At RPA, we take a lot of pride in the strong relationships and long track record of success that we have with our Honda and Acura Dealer Ad Association clients. No other agency can offer the benefits and advantages to DAA clients that RPA does — combined with first-class service, local expertise, custom creative solutions and media strategy and investment that drives sales.
For over a decade, RPA has partnered with numerous Honda and Acura associations across the country with the clear goal of increasing sales, market share and dealership profit for our clients. We are proud of the success we’ve had together, and our team is always thinking about how we can help drive dealer business to even greater heights. Our People First focus and top-notch field teams have resulted in a long track record of strong relationships with our DAA clients all over the country.
From editing to motion graphics to full-blown shoots on the Helium stage, here’s some of our favorite work.
Name?
Erin Lynch
What do you do?
I work closely with and support the entire field account team and media teams to coordinate efforts and keep communications and information flowing. I also work directly with Kym Landan and Matt Howell on any projects with American Honda, including supplemental commitments and media invoices, compliance and sponsorship submissions.
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
Every day is different. Each DAA is unique. I truly enjoy keeping the communications between teams flowing, solving problems and having such variety to the day!
How long have you been doing this?
I’ve been working on American Honda advertising and marketing in a variety of capacities for over 20 years. And I’ve been laser focused on the DAAs for 7.
Fun fact?
I was on the other side of advertising as a child — I was in commercials from the age of 6 months to 8 years old, in spots for brands like Scott T’s toilet paper, Mama Celeste frozen pizza, Raisin Bran cereal and Polaroid.
Name?
Paul Santello
What do you do?
I oversee media strategy on several retail businesses at RPA. As my focus is on retail-oriented businesses, I spend much of my time identifying how we can best use media to drive retail-specific KPIs for our clients.
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
I love working with the DAAs for the challenges it represents. Every DAA is different, and every dealer in each DAA has powerful voice and a point of view, and this brings wide and varied challenges to the table which makes things exciting for me. The experience keeps us constantly learning new things, thinking about staying ahead, and doing whatever we can to make sure we are growing their business and making them happy.
How long have you been doing this?
I have been in advertising for 32 years, and I’ve had a retail focus for the last 10. I have worked in automotive since 2003 and on DAA business specifically since 2012.
Fun fact?
I love fitness and I love raising money for charity, and I have combined the two for much of my adult life. If I am raising money, there is usually a physical event I am undertaking. I have ridden my bike 550 miles over seven days (several times), run 26 marathons all over the US and Europe, and too-many-to-count half marathons, 10Ks, stair climbs, Tough Mudders — you name it — all while raising money for various charities. The vast majority of my fundraising is for health and human services charities that fight cancer, hunger, homelessness, and HIV/AIDS.
Name?
Tim Woo
What do you do?
I oversee the Marketing Intelligence Group at RPA that covers Media Research, Audience Intelligence, Ad Operations and Research, Analytics & Insights.
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
I enjoy learning about the intricacies of each market and how we can help solve their business needs. Using data and analytics, we can better understand the market dynamics and bring data-driven decisions to the forefront to ultimately drive vehicle sales.
How long have you been doing this?
I have been working in the automotive industry for over 18 years and have experience working with dealer ad associations for 10 years.
Fun fact?
I am an avid fan of punk rock music and in my spare time, I enjoy going to shows / concerts. Hearing aids are undoubtedly needed in my foreseeable future.
Name?
Gayle Gray
What do you do?
I manage media strategy development and execution for all Honda and Acura Dealer Associations handled by RPA.
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
Exploring market nuances and seeing all the different ways that campaigns with similar objectives can play out.
How long have you been doing this?
22 years at RPA and 7 focused on the DAAs.
Fun fact?
I lived in three different countries before I turned two years old.
Name?
Gresia Franco
What do you do?
I work on DAA media strategy for both Honda and Acura across 35+ markets.
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
I love getting to really understand all the specific DMA nuances and providing market-specific media recommendations.
How long have you been doing this?
I have been part of the Media Planning/Strategy team at RPA for 12 years, working specifically on the Dealer Associations for the past 6 years.
Fun fact?
