DealerSocket
Company: DealerSocket, San Clemente, CA
Entry Submitted By: Laura Truex
Company Description: Over 50,000 users at nearly 1000 auto dealerships throughout the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Australia now leverage DealerSocket's CRM solution to optimize and manage marketing activities, sales processes, customer satisfaction and retention, and service department operations. DealerSocket has won numerous industry awards since its founding in 2001 and is based in San Clemente, CA.
Nomination Category: Management Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Management Team of the Year
Nomination Title: Under Steady Management, DealerSocket Thrives in Struggling Industry
1. Tell the story about what this nominated management team achieved since January 1 2008 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
Throughout 2008, the critical plight of the American automotive industry
dominated headlines throughout the world. Low consumer confidence, a tough
credit market and struggles of the Big 3 Detroit automakers severely impacted
nearly all auto-related businesses, with dealerships particularly hard hit.
With a steady track record of remaining one step ahead of its customer’s needs,
automotive CRM solution provider DealerSocket responded to the challenges
dealers were now facing with several industry-first solutions enabling them to
quickly and cost-effectively overcome each obstacle. As the industry turmoil
continued, DealerSocket averaged one new customer per day (increasing to 1.5
per day by March 2009), leading to 2008 revenue growth of 33%, as dealers
leveraged the company’s comprehensive CRM solutions to recession-proof their
businesses.
While most companies serving the industry struggled, DealerSocket has thrived
due to the steady leadership, unwavering customer commitment and innovative
approach of its management team: Jonathan Ord, Co-Founder and CEO, Brad Perry,
Co-Founder and President, Cameron Darby, Chief Operating Officer and Matt
Redden, Vice President of Sales.
DealerSocket Milestones Since January 1, 2008:
• Surpasses 50,000 DealerSocket CRM system users
• Expands into Canada, U.K. and Australia
• Records five-year revenue growth of 4,529%
• Records 2008 revenue growth of 33%
• Reports 6 years of consecutive profitable quarters
• Averages one new customer per day throughout 2008
• Named a Fastest Growing Company in North America by Deloitte & Touch for
third consecutive year
• Named Best Overall Company in 2008 Stevie International Business Awards
• Named Sales Department of the Year - Computer Software in 3rd annual Stevie
Awards for Sales & Customer Service
• Introduces industry first a-la-carte sales approach to its DealerSocket CRM,
enabling dealers to choose from Sales, CSI, Marketing or Service components to
achieve immediate ROI and increased profits
• Introduces MoneyMaker, enabling dealers to decrease cost and increase revenue
by mining their own data for leads
• Launches new desktop application enabling dealerships to comply with fair
business practice regulations
Each member of the team continues to play a clear role in DealerSocket’s
ongoing success and serves as a role model for corporate responsibility.
Before co-founding the company in 2001 with no outside investment, Ord and
Perry spent a year working for free in all departments of a dealership to gain
a thorough understanding of dealers’ unique needs. The management team
continues to apply this principal of building from the ground up to every
department of their organization, providing each employee the opportunity to
do, contribute, lead and solve problems, even when they might not have
the “resume” to do so. The team’s mantra: “Treat people ethically and fairly
and give them room to grow” positively affects both its employees and
customers - evidenced by the low voluntary employee turnover of less than 2%
and a customer retention rate of over 90%.
Firm believers in giving back, each member of the management team, along with
every DealerSocket employee, spends an average of 3 hours per week volunteering
for local and national charitable causes.
