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RON D. STURGEON
5940 Eden, Fort Worth, TX 76117
817-834-3625, extension #6, email Ron Sturgeon
CAREER SUMMARY
- Multi-faceted entrepreneur, business owner, investor and consultant with a strong background in strategy, operations management, finance, and marketing for business evolution and strategic growth.
- Major focus on vision and mission development and executive financial and marketing management with a small business and automotive industry concentration.
- Proven ability to execute to plan.
EXPERIENCE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
DFW ELITE CAR CLUB.com
President and founder January 2007 to present
- One of the first to enter the luxury automobile time-shares business in the U.S.
- Visit www.dfwelitecarclub.com for more information.
Exotic Auto Rental Association
President and founder August 2006 to present
The exotic auto rental industry is in its infancy and is very different from the standard car rental business. Exotic car rental companies had no association to represent the industry, foster growth among member companies, or cooperatively market high-end rentals.
There are approximately 40 such businesses throughout the U.S.
- Founded the new association for exotic car rental companies.
- Planned and hosted its first meeting in Las Vegas, August 2006.
MR. MISSION POSSIBLE.com
President and founder July 2006 to Present
Public speaker and coach for small business professionals and entrepreneurs. Based on my experience, the Mission Possible program teaches entrepreneurs how to achieve maximum success in business.
DFW ELITE AUTO RENTAL.com, Ft. Worth, TX
President and founder May 2006 to Present
Rental agency specializing in luxury and exotic autos. Startup with a $3mm fleet that includes some of the most desired automobiles in the world by automakers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, BMW, and Mercedes.
- Responsible for all start up activities, including legal concerns, insurance requirements, and software deployments.
- Visit www.dfweliteautorental.com for more information.
Pick n Pull, Division of SCHNITZER INDUSTRIES [SCHN], Arlington, TX
Vice President of Operations October 2005 to February 2006
This business purchased GreenLeaf Auto Recyclers LP from me and my partners on Sept. 30, 2005, for $23.5 million as announced in an 8k filing.
- Continued role in real estate and licenses and provided assistance with insurance, construction, and environmental issues.
- Played a key role in transferring operating licenses and updating ownership and officer information, a critical and sensitive area requiring high level understanding to avoid issues with salvage yard licenses.
- Demonstrated the ability to start and run companies and produce sustained profitable growth, including transforming a business with six employees and $1 million in sales into a successful enterprise with 900 employees and $140 million in sales.
GREENLEAF AUTO RECYCLERS LP, Arlington, TX
Senior Vice President of Operations, director, and equity partner June 2003 to September 2006
Nationwide auto recycling firm divested by Ford Motor Company, with 26 locations in 15 states and more than 900 employees. This purchase included the Texas sites I sold to Ford in 1999, as well as additional sites purchased by Ford from 1999-2001.
- Acquired, with partners and Cardinal Investments, the GreenLeaf LLC subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, including AAA Small Car World – the original operations acquired by Ford from me in 1999. Included in the acquisition were 26 sites in 15 states and approximately 900 employees.
- Assisted in planning and road show to obtain a substantial equity investment from Cardinal Investments in Dallas, as well as asset-based lending in excess of $5 million from an investment fund in the Southeast.
- Assisted on projects including process improvement and control, sales controls and training, purchasing and distribution, and marketing.
- Functioned as a liaison for the auto recycling industry, handling PR and assisting with marketing and advertising.
- Responsible for all legal, zoning, licensing, environmental compliance, real estate construction concerns, and leases.
- Additional responsibilities included P&C insurance for all 26 locations in 15 states and handling claims.
- Additional information on the company is available at www.greenleafauto.com.
AUTOSALVAGECONSULTANT.com, Haltom City, TX
President March 2002 to Present
Business consulting, primarily to auto recycling-related businesses, such as auto salvage yards, legal specialists, investment analysts, and insurance companies. Recent engagements have included providing expert testimony, assisting with claims and contract settlements, supporting valuation and condemnation issues, assisting buyers and sellers of salvage businesses, and providing advice on increasing operational profitability to yard owners. There are currently two other consultants on staff.
- Published How to Salvage Millions, a resource to help entrepreneurs improve business operations. Available on www.amazon.com.
- Published Green Weenies and Due Diligence, a collection of over 1200 business terms and jargon, illustrated by Gahan Wilson. Available on www.amazon.com.
