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Don Graff Automotive is pleased to introduce Kurt Hoppe, a Certified Don Graff Automotive Trainer and Technology Performance Consultant.

Kurt began his career by attending college at the Georgia Institute of Technology, while also a member of the Georgia Tech Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps program. He returned to New Jersey to pursue his career goals "on home turf" and to be close to his family.

After a variety of growth positions in the Customer Service and Information Technology fields, Kurt's big break came in the form of joining Automatic Data Processing in April of 1995. With ADP's Claims Services Group, Kurt spent a nine-year career as a software trainer, subject matter expert, courseware designer, and wore a number of hats in support of a very successful training and client service organization.

Recognized numerous times at ADP, including a President's Award, Kurt served many of the country's top tier Property and Casualty Insurance companies (including Allstate, State Farm, USAA, Travelers and Liberty Mutual), training claims adjusters, claims auditors and managers. Working in and around the auto space was a daily requirement for Kurt during his time with ADP, since he frequently worked with insurance people in the field and automotive repair facilities that used ADP software products.

Kurt's career path changed in 2005, when he joined The Higher Gear Group of Chicago, Illinois. Assigned to the New Jersey territory as a trainer of CRM software for the Retail Automotive industry, Kurt successfully built dealership sales successes by teaching process and CRM compliance. He has worked with organizations like Open Road, DCH Auto Group, Prestige Motors (www.driveprestige.com) and many others that formed a stellar Who's Who of Higher Gear's dealership clients.

In mid-2009, Kurt found a new home with a growing West Coast CRM software company, DealerSocket LLC, of San Clemente, California. Building on his previous successes and exposure to the retail auto business, Kurt managed DealerSocket's CRM and associated products being used in dozens of New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island franchised dealerships, including well-known organizations such as the Lia Automotive Group, and Penske Automotive Group.

Kurt recently joined Don Graff Automotive in late 2011, after spending an eight month stint working for a four dealership organization as their Director of eCommerce. With varied duties from optimizing and managing their DealerSocket CRM installation to assisting in the strategic development and deployment of new websites, social networking, electronic marketing and development of the dealerships' overall digital properties strategy, the eCommerce work was a vital part of Kurt's career direction and development. Having had only limited exposure to dealership life as a vendor representative, it was time to try out the retailer side, and the experiences were very beneficial.

Throughout Kurt's career as a trainer, educator and process driver, he has held the firm belief that "... while I am frequently sent in to teach, or share information, I end up leaving having learned from my clients as well." Collaboration is the key to success. And a walk of a thousand miles always begins with the courage to take one first step.

Contact Kurt Hoppe at Don Graff Automotive to make your digital marketing strategy grow!