I founded B5 Automotive Advisors to help dealership owners navigate the sale or transition of their business with confidence and clarity. With more than 30 years in the automotive industry, including leadership roles at General Motors and extensive work with dealerships in profitability, network planning, buy-sells, marketing, staffing, and operations, I’ve gained a complete understanding of what makes dealerships thrive.
What drives me most is helping dealerships achieve their goals. I’ve seen firsthand what separates great dealerships from the rest: strong processes, engaged teams, and clear leadership. I understand the business from every angle, and just as importantly, I understand each dealership is unique. My goal is to provide every owner with the comprehensive support they need, all in one place, to adapt to a changing business climate while protecting the legacy and value they’ve built.
My journey began when my parents came to the U.S. to work in GM factories. As a first-generation American, I saw early on how this industry creates opportunity. That perspective shaped my passion for automotive and my commitment to helping dealership owners realize the true value of what they’ve built.
I have dedicated more than 35 years to the automotive industry, including 25 years with General Motors. At GM, I held leadership roles in sales, fixed operations, marketing, and network development, which provided me with a comprehensive understanding of how dealerships operate and succeed.
After leaving GM, I gained valuable experience in private equity, working closely with OEMs across every major brand to secure approvals for dealership transactions. That work gave me deep insight into deal structures, the strengths and pitfalls of private equity, and the complexities of bringing multiple stakeholders together for successful outcomes.
I later served in an executive role at a leading M&A advisory firm, where I helped guide the company through record growth and facilitated hundreds of dealership transactions. These experiences strengthened my expertise in buy-sells, operational integration, strategic investment, and the relationships needed to complete complex deals.
What drives me is simple: I’ve always been passionate about cars and the dealership business. I grew up working in dealerships and rebuilding cars with my grandfather, and that passion has stayed with me throughout my career. At B5 Automotive Advisors, I leverage my operational knowledge, private equity experience, and M&A leadership expertise to help dealers achieve the value and outcomes they deserve.
For the past six years, I’ve dedicated myself to two demanding pursuits: competing in Division I athletics and completing my M.Ed. at the University of Minnesota. That journey has since taken me to the professional stage, where I now represent Croatia in track and field, with the goal of qualifying for the Olympics. Balancing academics and athletics at this level taught me discipline, focus, and resilience, qualities that shape the way I approach my career in business.
At B5 Automotive Advisors, I serve as Marketing Director, where I lead dealer research, outreach, and brand development to strengthen our client relationships and support successful transactions. My role is to ensure that dealership owners have the necessary information, resources, and guidance as they navigate the sale or transition of their business.
The automotive industry has been part of my family for generations, and I see my career at B5 as a way to honor that legacy. By combining the drive I’ve gained through athletics with my academic foundation and passion for this industry, I’m committed to helping B5 deliver the value and results our clients deserve.
Mario Galasso brings a rare combination of operator, innovator, and deal-maker expertise to the dealership M&A space. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has built, led, and exited businesses across the powersports, automotive, and vehicle performance industries. From scaling FOX Factory through a period of explosive growth and IPO readiness to transforming Freedom Road Harley-Davidson into an award-winning dealership in the national dealer network. Freedom Road Harley was 1 of 46 dealers in the US dealer network to win Harley-Davidson’s Bar & Shield award for 2024 performance. Mario has consistently demonstrated the ability to drive growth, operational excellence, and strategic transformation.
Having recently navigated both the buy- and sell-side of dealership transactions, Mario brings a first-hand understanding of the strategic, financial, and emotional dimensions of every deal. His real-world empathy—paired with a rigorous analytical approach—enables him to guide clients through complex transactions with precision, foresight, and perspective.
Today, Mario leverages his deep industry knowledge, operational acumen, and extensive M&A experience to help dealership owners realize maximum value and achieve seamless outcomes—whether they’re preparing for growth, acquisition, or exit.
Linda McClure is a dynamic automotive executive with over 27 years of leadership experience at General Motors, where she spearheaded major performance, transformation, and integration initiatives across sales, communications, and training. Known for her ability to bring people and strategy together, Linda consistently led GM’s top-performing regions, built lasting partnerships with dealers and executives, and delivered multimillion-dollar gains through innovative problem-solving and smart negotiation.
With an engineering background and a deep appreciation for every stage of the automotive lifecycle—from product design to market launch—Linda combines technical expertise with strategic foresight. She’s passionate about driving growth through collaboration, aligning people, process, and performance to create sustainable value and lasting impact.
I’m passionate about marketing, social media, and creating meaningful customer engagement. With a foundation in Fashion Marketing from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), I developed hands-on experience helping brands evolve and thrive in the digital age.
During my internship with Elevate Her at TNT, I applied my marketing knowledge to the sports industry, learning how storytelling, branding, and audience insight can drive real connection and growth.
My education at SCAD equipped me with the skills to craft compelling brand narratives, understand customer needs, and transform engagement into lasting loyalty.
Now, as I pursue my Master’s in Executive Leadership, I’m focused on bridging creativity and strategy to help companies evolve, strengthen customer relationships, and inspire teams to achieve their full potential.
I’m driven by one mission: to help businesses grow through authentic connection and innovative leadership. At B5 Automotive Advisors, I help align the company with the customers and businesses it serves, managing CRM systems and leading social media initiatives that strengthen relationships, enhance engagement, and amplify B5’s brand presence.
I’m driven by a desire for growth, connection, and helping businesses reach their full potential. At B5 Automotive Advisors, I focus on identifying strategic dealership opportunities and leading outreach efforts across key markets. My role allows me to combine analytical insight with relationship building, conducting in-depth market research, supporting due diligence, and fostering partnerships that drive meaningful expansion.
Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Sport Psychology, I bring a unique perspective to the business world. My experience as a student-athlete has taught me how to perform under pressure, stay disciplined, and lead with purpose, skills that directly enhance my work in acquisitions and strategy.
What excites me most is blending data, strategy, and human connection to help businesses evolve. At B5 Automotive Advisors, I support the firm’s business development efforts by identifying new dealership opportunities, connecting sellers with qualified buyers, and fostering relationships that drive strategic growth.
Joe Girardot is the founder and principal of Automotive Due Diligence Services, LLC. A native of Detroit, the global hub of the automotive industry, Joe has a deep, lifelong connection to franchised dealerships.
Before founding ADDS, Joe worked as General Counsel for Prime Automotive Group, one of the largest privately owned dealer groups in the U.S., with annual revenues over $3 billion and more than 60 locations across the country. At Prime, he managed the manufacturer approval process for numerous acquisitions and, together with the CFO, supervised the sale of over 60 dealerships, including the landmark November 2021 sale of 30 rooftops to Group 1 Automotive, which was then the biggest deal ever in U.S. automotive history.
Joe handled hundreds of manufacturer–dealer interactions and application processes, giving him unmatched insight into the OEM approval process.
Before joining Prime, Joe spent many years as Eastern Regional Manager for General Motors Real Estate (Retail), overseeing a substantial portfolio of GM-owned dealership properties and working closely with dealers on site development, facility upgrades, and strategic planning. At GM, he led a $100 million capital improvement program across metro New York, launched the first Harlem dealership in 65 years, and achieved the highest real estate cost savings and property sale rates across GM’s U.S. regions for multiple years.
Joe earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1989, where he served as Managing Editor of the Michigan Journal of Law Reform. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Detroit (1986, summa cum laude). He is licensed to practice law in both Michigan and Connecticut.
