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Meet Our Team

The ADS team is comprised of leaders from the retail environment. From award winning F&I Trainers, to GM’s of some of the most successful stores in their markets, we only hire accomplished professionals who know how to get results for our dealers.

Bob Mancuso

President

Bob entered the automotive industry at one of the nation’s largest Ford stores in Amherst, OH. He quickly assimilated himself with the F&I process and grew to be a top performer within the dealership. From there, he took his F&I talents on the road as a trainer for The Impact Group. While there, he introduced dealers to a new way of presenting protection products which helped dealerships achieve newfound profits in their F&I departments. In 2007 he was presented with an opportunity to join an upstart third party administration company, National Automotive Experts and leapt at the chance. During his time at NAE, they grew from a small regional administrator to one of the most impactful providers in the industry. In 2014 Bob ventured out on his own and formed Advanced F&I Solutions (today known as Advanced Dealer Solutions) and has been imparting his independent, dealer first mindset ever since. Bob and his wife Laura live in the Cleveland, OH area with their two teenage children and enjoy time at the lake and touring the country looking for the most thrilling rollercoasters they can find.

Ryan Nelson

EVP/Partner

Ryan joined Advanced Dealer Solutions in 2019 after a career that started at a one price Chevrolet store in Burnsville, MN in 1995 and led him be part of a global business development team. The intent of him joining ADS was to focus on strategic growth, enter new markets and expanding the footprint of the agency. Leveraging his years of executive experience, understanding of participation structures, and successful sales growth, Ryan works with dealers and administrators to create the best participation structures, while maximizing in-store profitability and long-term wealth building. Ryan and his wife Julie split their time between Cleveland, OH and Charlotte, NC where they enjoy spending time at the lake hanging with family. Ryan is also an avid golfer and enjoys skiing on the slopes of the Western U.S.

Dave
Ditgen

Managing Partner

Dave joined ADS in May of 2023 as our first Managing Partner and has been leading ADS into the Property & Casualty and Risk Management business. Dave has 20 years of experience working with dealers in both P&C and F&I for a large, vertically integrated company, as well as several successful years of running his own agency. He is known for building strong relationships, having a dealer first approach, and advocating tirelessly on his client’s behalf. He provides solutions which protect dealers while also maximizing on the retail transactions. Dave also assists dealers in seeking better tax efficiencies. He is an avid big mountain skier, mountain biker, road cyclist and, also enjoys riding his dirt bike through the mountains of Colorado. Dave and his wife Melanie live outside of Denver and enjoy traveling anywhere by the ocean.

Kyle
Reese

Managing partner

Kyle joined ADS in August 2023 with over 20 years of industry experience at the administration level as well as an independent agent background. His path to us was unique in which he was an ADS customer before joining our team. His previous partnership in a 2-store independent dealer group has proven invaluable in his transition to our team. It is the combination of these distinct experiences that allow him to provide a high-level of consultation and professionalism. Kyle is a huge supporter of The Ohio State University, the Columbus Crew and the Cleveland Browns. He and his wife Lauren have two children and enjoy sporting events, traveling and hanging by the pool with friends.

Jason Acierno

Director, Dealer Services

Jason has been with ADS since its inception in August 2014. Jason works with some of our larger dealer groups in managing their reinsurance, measuring the stores’ performance, and making sure they exceed the dealers’ goals. Jason has been integral in the development and delivery of our training platform and F&I Skills Course. He is an avid Cleveland Browns fan, while his wife Kelly is a die-hard Pittsburgh Steeler’s fan!  Jason and Kelly have three children and enjoy traveling, spending time with family, friends and neighbors.

Brandon
Kerns

Director,
Dealer Services

Brandon joined our team in May 2023.  He has over 20 years of automotive retail management and leadership experience. Since joining our team, he has been blazing a trail out west for us.  His background in finance, floor planning, and income development allows him to help dealers maximize the growth and profitability of their dealership. An interesting path prior to the automotive industry, Brandon first completed his law degree at the University of Colorado. He then joined a dealership group, as a sales associate, and ultimately made his way up to corporate controller for a multi-store group. Brandon is a true savant when it comes to car knowledge and history!  He and his wife Teri live outside Denver with their three teenage children and enjoy exploring the Colorado mountains by hiking, camping and off-roading.

Sean McNally

Director of F&I Risk and Underwriting

Sean joined ADS in June 2024. Sean has a deep background in F&I product development, risk analysis and system administration where he served as the primary underwriter for OEM books of business, contributed to product development, pricing strategies, and conducted risk analysis for dealer portfolios. His financial background has been instrumental in assessing risk within the F&I sector and aiding dealers in achieving lucrative results. ADS and its family of dealers will benefit by receiving an independent review of each participation structure and individual product performance, to ensure we are maximizing returns for our dealers. Sean is an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan. He lives in the Kansas City area with his wife Danielle and their son and two daughters.

