🎙 Episode 14 — Kate Downing, COO of Williams Auto Group
In this episode of 100 Marketers, we sit down with Kate Downing, COO of Williams Auto Group, for a candid look at how modern dealerships are evolving from the inside out.
Kate shares her journey from agency-side marketer to dealership COO, the lessons she learned along the way, and how she blends advertising, operations, and customer experience to drive real results across multiple rooftops.
We dive into:
 • How nimble, family-owned groups can outmaneuver large publics
 • Why in-house marketing still gives dealers a massive edge
 • What she learned from NCM 20 Groups and Car Dealership Guy’s new COO circle
 • The real reason third-party platforms perform differently in each market
 • Her take on AI in auto — what’s hype, what’s actually working
 • How Williams Auto Group is preparing for their Techion transition
 • Why process + people + product still win in every department
 • And the metrics she believes will matter most over the next few years
If you’re a dealer leader, marketer, or operator looking for real, practical insights (not theory), this episode delivers.
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Contact Ashley: ashley@dealeromg.com and lets get your opinion out into the world!
