Cars.com Inc. Hosts REFUEL, a One-Day, Free Event to Recharge the Auto Industry for 2021

Virtual Event Features Cars.com Inc. CEO Alex Vetter, Dealer Inspire CEO Joe Chura, Pro-Skateboarder Tony Hawk and Author and Entrepreneur Jesse Itzler Among Others to Inspire Auto to Think Outside of the Box as It Enters it’s Next Normal

 Sponsored by Cars.com Inc. (CARS) and hosted by Dealer Inspire (DI), “REFUEL” is a one-day, virtual event that features world-class speakers to inspire dealers and their teams to think big and get excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for the industry. The virtual event is FREE for all attendees and there is an opportunity to donate to feed the hungry during the holidays. The need for food pantries is incredibly important right now as more people are relying on the food and services they provide than ever before. CARS will match charitable donations up to $25,000. 

The event takes place on Wednesday, December 16 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT. Attendees must pre-register at www.DealerInspire.com/REFUEL. 

“How does a skateboarder, poet or gamer help you sell cars? By providing an outside-of-the-box approach that could inspire your employees and colleagues to look for new opportunities to drive revenue, help streamline processes and build a more engaging team environment,”  said Joe Chura, CEO and co-founder of Dealer Inspire. “As an entrepreneur and startup founder, I encouraged my employees to take time to participate in events outside of their daily norm and learn from leaders outside of automotive to help them become stronger at their craft, generate new ideas for the business and stay ahead of trends impacting our industry. As we look to our next normal and embrace a digital-first approach to car buying and selling, there has never been a more important time to seek outside sources of inspiration.”

From building and retaining customers, changing relationship perspectives, leveraging the full team to win and learning how to take big risks to earn big rewards, REFUEL will inspire attendees to think bigger in 2021. 

In addition to hearing from CARS CEO, Alex Vetter, and Dealer Inspire CEO, Joe Chura, attendees will learn actionable lessons from world-class speakers:

• Tony Hawk, Pro Skateboarder & Entrepreneur. Tony is the most recognizable athlete of any kind in the United States. When no one believed in the sport of skateboarding, Tony did. It was his passion for the sport and his vision of what it could become that kept him moving forward even when others didn’t see it. In 1999, Tony not only launched one of the most popular video games ever, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, but he also became the first skateboarder to ever land a 900, the holy grail of vert skateboarding at the X Games. Since then, Tony’s created a massive brand that includes a billion-dollar video game franchise, successful businesses such as Birdhouse Skateboards, Hawk Clothing, and the Tony Hawk Signature Series sporting goods and toys.

• Jesse Itzler, Entrepreneur, Author & Rapper. Jesse Itzler speaks to the importance of increasing a person’s mental-toughness meter and how to live life out of the box. A two-time author and New York Times bestseller, Living with a Seal: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet and Living with the Monks: What Turning Off My Phone Taught Me about Happiness, Gratitude, and Focus, Jesse shares his experiences and wisdom in a light-hearted and approachable way.

• Mirna Valerio, Ultramarathon Runner & Inspiring Blogger. Although Mirna Valerio began running in high school, she recommitted to the sport after a health scare in 2008. It was then that her love for running and all its attendant benefits were reignited. She soon started her blog Fatgirlrunning, about her experiences as a larger woman in a world of thinner athletes.

• In-Q, Multi-Platinum Songwriter & Award-Winning Poet. Credited with carving a niche for performance poetry in pop culture, IN-Q is a multi-platinum songwriter and National Poetry Slam Champion. His poetry videos on YouTube have a combined 50 million views while his live performances have sold out venues and attracted distinguished audience members like Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Quincy Jones.

• Jane McGonigal, Game Designer & Wellness Leader. Jane McGonigal asks: Why doesn’t the real world work more like an online game? In the best-designed games, our human experience is optimized: We have important work to do, we’re surrounded by potential collaborators, and we learn quickly and in a low-risk environment. In her work as a game designer, she creates games that use mobile and digital technologies to turn everyday spaces into playing fields and everyday people into teammates. 

REFUEL is free to all attendees; pre-registration is required. A suggested donation to Loaves and Fishes to help end hunger and transform families’ lives is encouraged. Cars.com will match donations up to $25,000. 

About CARS
CARS is a leading digital marketplace and solutions provider for the automotive industry that connects car shoppers with sellers. Launched in 1998 with the flagship marketplace Cars.com and headquartered in Chicago, the Company empowers shoppers with the data, resources and digital tools needed to make informed buying decisions and seamlessly connect with automotive retailers. In a rapidly changing market, CARS enables dealerships and OEMs with innovative technical solutions and data-driven intelligence to better reach and influence ready-to-buy shoppers, increase inventory turn and gain market share. 

 In addition to Cars.com, CARS companies include Dealer Inspire, a technology provider building solutions that future-proof dealerships with more efficient operations and connected digital experiences, FUEL, which gives dealers and OEMs the opportunity to harness the untapped power of digital video by leveraging Cars.com’s pure audience of in-market car shoppers, and DealerRater, a leading car dealer review and reputation management platform. 

The full suite of CARS properties include Cars.com™, Dealer Inspire®, DealerRater®, FUEL™, Auto.com™, PickupTrucks.com™ and NewCars.com®. For more information, visit www.Cars.com.

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