Chris Bray
Highland,IL
Summary
Seeking long-term employment with an incentive driven progressive company with opportunity of growth with Management Team.
Intermediate-Senior level sales & management individual with over 28 years of experience in the transportation and materials handling industries. Proven ability to grow markets and increase profit in underdeveloped markets. Driven individual with strong sales and communication skills.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Commercial Account Manager
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Akron, Ohio
08.2024 - Current
- Partner with current dealers and warehouse distributors to grow business by servicing fleet customers, including training and ensuring competitiveness with Goodyear’s solution tools.
- Develop and execute strategic and tactical business plans to secure market position, including identifying new distribution opportunities and supporting dealer expansions.
- Leverage marketing and sales programs for Goodyear, Dunlop, and Kelly brands to drive growth.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with assigned dealers and fleet customers to ensure long-term success.
- Provide market intelligence and insights to internal Goodyear teams to support informed business decisions.
Fleet Solutions Sales Manager
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Akron, Ohio
11.2016 - 07.2024
- Leads sell-out activity in assigned territory to meet or exceed individual sales objectives.
- Maintains and grows share of account with existing customers.
- Act as a partner to fleet customers in all aspects of account management.
- Partners with CTSC or servicing dealer to ensure fleet needs are met.
- Creates strategies and supporting tactics to grow with existing accounts in alignment with the overall Goodyear Commercial PBU strategy.
- Profitably grow National Account and local book business, while minimizing churn rate.
- Drives solutions-based selling to use data and tools as part of a consultative sales relationship.
- Sells the value of Goodyear’s Total Solution to win with fleets.
- Sells cradle to grave solutions to fleets (OE/new tire/retread).
Commercial Sales Manager (West)
Raben Tire Co., LLC
Evansville, Indiana
06.2015 - 11.2016
- Oversee and grow commercial sales force on the western side of the company. This includes the Raben Tire locations of St. Louis, MO, Kennett, MO, Poplar Bluff, MO, Sikeston, MO, Scott City, MO, Blytheville, AR, and Otterbein, IN.
- Involved with multiple aspects of operations at all listed locations including but not limited to inventory levels, hiring/evaluation of sales force, sales reporting and trends to Raben Tire home office.
- Position also requires traveling to the locations to inspect and assist in sales growth and marketing of different brands.
Store Manager
Raben Tire of St. Louis
Evansville, Indiana
12.2011 - 06.2015
- Responsible for hiring/evaluation of all employees. Viewed and audit of P&L reports for location. Inventory control and quality assurance of services performed. Involved in all aspects of the business.
- Over the course of my time here, established firm presence of Michelin Commercial product and the MRT process.
- Took location from $300k/monthly sales average at 12% gross profit to $1M/monthly sales average at 20% gross profit.
- Location currently is consistently profitable and continues to grow. Established a firm market presence in the Effingham, Illinois market, approximately 100 miles east of St. Louis.
- Was responsible for 3 full-time employees at a satellite location for St. Louis. Consistently does $200k/monthly sales at 18-20% gross profit.
- Division of Raben Tire Co., LLC
Commercial Sales / Management
Raben Tire of St. Louis
Evansville, Indiana
08.2011 - 12.2011
- Initial responsibility was to stabilize consistency of fleet accounts currently doing business with the Company, and to grow target market customer base by at least 15%.
- After this initiative was accomplished, assumed control of management and operations of location.
- Division of Raben Tire Company
Center Manager / Corporate Special Projects
TCI Tire Centers, LLC
Duncan, South Carolina
04.2011 - 08.2011
- Responsible for hiring/evaluation of all employees. Viewed and audited P&L reports. Inventory control, quality assurance of services performed. Involved in all aspects of the business.
- Division of Michelin, North America
- Processed payroll for 24 employees as part of sound human resources and financial management strategies.
- Managed work and performance of more than 24 employees.
General / Operations Manager
Salem Tire of St. Louis, Inc. D/B/A
Effingham, Illinois
07.2008 - 04.2011
- Responsible for hiring/evaluation of all employees. Viewed and audited P&L reports for 2 locations. Responsible inventory control, quality assurance of services performed. Involved in all aspects of the business.
- Facilitated the successful sale of the business and assets in O’ Fallon, Missouri and moved to Effingham, Illinois to assume control of this location.
- Increased average monthly sales by $50,000.00
- Since July 2008. Store had first profitable year as of year-ending 2009 since ownership assumed by Salem Tire in 2003.
- Wabash Tire & Auto, Inc.
General / Regional Manager / Auditor
Salem Tire of St. Louis, Inc.
