James W. Nichols
Blythewood,SC
Summary
Professional foreman with proven track record in shop management and operational oversight. Adept at identifying areas for process improvement and implementing effective solutions. Known for fostering collaborative team environment and consistently achieving project goals. Skilled in mechanical troubleshooting and inventory management.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Shop Foreman
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
Columbia, SC
06.2025 - Current
- Primary diagnostic technician
- Training of all shop personnel as industry subject matter expert
- Dispatch of all service orders to appropriate technicians based on skill level and complexity of the task.
- Maintain OSHA, MAP, EPA and ASE Standards
- Participate in continuing education to stay in line with all industry standards
- Maintaining all personal and company equipment to industry standards.
- Organization of tools, equipment, parts and facility componentry to facilitate more efficient operation.
- Subject matter expert on gasoline and diesel engines and all supported systems accompanying them in modern automobiles and equipment.
- Applying all principles of electrical circuits, hydro dynamics, pneumatics, chemistry and physics to diagnose items of highly complex nature inherent in position requirements.
- Performing all tasks and services in a manner deemed correct by OSHA, company policy and all local and federal guidelines.
- Maintaining all certifications required of the position and gaining new certifications as needed by industry changes.
- Following and assisting with repair of all items in accordance with EPA regulations governing waste disposal, clean-up, repair to functional emissions components and other items relating to environmental protection.
Dispatch Integration
L.A. Barrier and Son Inc.
Lexington, SC
09.2021 - Current
- Research, testing and development of digital dispatching solution.
- Testing and conversion to modern geo-location tracking software.
- Reporting and data collection of software for accurate assessment of meeting company needs.
- Hardware installation, setup and refining to meet company needs.
- Successful integration of safety systems to promote safe operation of company owned assets, employee accountability, and reducing liability risk.
- Hardware and software diagnostics, maintenance, and reliability for daily operations.
- Training multi-tier and diverse departmental employees for integration of newly acquired systems.
- Full parallel conversion of software and legacy operations to confirm feasibility of use without risk of impact to daily operations.
Lead Dispatcher
L.A. Barrier and Son Inc.
Lexington, SC
03.2022 - 05.2025
- Facilitate sales and customer requests to create logistical decisions for daily operations
- Scheduling for combined fleet of 70+ vehicles and employees
- Determining customer needs based on project requirements to provide the right asset to meet those needs.
- Minute by minute decision making to ensure the most efficient use of company assets.
- Scheduling of maintenance, fuel delivery, and training to accommodate needs of the company and customer.
- Ensure accountability assignment for employees that exceed or detract from overall daily efficiency.
- Constant monitoring and assignment of customer requests to ensure completion of tasks within customer timeline requirements.
- Forward facing customer communication with the company and providing quotes as applicable.
- Networking and relationship development with new and existing customer database to more accurately determine needs.
- Convert raw data to actionable analytics for all operations.
- Develop procedures to streamline creation of efficient planning environment
- Assist in employee development and training plans to create more diversely skilled subsets of employees.
- Provide coaching development opportunities for department leaders to solve efficiency issues
Facility Manager/ Shop Foreman
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
Columbia, SC
06.2015 - 09.2021
- In charge of operational concerns including billing, receiving and financial management.
- In charge of both technical knowledge and sales growth of a team of employees.
- In charge of all Human Resources aspects relating to location including hiring, training, payroll, benefits, and termination.
- Assuring all associates are performing service in a manner deemed appropriate by OSHA, EPA, local, regional and state regulations
- Multiple government account interactions points at county, state and federal level including account management, price setting and relationship maintenance and development.
- Technical advisor to all subordinates as industry subject matter expert.
- Maintaining and developing safety standards for employees, vendors and guests.
- Asset and physical security of a large facility with over $200,000 of materials and equipment.
- Care and maintenance of equipment and the facility.
Reconnaissance Section Sergeant (Retired)
SCARNG
01.2016 - 11.2020
- Maintain Security Clearance for duration of military career.
- Growth and development of up to 12 soldiers at at time.
- Health and welfare of all soldiers under my responsibility and lateral assistance to peers.
- Development of standard operating procedures for both the safety and mission accomplishment of the unit.
- Assist command with mission planning, training plans and full spectrum operational considerations.
- Responsible for the security and safety of over $3,000,000 of both high value and high sensitivity equipment.
- Decisive problem solving and decision making with real life or death situations.