2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:
Since the company’s founding in 2001, both DealerSocket and its management team
have received extensive press coverage and numerous awards and accolades for
the company’s exceptional growth and ongoing commitment to the retail
automotive industry. Comprehensive coverage can be found at
http://www.dealersocket.com/about/news.html. Highlights include:
DealerSocket Honored Among This Year's Most Promising Private Technology
Companies in North America
http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx? ACCT=ind_focus.story&STORY=/www/story/05-05-2009/0005019231&EDATE=
DealerSocket Wins Best Overall Company in 5th Annual International Business
Awards(SM)
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/2379368
Automotive CRM Provider DealerSocket Wins Top Honor in Computer Software
Category in 2009 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service(SM)
http://www.cnbc.com/id/29126344/
Audi of America Selects DealerSocket as Preferred CRM Provider
http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/prnewswire/press_releases/national/California/2009/04/08/LA96470
DealerSocket Continues to Experience Steady Growth as Auto Dealerships Leverage
Company's CRM to Recession-Proof Businesses
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/06-17-2008/0004833604&EDATE=
90 Auto Dealerships in 90 Days Choose DealerSocket CRM
Dealers cite high level of accountability, increased ROI and ease of use as
deciding factors
http://www.dealerrefresh.com/90-dealers-choose-dealersocket-crm/
DealerSocket Continues Growth; Recognized Once Again As Fastest Growing Company
http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/prnewswire/press_releases/California/2008/11/18/LATU044
OC’s 40 Under 40 – DealerSocket’s Co-Founders Jonathan Ord and Brad Perry
http://www.ocmetro.com/t-Cover_40_Under_40.aspx
DealerSocket Ranks #2 on Deloitte & Touche Annual List of Fastest Growing
Companies in Orange County – 4529.4% Growth
http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/article/0,1002,sid%253D56072%2526cid%253D177037,00.html
DealerSocket Ranks #37 on Deloitte & Touche 2007 Technology Fast 500 Annual
List of Fastest Growing Companies in North America
http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc/content/us_tmt_Technology%20Fast%20500%20Article_102307.pdf
Video: High CSI Scores Enabled by DealerSocket CRM Key to Revenue and Profit in
Current Auto Dealership Marketplace
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS115419+15-Jul-2008+PRN20080715
DealerSocket Receives Multiple Awards for Growth
http://www.dealersocket.com/news/PressReleaseDealerSocketGrowthFINAL091307.pdf
DealerSocket Launches New Desktop Application Helping Dealerships Stay Compliant
http://www.dealersocket.com/news/DSLaunchesNewApp.pdf
Deloitte & Touch 2006 Technology Fast 500 – DealerSocket #43 on Annual List of
Fastest Growing Companies in North America
http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/article/0,1002,sid%253D2205%2526cid%253D134079,00.html
FireSocket Tops Deloitte's Orange County Technology Fast 50 Ranking of Fastest
Growing Companies, With 6,180 Percent Revenue Growth Over Five Years
http://www.dealersocket.com/news/DTPressRelease.pdf
Automotive Digest Follow the Leaders: Jonathan Ord, CEO, DealerSocket LLC
http://www.dealersocket.com/pdf/1107FTL_JonathanOrd.pdf
In the HighBeams: Interview with Jonathan Ord, CEO, DealerSocket
http://www.dealersocket.com/about/inthehighbeamsinterview.html
Top Dealer Improves Sales and CSI with CRM
http://www.dealermark.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1294&Itemid=0
3. Provide brief (up to 200 words total) biographies of the key members of the management team:
Jonathan Ord
Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder
As CEO, Jonathan Ord sets vision and drives strategy for DealerSocket. Over
the past 13 years, Jonathan has created and executed business process visions
for more than 500 companies.
Brad Perry
President, Co-Founder
As President of DealerSocket, Brad Perry focuses on transforming vision into
reality, relying on his years of experience in the consulting and ASP software
industry.
Both Ord and Perry are graduates of Brigham Young University. Jonathan earned
a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Spanish, and a Master’s Degree in
Accounting and Information Systems. Brad earned a Master’s Degree in
Accounting and Information Systems.
Cameron Darby
Chief Operating Officer
As COO, Cameron Darby directs operations and collaborates with CEO Jonathan Ord
to drive DealerSocket’s overall strategy.
Cameron is a graduate of Brigham Young University, where he earned a Bachelor’s
Degree in English. He is also a graduate of Brigham Young University J. Rueben
Clark Law School.
Matthew Redden
Vice President of Sales
As Vice President of Sales for DealerSocket, Matt drives sales through a
unified approach that incorporates marketing, sales and customer support.
Matt is a graduate of Brigham Young University, where he earned a Bachelor's
Degree in Physiology.