About CPI
Meet Ted Ings.
Executive Director and lead facilitator of the Center for Performance Improvement. In retail automotive since 1981, a 5-time NADA speaker, and the founder and host of the Fixed Ops Roundtable.
“We measurably improve the performance of key employees in the automotive, indirect lending and healthcare industries.”
Ted Ings, Executive Director
In retail automotive since 1981.
Ted Ings started in the retail automotive business in 1981. He spent ten years selling cars and managing dealerships, which is why he can walk into a store and, within minutes, know who's who and where the process is breaking down.
The Plan
As a young leasing manager at Fette Ford in Clifton, New Jersey, Ted focused the whole sales team on one thing: Ford's 24-month lease program, known as “The Plan,” in place of the conventional 48-month lease. Customers took part in the process, saw comparative numbers and bought in a low-pressure environment.
Red Carpet leases went from 20 a month to over 100. In 1988 the story made the front page of DealerWorld Magazine.
Deming, TQM and Kaizen
Ted learned Total Quality Management in Japan. TQM, also called Kaizen or the Deming principle, is a daily discipline of improving every part of a business, across every department, with every employee involved.
He became a disciple of W. Edwards Deming, whose methods helped turn around Japanese manufacturing after the Second World War. As Deming put it, “Every system is perfectly designed to get the result that it does.”
Ted took that thinking into automotive retail, from sales and marketing to service and the whole customer experience. It's why he has spent years moving the customer and the service advisor from the counter to the vehicle. The customer is there to talk about the car, and the best place to do that is at the car.
OEMs and dealerships
From Fette Ford, Ted went on to lead retail process change initiatives across the industry. His retail process work has included General Motors, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Volvo, Nissan, Honda, Daimler, Renault and Volkswagen.
Over the years he has worked with thousands of dealerships in North America as well as dozens of OEMs. He is a 5-time NADA speaker, and today he is Executive Director and lead facilitator at the Center for Performance Improvement.
CPI by the numbers
- In retail automotive since
- 1981
- NADA speaker
- 5x
- Years of combined experience on the leadership team
- 250+
- Guarantee on facilitated programs
- 100%
Our approach
What makes CPI different.
CPI takes a holistic approach built around continuous performance improvement, and every program is developed around your needs.
real-world
[ree-uh l, reel world]
The realm of practical or actual experience, as opposed to the abstract, theoretical, or idealized sphere of the classroom, laboratory, etc.
Real-world, not theory
Our people have hands-on experience in the automotive industry and related fields. When you ask how the training applies to you, our team has the experience to fill in the blank.
Engaging training, not monologues
You've sat through four 90-minute monologues that waste a day, or a speaker who inspires everyone until things go back to the same old way. Our master trainers engage the room from the start, role-play scenarios and show how the tools work in real life.
Implementation beside you
You aren't left to implement on your own. Our trainers and facilitators keep working with your team, often at your location, so the skills learned are put into effective practice.
Constant communication
Questions come up. At CPI you'll always have someone to answer them, and you can expect regular follow-up to make sure your team succeeds.
Brand Experience
Katie Mares
Speaker, consultant, writer and customer experience entrepreneur
Katie brings over 15 years of hands-on knowledge in the science of building and implementing customer experience programs in organizations across the globe. Her research-based presentations and workshops help business leaders create a Brand Experience that is exceptional and unexpected, with happier teams, delighted customers, more referrals, fewer complaints and improved CSI scores.
- Certified speaking professional
- Masters in Adult Training and Development, Schulich School of Business
- Certified Training and Development Professional, Institute of Performance and Learning
In their words
What leaders say after the training.
Wow! An amazing leadership program that combines lectures, audience participation, data and anecdotes! Terrific facilitators that guided us through an impactful and actionable leadership journey!
My managers were running into barriers communicating effectively. The tools that we learned will help us to understand different people's needs to help us sell more cars and achieve higher SSI.
Your coaching “role-play” class is excellent! Our participants were able to learn from a vast cross section of leadership situations and challenges. The training is spot-on!
I have attended many seminars and workshops and this is honestly the only one I have ever attended that captivated me the whole time, and gave me valuable insight into myself and my co-workers.
Thank you! Your interactive workshops are well organized and purposeful throughout every segment! You give leaders and future leaders the tools to grow and mentor others.
My favorite part of this two-day class was the interaction with strangers from completely different professions and walks of life. Thank you for helping us achieve measurable improvements.
Fixed Ops Roundtable
Ted also founded and hosts the Fixed Ops Roundtable.
It brings dealer operators, retail leaders, technicians and industry partners to the same table through live events, broadcasts and a video library.
Visit fixedopsroundtable.com(opens in a new tab)
Talk to Ted about your team.
Tell us what's happening in your store, and we'll get back to you.