NJ CAR would like to congratulate Breanna Datello, Executive Manager of Action Auto Group in Flemington, New Jersey and Brian Lam, Platform Vice President for DCH Auto Group. Breanna and Brian were featured in the Automotive News’ fourth annual 40 Under 40 list of up-and-comers in the automotive retailing industry. They were both selected from several hundred candidates nominated and are the only New Jersey retailers on this year’s list. Automotive News staff reviewed career information supplied by the nominees and created its 40 Under 40 list.
Breanna has been visiting dealerships since she was 3 years old, but started her career in automotive retailing right out of college, as a Service Adviser at Action Hyundai. In October 2012, at the age of 23, she was named Service Manager. She quickly put her own stamp on the Department and, after a rocky start, net profit ultimately rose 25% during her first year in charge. Business more than doubled during her 30 months as Service Manager.
Now, Breanna is executive manager of Action Auto Group, started by her father, Leonard Datello. She oversees three of the group’s four franchises and became a partner in the Chevrolet store last fall. Breanna is an NJ CAR Trustee and is currently attending the National Automobile Dealers Association’s (NADA) Dealer Academy. Her goal is to be a dealer principal of her own store down the road.
Automotive retailing has also been in Brian Lam’s blood. His father, Shau-wai Lam, was president of DCH Auto Group and will be joining the Board of Directors at Lithia Motors, Inc., which acquired DCH.
Brian started working at the DCH dealerships at age 14, sweeping floors and washing cars. He graduated from Wheaton College in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, and started selling new cars at DCH Brunswick Toyota. Within a year, he was promoted to the finance and insurance department. The following year, he became the Used Car Manager at DCH Paramus Honda. Brian was ultimately named General Manager of that store in 2010 and, in 2013, was promoted to his current job overseeing six dealerships on the East coast for Lithia. In 2014, two of the six dealerships Brian oversees finished in the top 30 of the National Honda Top 100 Volume dealers.
Please join NJ CAR in congratulating Breanna and Brian on their inclusion on the Automotive News’ 40 Under 40 list.