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About STELLA Automotive AI

Built by Automotive Experts with Decades of Industry Experience

Founded in 2022 alongside automotive dealers and industry leaders, STELLA was created by a team with decades of dealership and automotive technology experience. Every solution we build is designed to solve real dealership challenges, helping teams deliver exceptional customer experiences while operating more efficiently.

The STELLA Automotive AI team
About Us — Mission & Story (Navy Colorway)
Who We Are

Built with dealers. Built for dealers.

Our Mission

At STELLA, our mission is to empower dealerships with intelligent AI that transforms every customer interaction into an opportunity to build trust, drive loyalty, and grow their business. Built exclusively for automotive retail, our technology helps dealers deliver seamless, personalized experiences while improving efficiency, increasing profitability, and setting a new standard for customer engagement.

Our Story

Founded in 2022 in collaboration with automotive dealers and industry investors, STELLA Automotive AI was built to solve the disconnected and inefficient customer-engagement challenges facing modern dealerships. Since launch, STELLA has rapidly scaled: integrating with major dealer systems, expanding across North America, and earning the trust of dealerships nationwide.

Today, STELLA powers millions of conversations and continues to grow through strategic partnerships with leading automotive vendors and OEMs. With new collaborations forming each month, STELLA is driving innovation and elevating the customer experience across the automotive ecosystem.

Leadership

The People Behind STELLA

Executive Leadership
RS
Rich Sands
Rich Sands
Chief Executive Officer
BH
Bob Haeffner
Bob Haeffner
Chief Financial Officer & EVP, Operations
SB
Stephen Brown
Stephen Brown
Chief AI Officer
FS
Fred Seidelman
Fred Seidelman
Chief Technology Officer
CH
Carrie Hepner
Carrie Hepner
VP, Customer Success
JP
Jennifer Powell
Jennifer Powell
VP, Operations
Board of Directors
WK
William Knowles
William Knowles
COO, Maroone USA
BC
Brodie Cobb
Brodie Cobb
CEO, The Presidio Group LLC
SH
Sidney Haider
Sidney Haider
SVP Corporate Development, Reynolds & Reynolds
DC
Darin Clay
Darin Clay
Managing Partner, SDS Capital
SD
Steve Derby
Steve Derby
Chairman, General Ventures, Inc.
Dealer Advisory Board
GP
Geoffry Pohanka
Geoffry Pohanka
Pohanka Automotive Group
MM
Mike Maroone
Mike Maroone
Maroone USA
Careers — Core Values
Core Values

The Values That Drive STELLA

Integrity

We build trust through transparency, honesty, and a commitment to always doing the right thing.

Tenacity

We pursue excellence with determination, resilience, and an unwavering drive to deliver results.

Accountability

We take ownership, set measurable goals, and consistently deliver outcomes that exceed expectations.

Boldly Innovative

We embrace change and innovation to create smarter solutions, stronger partnerships, and measurable value for our customers.

Get Started

You've Met the Team

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