Progressive Basics - Meet Tim Deese Tim Deese is Owner/Chairman of Progressive Basics, Inc. located in Orange Park, Florida. He started selling cars in 1971 on an independent used car lot. He was then picked up by a new car dealership as the Sales Manager in 1973. In 1975 Mr. Deese became the General Manager for one of the largest new car dealership in Atlanta. In 1977 he bought his first New Car Franchise at the age of 28 and was one of the youngest self-made dealers in our industry. Subsequently he sold his new car stores in 1981 to concentrate on Progressive Basics, Inc. and training of Used Car Managers. Mr. Deese currently provides training seminars monthly in Jacksonville Beach, Florida as well as quarterly training seminars in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also provides and maintains In-House training programs at many dealerships located across the United States and Canada. He is also extensively involved in speaking engagements for various 20 Groups around the nation as well as National, International, and State Associations. Progressive Basics, Inc. trains professional dealerships used vehicle managers for complex trading, purchasing, and retailing in today's market. Dealership monitoring is also provided. Mr. Deese's training accomplishments include: • Chevrolet Dealer Academy: Taught at the GM Training Center for four years, Mr. Deese received the highest score ever attained. • Lexus Division of Toyota: Helped design from the inception, the used vehicle marketing program for all Lexus Dealerships within the United States. • Honda and Acura of Canada: Designed and implemented the used vehicle training program. • Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America: Took Mitsubishi Motors from .45 to .73 used to new in less than one year. • BMW of North America: Designed the BMW used vehicle training program. • Subaru of North America: Took Subaru from .5 to .7 used to new in less than one year. • SAAB Cars USA: Designed and implemented the used vehicle training program. • BMW of Middle East: Implemented used vehicle training program for 17 Arab Nations BMW Dealer Bodies. • Southeast Toyota Distributors, Inc.: Designed and implemented used vehicle management training programs. • Volvo Cars of North America: Designed and implemented used vehicle management training programs for dealers. • Volkswagen/Audi of America: Progressive Basics currently provides used vehicle management training for dealers and corporate personnel.

• Ford Motor Company Dealer Development: Designed and implemented the used vehicle training program for Dealer Development.

• Chrysler Corporation - Mexico: Designed used vehicle management pilot programs and implemented this program for Chrysler Corporation.

• Australian New Car Dealers Association: Presentation on "Why Are We New Car Dealers Talking About Used Cars."

• BMW Caribbean: Designed and implemented Pre-Owned Sales Tactics.

• Ford Motor Company of the Middle East with 14 Arab Nations: Developed Pre- Owned Program and assisted in disposal of over-aged inventory.

Mr. Deese was one of the three top rated speakers at the 1987 and 1990 NADA conventions. Moderated a panel of dealers at the 1994 NADA convention and conducted three workshops at the 1996 NADA, where Mr. Deese was in the top ten rated speakers. Mr. Deese was also the number one speaker at the 1989 and 1992 FADA conventions in Quebec and Hong Kong, as well as the Canadian Auto Dealers Association Convention in Hong Kong, along with Ford Motor Company of the Middle East. Mr. Deese was also one of the top rated speakers at the 2001 Australian Automobile Dealers Association Convention. During 2005, Mr. Deese was a speaker at the NADA convention held in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has also had speaking engagements for Chrysler of Mexico and Volkswagen of Brazil as well as more than 20 US New Car Dealer Associations, some on more than one occasion. In 2009 was a speaker at the Fenabrave Congress in Brasilia, Brazil.

Progressive Basics has trained more used car managers than any other company in the US industry, including management recognition programs for Hendricks Automotive Group, Holler Automotive Group, Ed Morse Automotive Group, Hitchcock Automotive Group, Dah Chong Hong (DCH), Duncan, Auffenberg Automotive Group, Apple Automotive Group, Max Holmes Automotive Group, Stallupi Automotive Group, and March Hodge Automotive Group.

Mr. Deese did a series on CBS with Dan Rather relating to the positive side of the New Car Dealer in America. He is the founder of the import SUV and the Automotive Tent Sale. He designed and manufactured the original Pathfinder for Nissan. Mr. Deese writes articles for many trade journal magazines and has been on the cover of the majority of the trade publications within the automotive industry.

