THE AD MAN
Jim Mudd Sr.
Jim Mudd Sr. was the founder and chief spiritual officer of Mudd Advertising, headquartered in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and became a trusted ally and innovator for thousands of automotive dealers nationwide. As chairman of the board, he helped shape the company’s vision and strategy, guiding it from a basement startup into one of the nation’s largest privately held agencies focused exclusively on retail automotive advertising. From the beginning, Jim pushed dealers toward data-driven, results-based campaigns—using a “scientific approach” to media and messaging long before analytics became standard in the industry.
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Jim launched Mudd Advertising in 1981 with a single local auto dealer and a simple goal: build campaigns that measurably move metal. Under his leadership, Mudd became an early adopter of integrated traditional and digital strategies—combining direct mail, TV and radio, targeted video, email, and emerging digital channels into coordinated campaigns that helped dealers reach in market buyers more efficiently. He also invested heavily in in house capabilities, adding a state-of-the-art production studio in 2007 and a creative loft in 2010 so dealers could access broadcast-quality video and creative work under one roof—unusual for a regional automotive agency at the time.
Across four decades, Jim helped shape best practices for automotive marketing by insisting on clear offers, consistent branding, and measurable ROI in every campaign. He shared these principles with more than 250 dealer and industry audiences and codified them in The Ad Man, a book he intended as a roadmap and tribute to the auto dealer that outlines a repeatable blueprint for retail success.
Jim graduated from Brescia University in Owensboro, Kentucky, and studied radio and television broadcasting at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, bringing a broadcaster’s sense of storytelling and timing into dealership advertising. After a respected career in broadcasting and radio station ownership in the Midwest, he followed the encouragement of dealer partners to create an automotive advertising agency in July 1981—a move that helped modernize how many dealers approached media, messaging, and customer follow up.
He served on the national board of the Lead Like Jesus ministry, on the University of Northern Iowa Foundation board, and supported numerous charitable organizations as a generous philanthropist. Jim and his wife and business partner, Cecelia, have both passed away and are remembered as pioneers whose family and team continue their mission of serving the automotive industry with data driven creativity, servant leadership, and unwavering commitment to dealer success.
Clifton Peter Lambreth
Clifton Peter Lambreth is a highly sought-after business, marketing and automotive industry specialist, published author and television personality. Speaking to numerous organizations, he frequently tours the nation to present on success and business principles and has authored numerous articles on diversity, leadership, compensation and other business topics.
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For over 26 years, Clifton proudly served the Ford Motor Company in a variety of positions. He was consistently a top performer throughout his career at Ford and received many prestigious awards and distinctions, including five Ford Inuksuk Drive for Leaders Award, three Diversity Leadership awards and the 2008 Ford Leadership Award. Clifton has been a Ford college recruiter for over ten years at Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, Johnson Business School and Wharton Business School. He graduated from Thomasville Senior High School in North Carolina having been a proud alumnus of the North Carolina Baptist Children’s Mills Home. He went on to receive his BSBA in Marketing and Management and his MBA from Western Carolina University.
Further, he is the founder and CEO of Daniel Bradley Matthews, Inc., a firm that provides strategic automotive, business and marketing consulting.
Due to his expertise and experience, Clifton has been quoted in over 400 media sources. He has done over 150 live radio show interviews and has appeared on NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox TV discussing a multitude of business topics. His first book, Ford and the American Dream: Founded on Right Decisions, has been translated into Russian.
Clifton has served on the Board of Directors of the
Family Foundation Fun; on the Executive Advisory Board of Lead like Jesus Foundation; Western Carolina’s Alumni Board; and on the Advisory Board for Western Carolina University’s School of Business; and he is serving on the board of Directors and Good Seeds Board of Directors and on the University of Tennessee Advisory Board for the Customer Experience Program. Clifton resides in Brentwood, Tennessee.
Rob Mudd
Robert Mudd is a Chief Futurist and global automotive marketing pioneer and innovator, recognized internationally for pioneering data-driven, outcome-focused advertising solutions that help dealers win in the "new now" of automotive retail. With more than three decades of experience spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and Russia, he blends deep industry expertise, digital innovation, and compelling storytelling to drive measurable growth for clients worldwide.
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PROFESSIONAL OVERVIEW
- Chief Futurist at Mudd Advertising, where he leads the vision for next-generation automotive marketing technology, platforms, and strategies focused on outcomes rather than impressions.
- Recognized expert in automotive retail, digital strategy, and integrated media, helping thousands of dealers improve profitability through scalable, ROI-driven campaigns and advanced measurement.
