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Michael Ellis

Michael Ellis

Michael Ellis is publisher of Rural Lifestyle Dealer and takes an active role on all the titles in Lessiter Media’s Ag Division. He brings nearly 20 years of publishing experience across diverse markets both in business-to-business and consumer focus, with the last 10 on trade media for agriculture and landscape industries. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Michael joined the Lessiter team in 2008. Contact: mellis@lessitermedia.com

Articles

ARTICLES

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Checking in on the Rural Lifestyle Market

By Michael Ellis posted on August 28, 2021 | Posted in Niche Equipment Markets

The rural customer and their unique equipment and service needs continues to be a key component of most successful ag dealerships. With that in mind, we’ll also continue to provide insight to that market digitally via RuralLifestyleDealer.com and now also with periodic dedicated Rural Lifestyle Dealer pages in Farm Equipment. 


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Conversations in Ag

The Future of Manufacturing: Retention, Consolidation & Collaboration in the Ag Market

Manufacturer executive Jim Wessing of Kondex Corp. sat down with Doug Griffin, former AGCO vice president and current principal of Context Network, a consulting firm that works with full-line manufacturers. They discussed the lack of experience and availability of skilled workers, knowledge voids, unique challenges of suppliers and manufacturers, and also offered advice for anyone entering the ag market.
By Michael Ellis posted on June 9, 2018 | Posted in Best Practices
Manufacturer executive Jim Wessing of Kondex Corp. sat down with Doug Griffin, former AGCO vice president and current principal of Context Network, a consulting firm that works with full-line manufacturers. They discussed the lack of experience and availability of skilled workers, knowledge voids, unique challenges of suppliers and manufacturers, and also offered advice for anyone entering the ag market.
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Michael Ellis

If It’s Everyone’s Job, It’s No One’s Job

A recent Rural Lifestyle Dealer poll hints that dealers may be failing when it comes to the critical first moments of customer service.
By Michael Ellis posted on September 18, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices
A recent poll Rural Lifestyle Dealer ran addressed the topic of greeting customers and, while there was a clear-cut winner, it actually raised more questions than answers for me.
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Dealership Minds

'Personally' Tackling the HR Challenges of a Growing Dealership

By Michael Ellis posted on February 6, 2014 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management
Growing a dealership impacts every aspect of the business, but when your total number of employees nearly doubles in a short timeframe it presents some very specific challenges for the Human Resources Dept. It's imperative, as the administrative volume increases, that the human side of the equation stays in focus.
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Acquisition Growth Can be Done Without Seeking Additional Capital

Mike Hedge, President/CEO, Birkey’s Farm Store
By Michael Ellis posted on March 13, 2013 | Posted in Dealer Succession
There are innumerable ways to grow your dealership. And Mike Hedge's message that it can be done without resorting to outside influences or taking on extra debt was a welcome message. Seeking outside capital via a public offering or working with private equity groups are options, but they aren't for everyone says the Birkey's president and CEO.
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Dealership Minds

Communication Counts in HR

By Michael Ellis posted on February 7, 2011 | Posted in Department Management
There’s a card on Jaime Smith’s desk that reads, “With appreciation for everything you do to help people reach important goals. HR is about maintaining a healthy working atmosphere, but most of all it’s about helping people succeed, good times and bad.” These words summarize the daily mantra of Birkey’s Farm Store’s human resources manager.
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Analysts Comment on CNHI CEO's Departure

Analysts Comment on CNHI CEO's Departure

In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Weasler Engineering, we look at some analyst comments on Scott Wine's departure from CNH Industrial. In the Technology Corner, Noah Newman talks to Pessl Instruments' CEO about the recent investment it received from Lindsay Corp. Also in this episode, dealers and farmers chime in on brand loyalty, air seeder sales forecasts and layoffs at the Racine, Wis., Case IH plant.
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Finance Scope

Finance Scope is able to provide the best financing opportunities for equipment dealers and customers through a diverse mix of lending companies under one single platform. Our large group of lenders, allows for competitive rates regardless of credit scores. Additionally, dealers and customers have access to the industry’s best expertise surrounding finance and lease structures, for all purposes, within the agricultural and construction industries. We provide all of this into one online platform to provide our customers with the best available tailored finance solution for their equipment.
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