Ron
Baker

Account Executive, Dealer Services

Ron has been with ADS since December 2014. Ron does an incredible job building and maintaining relationships with some of our longest-term dealers. His positive energy, witty humor, and knowledge of our business, all contribute to the incredible success he and his dealers continue to have. Ron is a Brown’s Backer and has been known to visit Brown’s Backer Bars in other cities while traveling to service his accounts. He has an artistic history as well; he sang vocals in a rock band back in the day and is still called to the stage when there is a karaoke machine nearby. Ron, his wife Tracy and their two children enjoy traveling with friends, watching anything Star Wars related and supporting the Cleveland Browns.

Andy
Carl

Account Executive, Dealer Services

Andy joined our team in September 2020 and immediately started with an abundance of energy and enthusiasm. Andy carries a high spirit everywhere he goes. He has held various management roles within a large dealer group and has extensive knowledge on how to maximize results inside dealerships and how to help them exceed their goals. Prior to his automotive retail life, Andy was a Division 1 soccer player (goalkeeper), then a coach at his alma mater, Cleveland State University. Andy not only loves the auto industry and helping dealers, he is also a devoted member of the Buffalo Bills Mafia and closely follows his Buffalo Sabres. In addition to his Buffalo teams, he is as big of a supporter of the Columbus Crew as there is! He and his wife Emily have two boys who both love sports as much as Andy.

Buddy Nelson

Account Specialist, Dealer Services

Buddy joined the ADS team in January 2021. He brought his knowledge of working with a major administrative company and the largest volume Kia dealership where he sold cars and did finance in the Chicagoland area. Since joining ADS, Buddy has traveled the country working with F&I Managers, GM’s and dealers on improving their processes and profits. Buddy is now taking on the role of P&C (Property and Casualty) producer and is excited to grow that book of business. Buddy and his wife Kaye live in Chicago and enjoy traveling, attending sporting events, and spending time with friends and family. 

Ron
Sandrock

account specialist, dealer services

Ron joined ADS in November 2022 and has been an All-Star representative ever since. With a passion for helping others achieve their goals, Ron uses his many years of training to help our dealer partners’ F&I managers succeed. His favorite part about the auto industry is building long-term relationships. Based in Texas, Ron has an extensive background in retail, holding a key management role for one of the largest independent dealers in the country. Ron has mastered the ADS process and follows it to a ‘T’ delivering incredible results for his dealers. Within the ADS team, Ron is known as the ‘Silent Assassin’ due to his quiet, reserved nature, but killer talent level. Ron lives outside of Houston and enjoys the theatre and traveling with his three children.

Tony
Tijerina

Account Specialist,
Dealer Services

Tony joined ADS in September of 2024. He was the top performing F&I Manager for a large dealer group in Ohio before joining ADS as well as a successful sales manager. Tony is excited to teach others how to achieve their next level of greatness and help dealers improve their F&I results by working with them on their process and presentations. He lives in a suburb outside of Toledo, OH from where he will take on a servicing role for recent acquisitions as well as help continue to grow our footprint in northern Ohio. Tony is a huge fan of the Dallas Cowboys and is excited for them to once again win a playoff game. He and his wife, Brooke have two children and enjoy exercising, traveling, hiking, attending sporting events and fishing.

Leslie
Finklea

Account Specialist,
Dealer Services

Leslie joined ADS in September of 2024. She entered the automotive industry in 2004 and has been a high achiever ever since! She quickly worked her way up from sales to Internet Director and eventually to General Sales Manager at a high-volume Toyota dealership in Georgia. After many successful years she decided to offer her expertise to multiple dealerships and became her own consulting company. During which, she provided services for a variety of dealers who were looking to launch new stores, clean up internal processes, achieve new levels of profitability, etc. Leslie lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area with her two sons, who are both her pride and joy! She is an enthusiastic sports fan, and loves Saturdays filled with college football! 

Julie
Nelson

office/HR Manager

Julie joined ADS in the fall of 2019. Having managed numerous projects with high levels of complexity, Julie brings her organizational and project management skills to the ADS team daily and now holds many positions within ADS.  She collaborates with our team, as well as our administrative partners to provide the best experience supporting everyone for success. When not working, Julie enjoys being at the lake, working out at Orangetheory Fitness, hanging with her cat (Twinkie) and spending time with her family.

Amanda Case

Senior Staff Assistant

Amanda joined ADS in 2020. She works effectively and efficiently to serve our associates and our dealers.  Amanda is always ready and willing to give her support. Her ability to process tasks quickly helps the team move forward at a rapid rate, and her talent helps us look our best when presenting solutions to our dealers. Amanda’s fun personality is felt in the office daily. A fun fact about Amanda is that she is a nationally ranked pinball competitor! Amanda, her husband Ryan and their son enjoy time at the pool, taking family trips and building Lego!

Mary Jo Libal

Administrative assistant

Mary Jo joined ADS in February 2020. She brought her organizational and communicational skills from her retail management experience to assist our team with reports for their dealership visits.  Her positivity is welcomed in the office. Mary Jo takes on additional tasks helping to make the office and events successful.  If you visit our office, you will be greeted by Mary Jo in our reception area. She and her husband Al enjoy spending time with their four adult children, their families and five grandchildren. They enjoy traveling, reading, and walking the different trails in the Cleveland Metroparks.

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