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Daniel "Boots" Longenette

Daniel "Boots" Longenette has been in the automotive sales industry for over 20 years. He is currently a racing analyst for a local sports network. His racing experience includes: six years of legal drag racing; and over two years of multiple division racing at Columbus Motor Speedway. He is also a Wholesale Manager for an independent Ohio used car dealership. He currently has over six years experience in wholesale automotive auctions. During his two-decade long career Longenette has enjoyed accomplishments both nationally and locally here in Ohio; such as becoming Assistant General Manager for the world’s largest truck dealership. He then became General Sales Manager for various new car dealerships, both foreign and domestic in the Columbus area; as well as being General Sales Manager of one of Ohio’s largest Buy-Here-Pay-Here lots. He has garnered awards in customer satisfaction and was once named the Regional Walk Around Champion (a contest to explain features and benefits on a new car), he also handled all customer sales complaints at the largest dealership in the U.S. He has previously been the owner and operator of a multi-truck towing company. His leadership skill-set also includes acting as CEO for two body shop locations in the Columbus area. In his free time he has enjoyed building and restoring multiple high-end classic cars. In 2002 he was awarded the Top 100 title in the country for a 57 Chevy, and in 2003 he helped build a 23 Model T national winner. He has hand-built and ridden on two motorcycle choppers, for which his 12-foot long chopper was the national winner in 2003. Longenette is currently a member of the Grove City Rotary Foundation, in which he has helped to organize and is the head judge for the yearly 200+ cars at the Grove City Rotary Cruise and Ride.

Daniel "Boots" Longenette's extensive experience makes him a viable commodity to the high-end automotive consumer, while his down-to-earth sensibilities allow him to appeal to the blue-collar consumer as well.

Badd '57
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Steve Germain

Steve Germain is the President and CEO of Germain Motor Company. Along with his two brothers, he owns and operates 18 dealerships in 3 states representing over 13 manufacturers. Germain began as a single Lincoln Mercury dealership in 1947 in Bexley, Ohio started by Steve’s grandfather Warren Germain. 60 years later, Germain is now the 22nd largest dealer group in the country selling over 30 thousand vehicles a year.

As CEO of Germain, Steve doesn’t just take pride in the numbers. It’s not all about sales or how the company ranks. What’s most important is the Germain reputation with both its customers and employees. Steve is not the average "CEO" type... he likes to get involved and enjoy being a hands-on leader in the company, which allows him to learn from both customers and employees every single day.

Steve has also been involved in NASCAR racing. The Germain brothers formed Germain Racing to show their support for Toyota’s entrance into NASCAR competition. They promised Toyota they would bring them its first NASCAR championship and they did just that.

From the automotive business to NASCAR racing, Steve’s goal is to use his experience to help educate Auto Smarts listeners on the automotive industry and to break any barriers that may exist between the consumer and the car dealership.

De'Niel Phipps

De'Niel Phipps has had an opportunity to follow his dreams with over 12 years of experience, two Ohio Valley News Emmy Nominations for Photography, and the chance to work with a wide range of clients such as Elmer's Glue, Red Roof Inn, and Sony Music. Producing music videos, creating original television programming, and working with a host of media oulets, has put him in the position to excel in multi-media. He is a person that believes in good journalism, creativity, and high production values. His strongest qualities are taking pride in teamwork and a passion to always do his best. The knowledge he's obtained over the years has given him the ability to teach shooting and editing on many different levels. He's helping high school students just trying to get their feet wet, a Video Instructor at the Ohio Center for Broadcast, and assisting a Hispanic Station that's trying to get to that next level.

Being co-founder & executive producer of Auto Smarts 4U, he has helped continue this joint venture to go in the right direction. He is extremely excited about the goals of Auto Smarts 4U and knows that, through his talents, it will become the consumers number 1 choice for their automotive questions.

Randy Rhinehart

Covering 16 different sports in central Ohio over the past quarter of a century, many have said that Randy Rhinehart is the most versatile play-by-play man in Central Ohio. He¹s been the voice for over 2,000 events and 4,000 hours on the high school, college, and pro levels. He takes it to a new level as he shares his passion with all things on wheels.