O’ Fallon, Missouri
12.2006 - 07.2008
- Initial responsibility upon arrival was to temporarily work in a sales management capacity while covertly auditing spending and sales practices at location.
- Upon reporting findings to owner, manager of store was terminated, and reorganization of business began.
- Took over as “interim” manager in February 2007. Grew sales though replacement of existing sales team and changing sales philosophies and practices at location.
- Remained as manager until decision was made to sale business and real estate in 2008.
- While still managing O’ Fallon, was asked by ownership to oversee Effingham, Illinois as well in June, 2007.
- Hired/evaluation off all employees. Viewed and audited P&L reports for 2 locations. Inventory control and quality assurance of services performed. Involved in all aspects of the business
Store Manager
Salem Tire Center, Inc.
Salem, Illinois
06.2004 - 12.2006
- Managed advertising, payroll, payables, receivables. Monitored and reviewed monthly P&L. Scheduled retail appointments. Called on wholesale/commercial tire accounts. Ordered and tracked monthly tire inventory.
Store Manager
Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. #44
Mt. Vernon, Illinois
01.2002 - 06.2004
- Managed advertising, payroll, payables, receivables, gauging monthly P&L, scheduled retail appointments. Called on wholesale/commercial tire accounts. Quality control. Weekly stock tire ordering, and monthly tire inventory tracking.
- Involved with the regional manager in the closing of four different non-profitable locations.
- When arriving at location, was #17 in sales and profitability in “eastern region” out of 29 stores, in 3rd month, took store to #1 in profitability in region and remained so for another 14 months.
Construction Coordinator / Area Manager
Power Techniques, Inc.
Alma, Illinois
05.1999 - 01.2002
- Started as Construction Coordinator which consisted primarily of bidding out labor jobs as well as selling equipment over the phone and equipment ordering.
- Later moved into the Area Manager position which is a travel-based sales position.
- Called on large customer base over Western Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, & Northern Alabama.
- Called on coal-fired power generation plants, rock quarries, and coal mines. Sold and serviced equipment for the materials handling industry.
Retail Sales / Retail Manager
Salem Tire Center, Inc.
Salem, Illinois
02.1995 - 05.1999
- Developed training programs for new employees, enhancing team performance and service quality.
- Implemented marketing strategies that increased foot traffic and improved sales performance.
- Analyzed sales data to identify trends, driving strategic decisions for product offerings.
- Established strong vendor relationships, negotiating favorable terms and reducing costs.
- Managed inventory control, ensuring optimal stock levels for in-demand products and reducing excess merchandise.
- Controlled store inventory and reviewed cash handling and operations reports.
- Improved customer satisfaction through proactive engagement, attentive service, and efficient problem resolution.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Criminal Justice
Kaskaskia College
Centralia, IllinoisSkills
- Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co
- Exceptional Selling Skills Certificate
- Radial Systems Analyst (Commercial Truck) Kelly-Springfield Tire Co 1997
- Madden Co Billing System AS400
- Microsoft Applications
- Michelin North America Retail Management Certificate
- Michelin North America Legendary Service Certificate
- Extensive P & L experience
- Extensive inventory management experience
- 20 years’ experience in managing others
- 20 years’ experience in both dealers sell-in and sell out channels (on dealer side)
- 8 years’ experience in Goodyear sell-out (Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co)
- 15 years operational facility experience
Disclaimer
Thank you for your consideration.
Timeline
Commercial Account Manager
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
08.2024 - Current
Fleet Solutions Sales Manager
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
11.2016 - 07.2024
Commercial Sales Manager (West)
Raben Tire Co., LLC
06.2015 - 11.2016
Store Manager
Raben Tire of St. Louis
12.2011 - 06.2015
Commercial Sales / Management
Raben Tire of St. Louis
08.2011 - 12.2011
Center Manager / Corporate Special Projects
TCI Tire Centers, LLC
04.2011 - 08.2011
General / Operations Manager
Salem Tire of St. Louis, Inc. D/B/A
07.2008 - 04.2011
General / Regional Manager / Auditor
Salem Tire of St. Louis, Inc.
12.2006 - 07.2008
Store Manager
Salem Tire Center, Inc.
06.2004 - 12.2006
Store Manager
Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. #44
01.2002 - 06.2004
Construction Coordinator / Area Manager
Power Techniques, Inc.
05.1999 - 01.2002
Retail Sales / Retail Manager
Salem Tire Center, Inc.
02.1995 - 05.1999
Some College (No Degree) - Criminal Justice
Kaskaskia College