| | | 20,000+ Fresh Resumes Monthly | |
|
|
| |
Click here or scroll down to respond to this candidateCandidate's Name
Street Address
Cell: PHONE NUMBER AVAILABLEE-mail: EMAIL AVAILABLEEXPERIENCE & ACCOMPLISHMENTS:Sept. 2001 Present Infinite Financial Group, Inc. (Lexington, KY)Chief Executive OfficerDesigned and developed a state-of-the-art risk mitigation and asset protection management software solution called VITAL (Virtual Internet Total Automated Lending). VITAL is a core technology engine that can be deployed in a wide variety of financial measurement applications across numerous vertical markets. Mr. Ward relied on his previous work experiences to build this solution that would address the deficiencies that Mr. Ward had observed in the various roles he had served in the automotive industry. I have 25+ years of executive level management experience in 4 different industries. I have taught closing skills to over 100 managers and have supervised over 600 people and have taught phone skills to over 75 people.Established relationships with the following automotive vendors to integrate the vendors products into the VITAL system. Vendors include:AON (Red Flag Defense information),Auto Services Company (extended service contracts),Lee & Mason Financial Services (blanket Lenders Single Interest and Vendors Single Interest),Life of the South (credit life, credit accident, and health insurance),Old Republic (Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) Insurance),Omega Service Corporation(point of sale insurance, auction vehicle repurchase guaranties, and vehicle condition repurchase guaranties),Tri-Arc Financial Services (auto replacement coverage), andThe Warranty Group (extended service contracts).In addition, Mr. Ward negotiated favorable pricing on these products for dealers using the VITAL system.Established relationships with the following service providers to provide services utilized by the dealers through the VITAL system:ACH Direct(ACH transfers, credit card processing, and e-Check Processing),CarFAX (vehicle history reports),First Advantage CredCo (credit reports from all three credit reporting agencies),Kelley Blue Book (vehicle valuations),NADA (vehicle valuations), andWolters Kluwer (compliance guaranteed contracts and documentation).Established relationship with Premier Internet Communications, Inc. and XpressCredit in order to gain access to the following lenders:Auburn FCUEast Coast FundingPenn AcceptanceAuto FactorsLiberalPinnacle FinancialC&C FinanceNationwideSecurity Auto LoansDiamond FinanceNew CitySelect AutomotiveDriveway 675+/US BankPAFService FinanceWith these lenders providing loan services through the VITAL system, dealers have access to financing in all 50 states.Formed a strategic alliance with Auto Services Company, Inc. (ASC), a VITAL vendor partner, in order for ASC account executives to market VITAL to the dealers in its dealer network. ASC currently has established relationships with 16,975 dealerswith which they are already conducting business. ASCs sales force contains over 750 account executives who regularly service their dealer clients.July 1998 Aug. 2001 National Marketing Associates (Paintsville, KY)VP, OperationsCo-founded this auto and bankcard consulting service organization to support dealers in the automotive industry.Assisted dealers in becoming more profitable by implementing training programs and more efficient processes in their dealerships. These activities increased the dealers sales, improved the employees closing techniques, and allowed the dealership to realize a higher profit margin on each transaction. Many of the dealerships that utilized these consulting services were close to going out of business. Mr. Wards activities saved dealerships from closing and saved a number of employee positions from being eliminated.Oversaw three teams that provided consulting services to dealerships. Two of these teams provided training on such activities as desking a transaction and getting a transaction to closing. The other team focused on the Finance and Insurance departments of the dealerships. This team ensured that all proper procedures and techniques were adhered to in regards to deal structuring, deal approvals, and look-to-book ratios from each lender. The team was also responsible for assisting the dealers in categorizing lenders by tracking each lenders lending patterns.Was instrumental in helping dealerships achieve sales increases of at least 50% and tripling the dealerships profitability.Assisted dealers in realizing a reduction in costs associated with funds paid for bankcard processing services through the organizations ISO Bankcard consulting services.March 1996 June 1998 Premier Auto Sales(Ashland, KY)Co-OwnerOwned and operated this large, up-scale Independent auto dealership that provided customers with a variety of vehicles at various price points.Offered financing to customers that was comparable to financing options available at franchise dealers.Transformed the dealership from selling 25 vehicles per month and realizing $725 per front gross unit to over 80 vehiclesper month and $1,450 per front gross unit. In the Finance and Insurance (F&I) department, the dealership realized over $950 per retail unit.Implemented a successful walk through system, as well as a proper to program.Expanded management from one manager to two managers, sales staff from three sales reps to ten sales reps, and F&I staff from no F&I personnel to two F&I managers.March 1994 Feb. 1996 Huntington Subaru (Huntington, WV)Co-Owner/General ManagerInitially hired to serve as the dealerships General Manager.Within the first month of employment, hired new staff which resulted in the dealership selling ten new vehicles and 55 used vehicles in that