Rhinehart been the voice for the state football, basketball, baseball, and soccer championships, including 2 straight years where he called all 8 high school basketball championship games live statewide.

Randy has called the action on TV for 10 different Ohio State sports including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, volleyball, softball, tennis, wrestling, gymnastics, and track and field.

has done events that have aired on the Yes Network, ESPN, FSN Ohio, ONN, Sport TV, CNNSI, Sports Channel, SportsTime Ohio, Columbus Sports Network, and Prime Sports. This fall he adds the Big Ten Network to his resumé.

the last 22 years, Rhinehart was a fixture at Cooper Stadium as the play-by-play voice for Columbus Clippers Baseball action on TV and radio.

He's interviewed everybody from AJ Foyt, Bobby Rahal, George Steinbrenner, and Jack Nicklaus, to the budding high school student-athlete.

Rhinehart has an incredible passion for racing. "As a kid, I used to have to mow the yardon Memorial Day. The smallest radio we had was the size of a small breadbox. Determined to never miss the Indy 500, I would completely duct tape it to my leg just to hear Sid Collinspaint the picture of the race."

His admiration has extended to NASCAR and all other forms of racing. He was a fixture atNational Trails and the Columbus Motor Speedway for more than a decade. That¹s where he met Boots.

"It's a tremendous thrill to work with Boots. This man is a walking encyclopedia of automotive knowledge. I respect his passion to pass along his knowledge to the average Joe or Jane in a way they can understand. Boots is the kind of a guy you want as a friend."

When asked what his favorite car was, Rhinehart doesn't hesitate. "I had a 1974 yellow Gremlin, that we called the Lemon. I gave it up with 174,000 miles on it and had to hold a flashlight on my lap just to read the speedometer. But it was my first car. I tore it apart to see how it worked and tried to put it together again. I always had an extra part or two."

Alexa McAllister

Lex McAllister
Founder, President Lexicon Works, Harley & Camaro Enthusiast.

Lex's two-wheeled lifestyle began with a ferocious bite that's had her infected ever since! Sounds extreme, but her blood runs on gas, PREMIUM gas. Before downsizing to two-wheels, Lex's gear-headed goodness began alongside her daddy in his '68 Z28. Attending car shows, big and small, watching drag races before Harley-Davidson even thought to enter into Pro Stock, and traveling south to Concord for the NASCAR events when it was still the Winston Cup is how Lex spent her childhood. Schooled in New York City, this supposed girly-girl graduated Summa Cum Laude while working nights on network productions like, NBC's Third Watch. She then became an Executive Producer with Sibling Entertainment Group Inc., a theatrical and film production house in NYC. All of this before she could legally sip a vodka grapefruit. Her hankering for a motorcycle enticed her to return to Ohio.  After a few visits to a Harley-Davidson store, McAllister noticed that she was not getting very much attention from sales team members.   Instead of simply complaining to management, she offered to create and manage the dealer’s marketing program for women. Her recommendations, enthusiasm and chutzpah convinced management to give her the job.  In less than a year, both the Harley-Davidson Corporation and Helmet Hair magazine named it the nation’s number-one dealer for women. 
 
McAllister eventually left the dealership to start her own development and communications firm, Lexicon Works.  Today, McAllister is focused on combining her experience with grassroots marketing and strategic communications with high end technologies.  In 2009, two more Lexicon accounts were making headlines.  Edible Arrangements was named the top franchise in regions represented by Lexicon as well as Columbus-based salon & spa was named the Best Hair Salon in Ohio by The Best of Columbus.  
Now, you can read Lex's prose in American IronThunder Press, and Born to Ride magazines. You can see her presenting at car and bike events nationally, including the women's seminars at Bike Weeks. You can listen to her, too, on WTVN 610. She's bound to catch your eyes and ears wit h the above, but if that doesn't do it, she's happy do a burnout with her Rush pipes whaling. Oh, and wear your helmet riders...Lex thinks there is nothing sexier than a rider wearing a helmet.

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