Building Better Dealerships
Starting in the 1990s as a district manager (and becoming the youngest to win Manager of the Year), Joel’s career spans every corner of automotive F&I—from the retail trenches to boardroom views.
In 2002, he founded Automotive Development Group (ADG), turning it into one of the largest and fastest-growing F&I agencies in the U.S. ADG’s patented training systems—the Proactive Selling and Development Systems—weren’t built on theory. They were forged in real dealerships, with real results.
Following ADG’s acquisition by Brown & Brown in 2018, Joel stepped in as EVP to lead Midwest and Texas operations, head national training, and help PE-backed groups optimize revenue across massive dealership networks.
Today, through writing and strategic advisory, Joel helps dealer leaders create lasting growth without losing their margins (or minds).
Current Ventures + Investments
Car Coverage / Warranty Genie
Car Coverage / Warranty Genie
A Streamlined Platform for Extended Warranties—Built to Be Transparent, Accessible, and Customer-First. Empowering Dealers to Re-Engage Their Customer Base Through Smarter Warranty Management and Technology.
Repair Warranty Automation
Repair Warranty Automation
An automated solution for managing repair warranties inside dealerships, reducing manual errors and lost revenue.
AutoTrainer
AutoTrainer
Digital F&I and sales training tools developed from the Proactive Selling and Development Systems.
Kramer AutoPlex
Kramer AutoPlex
Venture Funds
Venture Funds
Select investments in early-stage ventures reshaping dealership tech, service, and experience.
Philosophy + Mission
Joel believes that most dealership operations problems can be boiled down to two factors: culture and process. When leaders get those right, turnover drops, compliance issues fade, and the finance office becomes a profit center that doesn’t give you weekly migraines.
His mission? Help dealership leaders trade reactive chaos for repeatable wins—and build stores where customers and employees want to return.