FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Dent Wizard Announces New COO, Mid-South RVP

Addison Thomas will serve as COO and Doug Grill takes over as Mid-South regional vice president.

by Staff
May 3, 2018
Dent Wizard Announces New COO, Mid-South RVP

 

1 min to read


Addison Thomas

ST. LOUIS — F&I product provider Dent Wizard International has promoted Addison Thomas to COO and Doug Grill to Thomas’ previous position as regional vice president of Dent Wizard’s Mid-South region. These promotions come after Mike Black was promoted to CEO April 1.

Thomas will assume Black’s COO responsibilities and lead the core service operations team. He served in various roles with Dent Wizard over the past 16 years, most recently as regional vice president of the Mid-South region.

Ad Loading...

Grill is being promoted from his role as regional director of operations in the Southeast region. He has been with Dent Wizard five years, serving in sales and client service roles.

Doug Grill

“It is quite rewarding to provide upward mobility to talented and committed teammates,” said CEO Mike Black. “I’ve personally worked with Addison for over 20 years. His focus on people, process, and delivering customer value is second to none. He inherits a great group of experienced leaders who bring tremendous intellectual capital and proven performance to his senior team.

“Doug Grill’s work ethic and people skills, combined with his drive to win, make him an exceptional asset,” added Black. “He’s a perfect example of the bench strength we have throughout our organization. I’m confident that these two business leaders will bring significant value to our clients, partners, and the company in their new positions.”

More F&I

Easycare White paper cover See how AI-powered coaching can turn F&I customer conversations into actionable insights that support compliance, performance and profitability
SponsoredSeptember 8, 2026

How AI-Powered Coaching Is Transforming F&I Performance

See how AI-powered coaching can turn F&I customer conversations into actionable insights that support compliance, performance and profitability

Read More →
Assurant, Sell Value Build Trust, F&I Series, Expert Trainer Trent White
F&ISeptember 2, 2026

Sell Value, Build Trust

In this video, Trent White explains why selling on value, not fear, builds lasting customer trust, reduces cancellations, and drives long-term success.

Read More →
2026 StoneEagle summary
F&Iby Hannah MitchellAugust 31, 2026

F&I Sales Give Dealers First-Half Lift

Product business shored up total profits to avoid an overall revenue tanking as product penetrations held steady, StoneEagle reported.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
man with white hair and glasses delivering a speech standing next to a podium
F&Iby Lauren LawrenceAugust 31, 2026

Targeted Training Drives Results

Today’s technology, instead of threatening F&I managers, can actually make them better, according to an industry veteran who’s watched market setbacks roil the unprepared.

Read More →
Man's hand holding pen over a paper document
F&Iby Justin B. GasmanAugust 20, 2026

Double the Change, Double the Chance

When an F&I manager gets a customer refusal, it’s a wise move to tweak more than one thing in the product offering.

Read More →
Laptop computer, tablet, calculator and notebook on a desk
F&Iby John TabarAugust 20, 2026

Just Do It

F&I managers need training, but instead of resisting application or expecting perfection, they should improve by simply acting on what they learn.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
stacks of coins, a calculator, paperwork, and a pair of glasses in the background, text Lender Experience Drives Dealer Decisions, F&I and Showroom
Auto Financeby Lauren LawrenceAugust 12, 2026

Dealer Lender Preferences Revealed

When lenders provide consistent, fast service, their overall satisfaction scores with dealers greatly improve, according to JD Power research.

Read More →
Leading with Purpose thumbnail. Trent white pictured in front of titled graphic.
F&IAugust 5, 2026

Leading with Purpose

In this video, Trent White explains how understanding your people’s 'why' is a key leadership responsibility of F&I professionals and how that mindset drives dealership engagement, trust and performance.

Read More →
Photo of a keyring with mltiple keys, including a car key fob, on a white surface
F&IJuly 15, 2026

Integrating Nontraditional F&I Products

The niche presents a strategic advantage for auto dealerships as they move to adapt to fast-changing consumer expectations in today’s market.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of businessman's hands holding eyeglasses at a desk
F&Iby Rick McCormickJuly 7, 2026

Trust Is Personal

Technology, no matter how efficient, can’t replace what the human F&I manager can do, which is to bridge the divide between cyberspace and the in-store experience.

Read More →