Automotive Executive
Open To Work
Craig Vaughn
Global Dealer Resources
Colleyville,TX
Work Preference
Job Search Status:
Open to work
Desired start date:
Flexible
Desired Job Title
Business DevelopmentDivisional ManagerPresidentOwner / PartnerVP, Variable Operations
Work Type
Gig Work
27
years of professional experience
Seasoned business leader with a proven history of optimizing operations across dealership, group, and corporate levels. Leads training and development initiatives for managers and employees, enhancing product marketing, sales, and business growth. Utilizes automotive industry expertise to drive strategic initiatives and process improvements, ensuring compliance and market share expansion. Expertise: Team Leadership - P&L Management - Business Management - Strategic Planning - Compliance Training & Development - Communications - Customer Satisfaction - Contract Negotiations - Cost Controls Financial Management - Sales Forecasting & Development - Product Marketing - Process Improvement
Work History
Business Development
1 Year 1 Month- Drove agency growth through outside current captive relationships.
- Researched and evaluated product providers to complement existing product offerings.
- Created 2026 budget focused on agency expansion and revenue growth.
- Developed strategic partnerships to enhance market presence and drive revenue growth.
- Conducted competitor analysis to refine product offerings and positioning in the market.
- Increased client base by identifying new business opportunities and implementing strategic sales approaches.
- Implemented innovative sales tactics to penetrate new markets, expanding the company''s geographical reach.
- Evaluated competitor offerings to identify gaps in the market and capitalize on opportunities for growth.
- Reached out to potential customers via telephone, email, and in-person inquiries.
- Represented company and promoted products at conferences and industry events.
- Prospected for new business opportunities via cold calling, using lead generation lists and networking.
- Evaluated client business needs and matched customers to appropriate products and resources.
- Enhanced company''s market presence by attending networking events, trade shows, and conferences.
- Conducted extensive market research to identify potential leads and develop targeted marketing strategies.
- Leveraged industry insights to inform business decisions, ensuring relevance in an ever-changing marketplace.
- Identified new business opportunities through cold calling, networking, marketing and prospective database leads.
Divisional Manager
2 Years 5 Months- Developed Texas for APG in the F&I product space.
- Established production pipeline through strategic networking with key industry contacts.
- Built strong relationships with key industry contacts to enhance collaboration. with leadership of major consolidators.
- Responsible for development of Texas for APG in the F&I product space.
- 25% increase in revenue
- Developed and implemented performance metrics to monitor team productivity and service quality.
- Collaborated with executive leadership to define organizational goals aligned with market trends and customer needs.
- Cultivated relationships with key stakeholders, enhancing partnerships that supported business growth objectives.
- Expanded market share with competitive analysis, identifying new business opportunities and potential clients.
- Drove revenue growth with targeted sales strategies and focused marketing efforts.
President
1 Year 1 Month- Guided management team through ownership change, securing funding lines and increasing total funding from $600M to $2B.
- Delivered strategic leadership in expanding company footprint to 42 states with 1,200+ dealers.
- Facilitated revenue growth of 300%+ in 2021 while achieving profitability for the first time in company history.
- Led C-Suite team in implementing key initiatives vital to the company’s growth.
- Drove development of software project, creating additional SAAS revenue streams for the company.
Owner / Partner
9 Years 7 Months- Drove the company’s growth from basic “Make Ready” service provider to include a full suite of F&I product offerings for new and existing dealer clients.
- Cultivated strategic partnerships with key partners, resulting in increased product sales and enhanced dealer income.
- Assessed dealer needs and delivered tailored programs and solutions, enhancing dealer income and customer satisfaction through targeted training, technology integration, product placement, and process improvements.
- Identified and approached dealers and groups for presentation opportunities, contributing to business expansion.
VP, Variable Operations
2 Years- Led all aspects of sales, marketing, finance, and inventory management while developing a high-performance team of Directors and expanding the dealer group from 5 BMW dealerships to 17 total dealerships, including BMW, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche, and Mini stores/locations in North China.
- Led efforts to increase market share for BMW China to 12.5%.
- Negotiated retail and wholesale targets with manufacturers, achieving goal attainment.
- Developed and implemented the first “traditional F&I” department for all of BMW in China.
- Managed marketing team to establish a company meeting dealership needs while adhering to budget expectations.