I backpacked 10-miles one way in the Grand Canyon to see one of the most impressive waterfalls called Havasupai Falls.
Name?
Danielle Myers
What do you do?
Local Media Director, Northeast
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
Each dealer group has their own objectives and needs. It’s fun to work with them to determine what those are, help them solve issues and meet their goals. The best part of my job is working with my incredible team across the agency to accomplish these goals for our clients.
How long have you been doing this?
I have been working in the industry since 1994, and on auto business since 1996.
Fun fact?
I love to see live music and have even traveled to England to see my favorite band!
Name?
Rich Bina
What do you do?
I lead Strategy Development on DAA business, with a special focus on understanding the customer journey to purchase and coordinating efforts to move shoppers into the showroom and driving off the lot in a new Honda or Acura.
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
Dealers are smart and very outcome-oriented, and the closer you get to final purchase, the clearer you can see the outcomes of successful advertising.
How long have you been doing this?
I've worked on Honda for 15 years, and 18 years in auto advertising overall.
Fun fact?
I produced a feature-length independent film — a noir thriller.
Name?
Jeff Van Blarcom
What do you do?
I lead the Account Team based in Dallas, covering the Southern US — Texas, Oklahoma,Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
I love the ability to connect with the dealers, listen and learn. Each market has their own unique media consumption habits, from Houston to Hattiesburg.
How long have you been doing this?
21 years!
Fun fact?
I'm a former drummer and live/studio musician. I love metal and country music (and everything in-between).
Name?
Lita Keller
What do you do?
As a Senior Regional Account Director, I manage six DAA accounts with a total of 14 individual markets.
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
I enjoy learning about idiosyncrasies of markets in my region and playing to the strengths to help my clients. No cookie cutter plans here! It tests my people skills as dealer management is always changing. Getting to know new clients keeps me on my toes.
How long have you been doing this?
27 years at RPA!
Fun fact?
I'm also a fitness instructor, certified to teach seven different formats — including lifting, dance, core and more.
Name?
Lisa Baird
What do you do?
I manage multiple Honda and Acura DAAs across the Southeast and Northeast.
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
I love the individual market nuances, diving into data and details to find solutions, and making smart decisions to grow my clients’ business.
How long have you been doing this?
I’ve worked with Honda and Acura for my entire career, but have worked on the DAA business for 10 years.
Fun fact?
I was a college radio DJ in Athens, Georgia, and am full of random music trivia.
Name?
Andrew Kreisberg
What do you do?
Manage multiple DAAs throughout the Mid-Atlantic and North East. Keep our DAA’s advertising plans, measurable, organized and effective.
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
Honda and Acura dealers are my passion. I grew up around retail, worked in retail and now work with our clients to help solve their problems through advertising. I love the how dynamic our dealers' business is and I love helping to solve problems. My goals are always to get the most qualified shoppers in the stores, because I know that the more opportunities they get, the more cars they will sell — because our dealers are the best.
How long have you been doing this?
I have worked on DAA accounts for over 10 years.
Fun fact?
I love to golf and cook.
Name?
Joe Sajbel
What do you do?
I think about how to facilitate the success of my clients and dealer friends day and night. I am very competitive and want to use this competitiveness to their advantage. I enjoy reading and studying automotive advertising trends and am constantly working to leverage any advantage for my clients.
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
What are DAAs but groups of dealers? And one of the things that I have learned over the years is that running a dealership is not easy. Automotive retail disruption is constant. Whether it be Carvana, COVID, production hiccups, mandated government shutdowns, threats to the auto dealer franchise model, government regulations, the autonomous vehicle phenomenon… I could go on. Bottom line, my clients are friends and they are under a constant bombardment. What I love about my job is that I have the opportunity to make their lives easier by understanding their markets and using the best resources available to connect them with the most amount of customers possible.
How long have you been doing this?
It was the mid-eighties and the very first account I had the pleasure to work on was Mitsubishi Motors. I was thrilled to play a part in introducing their new line of products to the US market and became hooked on automotive that very first day!
Fun fact?
