Jay Prassel Bio

www.premierperformancegroup.com

In 1975 I started selling cars at a large GM dealership and advanced into management as the Used Vehicle Buyer in 1977. After successfully completing the Chevrolet Dealership Management Academy, I was promoted to Vice President and General Manager in 1984.   

My career as an expert Trainer started in 1994 after participating in Cadillac Motor Division’s Video Training tape, “Hit a Home Run With Leasing”. After its’ distribution, I founded Advantage Training Systems and became a Chevrolet Motor Division Certified Trainer. I was also appointed an approved Trainer for the General Motors Cadillac Division Lease Program.

In 1997, I was recruited to be an In-Dealership Management Consultant by NCM Associates, Inc., which is the original 20 Group company located in Overland Park, KS. NCM (formerly Nichols, Campbell and Morrow) serves 2,800 automobile dealers as Moderators for 20 Group Meetings. I also was an instructor for the NCM Used Vehicle Academy which is a four day intensive workshop for sales managers to improve their profitability. I was the Moderator for the NCM Internet Sales Manager 20 Groups for two years.

My primary area of expertise is In-Dealership Consulting implementing comprehensive Net Profit Improvement programs. I am experienced in consulting with over 200 Dealerships. I work with dealers and their management staff to improve profitability, both by individual department and over-all dealership. This is accomplished through very detailed analysis of the dealership financial statement and comparing these numbers to industry benchmarks. The management team and I would identify areas of opportunity and develop Action Plans to implement the change for improved profitability.

In my 16 years of auto dealership consulting and training, I have produced over 4,500 pages that include letters to dealers, recommendations, action plans, team improvement plans and training manuals. All these documents were designed to improve dealership profitability.

I continue to work with dealers around the country to improve dealership profitability, conduct a Used Vehicle Workshop and a Finance Department Compliance Seminar.

I have worked as an expert witness for the Law firm of David Bernsen of Beaumont, Texas, successfully defending a used car dealer investor. In October of 2005, I was a court appointed professional consultant in the dealership bankruptcy case of West Suburban Imports (Illinois) and was approved by Ford Motor Credit through their Law Firm of Dykema Gossett. I worked for the Law Firm of William L. Needler & Associates, who represented the debtor, for six months until the sale of the dealership. I am analyzing 623 lease transactions in the investigation of the possible embezzlement of $1.2 million for the Law Firm of Dimonte & Lizak and am the court appointed professional consultant. I have been retained as an expert witness in several lawsuits to defend dealers in F&I related issues, including payment packing and deceptive practices.

I have experience as a Dealer Group and Bank-Approved Chief Restructuring Officer, (CRO), working side-by side with banks and dealer principals in the restructuring of out-of-trust dealerships or those that need temporary management status.

My years in the industry have given me a unique knowledge and perspective in many areas. I am especially astute in evaluating retail transactions, both sales and leasing, for consumer fraud, payment packing, and prejudicial/discriminatory practices.

Litigation and Expert Witness Summary

November 2004

Civil Action No. 1:04CV611, Kenneth D. Rogers, et al vs. Joe E. Penland Sr., et al United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas; Beaumont Division. Retained by the Law Firm of David E. Bernsen.

Case: Litigation consultant for the defendant. Found not guilty. 

June 2005 

Civil Action No. 45,345. Joe E. Penland, Sr. vs. Robert L. McDorman and Orange Savings Bank (formerly known as Mauriceville National Bank), et al In the District Court of Hardin County, Texas, 88^th Judicial District. Retained by the Law Firm of David E. Bernsen.

Case: Expert Witness for the Plaintiff in the countersuit. Settled in favor of the Plaintiff.  

November 2006 

Working with the Law Firm of Dimonte & Lizak (Ira Goldberg) on the possible embezzlement of money by dealership employees. Court approved consultant by Judge Susan Sonderby.

 January 2007

 Case No. 06-CV-000334, Gail L. Opgenorth vs. Hesser Toyota, Inc., et al Jefferson County Circuit Court. Retained by Bradley W. Matthiesen, Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C., and Zurich/Universal Underwriters Group. 

Case: Litigation consultant for the defendant. Case settled. 

January 2007 

Claim No:  00-156933, Rachael L. Jacobs, Michael Jacobs vs. All American Auto Center & Nuvell Credit Corp. et al, in the Iowa District Court of Washington County. Retained by John M. Bickel, Shuttleworth & Ingersoll PLC and The Motorist Insurance Group. 

Case: Litigation consultant for the defendant. Case settled. 

June 2007 

Case #: 07-001756 CACE (09) AutoNation vs. Cecil T. Turner, Jr. Retained by the Law Firm of Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 

Case: Expert Witness for the Defendant. Case settled in favor of Mr. Turner.

June 2007 

Small Claims No. 0680403491 Searle v. AutoCraft. & Nelson Mousques, , Appeal No. 07840237. Retained by the dealer. 

Case: Expert Witness for the Defendant. Case settled. 

October 2007 

John Clark, et. Al. vs Alan Vester Auto Group, Inc., Superior Court Division, County of Vance, Case: 06CVS141. Retained by of Mona Wallace, Esq., Wallace & Graham, Salisbury, NC. 

Case: Expert witness for the Plaintiff. Case settled. 

