Auto/Mate driven to succeed; Halfmoon software company is growing one dealership at a time.(Business)

Byline: LARRY RULISON Business writer

SCHENECTADY - Michael Esposito is building his business one car dealership at a time.

Esposito is president and chief executive of Auto/Mate, a Halfmoon company that designs and sells software systems used by car dealerships.

Although Auto/Mate has less than 2 percent of the software market for car dealers in the United States, Esposito has big plans for the company, which employs 72 and was operated by a local family for more than two decades before it was acquired in August by an out-of-town investor.

"We have a large upside," he said.

Although he declined to reveal exact figures, Esposito …