Hi, Cars&Bids.
I’m Stephen.
Cars & Bids represents the future of enthusiast marketplaces — where community, culture, content, and commerce are fully integrated. I would be excited to help accelerate that growth by bringing my mix of automotive credibility, strategic marketing leadership, partnership experience, and content fluency to the team.
I’m excited to apply for the Growth Marketing Manager role at Cars & Bids — a platform that sits at the intersection of automotive culture, content, and community in a way very few brands achieve authentically.
As someone whose career has been built around the enthusiast and collector car world, this role feels like a natural extension of both my professional experience and personal passion.
What impresses me about Cars & Bids is the way content and community are the growth engine. The platform doesn’t treat media just as marketing — it treats it as infrastructure.
My background uniquely positions me to contribute in that environment: building campaigns that feel organic, social strategies that drive real impact, and partnerships that create long-term brand equity rather than short-term attention.
About Me
I served as Creative Director and Curator for the Saratoga Automobile Museum, Saratoga Motorcar Auction, and the Naples Motorcar Auction for over five years, where I led all creative and marketing strategy, content direction, and brand partnerships across nationally recognized exhibits, live events, and in-person vehicle auctions — including building the Saratoga and Naples Motorcar Auctions from their inception into a fully realized brand, multi-day experience, and marketplace presence.
My role wasn’t just creative — it was strategic: shaping narratives, driving attendance, growing awareness and audiences, and building partnerships that translated directly into real-world engagement and revenue.
I established and fostered campaigns and collaborations with globally recognized brands including Porsche North America, EON Productions (James Bond/007), RADwood, and Hagerty, among many others. These relationships required more than promotion; they demanded authentic storytelling, community trust, and content strategies that respected enthusiast culture while delivering measurable results for all parties involved.
Resume
Saratoga Automobile Museum, Saratoga Motorcar Auctions & Naples Motorcar Auction
2018-2023 – Saratoga Springs, NY & Naples, FL
• Creative Director & Curator Responsible for all branding, creative, marketing and the experiential direction of a national award-winning museum and multi-day auction. Curated exhibitions and events centered on historic, collector, and culturally significant vehicles
• Directed marketing campaigns across physical, digital, social, content, partnerships, and live events; driving attendance, audience growth, and national visibility
• Led the creation, positioning, and growth of the Saratoga Motorcar Auction from inception, shaping the brand, content strategy, and identity for a live, enthusiast-driven auction
• Built and managed high-impact brand partnerships with Porsche North America, Hagerty, RADwood, and EON Productions (James Bond/007), creating co-branded campaigns, exhibits, and content experiences that delivered cultural relevance and audience engagement
• Launched sponsored activations at nationally recognized events like the New York International Auto Show, The Amelia, The Greenwich Concours d’ Elegance, Cars on 5th, Luftgekuhlt, Lime Rock Historic’s Weekend and more
• Used performance insights, audience behavior, and engagement data to inform campaign strategy, content direction, and partnership development
Gatto Veloce
Auction Listing Manager, Photo/Video Production
2023-Current – Saratoga Springs, NY
• Produce and direct photography and video, establishing consistent visual standards
• Actively engage during active auctions to support bidders and clients
Manage post-auction services and client communications to ensure continuity and trust
• Follow market trends to provide seller and clients accurate and up -to-date valuations and estimations
References
Carly Connors
Saratoga Automobile Museum Executive Director (2017-2023)
Contact upon Request
Dan Ritopecki
Saratoga Motorcar Auctions, Gatto Veloce Auction Director (2018-2023), Dealer/Owner
Contact upon Request
Matt Ivanhoe
The Cultivated Collector, Owner
Contact upon Request
Steven Harris
Client & Noted Collector
Contact upon Request
Trent Abbott
Hagerty Vice President of Global Development
Contact upon Request
Highlights
• Author; “Air & Water: Rare Porsches 1956-2019” (Schiffer Publishing, 2022)
• RADwood x NYIAS 2022, Curator
• Member & Speaker; The Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving & Chowder Society (since 2018)
• Guest judge at The Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance; Radwood and Lemons classes
• PT Cruiser Spotters Anonymous Co-Founder
Contact
Stephen Struss
Creative Director & Curator
Specializing in Branding & Automotive