- Proven track record of building high-performing teams and driving digital transformation across the automotive advertising industry.
Innovation and thought leadership
- Architect and early champion of proprietary approaches such as Hypercasting® and Brandcasting, integrating data, creative, and media to reach the right customer with the right message at the right time.
- Key driver behind platforms like Mi4 and MuddVision, which leverage real-time data, predictive modeling, and VIN-level attribution to optimize media performance and eliminate waste.
- Frequent voice on the evolution of automotive marketing, emphasizing outcomes, accountability, and people-first targeting in partnerships and public commentary.
International speaking and industry presence
Robert Mudd is a sought-after international keynote speaker whose presentations decode complex trends into actionable insights for dealers, motivating teams across continents to rethink traditional marketing and embrace advanced data and technology.
International engagements:
- Keynote Speaker at the inaugural Russia Auto Dealers Association (ROAD) conference in Moscow, Russia (2010), and invited as Workshop Speaker for the ROAD Delegation at NADA San Francisco (2009)
- Selected Presenter at the inaugural China Automotive Dealers Association (CADA) ATD conference in Chengdu, China (2013)
- Presenter/Participant in the US-China IT Services Exchange Program in Shanghai, China (2013)
- Presenter at European Auto Dealer Day in Verona, Italy (2013)
- Presenter at International Republicans Institute seminars in Bangkok, Thailand (2012) on digital media and web content strategy
North American keynotes and presentations:
- Selected presenter at NADA conventions (2007 Las Vegas, 2014 New Orleans)
- Featured speaker at Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition (Las Vegas, Orlando, Chicago — multiple years)
- Keynote at CPO Vehicles and Balloon Lending, Auto Finance Group, Detroit, MI
- Presenter at Auto Remarketing & CPO Conference (Scottsdale, Phoenix)
- Featured presenter at Pre-Owned Vehicle Department Conferences (Las Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix)
- Speaker at Used Car Week (San Diego, 2014)
- Keynote speaker at CEC Business Technology
Conferences (Green Bay, Iowa City)
- Presenter at Family Business Network International Next Generation Conference (New York, NY)
- Speaker at Wards Dealer Business Auto Spring Training Conference (Tampa)
- Speaker at Credit Crisis on Main Street (Washington, D.C.)
ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTIONS
- Automotive advertising educator on digital media integration at national conferences
- Featured in podcasts and industry content as “Chief Futurist,” sharing perspectives on where automotive media, measurement, and customer engagement are headed next
- Presenter for Comcast Media National Sales Meeting (Salt Lake City)
Career trajectory
- Longstanding leader at Mudd Advertising, progressing from account executive to president roles in digital media and research & development before assuming the Chief Futurist position.
- Built and led high-performing teams in Chicago and Cedar Falls, driving digital innovation, integrated media strategies, and new business growth for dealership groups nationwide and internationally.
- Early career in B2B sales honed a results-oriented mindset and a focus on building territories and relationships that deliver measurable business impact.
Education and Profile
- Holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Iowa, grounding his analytical and strategic thinking in strong communication and narrative skills.
- Based in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and connected to a broad network of 2,200+ automotive, marketing, and technology professionals across the U.S. and abroad.
Alan Mulally
Alan Mulally served as president and chief executive officer of the Ford Motor Company and as a member of Ford’s board of directors from 2006 - 2014.
Mulally led Ford’s transformation into oneof the world’s leading automobile companies and the #1 automobile brand in the United States. He guided Ford in working together on a compelling vision, comprehensive strategy, and implementation of the One Ford plan to deliver profitable growth for all of the company’s stakeholders.
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Prior to joining Ford, Mulally served as executive vice president of the Boeing Company, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and president of Boeing Information, Space and Defense Systems from 1969 – 2006 where he created his “Working Together” Leadership and Management System for global aerospace leadership.
Throughout his career, Mulally has developed and nurtured his Our “Working Together” Leadership and Management System and Our Connected, Collaborative, and Aligned Culture of Love by
Design to Create Value and Growth for All the Stakeholders and the Greater Good. Mulally has been recognized for his contributions, industry leadership, and service, including being named #3 on Fortune’s “World’s Greatest Leaders,” one of the 30 “World’s Best CEO’s” by Barrons’ magazine, one of “The World’s Most influential People” by Time magazine, “Chief Executive of the Year” by Chief Executive magazine, Engineer of the Year by Design News, and the Leader of the Future by the Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute in 2006. He was also honored with the American Society for Quality’s medal for excellence in executive leadership, the Automotive Executive of the Year, and the Thomas Edison Achievement Award. Mulally is a Museum of Flight Pathfinder and a member of the Automobile Hall of Fame. Most recently, Alan was recognized with the USA Baldrige Foundation’s 2025 Lifetime Leadership Service Award.
