Leading Innovation in Automotive

SALLY A. LOPEZ

Partner 

Sally Lopez is the dynamic managing partner at OWL Automotive Consulting, where she seamlessly blends leadership with hands-on involvement in daily operations. Alongside her partner Tom, she oversees the company's business operations while driving growth and innovation in the retail automotive industry. Leveraging her 35-plus years of industry experience, including roles as CIO and Sr. VP of Information Technology at Penske Automotive, Sally has grown OWL from a two-person team into a thriving business with over 36 team members.

Sally spent more than a decade working in privately-owned dealerships, holding positions such as Controller and various back-office roles.During her extensive automotive career, she spent significant time at ADP/CDK, where she supported enterprise automotive dealers. She continues to maintain strong relationships with CDK and its leadership at the highest level. She has also collaborated with executive-level representatives from Cox Automotive, Tekion, Reynolds and Reynolds, Auto/Mate, PBS, DealerBuilt, and Dominion. Her expertise lies in assessing IT controls, automating and enhancing data and internal systems support, and connecting IT with departmental procedures.

Her deep IT expertise has been pivotal in transforming OWL into a full-service MSP, enhancing dealership IT infrastructure. Sally's innovative solutions, such as secure DMS user profile management and seamless IT and DMS integration, have positioned OWL as an industry leader. She recognized the critical need for dealership-specific IT services and developed a business model that uniquely integrates IT expertise with deep knowledge of Dealer Management Systems.

Not only is Sally a dealership IT expert, but she is also a visionary in dealership operations and accounting. Her time as a Controller and her accounting background have provided her with unique insights into optimizing dealership financial processes. She has been instrumental in standardizing charts of accounts, facilitating mergers and acquisitions, and overseeing numerous DMS conversions. Sally's combined IT and DMS expertise allows her to leverage technological resources to streamline accounting and operational procedures for dealerships, resulting in more efficient and effective business practices.

Sally's leadership enables the OWL team to handle large-scale projects for major auto groups across the U.S. From initial client interest to project completion, she ensures comprehensive solutions and fosters lasting relationships. Sally's vision and outstanding reputation have driven OWL's expansion, primarily through referrals from her extensive network. Her expertise in assessing IT controls, automating data systems, and connecting IT with departmental procedures has been crucial in over 150 dealership acquisitions and more than 200 DMS data conversions. Under her guidance, OWL has grown significantly, demonstrating her ability to scale the business while maintaining a high standard of service.