- Developed and conducted industry seminars focusing on accounting and tax issues, inventory valuations, marketing, shipping procedures and issues, pay for performance, and leveraging technology to improve sales and profits.
- Developed proprietary products for assisting buyers and sellers in the value recycling businesses.
- Write monthly articles for five industry-related publications, including American Recycler, Global Connection (member publication for APRA-Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association), and Recyclers Power Source.
- Publish and distribute a free monthly auto recycling e-newsletter available to subscribers at www.autosalvageconsultant.com.
- Keynote speaker for many conventions, including two in Australia in 2004. Topics included industry trends, motivating and managing employees, marketing, sales, and practical methods for improving profits.
- Additional information is at www.autosalvageconsultant.com.
RDS INVESTMENTS & RON STURGEON REAL ESTATE LP, Haltom City, TX
President March 2001 to Present
Investment management focused on commercial real estate development, leasing, and management.
- Manage staff including construction, property, and leasing managers; oversee management of $30 million in owned commercial/industrial properties (13 properties totaling over 500,000 sf) and 11 tenants in the auto recycling business.
- Construction management, including preparing scopes, soliciting bids, processing draws on multi-million dollar projects, preparing loan applications, managing lending relationships, negotiating leases and finish out, and managing construction to completion.
- Additional information is at www.rdsrealestate.us.
NORTH TEXAS INSURANCE AUCTION, Fort Worth, TX
Chairman, president, and founder January 2001 to August 2002
Insurance salvage auto auction providing specialized services to insurance companies for the retrieval, storage, and sale of damaged vehicles to wholesale buyers.
- Researched and analyzed wholesale salvage market and developed business plan, including governance, operating, and financial considerations for market entry.
- Planned and executed a $2 million in-house private equity placement with 18 investors.
- Planned and constructed a new 30-acre secure storage and sales facility.
- Developed strategy, deployed marketing approach, and oversaw start up operations.
- Exercised senior management responsibilities, reporting to the board.
- Within 12 months of completion and startup, negotiated and sold to the largest publicly held competitor, Copart, Inc. (NASDAQ: CPRT).
HITECH CREATIONS, Grapevine, TX
Board member January 2001 to Present
Developer of Aces High, a subscription-based WWII Internet combat game. HiTech Creations was founded in 1999 in Grapevine, TX, and has seven employees.
- Assist with financial planning and metrics, marketing, and strategic initiatives.
GREENLEAF, LLC, Detroit, MI
Regional manager August 1999 to March 2001
Automotive recycling/reclamation subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Acquired AAA Small Car World and five other operations in Texas from me and then added over 30 locations nationwide.
- Managed six Texas locations, with approximately 150 employees, achieving over 50% growth in sales in 18 months.
- Member of GreenLeaf CEO Advisory Committee, to design best practices, assist in operating decisions, and streamline integration of sites.
ACTUAL SYSTEMS OF AMERICA, (ASA), Denver, CO
Co-Founder, investor, and board member 1997 to 2000
A software development company, formed as a joint venture with Actual Systems UK to develop and deploy a new recyclers management system in North America. The only two systems available for recyclers were legacy systems. The system designed and deployed was, and currently is, the state-of-the-art system designed for recyclers. The system was installed by Ford Motor Company in their recycling division.
- Assisted in required capitalization, set up of board, and recruiting of recyclers to serve on design committee.
- Assisted in hiring and staffing ASA and soliciting technical third party support of development procedures.
- Assisted in plans to alpha and beta test the new system, including installations and transfer of existing data from Hollander and Auto Info systems.
UNITED RECYCLERS GROUP, Denver, CO
Founder and managing partner 1996 to 2000
A business-limited partnership providing management information systems, technology, marketing, certification, and training solutions to more than 300 automotive recycling businesses throughout North America.
- Founded a Limited Partnership of over 300 automotive recyclers, raising over $3 million, in response to an industry need for co-operation and alternative to limited support from industry’s existing recycler management information and inventory control systems.
- Testified before the Federal Trade Commission concerning Automatic Data Processing (ADP) acquisition of Auto Info, Inc. ADP was directed to divest Auto Info by FTC order because of anti-competitive practices.
- Developed and issued RFP for an enterprise-level software application to replace the two existing industry legacy systems.
- Conceived the “Damage Standard Card,” now an industry standard for recyclers and collision repairers, providing a common language for describing damage on recycled parts.
