Pamela Thomas, Dealer Network Manager, General Motors

Kyle Mountsier: 0:00This is In The Dirt with ASOTU. Oh, here at NAMAD, I'm hanging out with my new friend, Pamela, Pamela, with GM, you are the a dealer, Network Manager, dealer network manager, which really is like a really small title for what you're actually doing for for the organization and for the industry. So I'd like to hear like, what does that expand to? What does that give you access to? And what is the title do have to do with your desire for the industry inPamela Thomas: 0:33

the brand? Kyle blue eyed Kyle,

Kyle Mountsier: 0:36

I appreciate that.

Pamela Thomas: 0:38

This is how I tell Kyle and Paul apart, you have the blue eyes, he has the brown eyes. Somebody at the table asked me if you are were twins. And I was like, no look at Kyle's eyes.

Kyle Mountsier: 0:51

That's really unique person actually, to in this in this scenario, actually bring that up. So I appreciate that. Because from now on, I'm gonna be like, I'm the blue eyed one,

Pamela Thomas: 1:01

you have to know how to recognize people, for sure, for sure. So back to business, as a network managers really is really important. I feel really special being a part of the network team, because there's not many of us in organization. But what we do is build a GM portfolio. I specifically work on the Cadillac team. And if we're looking at particular markets, throughout the Northeast region, which I work in, we're building those markets with profitable Cadillac stores. Gotcha. Okay, that was most and most importantly, putting minorities in those stores.

Kyle Mountsier: 1:38

Gotcha. So that was a perfect business answer I really appreciate Yes. What I really want to know is how does that serve your passions for our industry?

Pamela Thomas: 1:45

Oh, God, the passion comes with a minority development. Okay, the passion comes with people that look like me, talk like me, love me as I love myself, people that I can make their dreams come true, who want to be franchise owners. So I like to say, when I get up and I want to sing in the shower, I get to deal with minorities every single day coach them, mentor them, to make them better as dealer principals,

Kyle Mountsier: 2:13

and how do you see that like your role in you know, one company and a bunch of companies out there doing tons of different things, and you're networking with, you know, the OEM and the franchise and you're working within? But how do you see that serving broader culture and and serving like, the customers and the communities in which these people are placed?

Pamela Thomas: 2:32

Oh, listen, you know, is one thing we think about when we think about minority development? And it's the reason why we exist, is well, it's because our communities are diverse. So if we have diversity, whether it's from particular ethnic groups, or women in general, the individuals in the community that look like those individuals that now owned the dealerships, come and shop at those dealerships and work at those dealerships. So it enriches the community. Yeah, sure.

Kyle Mountsier: 3:06

Now, have you always have his auto been a thing for you for a long time? Or is this a this a relatively new thing in your world? Or where have you been in

Pamela Thomas: 3:14

so I've been in the automotive space, almost 20 years, I've been with GM for 17. But before that, I've done a lot of different things as a school teacher, which is my passion of teaching and coaching. And mentoring is my passion in life. So your school teacher, what ages, I taught high school, I taught an elective.

Kyle Mountsier: 3:33

So you're like still doing the same thing? Basically, you basically,

Pamela Thomas: 3:36

listen, I think it's really important to understand your passion, learn what that is, and put that into your work on a daily basis. That's what makes me sing in the shower. Yeah, but way before that I was a model I modeled in Paris and did a little model in New York, and then Lana market as well. And so I did that for probably 18 years of my model turned teacher turned OEM representative moto turfy. I've been in the engineering field as well. And I taught engineering, mechanical and architectural design. So I've been in the engineering field is so like,

Kyle Mountsier: 4:11

how do because I think that these unique experiences for people that however long you've been an auto, if it's been 20 years, great, there's been people within an auto three years, the unique experiences that we have outside of auto auto, especially people that have had careers outside of it, really, like the insights that you can draw from being in other ecosystems are so valuable. Sure, how do you hold on to that? And how do you draw some of that forward into what you're doing literally today, not just over the last 20 years? Well, it's

Pamela Thomas: 4:37

it's interesting that you say that, you know, even when I talked to my counterpart, so I have counterparts that's been with General Motors for 40 years, and this is all they've done. Yeah. But I can pull from different spaces. You know, whether it's talking to somebody about fashion and in the automotive industry, because, believe it or not,

Kyle Mountsier: 4:57

look, I've been around here, and there's some shoe shoes and some pants and shirts and dresses that for sure. Like people throw down for sure.

Pamela Thomas: 5:06

It's so so you know, people just assume when they see me Oh, you have you've had to model. They don't realize that they don't know my story. But I have so I can talk about fashion. Yeah. When it comes to teaching, I can talk about teaching and mentoring and coaching something I do on a daily basis, and teaching others how to coach as well. And I'm being on the resale side retail side of the business as well. Some individuals I work with, I've never been on a retail side so I can speak from that perspective as well. So I like to say that I can speak to all areas and engineering, right. opposed to that we're dealing in a space, especially yours only. Right, right?

Kyle Mountsier: 5:45

Yeah, that's awesome. That's a benefit from hey, look, thanks for taking some time with us and for calling out the blue eyes cow. It was wonderful. It's been a pleasure getting to know you. And I hope that we just stay connected. And I'm glad you're connected to the ASOTU community. Well,

Pamela Thomas: 5:59

thanks so much. Awesome. Thank you, sir.

Kyle Mountsier: 6:02

Thank you for listening to In The Dirt with ASOTU. We love the automotive industry and the people who make it run day in and day out. We would love to connect with you more through our daily dose of fun, a free email that you can sign up for at asotu.com That's a s o t u.com. We put our heart and soul into it every day. Thanks again for listening. Join us next time for more Conversations In The Dirt with ASOTU.

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