The story behind Kevin B. Leigh

Born in a Car

I wasn't born in a hospital. I was born in a car — the kind of start that turns out to be a pretty good foreshadowing. Cars have been in my life from the literal first minute. I've fixed them, sold them, moved them, auctioned them, written books about them, and built software to run the industry that runs on them. Thirty-plus years later, that thread never broke. It just kept picking up new chapters.

Leaving Ireland

I was 13 years old when my family packed up and left Ireland for the United States. No roadmap, no connections — just my parents' belief that there was more on the other side of the Atlantic. That leap shaped everything that came after. I learned early that comfort is the enemy of growth, and that starting over doesn't mean starting from zero.

Buffalo, New York became home. It's a city that earns your respect — winters that test your character, people who tell you exactly what they think, and a blue-collar spirit that doesn't tolerate shortcuts. I fit right in.

Learning to Sell

My entry into automotive sales wasn't glamorous — I started as a lot boy at my father's dealership. Washing cars, moving inventory, watching how deals got made from the outside. That front-row seat turned into a career. I worked my way up through the ranks — general sales manager, finance director, and eventually Director of Growth at West Herr Automotive Group, one of the largest dealer groups in the country.

"The best salespeople I've ever met weren't the loudest ones in the room. They were the ones who listened better than anyone else."

Over three decades I learned that selling isn't about pressure — it's about trust. That insight eventually became the foundation for everything I'd build and write.

Building Companies

In the early 2000s, I co-founded US Arts Software, building web applications before most people knew what a web application was. We sold in 2010. Then came Auction Simplified — automotive auction software built by people who actually understood dealerships. We grew it, refined it, and in 2021 sold it to Traxero, which later became part of Autura.

I'm now VP of Sales at Autura, a unified towing management and marketplace platform changing how the industry operates. At the 2023 Baltimore Tow Show I put it plainly:

"Through software, innovation and knowhow, we can future-proof the towing industry."

The irony of going from selling cars to selling the software that moves them isn't lost on me.

Career

Beyond the work

The professional story is the core of what I do — but it's not all of it. The rest is here in shorter form, because it's the foundation under everything else.

Family

Married to Mary for 33+ years. Three sons — Noel, Alex, and Kevin 2.0 — and five fostered kids. If you want to understand how I lead teams, watch me at 7am on a school morning.

Giving Back

Big Brother with BBBS Buffalo for years. Supporter of Kids Escaping Drugs, Child and Family Services, and Cradle Beach.

Sobriety

Proudly sober. Wrote Badass and Sober about the experience and run badassandsober.com for anyone on that path.

Writing

Five published books, ranging from automotive sales playbooks to a YA novel to a book of prayers. Two more automotive/business titles in progress.

Faith

Catholic by conviction. I run prayersto.com for anyone looking for that corner of the internet.