Slade Smith
Hendersonville,NC
Summary
Over 20 years experience in Sales, Sales Management and Nouveau Marketing Strategies. Committed Critical Thinker and Analyst. Have a strong emphasis on Secondary Financing. Strong analytical, problem solving, negotiation, organizational and teaching skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills for high interaction with potential buyers on a daily basis; much of the day is spent talking on the phone. Training team members on phone & internet communications & sales skills. Level 10 critical skills training and mentoring.
Results-driven automotive professional with proven track record in vehicle procurement, supplier negotiations, and strategic fleet management. Known for fostering collaborative team environments and consistently delivering high-quality outcomes. Reliable and adaptable, seamlessly adjusting to dynamic business needs while leveraging analytical and negotiation skills to drive success.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Vehicle Acquisition Manager
Private Company
03.2023 - Current
- Led vehicle acquisition strategy to optimize fleet efficiency and reduce operational costs.
- Streamlined procurement processes, enhancing supplier relationships and improving acquisition timelines.
- Analyzed market trends to identify opportunities for strategic vehicle purchases aligned with business goals.
- Developed training programs for staff on effective vehicle sourcing and negotiation techniques.
- Managed vendor contracts, ensuring compliance with company policies and maximizing value from partnerships.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align vehicle needs with organizational objectives and budget constraints.
- Implemented data-driven decision-making processes to assess vehicle performance and utilization rates effectively.
- Mentored junior team members, fostering professional growth and enhancing overall team performance in acquisitions.
- Collaborated with sales teams to align vehicle acquisitions with customer demand patterns, maximizing revenue potential.
- Established long-lasting business relationships with key suppliers, ensuring a consistent flow of quality vehicles at competitive prices.
- Analyzed financial data to make informed decisions regarding vehicle purchases and budget allocations.
- Improved vehicle acquisition processes by negotiating contracts and collaborating with suppliers.
- Prepared detailed reports on acquisition activities for upper management review, demonstrating the success of various strategies employed.
- Identified areas for improvement within current acquisition processes, recommending changes that led to increased productivity and cost savings.
- Increased overall efficiency by implementing new software systems for vehicle inventory tracking and management.
- Implemented quality control measures during the acquisition process to maintain consistent standards across all purchased vehicles.
- Managed the entire lifecycle of vehicle acquisitions from initial sourcing through delivery, ensuring timely completion of each stage.
- Conducted market research to stay informed on industry trends, ensuring the company remained competitive in its vehicle offerings.
Business Development Director
Private Company
01.2022 - Current
- Conduct weekly performance reviews with the 7 manufactured line umbrellas to include but not limited to performance metrics, campaign reviews, sales objectives for the dealerships and to promote digital portfolio growth and diversification
- Serve as a regional liaison between Business Development Agents, Management, Sales Professionals, and the Service Department
- Direct and manage sales productivity and profitability in an effort to achieve designated profit objectives within respective geographical responsibility
- Direct and manage the entire sales cycle from prospecting, lead & inventory management to appointment set, shows to floor traffic
- Manage service customers for customer service retention, service to sale conversion
- Forecasting of the current and future month’s sales objectives; being able to accurately and concisely communicate those numbers to the various General Managers
- Coordinate/Foster business relationships with third party companies that may be supporting certain technologies for the various dealerships
- Provide leadership and support for corporate, sales managers, general managers, sales staff, business development agents and the service department
- Keep abreast of automotive industry news, media trends, and monitor the market as well competitors’ pricing and online tools offered
- Ensure overall sales volume increase through business development activity, identifying new opportunities in Dealer Management System and sales/follow up processes
- Weekly employee training and coaching
- Manage internal web-based demand generation campaigns by collaborating with internal channels to ensure brand consistency and best practices
- Established and managed a successful e-commerce business, selling major automotive manufacturer products online to consumer and business clients
