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About Us

Votenza Systems has effectively and creatively managed CRM, data management, and advertising functions for large and small auto, truck, cycle, RV, and marine dealerships since 2001 - but our expertise in the business reaches far beyond those years. Our team boasts a century of combined hands-on experience in the auto and advertising businesses.

Votenza has developed and refined the most advanced integrated CRM System Under the Sun. But don't take our word for it, check the sidebar on our home page to see what our customers have to say about us! Then click here for a test drive.



Meet the Team

Jock Freese - Founder, President, and CEO

Jock has been helping dealers sell cars since disco was king - the first time. In 1977 he founded Lewis & Freese Advertising, a full service ad agency specializing in retail auto dealer advertising. Lewis & Freese created and produced television, radio, newspaper and direct marketing campaigns for over 100 automobile dealerships in more than 20 states. The agency also created and executed regional marketing campaigns for Nissan, Acura, Pontiac and GMC regional marketing groups, and produced more than 85 manufacturer-sponsored sales events for Ford, Nissan, Infiniti and Toyota.

In the 1990's Jock began researching and developing effective CRM solutions. Votenza was born in 2001, and Jock added a new chapter to his already impressive portfolio.



Joe DiGeronimo - CoFounder and CFO

Prior to his involvement with Votenza, Joe climbed the corporate ladder from sales manager to president/COO to CEO, and eventually to owner/principal of The Lendman Group. Joe led The Lendman Group to national, and then international status as a leading sales and service recruitment organization. Under Joe's leadership the company was an early adopter of internet technologies, including a unique ASP internet offering that saw The Lendman Group reach annual sales of $30 million before it was sold to The Washington Post Companies.

Joe holds a B.S. in Business from the University of Vermont and an M.S. in Management Engineering from George Washington University. He has continued his graduate studies and is a guest lecturer at Old Dominion University's MBA and Financial Management programs. Joe served active duty as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and currently serves as the Financial Chairman at Spring Branch Community Church.



Dave Blevins - VP, Customer Service and Operations

Dave joined Votenza early in 2002 after fourteen years with The Lendman Group. Dave rose to Vice President of The Lendman Group in charge of the company's Northeast and West Coast regions. His strong sales, management, and customer service skills also enabled the company to reach the leadership position in the Career Events and Internet Recruitment industry.

Dave is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point where he earned a B.S. in Engineering Management.



Marvin Barnes - VP, Sales and Marketing

Marvin started selling cars when 8-tracks were the hot new auto accessory. After five years working with GMAC Marvin's attention turned to retail sales. Over the following seventeen years he held every sales position in the business including GM at two dealerships. The last dealership he managed realized a 600% increase in sales under his leadership. Marvin is also a past president of the Hampton Roads Auto Dealer Association.

In 1991 Marvin became National Sales Manager for an F&I consulting agency focused on special finance in the auto and RV industries. He later formed one of the largest recreational vehicle F&I consulting agencies in the country, serving over 150 dealers in 8 states. Marvin's first love was the car business though, so he brought his extensive expertise in captive finance, front-line retail, and F&I consulting to Votenza where he once again helps dealers sell more cars.



Dan Hankin - Advertising Manager

Dan got into the advertising and publishing business in the early 1990's, when plaid flannel made up entire wardrobes and Pearl Jam ruled the world. He got his start doing prepress and production work for major East Coast print houses. After receiving a B.S. in Advertising from New York Institute of Technology in 1996, he moved to Virginia and became a graphic designer in the advertising department of The Virginian-Pilot newspaper. Dan quickly rose through the ranks to Art Director, and then Creative Director, winning local and national advertising design awards for the company along the way.

In 2003 Dan combined his love of cars, writing, and design to form Octane Magazine, a regional motorsports publication. He grew Octane from a concept to a full color 32 page publication, with over forty local and national advertisers, and a popular website. Always looking for a new challenge, he then became Advertising and Technology Manager for a large independent auto dealer. Two years at the dealership opened more doors for Dan in the car business, where he joined the Votenza team in mid-2007.



Renee Cruz - Senior Web Developer

Renee has taken her web programming hobby of the last six years and turned it into a life goal. She retired from her role of online-matchmaker in 2007 after two years of running a popular online community promoting Asian and non-Asian relationships. Renee's passion for web programming kicked in full throttle when she joined Votenza in 2007. She is currently working towards her A.S. degree in Web Design at ECPI.