Auto Remarketing is recognizing the 2022 Women in Remarketing honorees in the May issue of the magazine, and will be posting Q&As with each of these outstanding leaders on the website.

Next up is Danielle Mannone, area manager with IAA.

Auto Remarketing: What is the top trend you’re watching in remarketing/wholesale automotive this year?

Danielle Mannone: The top trend in remarketing/wholesale that I have been watching is electric vehicles. Several factors have contributed to higher demand for EVs, charging station infrastructure has become more accessible and it is becoming more common to see these vehicles on the roads. As sales continue to increase and demand is higher, I have been watching the technology evolve and more manufacturers creating models. More EVs on the road of course means that more EVs end up in the salvage and remarketing channels.

So far, we’ve been focused on educating ourselves on the technology so that we can help to maintain the value of the vehicles as they move through the automotive lifecycle. It has also required us to become more knowledgeable in the best ways to market and sell these vehicles correctly.

AR: How has technology/innovation impacted your specific area of remarketing/wholesale the most?

Mannone: We’re always trying to find new ways to help market vehicles to consumers. Especially over the past two years, we have embraced big advancements in technology to help create a global digital marketplace for vehicle buyers to connect with the inventory they want. We’ve developed and applied innovative tools that help to recreate the experience of seeing a vehicle in person, no matter where the buyer is. For example, we have found ways to give customers a 360-degree view of the vehicle as if they were physically there to walk around it.

They can also view photos of the interior and exterior, find specific features of the vehicle based on model, and watch engine videos that allow them to assess the mechanical advantages of the vehicle. We continue to invest in tools and technology that give our customers the information they need. These technical advances continue to help lead us in the remarketing industry.

AR: What piece of career advice would you have for someone new to the industry?

Mannone: A piece of advice I would give someone new to the industry is to learn to be adaptable to changes in the industry and absorb as much knowledge as possible. The auto industry is always evolving, and the consumer demand is always changing. You have to learn to adapt to those changes and find ways to improve the auto buying experience. I was once told by one of my leaders, “Be a sponge and absorb as much knowledge as possible; something might not benefit you now in your current role but one day it will.”

AR: What is your proudest moment/accomplishment, career-wise?

Mannone: My proudest accomplishment in my career was in my first year as a branch manager in 2017. As a previous supervisor within the organization, I knew there were many tenured, knowledgeable and determined managers that I would be working directly with. I challenged myself when I went into that role to the best.

My first year as a branch manager that vision was realized when IAA Fredericksburg-South was recognized internally with the Branch Award for the Southeast region. Th is award was not only an accomplishment as it was my fi rst year as a branch manager, but this was also the first year of operations for this location. This award was driven by financial and operational data and goes to the top-performing branches in each region. I have always had the mindset excellence is not based on tenure, but determination. I knew at that point in my career that if I worked hard enough anything could be achievable.