- Developed and implemented comprehensive business plans aligning with market trends and organizational goals.
- Oversaw cross-functional teams to streamline processes, resulting in improved project delivery timelines.
- Cultivated relationships with key stakeholders, fostering collaboration and enhancing customer satisfaction metrics.
- Led cross-functional teams for the successful completion of major projects, resulting in increased efficiency and client satisfaction.
- Demonstrated proficient leadership skills to motivate employees and build competent teams.
- Collaborated with senior management to develop strategic initiatives and long term goals.
- Identified opportunities to improve business process flows and productivity.
National/Western Region Finance Director
8 Years- Executed F&I production, compliance, lender relations, training, and budgeting for 10 regional platforms, collaborating with 10 Platform Directors across West and East Coast.
- Consolidated 10 regions into 2 (East and West), overseeing operations for half of an 85-site company.
- Directed F&I production for 40 locations across 6 states, achieving record results year over year.
- Developed and implemented financial strategies to enhance profitability and operational efficiency.
- Oversaw compliance with financial regulations, ensuring adherence to industry standards.
- Collaborated with executive leadership to align financial objectives with organizational goals.
- Assisted with recruiting, interviewing, and hiring new department employees.
- Facilitated process improvements by automating manual tasks, increasing efficiency within the finance function.
- Successfully managed multiple audits, ensuring accurate financial information was presented to external parties without discrepancies or delays.
- Established strong relationships with banking partners to facilitate access to essential funding channels.
- Verified compliance of financial policies and accounting procedures against federal regulations.
- Led successful negotiations on financing terms, resulting in lower interest rates and improved cash flow for the organization.
- Implemented internal controls for enhanced compliance with regulatory requirements and reduced errors in reporting.
- Analyzed financial statements against forecasts to prepare high-level variance analysis.
- Led strategic financial planning sessions that aligned with company goals, ensuring cohesive approach to growth.
- Negotiated with banks and financial institutions to secure favorable financing options for new initiatives.
- Fostered culture of continuous improvement within finance department, encouraging professional development and innovation.
- Complied with established internal controls and policies.
- Evaluated and negotiated contracts to procure favorable financial terms.
- Collaborated with C-level executives and stakeholders to develop long-term financial plans.
Dealer Development
1 Year- Collaborated cross-functionally to develop and deliver sales, sales management, and F&I training to dealers, enabling profitability growth.
- Participated in the attainment team, recruiting and training team members while developing and implementing sales, desking, BDC, and F&I processes at dealerships.
- Calculated dealer profit increases, ensuring payouts reflected only a percentage based on previous six-month averages.
- Engaged with and provided income improvement in over 50 franchised new car dealerships, publlic and private
- Trained new staff on sales techniques and product knowledge to enhance team performance.
- Led initiatives to streamline operational workflows, improving overall dealership efficiency and productivity.
- Collaborated with management to develop strategies for optimizing dealer performance and improving overall operational efficiency.
Dealer Development Manager
1 Year 9 Months- Implemented menu-driven sales process for AutoNation dealerships in South Texas, Austin, Houston, and Corpus Christi, leading team to support similar initiatives across Arkansas, Missouri, Nevada, and California.
- Developed strategic partnerships with dealers to enhance product visibility and market reach.
- Led training initiatives for dealer network, improving sales techniques and customer engagement strategies.
- Analyzed market trends to identify growth opportunities within dealer segments, driving targeted marketing efforts.
Education
BBA - Finance/Accounting
Skills
Revenue generation
Continuous improvement
Team development
Communication skills
Team leadership
Problem-solving
Timeline
Business Development
Global Dealer Resources
01.2025 - 02.2026Read More
Divisional Manager
Acrisure Protection Group
06.2022 - 11.2024Read More
President
Drivrz Financial
03.2021 - 04.2022Read More
Owner / Partner
Income Development Partnership
05.2012 - 12.2021Read More
VP, Variable Operations
Yan Jun Automotive
03.2010 - 03.2012Read More
National/Western Region Finance Director
Asbury Automotive Group
02.2002 - 02.2010Read More
Dealer Development
American Financial Automotive Services
01.2001 - 01.2002Read More
Dealer Development Manager
Resource Dealer Group
03.1999 - 12.2000Read More
University of North Texas
BBA from Finance/Accounting
Read More