January 2008 

Bonnie Jean Sartor-Ondersma v. Rowell, Inc., et al

Kent County Circuit Court Case No. 07-07329-CP. Retained by Jason Barrix, Barrix Law Firm PC, 934 West Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI. 

Case: Consultant for the law firm, analyzing document transactions. Case settled. 

January 2008 

Ronald Lowery vs Alan Vester Ford Lincoln Mercury, Inc., United States District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, Western Division, Case: 5:07-CV-134-F1. Retained by of Mona Wallace, Esq., Wallace & Graham, Salisbury, NC 

Case: Expert witness for the Plaintiff. Case settled. 

April 2008 

John L. DeDeaux vs. Mazzei Pontiac-Cadillac Co, Case No:  C07-00462, in the Superior Court of the State of California, In and For the County of Contra Costa. 

Case: Consultant for the Plaintiff, analyzing document transactions. Case settled. 

May 2008 

Snead-McNeal vs. Cook Motorcars, LTD, Case No:  12-C-08-000094, in the Circuit Court of Harford County Maryland. 

Case: Consultant for the dealer, analyzing document transactions and pay plans. Lawsuit against dealer dropped.

December 2009 - January 2011

Galura vs Sonic Automotive, Inc. In the Circuit Court For the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit In and For Hillsborough County Florida,  Case No. 02-12274 Div. B. Retained by Scott Jeeves, The Jeeves Law Group, Tampa FL.

Case: Expert witness for the Plaintiff. Case settled in favor of the Class.

Asset Management, Consulting and Containment Summary

October 2005 

Case #:05-61053, Court approved Professional Consultant in the Bankruptcy case of West Suburban Imports, working for William L. Needler & Associates. 

May 2007 

West Suburban AutoWorld, hired as Bank-Approved Chief Restructuring Officer by RBS/Charter One to assist in the restructuring of the dealership. Dealership was closed by RBS.

 July 2007 

Retained by the Law Firm of Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, to analyze pay plans and benefits in Southeast Florida for their client, Mr. Morse. 

January 2009 

Retained by RBS/Charter One Bank to perform an evaluation of a high-line import dealer group in Illinois to determine the estimated exposure (loss) in a wind down of the business. At our suggestion of selling the business, we were engaged in a containment and asset management contract. The sale of the business was completed in September of 2009. 

March 2009 

Retained by RBS/Charter One Bank to perform an evaluation of a leasing company in Illinois to determine the estimated exposure (loss) in a wind down of the business. 

July 2009 

Retained by BMW Financial Services to perform an evaluation of a dealership in Indiana to determine whether to re-write the loan, recapitalize it or sell the dealership. 

November 2009 

Retained by Mr. Bill Wink to assist in preparing the appeal the termination of his Chevrolet in Dearborn Michigan. 

January 2010 

Retained by RBS/Charter One Bank to perform an evaluation of a trucking company in Iowa to determine the estimated exposure (loss) in a wind down of the business. 

September 2010 

Retained by Mr. Brian Campbell to assist in preparing a proposal to acquire a General Motors franchise that was closed during the downsizing. Mr Campbell had been a very successful Dodge dealer that was one of thirty-two that were reinstated by the Arbitrator.

June 2010 

Consulting on a case that FBI agent William Beckman and the Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) are looking into regarding an automobile dealer. They wanted to debrief me regarding my first hand knowledge of the activities. 

July 2010 

Retained by KeyBank to perform an evaluation of a leasing company in California to determine the estimated exposure (loss) in a wind down of the business. Due to the seriousness of the situation, we were retained for containment.

Articles

Dec. 2003     Car Dealer Insider, contributed to article on service customer retention.

May 2004     Car Dealer Insider, contributed to article on subprime financing.

Dec. 2004     Ward’s Dealer Business, authored advertorial on service customer retention.

Dec. 2006     Pennsylvania Dealer News, authored article on Improving Profitability in the Used Vehicle Department. 

Feb. 2007     Pennsylvania Dealer News, authored article on Improving Profitability in the Used Vehicle Department through better inventory management.

Dec. 2007    Dealer Business Journal, authored article on Finance     Compliance and the Independent Dealer. 
 

Dec. 2009    Dealer Business Journal, authored article on Profitability in a Challenging Market.
 

Jan. 2010    Dealer Business Journal, co-authored article on Managing Opportunities to do Business.

Training Materials 

F&I Compliance CD, 4 hour presentation on how to understand the laws and regulations affecting the way dealers do business

F&I Compliance CD, Pardon The Interruption, 20 minutes of highlights from the AutoTex 20 Group Meeting.

Speaking Engagements

June 2005            Houston, TX, F&I Compliance Workshop

November 2005   Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, F&I Compliance Workshop

April 2007            Texas Auto Dealer Convention, Dallas, TX, F&I Compliance Workshop

May 2007             Houston, TX, F&I Compliance Workshop

May 2007             Dallas, TX, F&I Compliance Workshop

June 2007            Manvel, TX, F&I Compliance Workshop

September 2007 Half Moon Bay, CA, F&I Compliance “Best Practices”, Auto-Tex

November 2008  Orange County CA Automobile Dealer Association Workshop, Maintaining Profitability in a Declining Market