- Planning and assisting with both live-fire and field training events ranging from M9 through unit live fire exercises.
- Preparing Composite Risk Management documentation and developing controls to alleviate risk.
Psychological Operations Sergeant
United States Army Reserve
Ft. Jackson, SC
07.2014 - 01.2016
- Maintain Security Clearance for duration of military career.
- Growth and development of up to 6 soldiers at at time.
- Health and welfare of all soldiers under my responsibility and lateral assistance to peers.
- Development of standard operating procedures for both the safety and mission accomplishment of the unit.
- Assist command with mission planning, training plans and full spectrum operational considerations.
- Preparing Composite Risk Management documentation and developing controls to alleviate risk.
- Assisting with collection of actionable data for analysis
- Determining target audience and most impactful method of dispersion
- Assisting with product development for dispersion via digital, physical and audible tactics
- Integration with both vertical and lateral units to determine requirements for product.
Asset Director
JD Byrider South Carolina
SC
12.2014 - 05.2015
- Procurement of product for reconditioning and subsequent sale at a profit.
- Liquidation of assets no longer needed by the company.
- Travel in order to sell, purchase or assess value.
- Develop action plans to accurately track need and orchestrate movement of items to areas of higher necessity.
- Assessing damages to product and creating a security plan to reduce risk to all assets in the South Carolina market.
- Compiling information from the field and consolidating in reports to all levels of management and subordinates.
- Active selling and purchasing under a high stress auction environment while maintaining company guidelines for purchasing and liquidation.
Shop Foreman/ Store Manager
Midas
Columbia, SC
07.2014 - 12.2014
- Hiring and development of staff to orchestrate higher performance in key target areas.
- Development of safety plans to create a better environment for employees.
- Market development including creation of both new retail and commercial clients.
- Create plans that take management objectives and translate to action items for staff and teammates.
- Technical advisor to all subordinates as industry subject matter expert.
- Account liaison to developing business area, interacting with leaders and executives of local businesses.
Team Leader
US Army
Vilseck, Germany
03.2011 - 07.2014
- Health, wellbeing and development of multiple soldiers both in garrison and deployed environments.
- Assisting in the accomplishment of all missions from higher.
- Continuous development, both mentally and physically to align with all aspects of job requirements.
- Responsible for the wellbeing, security and maintenance of over $19million of assigned highly sensitive military equipment.
- Safety and well-being of individuals at multiple range complexes ranging from M9 Qualification Courses through demolition ranges.
- Developing and implementing physical security SOP’s in extreme high risk environments.
- Acting in a unit level capacity liaison position for General Dynamics servicing, repairs and maintenance of $88.2 million dollars of highly advanced military vehicles (Stryker platform).
- Counterterrorism and security operations as directed by Command.
- Long range surveillance, direct fire and indirect fire operations in combat environment.
- Route planning, classification and reporting in accordance with US Army SOP’s.
- Reconnaissance team leader using highly advanced equipment up to and including experimental fielding of new equipment.
- Direct action mission planning, including multi-echelon development of the battlespace.
- Subject matter expert in all taskings of the 19D30 MOS and employment of direct fires, indirect fires, fixed wing and rotary wing mission implementation.
Sales Manager
Goodyear
05.2010 - 03.2011
- Direct customer interaction and sales presentation.
- Operating multiple systems to buy or acquire product to meet the customers needs.
- Run a till on a daily basis and balancing all transactions.
- Inventory management of the facility including over 20,000 individual SKU’s.
- Developing sales for a new facility and growing the emerging market into a financially sustainable base for all future growth.
- Assisting all employees with their taskings as a true flex employee that can operate in both technical and sales roles.
Shop Foreman/ Store Manager
Midas
08.2008 - 04.2010
- Facility maintenance, development and improvement to suite customer needs.
- Hiring and development of staff to orchestrate higher performance in key target areas.
- Development of safety plans to create a better environment for employees.
- Market development including creation of both new retail and commercial clients.
- Create plans that take management objectives and translate to action items for staff and teammates.
- Technical advisor to all subordinates as industry subject matter expert.
- Account liaison to developing business area, interacting with leaders and executives of local businesses.
Lead Master Technician
Pepboys
07.2006 - 08.2008
- Maintaining all personal and company equipment to industry standards.
- Organization of tools, equipment, parts and facility componentry to facilitate more efficient operation.
