Meet the DriveLocal Editorial Team
Produced by VIP Automotive Group's editorial team, with input from the General Managers who run our 10 dealerships.
Who We Are
The DriveLocal editorial team is made up of real automotive professionals across VIP Automotive Group's 10 dealerships - including General Managers, Sales Managers, Service Advisors, Finance Managers, and corporate staff who work with these vehicles and customers every day.
To protect the privacy of our local dealership employees, all content is published under the VIP Automotive Group Editorial Team name rather than individual bylines. The expertise is real - the anonymity is intentional.
This isn't a media company producing content from a distance. It's a dealership group that knows cars better than any outside journalist - because we sell them, service them, finance them, and put customers in them every single day. That's the difference between generic automotive advice and what you'll find on DriveLocal.
Why We Exist
Car buying is one of the biggest financial decisions most people make - and the internet is full of generic advice that doesn't account for your local market. DriveLocal was built to change that. Every article we publish is grounded in real dealership expertise and tailored to buyers in Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and Northern New Jersey.
Our Editorial Standards
Local Market Expertise
Every guide is written with your region in mind. We know which dealerships carry which trims, what incentives are available in the Northeast, and how local factors like salt air, winter driving, and commute distances affect your buying decision.
Fact-Checked & Current
Pricing, incentives, and availability change monthly. Our editorial team cross-references manufacturer programs, verifies dealer inventory, and updates articles regularly so you're never working with stale information.
Regularly Updated
Automotive content has a shelf life. We actively review and refresh our guides - updating pricing, adding new model-year information, and revising recommendations as the market shifts.
Transparent & Honest
DriveLocal is published by VIP Automotive Group. We're upfront about that relationship. Our guides include honest assessments - including competitor comparisons and tradeoffs - because trust is earned through transparency, not spin.
Dealership Leadership
The General Managers who lead our dealerships. They share local market insight and the quotes featured in our guides.
Leadership last verified Oct 27, 2026.
General Manager
South Shore Subaru - Lindenhurst, NY
Nico Levinas oversees South Shore Subaru in Suffolk County, one of VIP's flagship Subaru stores. His expertise in Subaru's AWD lineup - from Outback to Crosstrek to the all-electric Solterra - and his understanding of what Long Island commuters and outdoor enthusiasts need make him a key voice in our Subaru content.
General Manager
Grand Prix Subaru - Hicksville, NY
Michael Volonakis leads Grand Prix Subaru in the heart of Nassau County. With years of experience matching buyers to the right Subaru trim and configuration, Michael contributes the kind of granular product knowledge - EyeSight packages, towing specs, lease residuals - that makes our Subaru guides genuinely useful.
General Manager
Westbury Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram - Jericho, NY
Marie Rentz manages Westbury Jeep CDJR and brings sharp operational expertise to the group's Stellantis portfolio. Her understanding of incentive programs, inventory allocation, and customer buying patterns across Jeep and Ram directly informs our pricing guides and deal analysis for western Nassau County buyers.
General Manager
Garden City Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram - Hempstead, NY
Eric Rivera leads one of the highest-volume CDJR dealerships on Long Island. With deep expertise across the Jeep, Ram, Dodge, and Chrysler lineups, Eric brings real-world knowledge of what Nassau County buyers are looking for - from Wrangler lease structures to Ram 1500 fleet programs. His team's insights shape every CDJR article we publish.
Jason Mascia
General Manager
Merrick Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram - Wantagh, NY
Jason Mascia runs Merrick Jeep CDJR, serving the south shore of Nassau County. Jason's frontline perspective on what drives purchase decisions - trade-in values, finance vs. lease tradeoffs, and model comparisons - adds practical depth to our buying guides that you won't find in a national review.
General Manager
Levittown Ford - Levittown, NY
Christopher Bahamonde leads Levittown Ford, VIP's dedicated Ford franchise on Long Island. From F-150 truck configurations to Bronco Sport comparisons and Mustang Mach-E EV guidance, Christopher's team provides the Ford-specific expertise that grounds our buying guides in real inventory and real customer conversations.
