Dennis Manns
Dennis Manns serves as the executive leader for North Motors Group - a diverse automotive advisory group. In addition, Mr. Manns is on the Board of Directors for Amports, an industry-leading automotive port services provider. Mr. Manns is the Senior Automotive Advisor to InstarAGF-a Canadian based investment group. Mr. Manns is a leading independent automotive advisor to privately owned automotive-related firms and has been working with several private equity groups on industry-related opportunities.
Mr.Manns is a frequent speaker at the North American Automotive Logistics Conference, The Finished Automotive Logistics Conference, The Import/Export Automotive Conference, The Automotive Supply Chain Leadership Summit, The Automotive Supply Chain Mexico Conference, NADA Honda/Acura Dealer meetings, The University of Maryland Robert Smith School of Business and many other local industry events.
Mr.Manns served as the Chief Commercial Officer for Road & Rail Services, a Louisville, KY-based logistic services provider. Road & Rail Services is an award-winning, logistic solutions provider that specializes in automotive and product handling and various railcar and track services to several Fortune 500 customers. During his tenure with Road & Rail Services,
Mr. Manns was recognized at the Automotive Supply Chain - Leadership Summit as the Industry's North American Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year for 2017.
Mr. Manns has an extensive background in the automotive and logistics industries. Dennis’ background includes a thirty-one-year career at American Honda in a variety of executive sales and operations positions. His most recent position with Honda was as the Assistant Vice President of Sales and Logistic Planning. In that position, Dennis was responsible for the Automotive Sales Planning for both the Honda and Acura Divisions and the Automotive Logistics Planning and Operations for all of American Honda’s plant and port facilities.
Several of the key accomplishments Mr. Manns provided in that position include the design and development of the Honda de Mexico (HDM) distribution center in Celaya, Mexico. This distribution center is the largest in Mexico and the second largest in North America. Also, Dennis was the lead executive in the creation of the industry’s only multi-mode network of Mexico produced Honda products. Mr. Manns was responsible for developing the port/rail/truck network that has enabled Honda to provide a highly flexible and versatile network to create a reliable and consistent flow of Mexico produced Hondas.
Mr. Manns was instrumental in the development of a Honda partnership with CSX in creating a new Talladega automotive facility and the implementation of a redesigned eastern rail network for Honda. This network change has enabled Honda to reduce its operating costs and improve product flow through the network.
For these industry innovations and achievements, Mr. Manns was named the North American Automotive Logistic Executive of the Year in 2015. During this same time, Mr. Manns provided the executive leadership in launching Honda’s new distribution system – APEX (Allocation Prefacing Exchange). This best-in-class operating system has enabled the Honda and Acura dealer network to improve their vehicle ordering by better matching dealer preferences and production capabilities. This system has a number of industry-leading features that has assisted both the Honda and Acura brands to register record sales.
Dennis also held several key sales assignments that include AVP of Acura National Sales and leadership responsibilities with National Marketing, Regional Advertising, Sales Training/Communications, and Dealer Relations.
In the role of top sales executive for Acura, Mr. Manns helped re-establish the Acura brand to a premium level while setting sales and industry registration records. The efforts that Manns achieved in solidifying Acura's brand enabled Mr. Manns to introduce the Acura Facility Image Program. Acura's unique and distinctive facility image design has won numerous image awards in various dealer communities.
Dennis earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio.
Dennis has served on the boards of the California Council for Economic Education (CCEE), the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Customer Advisory Board.