- Subject matter expert on gasoline and diesel engines and all supported systems accompanying them in modern automobiles and equipment.
- Maintaining knowledge base through continuing education.
- Applying all principles of electrical circuits, hydro dynamics, pneumatics, chemistry and physics to diagnose items of highly complex nature inherent in position requirements.
- Performing all tasks and services in a manner deemed correct by OSHA, company policy and all local and federal guidelines.
- Maintaining all certifications required of the position and gaining new certifications as needed by industry changes.
- Following and assisting with repair of all items in accordance with EPA regulations governing waste disposal, clean-up, repair to functional emissions components and other items relating to environmental protection.
General Maintenance Technician
Goodyear
06.2005 - 07.2006
- Diagnosis and repair of systems deemed appropriate for skill level.
- Learning from management, peers and lead technicians to continue to grow knowledge base
- Perform all repairs and maintenance according to company policies.
- Assisting with inventory management and stocking of items as arrived at facility
- Performing all tasks and services in a manner deemed correct by OSHA, company policy and all local and federal guidelines.
Mechanics Apprentice
Bob Watkins Imports
06.2004 - 06.2005
- Performing any services to assist master technician.
- Upkeep of all work areas including cleaning and organization of all equipment.
- Chauffeuring clientele and delivery of vehicles.
- Parts room organization and inventory management for incoming and outgoing orders.
- Attend any industry training to grow knowledge base.
Education
Geospatial Intelligence Analysis - Intelligence Studies
APUS
12-2026
19D ALC - undefined
Camp Shelby
01-2017
19D WLC - undefined
McCrady, South Carolina
01-2016
19D OSUT - undefined
Ft Knox
01-2011
Automotive Certificate Program - undefined
Midlands Technical College
Columbia, SC01-2007
High School Diploma - undefined
Dreher High School
Columbia, SC01-2005
Skills
- Diverse technical knowledge
- Analytical problem solving
- Mechanical repair
- Fast learner
- Team player
- Risk remediation
- Task management in high stress environments
- Safety management
- ASE Master Technician
- Task delegation
- Deadline management
- Job estimating
Certification
- ASE Master Technician w/ Advance Level and Advisor
- 609 Refrigerant Certification
- RMA/TIA USTMA Service Certification
- MAP/AMRA Certification
Awards
- Meritorious Unit Commendation for being on the front lines of Hurricane Irma (2017)
- 4-118th Best Warrior Competitor (2017)
- Top 100 Goodyear Growth Store (2018-01-01 to 2018-12-31)
- Best Reconnaissance Team in the Army Competitor 2013 (Gainey Cup)
- Multiple military commendations including Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ star, Army Achievement Medal x 5, Army Good Conduct Medal x 2, National Defence Service Medal, Global War On Terror Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Over Seas Service Ribbon x 2, Driver and Mechanic Badge w/ Driver Wheeled Vehicle Clasp x 2, Non-commissioned officer professional development ribbon x 2 etc.
- 6 years running 100% accident free workplace since taking over safety training at facility.
Languages
German
Limited Working
Timeline
Shop Foreman
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
06.2025 - Current
Lead Dispatcher
L.A. Barrier and Son Inc.
03.2022 - 05.2025
Dispatch Integration
L.A. Barrier and Son Inc.
09.2021 - Current
Reconnaissance Section Sergeant (Retired)
SCARNG
01.2016 - 11.2020
Facility Manager/ Shop Foreman
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
06.2015 - 09.2021
Asset Director
JD Byrider South Carolina
12.2014 - 05.2015
Psychological Operations Sergeant
United States Army Reserve
07.2014 - 01.2016
Shop Foreman/ Store Manager
Midas
07.2014 - 12.2014
Team Leader
US Army
03.2011 - 07.2014
Sales Manager
Goodyear
05.2010 - 03.2011
Shop Foreman/ Store Manager
Midas
08.2008 - 04.2010
Lead Master Technician
Pepboys
07.2006 - 08.2008
General Maintenance Technician
Goodyear
06.2005 - 07.2006
Mechanics Apprentice
Bob Watkins Imports
06.2004 - 06.2005
19D ALC - undefined
Camp Shelby
19D WLC - undefined
McCrady, South Carolina
19D OSUT - undefined
Ft Knox
Automotive Certificate Program - undefined
Midlands Technical College
High School Diploma - undefined
Dreher High School
Geospatial Intelligence Analysis - Intelligence Studies
APUS