Brett Sutherlin

About Brett

Brett Sutherlin began his career in the automotive industry after graduating from Northwood University, initially working within his family’s business founded by his father, George Sutherlin. Early on, he made a deliberate decision to step outside the organization, gaining experience across multiple dealerships and building a hands-on understanding of sales, operations, and emerging technology.

Long before most of the industry recognized the shift, Brett identified the potential of digital retail. In the early days of eBay, he began selling used vehicles online—quickly generating significant volume and proving that the internet would fundamentally reshape automotive sales. That early insight became the foundation for a career centered on innovation and execution.

He went on to co-found fusionZONE Automotive with his wife, Karen Sutherlin—one of the first fully integrated digital marketing and technology platforms built specifically for automotive dealers. Under their leadership, the company scaled rapidly, helping dealerships across the country modernize how they attract, engage, and convert customers.

Building on that success, Brett and Karen launched Lead Revenue, applying their performance-driven marketing model across multiple industries. Both companies were successfully exited, contributing to a track record of transactions that, over the past two decades, total more than $700 million in enterprise value.

Following these exits, Brett acquired and expanded Sutherlin Automotive Group, continuing his family’s legacy while transforming it into a modern, technology-driven retail platform. Today, the company operates multiple dealerships across key markets, including California and Tennessee, with a focus on scale, efficiency, and customer experience.

Brett is known for his direct, results-driven approach to business. He is actively building the next generation of high-performing automotive operations while mentoring entrepreneurs and sharing real-world insights on scaling companies, driving profitability, and executing successful exits.