Will Michael
The financial operator who built the automation systems behind Cheddar Auto's 150+ vehicle-per-month acquisition engine, and now brings that same discipline to scaling Hrizn. Co-owner of NewGen CDJR.
150+
Vehicles/Month
Cheddar Auto automation402K
Organic Impressions
NewGen CDJR (85 days)Acquired
Cheddar Auto
Ken Ganley, Nov 2022CPA, MBA
Financial Expertise
Dealership operationsThe person who makes the numbers work
Will Michael knows what it takes to run a dealership from the financial side. His career in dealership accounting gave him a ground-level understanding of the paperwork, the processes, and the margin pressure that every dealer lives with daily. He is the kind of operator who can explain a deal jacket and a database schema in the same conversation.
That combination proved critical at Cheddar Auto, where Will served as Controller. Working directly with David Gruhin, he designed and built the automation systems that turned a manual vehicle-buying process into a scalable operation: automated appraisal intake, title processing workflows, and the financial plumbing that let the business acquire 150+ pre-owned vehicles per month from consumers. When Ken Ganley Companies acquired Cheddar Auto in November 2022, those systems were a key part of the value.
Will is also co-owner of NewGen CDJR of Clinton, Michigan, alongside Matthew Taylor and Rich Dietrich. NewGen signed with Hrizn in September 2025 and became one of the platform's earliest success stories: 402,545 organic impressions and 1,000 ranking queries in just 85 days.
At Hrizn, Will brings the same financial discipline and systems thinking that made Cheddar Auto's acquisition engine possible. As CFO, he is responsible for financial strategy, accounting operations, and making sure the company scales the way its product does: systematically.
Deep dealership accounting expertise. Understands P&L, flooring, deal structure, and the financial mechanics of running a profitable store.
Built the automation systems that powered Cheddar Auto's 150+ vehicle/month acquisition engine. Knows how to turn manual processes into scalable operations.
Active dealership co-owner at NewGen CDJR. Not just advising from the outside - he lives the operational reality Hrizn serves.
Financial strategy and sustainable scaling. The same rigor that managed Cheddar Auto's books now manages Hrizn's growth.
From dealership books to Content OS
Dealership Accounting & Finance
Built deep expertise in dealership accounting, vehicle acquisition processes, and the financial mechanics of running a profitable store. Learned the ins and outs of dealership P&L, flooring, and deal structure from the ground up.
Controller
Served as Controller for Cheddar Auto, the consumer-facing vehicle acquisition platform co-founded by David Gruhin. Worked directly with Gruhin to design and build the automation systems that powered vehicle acquisition at scale - from appraisal intake to title processing. Cheddar Auto became the largest volume lead generator on the Accutrade valuation platform, acquiring 150+ vehicles per month before Ken Ganley Companies acquired the business in November 2022.
Co-Owner
Co-owner of NewGen CDJR of Clinton, Michigan alongside Matthew Taylor and Rich Dietrich. The dealership signed with Hrizn in September 2025 and generated 402,545 organic impressions across 1,000 unique queries within 85 days of publishing, moving from an average position of 11.1 to 4.3.
Co-Founder & CFO
Brings the financial discipline and operational rigor that comes from managing the books at a high-velocity acquisition operation. Responsible for financial strategy, accounting operations, and ensuring Hrizn scales sustainably.
Connect with Will
Dealership finance, process automation, or scaling a SaaS company.
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