What You’ll Learn at VINCUE UNLEASHED26: Agenda, Speakers & Sessions

Published On: July 6, 20264.7 min read948 wordsCategories: Blogs, UNLEASHED26

UNLEASHED26 isn’t just a conference of learning or networking, it’s more than that.

It’s your chance to be face to face with your Performance Manager, face to face with your network, and face to face with the best in the industry (your competition included). That’s where growth happens. That’s where the hard, uncomfortable truths come to light. This is your chance to get out of your comfort zone and push yourself to try something different, do something different, and use new tools that take you and your team to the next level.

For #TeamVINCUE, VINCUE UNLEASHED is where we get to see the real-life impact we have on our dealers. It’s our chance to celebrate our success in person, and to celebrate you, and every hard-won win it took to get here.

If you’ve been before, we don’t need to tell you the value of attending. You’ve felt it. If you’re a VINCUE dealer who hasn’t attended yet, there’s no better year to start: our biggest UNLEASHED ever, with brand-new breakout rooms, a bigger expo floor, double the sponsors, and special promo codes for dealers who onboarded this year.

Let’s dive in.

The Agenda: A Day-by-Day Look at What’s Ahead

Three days, three very different rhythms, from kickoff networking to the product roadmap reveal to a closing keynote that sends you home fired up. Here’s what to expect each day. For the full agenda with exact session times and room locations, click here or verify with the UNLEASHED26 app.

Wednesday is the on-ramp. The VINCUE UNITE Vendor 20 Group runs all afternoon for sponsor attendees, followed by the VINCUE Office Open House — KC BBQ and informal networking with #TeamVINCUE and partners. The night wraps with a Reverse Happy Hour at the Loews Lobby Bar at 9 PM, VINCUE’s way of getting conversations started before the sessions do.

Thursday is where the real learning starts.

  • Conference Welcome & Keynote — Danny Zaslavsky, President and Co-Founder of VINCUE, opens the largest UNLEASHED yet.
  • VINCUE First-Look: Product Announcements & Roadmap — Danny Zaslavsky and Chris Hoke, CEO, unveil new software solutions and integrations on stage for the first time. If you want to know what VINCUE is building next, this is the session.
  • Table Introductions & Product Feedback — Michael Hopkins, CMO, leads a hands-on session where dealers give direct feedback on what they just saw.
  • Performance Management Breakout Workshops — two tracks, 1pm–4pm, led by the VINCUE Performance Management Team (topics below).
  • Partners Happy Hour & Expo Hours — the widest window to meet integration and industry partners face to face.
  • Partners Dinner & Excursions — Build meaningful relationships with fellow dealers and partners while experiencing some of Kansas City’s best food, entertainment, and hospitality.
  • Reverse Happy Hour — Wrap up the day with great conversations, new connections, and a relaxed atmosphere before heading into another full day of learning.
  • Opening Keynote — Hollywood filmmaker and Disney animator Saul Blinkoff kicks off the last day with a story-driven session on resilience and creativity. Blinkoff spent two decades animating for Disney, DreamWorks, and Netflix (Pocahontas, Mulan, Tarzan, Doc McStuffins) before becoming a full-time keynote speaker — expect a talk that pulls leadership lessons from character storytelling, not a typical software-conference keynote.
  • Performance Management Breakout Workshops — second round of tracks, 9am–12pm.
  • Best New Feature Challenge — hosted by Chris Hoke, CEO. Dealers pitch the feature they want built next; VINCUE builds the winning idea before NADA 2026.
  • Closing Remarks — Danny Zaslavsky sends everyone home.

Breakout Sessions: What You Can Expect to Dig Into

Breakout tracks are organized around five dealership functions — Buy, Sell, Manage, Plan, and Strategy — split into 101 (foundational) and 201 (advanced) levels so both new and veteran VINCUE users get something worth their time.