Mike Mineo
General Manager
Westbury Alfa Romeo - Westbury, NY
Mike Mineo oversees Westbury Alfa Romeo, the only dedicated Alfa Romeo dealership in VIP's portfolio. His expertise in Italian performance vehicles - Giulia driving dynamics, Stelvio positioning against German competitors, and Tonale as an entry point - gives our Alfa Romeo content an authenticity that enthusiast buyers recognize.
General Manager
Volvo Cars of Huntington - Huntington, NY
Frank Brus manages Volvo Cars of Huntington on Long Island's North Shore. His understanding of the luxury and safety-conscious buyer - XC60 vs. XC90 decisions, EX30 EV considerations, and Volvo's subscription programs - brings a premium-market perspective that elevates our Volvo content beyond spec sheets.
Who Contributes to Our Content
DriveLocal articles draw on expertise from across every department. Here are the roles that contribute editorial insight, fact-checking, and market intelligence.
General Managers
Local market insight and the quotes featured in our guides, across all 10 locations.
Sales Consultants
Frontline knowledge of buyer questions, trade-in trends, and model comparison decisions.
Service Advisors
Maintenance expertise, common repair insights, and factory service program details.
Finance & Lease Specialists
Lease structure analysis, credit program guidance, and real payment calculations.
Parts Managers
OEM parts knowledge, accessory recommendations, and maintenance cost data.
VIP Automotive Group Corporate Staff
Editorial coordination, content strategy, and cross-brand quality assurance.
The Collective Author
VIP Automotive Group Editorial Team
Published Author - All Articles
Every article on DriveLocal is published under this collective byline. Articles are produced by VIP Automotive Group's editorial team with input from our General Managers, whose quotes appear throughout our guides. We use a collective byline to protect employee privacy.
How We Create Content
Research & Sourcing
We start with manufacturer data, current incentive programs, and real inventory from our dealerships. No guesswork - just verified facts from people who work with these vehicles daily.
Expert Review
Articles are reviewed by product specialists and general managers at the relevant dealerships. When we say a Subaru Outback handles Long Island winters well, it's backed by thousands of customer experiences - not a press release.
Publish & Update
Every article includes a publish date and last-updated date. We proactively refresh content when pricing changes, new model years launch, or incentive programs rotate - so you always see current information.
VIP In The News
VIP Automotive Group: Transforming the Landscape of EV Charging
How VIP is partnering with Future Energy to bring next-generation EV charging infrastructure to its dealerships.
DealershipGuyVIP Automotive Acquires New York Subaru Store
Coverage of VIP Automotive Group's acquisition of Mid Hudson Subaru, expanding the group's Subaru presence in New York.
Long Island PressGarden City Jeep Manager Featured in Local Press
Long Island Press spotlights the leadership and community impact of Garden City Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram.
BusinessWireThe Presidio Group Advises on Sale of Mid Hudson Subaru
Official announcement of the Mid Hudson Subaru acquisition by VIP Automotive Group, advised by The Presidio Group.
Westbury DealsWestbury Healthcare Heroes Jeep Giveaway
VIP's Westbury Jeep gives back to the community with a Jeep giveaway honoring local healthcare heroes.
Jeeps That RockJeeps That Rock - Annual Charity Event
VIP Automotive Group's signature charity event bringing together Jeep enthusiasts for a great cause.
Our Content Standards
Accuracy & freshness: We review all articles quarterly and update pricing, availability, and specification information as it changes. Each article displays its most recent update date.
Corrections: If you spot an error in any of our articles, please contact us at editorial@vipautomotivegroup.com and we will investigate and correct it promptly.
Editorial independence: While DriveLocal is published by VIP Automotive Group, our buying guides and comparisons are written to help buyers make informed decisions - including when a competitor's vehicle may be a better fit for their needs.
Explore Our Content
Buying guides, model comparisons, service tips, and interactive tools - all tailored to your local market.