Challenging Ego and Creating Empathy with April Simmons

Challenging Ego and Creating Empathy with April Simmons

Author: CarNow July 8, 2025 Duration: 34:38
Challenging Ego and Creating Empathy with April Simmons Tim sits down with industry powerhouse, April Simmons, to explore her journey from loan officer to digital retailing pioneer to operations leader at Horne Auto Group. April shares candid stories of breaking barriers as a woman in automotive, building successful internet departments, and discovering her “second mountain”—a mission to empower others. From resilience to reinvention, this TimTalks episode has actionable insights for anyone l...

Tim Cox, co-founder of CarNow, believes the most valuable insights come from conversation, not a lecture. That’s the spirit driving TimTalks: Automotive Leadership and Beyond. In this podcast, Tim sits down with seasoned professionals and innovative thinkers from across the automotive industry, moving beyond surface-level trends to dig into the practical, often unspoken, realities of running a successful dealership. These discussions are built on a simple, powerful idea: no one is smarter than everyone. Each episode feels like a focused, behind-closed-doors meeting where guests share tangible strategies and hard-won lessons. You’ll hear specific, actionable advice aimed at tackling real-world challenges, whether that’s finding new avenues for profit growth, genuinely improving the customer experience, or creating a workplace where talented people want to stay and build their careers. It’s not about theory; it’s about what works on the ground. The goal is collective improvement, offering listeners a steady source of usable knowledge to help navigate the complexities of modern automotive retail. For anyone invested in the business of cars, from managers to owners, this podcast serves as a regular dose of perspective and pragmatic thinking, all aimed at moving the entire industry forward, one conversation at a time.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 45

TimTalks: Automotive Leadership and Beyond
Podcast Episodes
Own Your Data, Ditch the Feelings with Brooke Furniss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:43
From athletic trainer to one of the most outspoken voices in automotive, Brooke Furniss has built her career on one rule — facts, not feelings. In this episode, Tim sits down with Brooke to unpack how a corneal transplan…
Why Great Leaders Still Need a Coach with Chris Hunsicker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:42
What if the reason you’re not growing isn’t your business, your team, or your market — it’s you? In this episode, Tim sits down with world-renowned executive coach Chris Hunsicker, a former therapist turned leadership me…
The Truth About Leading When No One’s Watching with Mickey Seelye [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:15
In this moving conversation on TimTalks, Tim Cox sits down with Mickey Seelye, President & CEO of Seelye Auto Group in Kalamazoo, Michigan—a third-generation dealer whose leadership begins and ends with faith. Mickey sha…
Step Zero: Attitude, Energy, and Approach with David Long [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:58
Tim sits down with David Long of Hansel Auto Group to explore clarity, accountability, and pouring into people. In this episode, David shares the origins of his Pandemic of Positivity, the foundation of his upcoming book…
Why Sitting in Every Seat Matters with Laurie Halter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:35
In this episode of “TimTalks: Automotive Leadership and Beyond,” Tim Cox sits down with Laurie Halter, founder and CEO of Charisma! Communications. Laurie shares her journey through the industry—from her early days at Ch…
Building Champions and Breaking Records with Roger Hendon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:02
On the latest “TimTalks,” Roger Hendon shares how he transformed Valdosta Toyota from a low-performing store to a top closer by building champions. Discover how empowering his team, establishing expectations, and leading…
The Future of Automotive Leaders with Northwood University [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:07
Tim sat down with five standout students and Elgie Bright, the heart behind Northwood University’s automotive program. Meet Colin, Katrina, Julia, Chase, and Brooke. From global experiences to major internships and caree…