Ascent Dealer Services Scales Nationally Through Servant Leadership and Strategic Sales Power

Voyage New York Contributor

By: Alena Wiese

How Ascent Dealer Services Is Disrupting Auto Finance with Heart-Driven Leadership

From the Midwest to Manhattan boardrooms, Ascent Dealer Services is proving that success in the automotive world doesn’t have to come at the expense of ethics. Led by President and CEO Adam Marburger and powered by newly appointed Vice President of Sales James Mercer, Ascent is charting a new course in the high-stakes world of finance and insurance (F&I).

Unlike legacy firms that prioritize profit at all costs, Ascent is leading with a mission rooted in servant leadership, trust, and measurable transformation. And it’s working. With a growing team, expanding footprint, and a best-selling book reshaping how dealers approach management, Ascent is capturing attention on a national scale.

“Adam Marburger is not just building a company. He’s building a leadership movement. This is the kind of innovation and integrity our industry has needed for decades,” said Joe St. John, Chief Customer Officer at AutoFi

From Minnesota to Market Maker

James Mercer’s appointment is a masterstroke of strategy and synergy. After nearly 20 years at Protective, where he scaled regional teams and led complex sales operations, Mercer brings tactical precision and relational depth to Ascent’s leadership bench.

“This was a heart-and-head decision,” Mercer says. “Adam leads with culture, with people, and with vision. That’s rare. That’s powerful.”

Now leading four regional managers and scaling central U.S. operations, Mercer is unlocking new dealer relationships across the country.

“We didn’t just hire a VP,” says Marburger. “We invested in one of the best relationship-builders in our field.”

Mercer is also contributing to Ascent’s evolving training infrastructure, helping develop advanced workshops that give F&I professionals the tools they need to thrive in today’s fast-changing dealership environment. His focus on team accountability, communication, and trust directly supports the company’s mission to lead with service.

Leadership That Transforms the Industry

At the core of Ascent’s rise is Marburger’s commitment to servant leadership. His newly released book, The Servant-Leading F&I Manager, challenges the old-school model of transactional management, replacing it with principles of trust, accountability, and emotional intelligence.

“Leadership is a service. And when done right, it doesn’t just change teams. It changes businesses,” says Marburger.

Drawing on his undefeated career as an MMA fighter and his Black Belt discipline in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Marburger blends resilience with empathy to guide his team’s performance and mindset.

He regularly speaks at national conferences and industry summits, where his energy and clarity have made him a standout voice for the next generation of dealership leadership. His sessions bridge practical tools with personal transformation—a hallmark of Ascent’s culture.

Training That Drives Results

Ascent’s programs aren’t just about compliance—they’re about transformation. From immersive agent training to custom F&I systems, the company’s approach focuses on aligning dealership goals with cultural clarity and personal accountability.

“Dealers today want a partner—not a pitch,” Mercer explains. “We show up with solutions, with integrity, and with a deep understanding of what success really looks like in this industry.”

Ascent’s success is grounded in its belief that strong relationships and operational discipline are not mutually exclusive. The company’s strategies are helping dealers reduce turnover, improve CSI scores, and expand product penetration with clarity and consistency.

Ascent is building long-term dealer loyalty by leading with relationships, results, and values.

About the Book

The Servant-Leading F&I Manager: Leadership Redefined outlines strategies to:

Drive dealership growth through trust-centered leadership
Cultivate top-performing teams with emotional intelligence
Integrate personal discipline with business results

Explore more at: www.AdamMarburger.com

About Ascent Dealer Services

Ascent Dealer Services delivers cutting-edge F&I solutions, culture-driven training programs, and high-level consulting designed to scale dealerships with integrity and impact.

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