Brett Sutherlin

About Me

After graduating from Northwood University, Brett Sutherlin began his career in the automotive industry working within his family’s business, founded by his father, George Sutherlin. Early on, he made the decision to step outside the family organization to gain broader experience, working in multiple dealership environments and developing a hands-on understanding of sales, operations, and emerging technology.

In the early days of online commerce, Brett recognized an opportunity that most dealers overlooked. While eBay was still in its infancy, he began listing used vehicles online—quickly generating meaningful sales volume and proving that digital channels could transform automotive retail. That early success sparked a long-term focus on digital marketing and innovation.

He went on to build one of the industry’s first dealership-focused digital platforms, laying the foundation for what would become fusionZONE Automotive. Co-founded with his wife, Karen Sutherlin, fusionZONE grew rapidly into a leading digital marketing and technology provider for automotive dealers. Combining Brett’s deep automotive expertise with Karen’s operational leadership, the company helped dealers modernize how they attract, engage, and convert customers.

Recognizing that their model extended beyond automotive, Brett and Karen launched Lead Revenue, applying the same performance-driven marketing system to local businesses across multiple industries. Both companies scaled quickly and were ultimately exited in transactions that, combined, exceeded $700 million in value.

Following these exits, Brett acquired the Sutherlin Automotive Group, continuing his family’s legacy while positioning the company for its next phase of growth. Under his leadership, Sutherlin Automotive has become known for its aggressive growth strategy, operational discipline, and technology-driven approach to retail. The company currently operates in multiple states, including Tennessee and California, and continues to expand.

Today, Brett is focused on building the next generation of high-performing automotive operations while also investing time in mentoring entrepreneurs and industry professionals. He is known for his transparent, no-nonsense approach to business—sharing real strategies, real numbers, and real lessons from building and exiting companies at scale.