EFG Companies, the innovator behind the award-winning Hyundai Assurance program, together with Northwood University, today announced student competitors and F&I mentors participating in the first annual F&I Innovator of the Year Award competition.<\/b><\/p>\n
The competition will pit six teams of Northwood\u2019s junior and senior undergraduate automotive marketing and management students against one another to conceptualize and build a new F&I product while earning course credit.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Each team includes an F&I director who will serve as a mentor and provide beneficial insight into the daily inner workings of automotive F&I.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause of their practical experience within dealerships, the mentors\u2019 knowledge will be invaluable to the teams,\u201d said John Pappanastos, President and CEO, EFG Companies. \u201cThe directors will help the teams understand compliance and its increasing impact on F&I, the changing profile of consumers, and the focus on client retention.”<\/strong> <\/p>\n The teams and mentors include:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe students selected to participate in this inaugural F&I Innovator of the Year competition represent the best and brightest at Northwood University,\u201d said Elgie Bright, Chair of the Automotive Marketing and Management Program, Northwood University. \u201cEach student maintains a 3.0 GPA along with internships and several other extracurricular activities. We are excited to see what these students bring to the table.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n About the competition<\/b><\/p>\n The competing teams will be tasked with developing a business case for their new F&I product. The students must research, rationalize and demonstrate the market viability of the new product, and its potential to facilitate F&I product sales in franchise dealerships.<\/strong> Teams will upload video diaries weekly to YouTube, chronicling their progress, challenges and breakthroughs.<\/p>\n The competition runs through November 13, 2015 when a panel of leading dealer principals, EFG executives, and Northwood\u2019s automotive program educators will judge each team\u2019s business case. EFG Companies will award the winning team $25,000, and will develop the winning F&I product for the retail automotive marketplace.\u00a0<\/strong> The company will also return a percentage of the product\u2019s revenues to Northwood University.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n Team<\/strong><\/td>\n Students<\/strong><\/td>\n Mentor\/Dealership<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \u00a0AutoMates<\/td>\n Gordon Jenks
\nDrake Green
\nVictoria Pretty<\/td>\nTim Ososanya,
\nBob Moore Auto Group<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n \u00a0Furthering Innovation<\/td>\n Matt Brown
\nJaclyn Suchta
\nTyler Scott<\/td>\nAdrian Peterson,
\nMoritz Dealerships<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n \u00a0Quantum Integration<\/td>\n Collin Ullvund
\nRichie Durso
\nJon Vollmuth<\/td>\nCaleb Hargreaves,
\nHanlees Auto Group<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n \u00a0Car Conglomerate<\/td>\n Sarah Trierweiler
\nKayleen O’Boyle
\nAustin Kelly<\/td>\nDena Moore,
\nDavis-Moore Auto Group<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n \u00a0Team 4<\/td>\n Audrey Moses
\nHarry Collins
\nMark Ruhle<\/td>\n\u00a0Jeff Zinsser,
\nStar Cars of Abilene<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n \u00a0Team 6<\/td>\n Geoff Wallace
\nRyan Holton
\nMatthew Stickney<\/td>\nCraig Drew,
\nCentral Maine Motors
\nAutoGroup<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n