Tyler Simmons – Sales Manager – Abilene Used Car Sales, Inc.

Tyler Simmons began working in the family business in 2013 as a sales associate after leaving the military. In 2014 I stepped away from sales to focus on our compliance in both underwriting and collections. In 2015 I took over the position of Sales Manager and put focus on moving away from the set down payments process we had always used and developed our current underwriting guidelines that focuses on stability, vehicle selection, and PTI. I have gone from up to 4 sales associates down to managing a team of two sales associates selling just under 700 vehicles annually.

Lucas Ponder – CEO & Managing Partner – AutoSmart

Lucas Ponder has been the CEO & Managing Partner of AutoSmart since 2018 where he oversees all of the daily operations for both the dealership and its related finance company. Based in Texarkana, Texas since 2006, AutoSmart operates two sales locations in the northeast Texas area with over 900 accounts between both locations. Prior to entering the BHPH industry, Lucas spent 15 years in commercial banking as the Chief Lending Officer for a community bank and served on its Board of Directors. Lucas is a graduate a Texas A&M University-Texarkana with a BBA in Finance and the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. Lucas also serves on the board of the Texas Independent Automobile Dealers Association.