- Conceived, designed, and published “Premium Parts Magazine” (distributed nationwide) with an accompanying software for gathering and publishing recyclers’ inventories to customers.
- Formed a joint venture with a UK-based technology firm to design and implement a plan to bring alternative software technology to the U.S. market. This solution, called Pinnacle, was later installed in GreenLeaf’s operations in North America.
AAA SMALL CAR WORLD INC., Auto Recyclers Inc., Ft Worth, TX
Founder, president, and CEO 1980 to 1999
One of the largest auto recycling businesses in the United States with over 140 employees. Gross revenues of over $14 million. After 20 years of successful operation, business was sold to Ford Motor Company’s subsidiary, GreenLeaf, LLC in 1999.
- Founded recycling business with one employee in 1980, growing it to 140 employees in 6 locations throughout Texas with revenues of over $14 million.
- Was one of the first recycling businesses to computerize operation in the U.S. Helped design and implement continued improvement in the software, including use of handheld computers.
- Acquired and divested approximately a dozen recycling businesses, with and without real estate.
- Planned and executed, in house, a Regulation D private placement of $1 million to position company for growth.
- Participated actively in state, national and international industry associations and taught seminars on various issues including computerization, marketing, inventory valuation, and shipping.
- Testified before FTC on anti-trust issues concerning the only two material providers of software to the industry. AAA Small Car World/Auto Recyclers, Inc. operation was the single largest industry user of CCI software.
- Served as an expert witness on inventory and cost of goods valuation for a venture capital firm that funded an attempted consolidation of automotive recycling businesses.
AAA SMALL CAR WORLD, Ft Worth, TX
President and owner 1977 to Present
Used car dealership.
- Obtained dealer license, P16-747, which is still active today.
AAA SMALL CAR WORLD (formerly AAA Bug Service), Ft Worth, TX
President and owner 1973 to 1980
Started VW repair business following high school. Branched into repairs and sales of all imports, as well as collision repair and estimating. Accumulated approximately 35 wrecked cars, leading to the development of an auto recycling business.
EDUCATION
- Tarrant County College
- Finance & Marketing Major
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- Automotive Recyclers Association
- National Speakers Association
- National Business Travel Association
- Texas Business Travel Association
- Ft. Worth and Dallas Chamber of Commerce
- Ft. Worth and Dallas Better Business Bureau
- Fort Worth Mercedes Club (past president)
- Texas Automotive Recyclers Association
- United Recyclers Group (past managing partner)
- Citizens Zoning Committee member, City of Ft Worth
- Zoning Board of Adjustment member, Colleyville TX
- Supporter of several charities, including Big Brothers & Sisters of Arlington, and the Dallas chapter of the SPCA
PUBLICATIONS
- Millionaire Blueprints, “8 page feature article, “How to Think Like an Entrepreneur”, Dec. 2005
- Green Weenies and Due Diligence, published by Mike French & Co, Oct. 2005
- Autosalvageconsultant.com e-Newsletter, 2002 through current, monthly
- “How to Salvage Millions,” published by Mike French & Co., May 2002, (2nd printing June 2003), also published in China, Korea and the Czech Republic
- Premium Parts Magazine, 1996 -2000 (publisher)
- “Do-It Yourself Marketing,” INC. Magazine, June 1994
- “Hi Tech Salvage Yard,” INC. Magazine, November 1994
- Millionaire Magazine, September 2004
- Texas Driver Magazine, October 2004
- Dozens of other articles in local and US newspapers and magazines. Copies of most articles available on request
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- Numerous state recycling association conventions and keynote and individual training sessions on marketing operations and finance
- Keynote speaker at URG, and most requested speaker, 2003
- Keynote speaker, Automotive Recyclers Association, 2004
- Keynote speaker, Australian Auto Recyclers Association Convention, October 2003
- Keynote speaker, Parts Plus, a 56-unit Australian Recycler Co-operative, October 2003
- Keynote speaker, University of TX. At Arlington Entrepreneur Society, February 2005
- Numerous entrepreneur groups & Chamber of Commerce meetings
PERSONAL
- Married 28 years, three sons, all in the auto salvage business
- Hobbies include collecting antique toy cars and full size import sports cars
- Love to spoil our 3 “babies”, King Charles Cavalier puppies
- Our Cavaliers have appeared on a HGTV special and in a dozen dog & auto magazines
- Active in fund raising for Arlington Boys and Girls Club
WEB SITES