Sessions currently in development touch on:

  • AI-powered appraisal and acquisition — sessions on signal-based appraisal tools and scaling service-lane acquisition
  • VINCUE.AI in practice — a 101-level session on getting started, plus a 201 session on AI-driven merchandising
  • Used vehicle strategy — including turning used EVs into a profit center
  • Data and reporting at scale — an enterprise-level look at reporting inside VINCUE
  • Recon and fixed ops — unifying fixed and variable operations, and improving time-to-frontline-ready with predictive recon
  • Dealer panels — real dealers on service-lane acquisition and leading through change

Final breakout titles, speakers, and levels are still being locked in — we’ll confirm the full lineup as sessions are finalized.

Who You’ll Hear From

This lineup is only growing from here — more speaker announcements are on the way, so keep an eye out.

  • Danny Zaslavsky, President and Co-Founder of VINCUE — welcome keynote, product roadmap, closing remarks
  • Chris Hoke, CEO of VINCUE — product roadmap reveal, Best New Feature Challenge
  • Michael Hopkins, CMO of VINCUE — table introductions and product feedback session
  • Brian Kellogg, Co-Founder and Director of Software Development at VINCUE — Best New Feature Challenge
  • Saul Blinkoff, Hollywood animator (Disney, DreamWorks, Netflix) and keynote speaker — Friday closing keynote
  • VINCUE Performance Management Team — breakout workshops
  • #TeamVINCUE integration and industry partners — joining select breakout sessions to share their own expertise alongside the Performance Management Team
  • Four Featured Integration Partners — invited on stage during the Product Roadmap Presentation for a live 5-minute reveal of their VINCUE integration.

Ready to See It Live?

This is the one week a year where you see VINCUE’s roadmap before anyone else, sit in on breakout sessions built around how you actually run your dealership, and walk away with a plan you can put to work the following Monday. Whether you’re a current VINCUE dealer or a #TeamVINCUE partner, UNLEASHED26 is built for you.

Registration is open now, starting at $599 — that rate goes up August 15th.

Everything you need to know about VINCUE UNLEASHED 2025

VINCUE: UNLEASHED returns to Kansas City on November 10-12, 2025

VINCUE: UNLEASHED is the premier annual gathering where automotive trailblazers, industry leaders, and VINCUE dealers unite to tackle big challenges, celebrate victories, and ignite fresh ideas. Walk away inspired, equipped, and ready to revolutionize the way you drive success.

 

When, Where, and What to Expect

Wednesday, October 7 – Friday, October 9, 2026

Back at the Loews Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri

Dealer Registration Starting at $599

Professional Development, Exclusive Training, Peer Networking

Here’s what you’ll gain at VINCUE: UNLEASHED

VINCUE: UNLEASHED is designed to empower your team, refine your processes, and leverage the latest technology for measurable results.

  • Exclusive Training & Insights: Deepen your knowledge of the VINCUE platform with hands-on guidance and performance strategies.

  • Networking & Collaboration: Connect with forward-thinking dealers, exchange ideas, and uncover new opportunities through peer-to-peer discussions.

  • Industry Expertise & Future Trends: Stay ahead of the curve with expert analysis, visionary insights, and actionable strategies for the road ahead.

Learn from these Industry Trailblazers

Don’t miss this year’s top experts in automotive innovation, technology, leadership, and strategy.

What Dealers are Saying

Hear from dealers who’ve experienced the impact of VINCUE: UNLEASHED firsthand. From unlocking new strategies to forging powerful connections, here’s how past attendees are driving their success:

Hear what real VINCUE dealers thought about their experience at VINCUE: UNLEASHED.

“Thank you!! The organization of the events was top-notch. The lineup of speakers was thoughtfully curated. It was a pleasure to gain valuable perspective and witness the advancements that VINCUE has to offer. I’m particularly excited about how these innovations can contribute to making our daily operations more efficient.”

Brandon Hanson
General Manager, Manchester Mazda

“What a class act the VINCUE UNLEASHED conference was. From the venue, to the speakers to the vendors, all are in first class pioneering the industry on our most critical time. A must have partner for success in 2024!!”

Rudy Padilla
Used Car Sales Director, Toyota of Berkeley

“The VINCUE unleashed user conference blew away any expectations that I had for the event. You could tell it was thoughtfully planned and carefully executed to provide a first-class experience. I left with a better understanding of the platform, new connections with other users and partners, and some personal development.”

Nick Staropoli
Used Car Manager, Freeman Motor Co.