STELLA Automotive AI, provider of high-end conversational AI technology, has announced several key new roles within the sales department.  The following promotions and new hires were made in October.

• Cate Hegarty has joined the Sales team as enterprise director of logistics. Hegarty honed her sales skills in banking before entering automotive.  She has experience in both retail and fixed ops, including digital retailing, advertising and service platforms. Prior to coming to STELLA AI, Hegarty worked with Cox Automotive.

• Ron Smith has been promoted to director of enterprise sales to manage strategic accounts and business relationships. Smith, originally hired as a national sales director, proved his ability to develop important business relationships and is taking on a new role within the sales team. He has spent his career in the automotive industry, most recently with Cox Automotive. His passion for his dealership colleagues is matched by his knowledge and understanding of the automotive market. 

• Terin Burks has been promoted to national sales director to manage client development in the southeastern region of the United States. Burks, originally hired as a director of logistics for STELLA AI, gained the attention of leadership with her ability to develop new business. Burks comes from a background in automotive texting solutions with LivePerson, where she helped dealers find new ways to provide exceptional service to their customers. 

• Michael Vandemark has joined the sales team as director of logistics. He has worked in the automotive industry for 29 years, gaining experience in dealer operations, technology implementation, process changes and customer-focused market share growth. Vandemark is passionate about advancing both the customer experience and dealership profits. He has worked at Cox Automotive, Ally Financial and CarGurus, and has 14 years of retail experience under his belt.

• Patrick Jones has joined the sales team as director of logistics. He entered the automotive business in 2012 and spent eight years at an automotive group working his way up through multiple levels of sales, internet, inventory and management. Jones moved to the vendor side in 2020 and worked in SaaS sales in the fixed ops area before joining Stella AI.

“It is my pleasure to be able to hire and promote exceptional talent within our customer-facing teams.  Truly, this team ranks among the most qualified and experienced dealer-focused professionals in our industry,” says Sherri Eidenberg. 

For more information about how the STELLA AI digital voice assistant can empower your dealership, visit www.stellaautomotive.com/speedoflife or call 727-955-3550.