Kathi Kruse is a nationally acclaimed automotive retail advisor and subject matter expert.
Kathi’s contributions and influence bridge across every landscape of automotive retail. She’s a welcome face at conventions, 20 Groups, workshops, webinars, and training events.
Why is Kathi Kruse so highly sought after?
It begins with her clarity on dealership operations, financial, and customer and employee behavior. The auto industry is transforming quicker than we’ve ever thought possible. In order to keep up, dealerships need to transform also.
With rare insight and a common-sense CFO approach, Kathi decodes the mystery of dealership financials and applies long-standing best practices for profitability, financial record assessments, accounting clean up, process recovery/implementation and expense control.
There are two core factors of optimal dealership profit
- Sell more cars, service and parts
- Control expenses using industry benchmarks
Both actions must be present for a dealership to achieve its highest potential.
Kathi’s Automotive CFO-To-Go® is a proven three-step system for car dealers to control expenses, get clean + correct financials, maximize profit and minimize risk, in half the time, so you can comfortably sleep at night (Without losing money and painful write-offs).
What distinguishes Kathi Kruse from her peers?
While Kathi spent portions of her career in operations, it’s her unique ability to absorb financials and hone in on what’s causing a dealer pain that is exclusive to Kruse Control. Her skillful, imaginative strategies and proven processes generate valuable outcomes that strengthen a dealer’s local reputation while enhancing manufacturer relations.
Kathi has always seen it differently, thanks to an unparalleled record of automotive industry leadership through often tough, challenging times. She seamlessly blends over 25 years of automotive industry best practices with cutting-edge financial strategies, empowering clients to make better-informed decisions.
Listed below are key events and national media that Kathi has hosted or recently participated in as a speaker, subject matter expert, columnist, trainer, expert panelist, and more.
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Speaking & Workshop Engagements
- National OEM training programs
- NIADA Convention
- Digital Dealer Conference
- Numerous 20 Groups including Porsche, Lexus, Ford, Mercedes-Benz
- Canadian Digital Dealer
- OEM regional meetings
The First Pencil Podcast
The First Pencil PodcastKathi Kruse and Mike The Car Guy Correra are best friends, with many many years of retail experience in the car biz. “We decided to get together and talk about the things that are important to us in the auto industry, and hope you’ll come along for the ride. We’ll cover auto industry stuff, dealership profitability, and digital platforms, all with a dose of humor and our love for 80s/90s music. Join us!”
Kathi Kruse: Columnist in these Publications
Kruse Control Newsletter – Automotive CFO topics including dealership growth, management, leadership, online reputation management, accounting assessments/clean up/recovery and customer experience.
Dealer Magazine – Monthly Columnist on social selling and online reputation management
Used Car Dealer Magazine – Bi-monthly columnist on online reputation management, digital retail strategy and proven dealership best practices.
NIADA – Monthly national newsletter. Topics include social selling, online reputation management, and customer experience.
Marketingland.com – Columnist on digital business strategy.
Ragan.com – Columnist on digital business strategy.
Auto Remarketing – Columnist on social selling and online reputation management.
CBT News (Car Biz Today) – Early contributor on digital strategy and social selling.
Canadian Auto World – Quarterly Column on digital retail, social selling and online reputation management.
Kathi Kruse free e-Books available:
The Beginner’s Guide to AI for Automotive Retail
The Ultimate Guide to Social Selling for Car Salespeople
8 Top Reasons to Review and/or Implement a Social Media Policy