James R. Prast
EXECUTIVE
Green Bay,WI
Summary
Customer-oriented General Manager with 30+ years of experience focused on increasing profitability and customer satisfaction. Adaptive and deadline-oriented with capacity to execute and complete multiple projects in high-stress environments. Meticulous leader and strategic planner with comprehensive managerial acumen, offering business performance improvement and cultural change management. Strong history of devising precise and targeted business operations plans, managing multifunctional areas, reviewing performance and driving change. Forward-thinking leader with expertise in setting goals, quality standards and team recruitment initiatives while leading efficient attainment of objectives. Deliver significant revenue growth and drive improved performance through rich experience in revenue building, business development, operations, P&L management, and team leadership. Create customer-centric solutions that enhance B2C relationships and open doors to new markets and opportunities. Move easily from vision and strategy to implementation, problem solving, and follow-through. Thrive in high-stakes environments and overcome complex business challenges through expertise in: Optimizing Customer Experience / Quality Control Business Performance Improvement / Metrics Team Recruitment / Development / Deployment Strategic & Tactical Planning & Implementation Restructuring / Cultural Change Management Multifunctional Collaboration / Leadership Maximizing Financial Performance / ROI Vendor Relations / Contract Negotiations Market & Needs Analysis / Solutions Development
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
General Manager
Executive Air
GREEN BAY, WI
01.2014 - Current
- Lead 37-member organization with P&L accountability for area’s premier Fixed Based Operator.
- 287.4% first year improvement in net profit through expense reduction and improved gross margin efforts, returning company to profitability.
- 8.2% revenue growth gained in first year by creating and implementing new pricing structure and coaching customer service team.
- 15.9% reduction in overhead through contract negotiations, cost-cutting measure, and vendor management.
- 16% Insurance premium reduction with introduction and implementation of safety protocols that eliminated employee incidents, thereby reducing loss premiums and workers compensation rating.
- 11.2% margin improvement in fuel revenues, across shrinking marketplace by creatively restructuring pricing and contract implementation.
- 40% growth in new customers (based aircraft tenants) through industry-leading customer service, business development activities and successful contract negotiations.
- Provided design and project management for terminal remodeling project.
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Diagnostic Nutrition
GREEN BAY, WI
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Provided strategic execution of marketing, recruitment and sales efforts for new product entry into State of Wisconsin for Florida-based nutrition company.
- Developed targeted marketing materials for two market segments.
- Established annual budgets for sales team and marketing departments.
- Recruited and trained independent representatives throughout state to demonstrate product technologies.
- Created sales training curriculum for Clinic and Health Club prospects.
- Made face to face sales calls to establish new customer base.
- Created strategic service roadmaps for new initiatives.
- Drove company branding efforts to increase market presence and brand recognition.
- Developed overall marketing strategy and support implementation across all departments.
General Manager
Bergstrom Inc
Appleton, WI
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Led 35-member organization with P&L accountability for $23 million in annual sales for Midwest’s largest luxury retail dealership offering Land Rover, Jaguar, Porsche, Volvo, SAAB, and Fisker.
- 78% year-one unit sales increase after recruiting new sales team and training, coaching, and mentoring entire team on new sales system.
- 14% improvement in service sales realized within four months (new record) by utilizing interdepartmental teams to identify, develop, and market new services.
- 97%+ growth in customer service satisfaction scores generated by creating and implementing new service procedures and coaching service team.
- 22% revenue growth gained in first year by defining goals then restructuring sales methodologies to achieve new objectives.
- 95.5% employee retention achieved (from near zero) through program of employee engagement seminars and team-building exercises.
- 51% boost in first-year net profit by implementing new processes in sales and service, managing inventory, and employing expense control techniques.
Vice President
Gustman Inc
Green Bay, WI
01.1995 - 01.2010
- Provided day-to-day P&L and operations leadership with seven department managers and 60-member staff for $40 million location of $200 million, family-owned, five-location Pontiac / GMC dealership.
- 200% regional sales volume growth with incremental gains from $26 million to more than $52 million through sales management, marketing efforts, and customer-focused operations.
- 85% customer retention achieved (industry-leading result), by guiding continuous improvement programs and facilitation teams.
- 111% growth in employee satisfaction scores gained by team building and strategic strengths training.
- 38% expense reduction through diligent contract negotiations, meticulous vendor management, and implementing cost-cutting measures.
- 200% growth in sales products and retail units through detailed market analysis and case presentation to franchisor to displace previous franchisee.
- 180-degree cultural turnaround achieved by identifying organizational values and clarifying corporate mission as leader for all-employee teams.
- 100% alignment with Mission and Vision attained working with acquired management team and conducting employee workshops to build business unit goals.
- Secured #1 impact dealer ranking in five-state region by translating service feedback into actions items across service business.
- Honored by GM as Leader of Distinction and Pontiac Master Sales Award winner every year by leading market in performance metrics.
- Gained approval for $9 million new facility project collaboratively designing and cost justifying site relocation with investors and manufacturer.
- ($278,000) to $713,000 net profit turnaround realized in first three years by rebuilding sales process, employing expense management, and launching new business practices.
Risk Manager
Midwest Car Corporation
Kaukauna, WI
01.1991 - 01.1995
- Directed risk management and mitigation for all 27 corporate locations across 11 states for nation’s largest National Car Rental franchisee with 6,000+-unit daily rental fleet.
- 1+ million financial gain achieved by designing and launching internal risk management and recovery program for rental fleet.
- 300% cash flow increase by expediting recovery of claims under structured fleet-risk program and accident reporting system.
- Gave voice to independent operators by founding Wisconsin Car Rental Association to provide lobbying.
- 1.3 million saved in first year by collaborating with insurance companies in development of customer underwriting and self-insurance products.
Education
MBA - Business
Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WIB.A. - Business Administration
St. Norbert College
Skills
Business Performance Improvement
undefinedAffiliations
Joe Verde Sales Management, Web
Jim Ziegler High-Performance Sales Teams, Green Bay, WI
Finance and Insurance Sales, Chicago, IL
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
General Manager
Executive Air
01.2014 - Current
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Diagnostic Nutrition
01.2012 - 01.2014
General Manager
Bergstrom Inc
01.2010 - 01.2012
Vice President
Gustman Inc
01.1995 - 01.2010
Risk Manager
Midwest Car Corporation
01.1991 - 01.1995
B.A. - Business Administration
St. Norbert College
MBA - Business
Cardinal Stritch University
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