- Cultivated rapport with SEO, SEM and data-feed companies to create effective marketing campaigns and programs
- Customer support and follow up
- Handles escalations and participates directly in complex sales situations to negotiate and/or resolve dispute and ensure customer satisfaction
- Assist Sales Desk by Desking and Closing deals
- Understands the psychology of Internet customer and has the ability to use in appropriate methods to draw them into the store for proper vehicle demonstration and to close e-transaction
- Has knowledge of all dealership products and services and convey this information effectively to customers
Business Development Manager
Ford Company
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Lead & Inventory Management & Distribution Employee Training with CRM
- Dealer Management System and sales/follow up processes
- System maintenance and installations
- Email management
- Website syndication management
- Weekly employee training and coaching
- Vendor relations and management
- Inventory management
- Manage internal web-based demand generation campaigns by collaborating with internal channels to ensure brand consistency and best practices
- Established and managed a successful e-commerce business, selling major automotive manufacturer products online to consumer and business clients
- Cultivated rapport with SEO, SEM and data-feed companies to create effective marketing campaigns and programs
- Customer support and follow up
- Vehicle sales
- Trained and Managed Business Development Agents and co-managed 10 Sales Consultants
- Handles escalations and participates directly in complex sales situations to negotiate and/or resolve dispute and ensure customer satisfaction
- Sales strategies-Identify Channel opportunities and direct the team to achieve the Sales goals set
- Be strategic and drive business and profitability
- Maintains and keep dealership website updated
- Assist Sales Desk by Desking and Closing deals
- Ensures that the website is frequently updated to attract new and repeat visitors
- Understands the psychology of Internet customer and has the ability to use in appropriate methods to draw them into the store for proper vehicle demonstration and to close e-transaction
- Has knowledge of all dealership products and services and convey this information effectively to customers
Operations Manager/Special Finance Analyst
Abbott Group Elite
05.2013 - 12.2021
- Processed New Internet Leads through Various Lead Sources
- Created Customer Base Now Consisting of Over 7500 Contacts
- Assist a wide market of Buyers and Sellers
- Credit Profile Analysis with Problem Solving Techniques
- Customer Financial Profile with Product Knowledge Integration
- First Time Buyers Program Referral Program
- Deployment Deals Specializing on Dependent Integration
- Conducts Financial Briefs at Camp LeJeune & New River Air Station
- Secondary Financing Applications and Complete Product Knowledge
- Responsible for booking cars to be sold through NADA, KBB
- Market Pricing Analysis
- Analyzed retail purchase versus lease purchase and closed customers respectively
- Analyzed deal structure to secure appropriate financing
Vehicle Exchange Manager
Hendrick Toyota of Fayetteville
01.2020 - 12.2020
- Hired, trained, coached and mentored a team of VX BDR’s successfully as well as VX Sales Consultants
- Loaded all vehicles into V Auto for appraisals
- Created Drafts for checks for every VX Customer
- Provided the VX Customer with a Packet that included the appraisal, check and why BUY NOW!
- Created coupon for all customer’s including the declined service customer’s for service fee
- Handled leads coming through the website with call to action templates and word tracks
- Created a call center for VX BDR’s only with their own hunt group line and protocol
- Created processes for follow up after the VX customer left the service lane
- Responded to all text interactions as well as email correspondence
- Negotiated deals over the phone, secured vehicle with a non-refundable down payments
- Desked my own retail deals, basically pre-packaged sold customer
- Pulled credit
- Credit Profile Analysis with Problem Solving Techniques
- Customer Financial Profile with Product Knowledge Integration
- Implemented new processes to ensure customer interaction and engagement
Business Development Manager
Team Chevrolet Corporate
01.2020 - 12.2020
- Vehicle Exchange Manager
- Created from Inception Vehicle Exchange Program
- Hired, coached, trained BDC as well as Sales Staff at the store level
- Implemented call to action word tracks and processes
- Worked through Target Pro as well as Auto Alert
- Created packets for Service customers with alternate vehicle choices
- Appraised everything through V Auto
- Created trade certificates
- Negotiated deals over the phone for service to sales conversation
- Created new work flows to ensure nothing was being missed from follow up
- Created VIP Processes for the Vehicle Exchange Professionals and BDC
- Trained and Co-Managed 10 to 12 Sales BDC Reps
- Trained and managed 3 Vehicle Exchange BDC Reps
- Managed 5 Service BDC Reps