month of operation.For the five years preceding Mr. Wards entry into the dealership, the dealership had operated in the red with few departments achieving profitability. During that time, the dealership averaged only five new vehicle sales per month and ten used vehicle sales per month.Increased the total retail unit for each vehicle from $500 per unit to $1,150 per retail front gross and over $1,150 per retail unit on the back-end.In a period of just three months, launched a number of training and staffing initiatives that resulted in the dealership returning to profitability. These efforts resulted in the dealerships achieving the highest level of sales and profitability in four years.Continued to increase sales to over 100 vehicles per month.Overhauled the used car inventory of the dealership by offering a wider selection of vehicles to include all vehicle lines versus solely Subaru lines. By having customers purchase the dealerships used vehicles, the dealership was able to flip the customers in the future to new Subaru vehicles as they became more familiar and comfortable with the dealership.After serving in the role of General Manager for two years, became co-owner.Feb. 1991 Feb. 1994 Coggin - O'Steen Mercedes-Benz Honda - Nissan(Ashland, KY)F&I Director/General ManagerInitially hired as an F&I Manager andimplemented sales techniques that resulted in the dealership being operated in the black within the first month of employment. Prior to Mr. Wards employment, the dealership had operated in the red for two years. The dealership remained profitable during his entire employment at the dealership.As F&I Manager, increased the sales volume of the F&I department from $125 per retail unit to $850 per unit in under a year.In less than one year, was promoted to F&I Director and oversaw three F&I managers.While F&I Director, took the F&I department from $325 per retail unit to $1,195 per unit through the use of Mr. Wards sales training program.After two years of employment, was promoted to General Manager. During this time, the dealership operated as the highest grossing Nissan store in the country in regards to front end gross.In addition, Mr. Ward took the dealership from averaging over 70 vehicles per month to over 100 vehicles per month. The average front end gross per unit was increased from $625 to over $1,175 (excluding Mercedes-Benz).June 1989 Feb. 1991 Champion Dodge Chrysler - Plymouth - Jeep - GMC (Mt. Sterling, KY)OwnerOwned and operated this auto dealership that, when purchased by Mr. Ward, was failing.In less than two years, turned the dealership into a profitable organization. Mr. Ward took the dealership from averaging less than $400 per retail unit to retail units averaging over $1,000 per unit.Brought in a new management team and new F&I personnel.Oversaw the entire operations of the dealership.June 1982 June 1989 National Insurance Marketing Services(Flatwoods, KY)Managing General Agent (MGA)Served as an MGA (one of the youngest in the country) over a tri-state territory representing over 25 different companies.Provided group insurance products, medical, life, personal planning, self-funding programs, credit insurance products, extended service contracts, and GAP insurance products to auto dealerships.Set numerous selling records, including achieving annual premium sales in excess of $3 million within Mr. Wards first year of employment.In a two year period, built his organization to 39 general agents reporting directly to Mr. Ward that realized over $50 million annually during this timeframe.Sept. 1977 May 1982 Hale Enterprises(Barboursville, WV)VP, Sales and OperationsInitially hired as an assistant manager at Hale Enterprises, a television, appliance, carpet, and furniture chain of 6 stores.Promoted to manager after 6 months and proceeded to take the last place store in sales from last to first. Initiatives launched by Mr. Ward to analyze customer traffic patterns, combined with modifications to the sales processes and the implementation of Mr. Wards sales training program, enabled the store to catapult to being the top producer in the chain within 12 months. The success in his first store led to a promotion to a Regional Manager with responsibilities of overseeing three stores.After being promoted to Regional Manager, conducted a logistics analysis and determined that the chain would benefit by moving to multiple warehouses to reduce costs and better manage inventory. During this timeframe, the company doubled its locations to 12, and Mr. Wards three stores, along with his original store, were the top 4 stores for production and accounted for more than 50% of the entire chains sales.Promoted to the position of Vice President of Sales and Operations. With over 80% of the sales in the chain utilizing consumer financing, Mr. Ward recognized an opportunity for an additional source of revenue and launched an in-house consumer financing program to enable the company to realize additional profits in the lucrative consumer financing sector.In his tenure as Vice President of Sales and Operations, was critical to the success of the company in more than doubling in size (expanding to 25 stores across five states), operating four warehouses, and employing 600 employees. During this time, Mr. Ward was responsible for growing sales from $8 million to sales in excess of $200 million.Hale Enterprises was later sold to the company that eventually became Circuit City.EDUCATION: Johnson Central High School (Paintsville, KY) May 1977GPA: 3.90Ashland Business College (Ashland, KY) Aug. 1977 May 1981Degree: Business Management; GPA: 3.60Upper managementBusiness developmentTraining in various of areas of business operationsHighly skilled closing techniques and methodologiesSKILLS: |
