About Us

Why Bird Dog?

Word of mouth is one of the most powerful forms of advertising. Satisfied customers can do more for a product or service than any other measure of advertising. In the hunting world, a bird dog finds a covey of birds and flushes it out, allowing the hunter a clear shot. When the hunt is over, the bird dog returns with birds for the hunter. The same process applies in the car business, too.

For years, satisfied customers have been sending their friends and family to purchase vehicles or other products from their favorite salesperson. Some customers even follow their salesperson from dealership to dealership, preferring to deal with someone they know and trust. The Bird Dog Club is a creation that capitalizes on this special business relationship.

How does it work?

Here is how it works: registered bird dogs (customers) hunt for birds (referrals) and then bring them back to the hunter (salesperson). Then, the bird dogs are rewarded with bones (money) with a successful sale of a vehicle to the bird.

Customers who wish to be bird dogs must first receive training to learn the rules of the game. This can be done at the dealership or at the dealership's bird dog club website. Bird dogs are issued a "dog tag" ID number so that the dealership can track their progress. The most exciting part of the club is the pay scale. The more birds a bird dog retrieves, the more money they earn.

Starting at $100, or whatever level the dealership chooses to begin, the pay scale is tracked on an annual basis to give the bird dogs an entire year to hunt the coveted top referral reward.

Our Staff:

All employees of Bird Dog Club, Inc have had some experience in the automotive industry, directly or indirectly. 

Gary Linam

Gary Linam (C.E.O.): has been in the Automotive industry for over 25 Years. Gary began his career in the automotive industry, initially as a salesperson in the early 80’s.  With great perseverance he advanced into management and subsequently started the Driving 2000 Auto Group in 1999. At that time Linam recognized the need to manage his referral business in a way that can make it very measurable and bring true accountability to the “Art of Referrals”. Consequently he developed the first draft of his Bird Dog Club referral program to maintain his growing database of satisfied customers and their referrals.   Following 5 years of building the program and beta testing in 5 initial dealerships, Bird Dog Club was introduced to the market in 2005.  Since that time, Bird Dog Club, Inc. has acquired over 250 dealerships in the US and Canada operating the program and those dealers continually achieve great success with their program.  Linam’s own dealership group has experienced 20+% incremental business since the implementing the program.

Contact Gary



Jamie Cain

Jamie Cain (President): was employed as an internet sales representative for Driving2000.com and its Suzuki franchise, Suzuki of Huntsville from 2002 -Present Jamie developed the website(s) for all the Driving 2000 Auto group and was responsible for the initial upgrade of the original version of the Bird Dog Club program. He continues to improve upon the program and development of add-ons and enhancements. 

Jamie has an extensive knowledge in graphic design, website layout and design, database management, and programming. He is excited and eager to lend his expertise to Bird Dog Club clients in the area of brochure design, newsletter templates, and much more. Just ask him!

His father was in automobile sales for over 15 years and Jamie spent many hours at his place of work, gaining valuable insight in sales and customer service. 

Contact Jamie



Tangie Collins

Tangie Collins (Customer Support Manager, West Coast):   In 2006, Tangie Collins joined the quest of helping sales specialists sell more cars with Bird Dog Club.  While working for Gary Linam at Suzuki of Huntsville and Driving2000.com, she, like so many of our patrons, found the fun characters of Bird Dog Club catching her attention. " Wow, a dealership’s Bird Dog Club actually pays customers for simply sharing their buying experience with others?"  She had to be a part of it.   

As an employee of an underwater cable connector manufacturing company for fifteen years, she acquired first-class experience of assisting customers in the Americas, Great Brittan, Italy, and many nations around the world. Therefore, she was a perfect fit for a company whose simple goal is helping customers sell more cars by rewarding their customers!  With a true belief in referrals, and comprehensive training, Tangie is enthusiastically helping salespeople increase their retail sales.

Contact Tangie

• Phone: (cell) 256-724-0044



Cara Cathcart

Cara Cathcart (Customer Support ,Marketing and Business Director): has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Auburn University, and is the mother of three boys.  She began working for Bird Dog Club, Inc. in June of 2007, with concetration on customer service and marketing.  Jane of all trades, Cara’s responsibilities at Bird Dog Club include, Office Manager, Training Specialist, Customer Support, and Marketing. 

Cara teaches our weekly Bird Dog University Webinar, hosted each Wednesday at 1 pm Central.
 
Before working for the Bird Dog Club, Cara worked as the manager of a women's retail store, trained and raised horses, and furthermore, calls the automotive industry, “a family affair” as she has been around the business her entire life.  Cara possesses a fundamental understanding of car dealerships, automotive sales, and most definitely can teach you how our referral program will boost your bottom line! 

Call Cara for marketing ideas, customer support questions, or for that extra training that your sales people may need to maximize their Bird Dog or Prospector’s Club!

Contact Cara

• Phone: (cell) 256-694-7281

 

Clients...just to name a few (250 and growing)