Hotlines, Inc. - Our Background

Our company's roots run deep. Our owners have each been in the auto salvage industry over 20 years and both founded the first nationwide computerized used parts locating networks for auto salvage yards.

In 1984 a new concept was born in the auto salvage industry: nationwide buying and selling of used auto parts among premier auto recyclers (they were called salvage yards back then). Mike Vande Voort and Jim Taphorn, via the MII Network, and Betty and Betsy Finnell, via the DataNet Network began offering this service to salvage yards across the country. Previously, due to limitations in technology, salvage yards were confined to trading within small groups on what was then known as "Voice Lines", "Hotlines" or "Whoop and Hollar Lines."

This continued until 1986 when DataNet was sold to AutoInfo, Inc., a publicly held company based in Lake Success, NY. AutoInfo was one of two leading providers of inventory management systems in the auto salvage industry. Betsy joined the AutoInfo team and continued to work with the members of the DataNet Network. In 1988, AutoInfo acquired the MII Network (now re-named the Orion Network). The DataNet Network was merged with the Orion Network and the resulting network was marketed under the name of Orion. Mike also joined the team.

In 1995, the Orion Network was sold to Automotive Data Processing (ADP Hollander). Betsy joined the ADP team and continued to work with the members of the Orion Network. Mike, not interested in the big corporation life and missing the joys of being an entrepreneur, formed Hotlines, Inc., which offers the Hotlines Networks to auto salvage yards and motorcycle salvage yards across the country.

In early 2003 Betsy joined Mike Vande Voort as co-owner of Hotlines, Inc.

Over the years, we have constantly strove to provide the members of our Networks with the most technologically advanced, most effective tool available. We anticipate even more exciting advances in providing the auto salvage industry with new ways to make money.