>> NOTE FROM TIM DEESE - "I'M PROUD TO HAVE A FORD IN MY DRIVEWAY" Click Here to Read

Progressive Basics, Inc. - Meet Frank Alfano
Frank started in the automotive business in 1963 cleaning tools in a GMC truck garage. In 1970 he and a partner purchased a service station in his hometown in New Jersey where they built the company into two service stations, small trucking company but most importantly Franks love - a used car lot. He was involved in the structuring and development of what has now become a national technician certification, ASE (Originally NIASE). He progressed “through the ranks” from NIASE MASTER CERTIFIED technician in the 70’s to dealer.

His dealership experience is in both domestic and import dealerships and the buy out from the original dealer, relocation of the store, sale of other dealerships and the building of two new facilities. Under his supervision his dealerships have won a number of awards including the WINNING COMBINATION AWARD from Honda naming him one of the Top Fifty General Managers in the country. His Honda store held the highest CSI rating in the southeast zone for ten consecutive years. He was also closely involved with a group with a number of domestic stores in north central Florida, Koons Automotive Group, Apple Automotive Group and Nimnicht Family Dealerships.

Frank was in the fourth Progressive Basics class and has practiced the Progressive Basics philosophies since the early 80’s. Frank is proud to now be able to bring this knowledge to dealers throughout the country.

Frank has been called by the dealerships he works with and by the workshop attendee’s he speaks to, “just a real car guy, having been there and done that”, type trainer.
His simple approach to dealership problems make him on of the most sought after In- House Used Car Trainers in the country.

He has had the pleasure of working and continues to work with some of the top automotive groups in the country including: Volkswagen of America, Hitchcock Automotive, Chris Auffenberg Automotive, Brad Deery Automotive, DCH of New Jersey and California, Max Holmes Dealer Group, Franklin Greene Automotive, Middlekauff Automotive, Les Stanford Auto Group, March Hodge Automotive and Sewell Automotive. He was also closely involved with a group with a number of domestic stores in north central Florida, Koons Automotive Group, Apple Automotive Group and Nimnicht Family Dealerships.

Progressive Basics, Inc. - Meet Ron Batten
Ron Batten is a veteran automobile management executive. Born and raised in Bryan, Texas. Graduated from Texas A&M University with BBA/Marketing. After college Ron was hired by Ford Motor Company in the Memphis, TN district office. While there for ten years Ron held field sales positions and managed numerous district departments. Ron was selected to the position of Retail Management Specialist to improve retail performance in the south Florida area. He served two years in that capacity, and gained vast knowledge of retail operations, fueling a desire to own and manage his own business.

With a Ford dealer partner, they purchased a Toyota dealership in Jacksonville, FL. After four years of very successful performance, Ron was offered a Toyota add point in Orange Park, FL, a Jacksonville suburb. Westside Toyota was sold to the partner and Ron opened Orange Park Toyota. After 15 years of successful operation OPT was sold to a public company. Ron then joined Garber Management Group, a small chain operator (9 locations in 3 states) as operations director, a position he held for 8 years. After retiring from GMG Ron discovered two things: his golf game stunk, and he missed the car business. So Ron joined longtime friend Tim Deese to train franchised Dealers and managers in used vehicle management.

In his association with Progressive Basics Ron has worked with Dealerships throughout the United States and Canada helping them improve profitability of the used vehicle department.

Progressive Basics, Inc. - Meet Mark Levy
Mark Levy has 44 years experience in the Automobile Industry. He has bought and sold over 30,000 used cars and trucks in his career. Mark still goes to about 6 auctions every month to stay on top of the market. He is one of the top in-house trainers in the business. There is nothing in the car business that Mark has not done. He looks at the business many ways. Sometimes he looks through the eyes of a salesman, other times as a used car manager. He wore the hat of a hands on owner and President for over 35 years of his own business. "Wearing all hats in the used car business has enabled me to help others and teach others the way to be more successful." Mark's specialty is going into a dealership and recognizing immediately the things that need improving. Then implementing a plan that will work. He has an uncanny ability to read people and wants to make sure that the right people are in the right positions. "Not all people can sell and not everyone can manage."

"When I go into a store I want to eliminate wholesale loss, sell more cars for more gross . "It is all about people and having them ready and educated. Times change and we must be ready for the public at all times."

I have known Mark Levy for many years and know of his success. He is one of the top trainers and consultants in the automobile industry specializing in Used Cars.

Tim Deese
President and CEO of Progressive Basics.