challenges and team-based success will build on our ability to deliver the most innovative products and provide service levels that meet and exceed expectations.”

Mills has more than 20 years of experience in financial roles including development of accounting systems, budget and forecasting, audit, tax planning, investor relations, acquisitions and venture capital.

As Chief Financial and Operations Officer, Michael will report directly to Garret Lacour, CEO and founder of RoadVantage, and be responsible for heading up all RoadVantage operations.

Prior to joining The Warranty Group, Frey held several positions in the warranty industry, including three years as president of Administration Specialists of Omaha and nine years as senior vice president, CFO, and board member of Universal Warranty.

Mike Frosch, President of The Warranty Group, stated “Doug brings an extensive background across many product areas and functional disciplines. His leadership will be a great asset to our US growth strategy.”

Frey is a CPA with an MBA from the University of Michigan and a BA from Albion College.

The Company’s products are offered predominantly through a network of independent agents to automobile dealers in 49 states. In addition, IAS offers its dealers one of the leading technology platforms in the industry.

Ryan Clark, Managing Director at Genstar, said, “We are excited to be partnering with Bob Corbin and the entire IAS management team. Over the past 30 years, IAS has become one of the nation’s leading vehicle protection product and services providers and, through its focus on customer service and product quality, has built lasting relationships with hundreds of independent agents and thousands of automobile dealerships.

Genstar’s focus in the insurance sector is to target companies like IAS that focus on a niche segment of the market, and we believe IAS has a distinct advantage through its existing distribution channel and underwriting capabilities.

Looking ahead, dealerships increasingly seeking to enhance their business through the sale of ancillary products will rely even more on IAS as an important partner and source of added revenue.”

Eli Weiss, Vice President at Genstar, added, “We are excited to be partnering with IAS management to expand on IAS’ leading quality underwriting and customer service to drive growth both organically and through acquisitions. The management team’s long-term commitment to its customers and partners was very compelling to us.”

Bob Corbin, President and CEO of IAS, is a seasoned auto industry executive with 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, and under his leadership the Company has seen tremendous growth. He has served as President of IAS since 2002 and Chief Executive Officer since 2009 and will continue to lead the Company as CEO.

“We are very pleased with our progress and growth and look forward to working with our new partners at Genstar whose experience will provide an added source of creativity, financial capacity and executive network to help IAS continue its growth trajectory.”

IAS will continue its successful association with Assurant Solutions under its five year underwriting agreement.

Macquarie Capital acted as financial advisor to IAS in the transaction. Ropes & Gray LLP provided legal counsel to Genstar on the transaction.

Saab North America, which is based in Royal Oak and has about 50 employees, said it is halting warranty coverage on current vehicles and models for sale at dealerships in the wake of Monday’s bankruptcy filing by its parent Saab Automobile AB in Sweden, reported The Detroit News.

Saab spokeswoman Michele Tinson said the company has also stopped dealer incentive payments for vehicles at showrooms. Only a few thousand Saab vehicles are at its 188 U.S. dealer showrooms.

GM spokesman Jim Cain said GM is working to notify Saab customers that it will step in.

“In the event Saab cannot or will not fulfill its obligations to administer the warranty programs with its U.S. and Canadian dealers through Saab Cars North America or otherwise, GM will take necessary steps to ensure that remaining warranty obligations on Saab vehicles marketed by GM in the United States and Canada will be honored,” he said.

Saab has about 48,000 vehicles registered in the United States, GM said. Most of those would be covered by GM’s warranties.

GM sold Saab to Dutch luxury automaker Spyker in February 2010, one of four brands it off-loaded in bankruptcy.

Saab North America’s board of directors began meeting around noon Tuesday and was still meeting at 5 p.m, Tinson said.

The North American unit is still operating and hasn’t filed for bankruptcy.

It’s not clear what the company’s next step will be.

A deal to sell Saab to Chinese investors was blocked by GM, which provided key technology to Saab and still holds preferred shares in the automaker.

GM refused to go along with the move, citing intellectual property concerns.

Absent a last-minute investment deal, Saab is likely to be liquidated.

Saab has built few cars since March and struggled to pay its bills.