NICHOLAS J. OLINGER
Marion
Summary
Dynamic fleet management professional with extensive experience and a proven track record of driving operational excellence. Recognized for a strong emphasis on team collaboration and results-oriented strategies that ensure reliability while adapting to evolving needs. Expertise in logistics coordination, maintenance scheduling, and cost control is complemented by exceptional organizational and leadership skills. Renowned for effective communication, innovative problem-solving, and strategic planning capabilities that enhance overall fleet performance.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Fleet Manager
WESTSIDE TRANSPORT
07.2025 - Current
- Developed and introduced performance dashboards and metrics, improving fleet uptime and reducing service failures by more than 70%.
- Led customer service strategy across operations, maintenance and support teams — driving attachment sales of services and parts.
- Collaborated with vendors and equipment OEMs to optimize asset lifecycle and sales-support processes.
Business Operations Manager
STOUGHTON LEASE
06.2024 - 01.2025
- Directed branch operations including vendor/contractor engagement, facility & equipment management; realized record $4.7 M in annual revenue.
- Built strong relationships with vendor/contractor partners and maintained equipment utilization at 80% through strategic planning and communication.
- Managed equipment acquisitions, leasing contracts and service coordination — relevant to tractor/turf equipment sales and customer lifecycle.
Sales Consultant
MCGRATH VOLKSWAGEN OF MARION
08.2023 - 06.2024
- Achieved highest closing rate on the team at 36.7% by employing consultative selling, product education and building strong customer rapport.
- Created outreach programs and educational workshops to increase product adoption and referral rates — directly applicable to equipment sales.
Account Coordinator / Backhaul Administrator
CRST
12.2010 - 03.2023
- Managed logistics and customer-facing operations for 47+ employees and 50+ client accounts nightly; coordinated service needs, equipment scheduling and operational support.
- Spearheaded programs to reduce empty miles to under 9.7% of total transit—demonstrating ability to identify customer pain points and sell solutions.
Business Owner / VP of Operations
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
01.2003 - 01.2010
- Headed all facets of small business supplying sports-wear and equipment—P&L, vendor relations, sales strategy; scaled revenue to $1.7 M.
- Developed vendor networks, customer loyalty programs and event-channel marketing—skills transferrable to dealer-partner and territory development.
Senior Branch Account Executive
CITIFINANCIAL
05.2008 - 10.2008
- Led account management initiatives, enhancing customer relationships and driving client satisfaction.
- Developed tailored financial solutions to meet diverse client needs, increasing loan approval rates.
- Streamlined branch operational processes, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced turnaround times.
- Mentored junior account executives, fostering a collaborative team environment and enhancing overall performance.
- Had a team-high collection refinance loan rate of 37%, which was good for 5th place company-wide.
Assistant Manager
TRADEHOME SHOES
02.2001 - 06.2003
- Managed store operations, staff and sales strategy; elevated Coralville location from #10 to #2 company-wide ($3.5 M revenue) through focused customer engagement and product knowledge.
Education
M.S.E. - Sports Administration
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS05-2022
B.S. - Sports Management
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ04-2019
Associate of Science - Business Administration
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA08-1998
Skills
- Channel partnership development
- Fleet optimization
- Scheduling
- Transportation regulations
- Driver management
- Regulatory compliance
- Effective communication
- MS office suite
- Vendor collaboration
Timeline
Fleet Manager
WESTSIDE TRANSPORT
07.2025 - Current
Business Operations Manager
STOUGHTON LEASE
06.2024 - 01.2025
Sales Consultant
MCGRATH VOLKSWAGEN OF MARION
08.2023 - 06.2024
Account Coordinator / Backhaul Administrator
CRST
12.2010 - 03.2023
Senior Branch Account Executive
CITIFINANCIAL
05.2008 - 10.2008
Business Owner / VP of Operations
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
01.2003 - 01.2010
Assistant Manager
TRADEHOME SHOES
02.2001 - 06.2003
M.S.E. - Sports Administration
University of Kansas
B.S. - Sports Management
Grand Canyon University
Associate of Science - Business Administration
Kirkwood Community College
KEY ALIGNMENT WITH HYVEE CORE VALUES
- Territory Growth & Customer Engagement: Proven track record of high-closing rates, outreach programs and customer relationship building—ideal for territory-based equipment sales.
- Dealer & Vendor Partnership: Extensive experience working with equipment vendors, service networks and operational partners—translates to dealer-partner and OEM relationships.
- Solution-Selling & Service Attach: Strong background in identifying customer needs, presenting solutions and supporting aftermarket sales—valuable for traction in equipment sales environment.
- Experience in management, mentorship, training, scheduling, negotiation, and customer service across many different platforms with a wide variety of stakeholders.