Joe Lescota is the Chairman of the Automotive Marketing Department of Northwood University in Midland Michigan. Joe joined Northwood in 1997 after an extensive and successful career in the retail automotive industry.
He was first introduced to Northwood University when he served as the program director for the Automotive Satellite Television Network and helped to introduce college credit courses into dealerships nationwide via long distance learning.
Joe began his automotive career in sales in Jacksonville, Florida in 1976 with Key-Royal Automotive Company. He has filled all management positions within the variable departments of a dealership including that of a dealer operator. He quickly gained a reputation for developing innovative management techniques leading to reduced employee turnover and increased customer retention and satisfaction.
He is highly regarded in the auto industry for his extensive knowledge and research in the retail used vehicle market and is frequently published in professional and national news reports. Joe is a frequent presenter at the NADA and NIADA conventions and conducts workshops throughout the U.S. and Canada that specialize in teaching dealers how to improve profitability in their used vehicle operations by having a better understanding of the financial ramifications on processes and inventory management. Joe’s business practices have been documented and validated over the years by major auto manufacturers. In other words, if you use it, it works.
Joe is also the exclusive Certified Master Dealer instructor for The National Independent Dealers Association and serves as a Trustee on the Foundation of the National Independent Dealers Association. He has conducted workshops and educational seminars for Ford Motor Co, General Motors, Chrysler Corp, Honda of Canada and Acura of Canada, Proton Motor Cars of Malaysia and many other manufacturers as well. He also consults for many franchised and independent used vehicle dealerships.
He has twice received the Northwood University Faculty Excellence Award presented by the University’s sophomore class, the Faculty Excellence Award presented by the University’s senior class and the highly prestigious and coveted Faculty Excellence Award voted on by the faculty of Northwood University.
Joe is also the recipient of the Association of Finance and Insurance Professionals (AFIP) “Man of Year Award” 2006 for his contribution to the support of continued learning and professionalism in the field of Finance and Insurance.