Mulally previously served on President Obama’s United States Export Council. He served as co-chairman of the Washington Competitiveness Council and has served on the advisory boards of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the University of Washington, the University of Kansas, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the United States Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, and United States Business Roundtable. Mulally has also served as President of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Aerospace Industries Association. Mulally is a member of the United States National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of England’s Royal Academy of Engineering.
Mulally currently serves on the board of directors of Google, Carbon 3D, and the Mayo Clinic. Mulally holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Kansas, and a Masters in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow
ALAN’S “WORKING TOGETHER”™ © KEY REFERENCES
- “A Conversation with Alan Mulally about His “Working Together”© Strategic, Operational, and Stakeholder-Centered Management System,” Alan Mulally and Sarah McArthur, Leader to Leader, Volume 2022, Issue 104.PDF.
- Work Is Love Made Visible: A Collection of Essays About the Power of Finding Your Purpose from the World’s Greatest Thought Leaders, Frances Hesselbein, Marshall Goldsmith, Sarah McArthur, foreword Alan Mulally.Amazon.“People
- “Working Together”© to Produce the Preferred Boeing 777 Airplane Family,” Sarah McArthur, Alan Mulally, Dan Dornseif, Michael Lombardi, Peter M. Morton, Lars Andersen, Ron Ostrowski, and John Roundhill, Leader to Leader, Volume 2025, Issue 117, Wiley, May 19, 2025.PDF.
- “Engineer of the Year Alan Mulally” Lawrence D. Maloney, Design News, March 4, 1996.
- USA Baldrige Foundation’s 2025 Lifetime Leadership Service Award “Announcing Recipients of Baldrige Foundation Leadership Awards for 2025,”Baldrige Foundation, January 28, 2025.Instagram Post andX Post. 2025 E. David Spong Lifetime Achievement Award: Alan Mulally, Baldrige Foundation, April 1, 2025. A Conversation with Alan Mulally, Baldrige Foundation, April 1, 2025. “Leading with Love and Excellence: How “Working Together” © Implements the Baldrige Excellence Framework,” Debbie Collard, Susan Ireland, and Sarah McArthur, Leader to Leader, Volume 2025, Issue 118, Wiley, August 11, 2025.
- The Extraordinary Power of Leader Humility: Thriving Organizations – Great Results,foreword and chapter by Alan Mulally about how leader humility enables and nurtures effective working together by great teams, Marilyn Gist, PhD.Amazon.
- “Drive One Direction: How To Unleash The Accelerating Power of Alignment and Jesus’ Thoughts,”Dave Ramos, September 23, 2024.
Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Strawberry rose to fame as one of baseball’s most electrifying power hitters, known for his iconic swing and a career that made him a household name. But his impact reaches far beyond the field. After sharing his remarkable journey—from a turbulent childhood in Los Angeles to MLB stardom, addiction, cancer survival, and spiritual renewal—Strawberry has become a powerful voice of hope and transformation.
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A New York Times best‑selling author, he uses his story to inspire audiences on topics such as overcoming adversity, faith, addiction recovery, and autism advocacy. Today he serves as a community ambassador for the New York Mets, a national speaker, entrepreneur, and dedicated supporter of families affected by autism through the Darryl Strawberry Foundation.
An eight-time All-Star and four-time World Series champion, Strawberry remains one of New York’s most celebrated athletes. His life’s mission now centers on giving hope to others, especially those facing hardship, abuse, or illness. His message is simple and powerful: healing is possible, and no story is beyond redemption.
Clifton Lambreth Podcast
The Making of The Ad Man
The Ad Man Book
One Minute Review by Gary Kroeger
"The Ad Man is not just about business, it's about life and how learning is truly a never-ending process. I know The Ad Man will not only be a good read, it will also help you on your journey to be a great leader. Enjoy and apply what you learn."
Over 61 books published - The One Minute Manager over 15 million copies sold
"Over my forty years in the auto business, one theme has persisted: there are no shortcuts to success. The lessons found within The Ad Man are a true reflection of this and are a testament to the growth Mudd Advertising has helped my business advance in the last five years."
17 automobile Dealerships, Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award, AIADA Lifetime Achievement Award