- Trained and Managed 5 Vehicle Exchange Sales Professionals
Business Development/Internet Sales Manager
Durham Volkswagen
02.2017 - 11.2019
- Desk Manager (Limited)
- F& I Manager (Back Up Finance & Secondary Deals)
- Processed New Internet Leads through Various Lead Sources
- Responded to all text interactions as well as email correspondence
- Negotiated deals over the phone, secured vehicle with a non-refundable down payment
- Desked my own retail deals, basically pre-packaged sold customer
- Pulled credit and submitted deals to lenders
- Worked as back up finance and secondary buyers
- Credit Profile Analysis with Problem Solving Techniques
- Customer Financial Profile with Product Knowledge Integration
- First Time Buyers Program Referral Program
- Created and Implemented Cause to Action Templates
- Implemented new processes to ensure customer interaction and engagement
- Secondary Financing Applications and Complete Product Knowledge
- Responsible for booking cars to be sold through NADA, KBB
- Market Pricing Analysis
- Analyzed retail purchase versus lease purchase and closed customers respectively
Internet Sales Manager/Special Finance Analyst
Stevenson Toyota Group
07.2013 - 12.2013
- Processed New Internet Leads through Various Lead Sources
- Created Customer Base Now Consisting of Over 4500 Contacts
- Consistently Sold 20-30 New and Pre-Owned Cars Every Month
- Credit Profile Analysis with Problems Solving Techniques
- Secondary Financing Applications and Complete Product Knowledge
- Responsible for booking cars to be sold through NADA, KBB
- Market Pricing Analysis
- Closed customers on payments to include after market products
- Analyzed retail purchase versus lease purchase and closed customers respectively
- Hired, Managed & Trained a BDC Team
- Managed a Successful Internet/BDC Department
Internet Sales Director
Moore Buick GMC
01.2010 - 07.2013
- Processed New Internet Leads through Various Lead Sources
- Created Customer Base Now Consisting of Over 3800 Contacts
- Consistently Sold 20-30 New and Pre-Owned Cars Every Month
- Credit Profile Analysis with Problems Solving Techniques
- Secondary Financing Applications and Complete Product Knowledge
- Responsible for booking cars to be sold through NADA, KBB
- Market Pricing Analysis
- Closed customers on payments to include after market products
- Analyzed retail purchase versus lease purchase and closed customers respectively
Internet Sales Manager/Floor Manager
Bruce Cavenaugh’s Auto Group
03.2007 - 02.2009
- Processed New Internet Leads through Various Lead Sources
- Created Customer Base Now Consisting of Over 3,000 Contacts
- Consistently Sold 15-24 New and Pre-Owned Cars Every Month
- Credit Profile Analysis with Problems Solving Technique
- Secondary Financing Applications and Complete Product Knowlede
- Managed Half of Super Store Sales Staff
- Assisted with Scheduling to Ensure Proper Sales Coverage
- Performed Sales Training
- Trained New Employees on The Higher Gear Group Automotive Software
- Assisted with Customer Closings Where Needed
Education
Bachelor of Science - Finance, Psychology
Murdoch University
Skills
- QuickBooks
- Microsoft Suite
- Internet Explorer
- Higher Gear Group
- FMLS & MLS
- Morgageware
- Gallagher
- Heritage
- Lotus Notes
- Commercial Dealer File
- GTas4
- Linking
- D & B Business Credit
- Equifax
- Office Visions
- Financial Analyst Book
- Commercial Lease
- Info Lease
- Compass
- Margin Accounts Basic
- Investor Access
- Reuters Plus
- Branch Banking
- Elite Accounts
- Answer Net Web
- Business Intelligent
- Customer Accounts
- Investment Planning
- Contact Management
- Telesales
- LPS
- Horizon
- Reynolds & Reynolds
- Dealer Track
- ERA
- Cuddle
- SNAAC
- V Auto
- Vin Solutions
- Target Pro
- ELeads
- XTime
- Auto Alert
- Gold Digger
- Google Suite
- 3CX
- Sweet Relish
- Click to Call
- Group me
- Auto Credit Express
- Fleet management expertise
- Operational efficiency
- Asset management
- Budget development
- Vehicle procurement
- Cost reduction strategies
- Automotive industry
Certification
- F & I Principles (Automotive F & I School)
- Proactive Solutions Certificate (Business Development/Best Practices)
- SEC Series 6, Series 7
- Securities (inactive)
- Accident, Life & Sickness (inactive)
- Variable Annuities (inactive)
Languages
Spanish
fluent
Timeline
Vehicle Acquisition Manager
Private Company
03.2023 - Current
Business Development Director
Private Company
01.2022 - Current
Business Development Manager
Ford Company
01.2021 - 01.2022
Vehicle Exchange Manager
Hendrick Toyota of Fayetteville
01.2020 - 12.2020
Business Development Manager
Team Chevrolet Corporate
01.2020 - 12.2020
Business Development/Internet Sales Manager
Durham Volkswagen
02.2017 - 11.2019
Internet Sales Manager/Special Finance Analyst
Stevenson Toyota Group
07.2013 - 12.2013
Operations Manager/Special Finance Analyst
Abbott Group Elite
05.2013 - 12.2021
Internet Sales Director
Moore Buick GMC
01.2010 - 07.2013
Internet Sales Manager/Floor Manager
Bruce Cavenaugh’s Auto Group
03.2007 - 02.2009
Bachelor of Science - Finance, Psychology
Murdoch University
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