When I came to Los Angeles to get a job in advertising I stayed with a cousin in the Hollywood Hills who co-owned a production company doing special effects for TV series such as Night Rider, Dukes of Hazzard, Stephen Spielberg’s Amazing Stories and many others. Anyway, one morning he woke me up and asked if I’d like to be in the pilot episode of a Robert Wagner TV series. Obviously, I was blown away and we spent 8 hours that very evening at a night shoot in Redlands, CA. It was fantastic. I was actually on TV and my six brother and sisters were thrilled. The series lasted five episodes before it was cancelled. Oh well.
Name?
Tim Moran
What do you do?
VP, Director of Field Operations
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
I really enjoy the opportunity to impact things at a retail level, assisting in making recommendations and action plans that will directly impact the dealer on the showroom floor and in their store. I'm proud of growing and maintaining special relationships with unique clients that will last an entire lifetime.
How long have you been doing this?
I've been in the industry for 35 years — having spent time working on Hyundai, Nissan, Acura and the Honda Dealer Association business since 1986.
Fun fact?
I once scored a hole-in-one on the golf course I grew up on, in 1996.
Name?
Elizabeth Barker
What do you do?
I manage the local investment group in Chicago. My team and I work to get each client the best return on investment for their local media campaigns.
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
Every dealer association is unique, and I love getting to know each one individually. Understanding their distinct viewpoints and objectives allows me to effectively represent the association during media negotiations.
How long have you been doing this?
I have been working with dealer associations since 2002, and exclusively Honda and Acura dealer associations since 2007.
Fun fact?
Growing up I lived in Peru, Mexico, and Spain.
Name?
Stephanie Kalahar
What do you do?
I manage the local media team out of our RPA Dallas regional office, along with negotiating a few local markets of my own.
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
I really enjoy how closely we get to work with our local RPA Account teams on the business. We stay in tune with our markets’ performance from a sales perspective, along with other dealer nuances, which gives us leverage as we implement the local media buys on their behalf. Attending DAA meetings and getting that face-to-face is another perk!
How long have you been doing this?
I’ve worked at RPA for 22 years and have touched the Honda business through Regional Marketing and/or the DAA business since my very first day with the agency.
Fun fact?
I went to the University of Kansas and am a big college hoops fan (my TXtags = ROCHLK). I have been to a total of 12 Final Fours dating back to 1991.
Name?
Sarah O'Grady
What do you do?
I am the Director of the Atlanta office as well as a Director in the Local Media Services team. As part of the Local Media Services team, I work as a liaison between multiple departments across the agency to ensure all clients' objectives are being met.
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
I love to get to know the local market nuances to ensure that the market is being effectively reached.
How long have you been doing this?
I have been at RPA for 24 years!
Fun fact?
Growing up in Connecticut, I was raised as an avid New York Yankees fan. If you ever visit me in the Atlanta office, you will find a 6 ft. cut-out of Derek Jeter watching over things!
Name?
Mary Hoover
What do you do?
I manage the local investment team in Santa Monica. I also negotiate media buys for our local clients.
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
I love hearing input from the dealers and understanding their wants and needs for their individual markets. Assembling media buys with in-depth knowledge are keys to a success story.
How long have you been doing this?
I’ve been working on DAA business for 14 years.
Fun fact?
I’ve climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and been hiking all over the world including around Mt. Everest.
Name?
Mya Le
What do you do?
Media Planning & Strategy
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
Every DAA has unique challenges and it's absolutely rewarding to work alongside our clients to help overcome those challenges.
How long have you been doing this?
Approaching 9 years at RPA, with the past 5 years dedicated to DAAs.
Fun fact?
I love trying new cuisines and typically plan my travels around places with delicious food. In 2018, I had the opportunity to go truffle hunting in Tuscany and it was quite the experience!
Name?
Dawn Miles
What do you do?
I manage the Tier 2 Paid Search accounts for Acura and Honda
Why do you love working with the DAAs?
I love getting to know the dealers. Sitting across the desk talking about their store and what drives them to success.
How long have you been doing this?
I have been at RPA for 3 years; however have been working exclusively in the Tier 2 automotive industry for the past 11 years.
Fun fact?
I am a guacamole connoisseur
If you’d like to learn more about how RPA drives success for our DAA clients, please reach out to Erin.
CONTACT