Women in Remarketing: Ellen Westpfahl of Manheim

Auto Remarketing is recognizing the 2021 Women in Remarketing honorees in the March issue of the magazine, and will be posting Q&As with each of these outstanding leaders on the website.

Next up is Ellen Westpfahl, who is assistant general manager at Manheim Orlando Market Center.

Auto Remarketing: What do you enjoy most about working in the remarketing industry? But, also, what aspect(s) of the business would you change — and how?

Ellen Westpfahl: The people that I have met along the way have impacted my entire life, first starting at Avis Rent A Car in 1977 and then with the auction the past 35 years (in March). So as you can see, the remarketing industry has been my life. With this industry there is change every day, so the interest and the challenges are there always. A good change would be more collaboration between all auctions and organizations in the industries such as FIADA (Florida Independent Automobile Dealers Association) and NAAA (National Auto Auction Association). The opportunities are there but we don’t always take advantage of it and everyone should. 

AR: What are some improvements that need to be made in the industry from a diversity and inclusion perspective? What are some examples you’ve seen of D&I programs that have worked?

EW: Last year seemed to be a pivotal year that diversity and inclusion were brought to the forefront — there were always classes to take but not the passion that there is now. We have D&I calls and classes, which presented the need for improvement. 

In our organization now and in other organizations, there are so many groups that you can join or create that will fit everyone’s desire.

At Manheim Orlando and Manheim Central, one of the examples is making the time and being consistent in our open-door approach to listen and let our employees help us build the communication bridge to gain the knowledge of what we need to do. Our approach to open this bridge was to start quarterly calls with the teams. 

Also, we asked for volunteers to get on calls with our senior management so we could just listen to the employees. We also have had Women with Drive at both locations for the past four years, which has many different people attending. And we are doing them through teams during the COVID restrictions, so we don’t miss anyone that wants to attend.

AR: Describe a time when you were either a mentor or a mentee, and how that has shaped your career.

EW: I’ve had the opportunity to be a mentor the past three years to three amazing people.  It was exciting mentoring people new in their careers as they are hungry for information and knowledge. 

One of my mentees was at Dealer.com, and I learned so much about what they do through the mentoring program, and it is amazing to find out no matter what part of the automotive industry you are in, a lot of the struggles and successes are the same. Our industry is lucky to have these future leaders coming in.

AR: Describe a time in your career where you were challenged and how you overcame that challenge.

EW: When I think about challenges and I look back at my career — having worked for four owners and 23 general managers — I certainly have had my share of challenges. 

Overcoming those obstacles was simply getting to know the people involved which is the foundation of our business. 

AR: What is the top trend/storyline in the remarketing industry that you’re watching this year?

EW: Digital; everything digital. After COVID last year, our industry became digital!  Calls and meetings were now Zoom and Teams meetings — all in a matter of weeks, when we have spent so many years just trying to incorporate digital into our world. There are so many articles, but what I have enjoyed most is listening to dealers and how they have learned to shift their business model with all the digital changes.

AR: What is something you would tell your younger self if you could go back to when you started your career in remarketing?

EW: Face your fears, set your goals, review your goals and make sure that every day you are doing something to achieve them. And remind yourself to enjoy the business, but not be consumed by the business, so you can achieve your work/life balance.