CBT News announces inaugural Remarkable Leaders in F&I honorees

ATLANTA, Georgia (April 9, 2026)—CBT News, the dealer community’s No. 1 resource for in-depth interviews and news coverage, is pleased to announce the winners of the CBT News Remarkable Leaders in F&I awards, powered by RouteOne.

The awards honor executives, managers, and rising stars who are driving measurable results, enhancing customer experiences, and setting new standards in dealership F&I operations. Honorees reflect the diversity and innovation shaping the automotive industry, highlighting the growing impact of F&I on dealership profitability and customer satisfaction.

As the only dealership-focused platform offering an extensive library of exclusive interviews with industry thought leaders, CBT News created the Remarkable Leaders in F&I awards to highlight the dedication, expertise, and work ethic of automotive professionals. Award recipients are placed before thousands of their colleagues and peers in the form of social media posts, special video presentations, and exclusive features on . Winners also receive a trophy memorializing their achievements.

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“We want to congratulate all this year’s finalists and nominees,” stated Bridget and Jim Fitzpatrick, co-founders of CBT News. “We’re incredibly excited to celebrate the professionals who are redefining excellence in F&I and demonstrating leadership that truly moves the industry forward.” 

CBT News is honored to present the recipients of the inaugural Remarkable Leaders in F&I awards.

• Symphony Wills, Finance Director at Rafih Auto Group
• Tim Baum, Business Manager at JL Freed Honda 
• Jeremy Lidon, Director of Finance at Dan Cummins Auto Group
• Rodney Flood, Finance Manager at Toyota of Cedar Park 
• Ali Thanawala, F&I Director and GSM at Greenway Automotive Group  
• Kim Garner, Director of Finance at CMA’s Colonial Hyundai  
• Robert Debell, Finance Manager at Denny Menholt Honda 
• John Moor, Corporate Finance Director at Capitol Auto Group 
• Susan Petersen, F&I Manager at Meyer Motors  
• Albert Ridgeway, F&I Manager at Cherokee Mitsubishi 
• Brian Cook, F&I Manager at Clark Hyundai 
• Lisa Lomenzo, Finance Director at Empire Automotive Group 

To learn more about CBT News’ Remarkable Leaders in F&I and this year’s recipients, visit /remakrable-leaders-F&I- 

About CBT News

For over 13 years, CBT News has informed and empowered automotive retail professionals to grow their businesses and advance their careers through an award-winning, on-demand streaming platform. Founded in 2012 by entrepreneurs Jim and Bridget Fitzpatrick, CBT News provides new car dealers with a space to share strategies, insights, and successes with industry peers. Today, the platform reaches more than 1.1 million professionals across the retail automotive industry. Learn more at .