Fleetway Leasing Company

9.1985- 12.1993

Background:

After working in a corporate environment part-time during college, upon graduation I sought to obtain a professional position with a company that was progressive and innovative. Fleetway Leasing fit the tab perfectly. Fleetway was an innovator in the 1980's as a premier luxury automotive leasing company serving elite customers in the Philadelphia area. Creative financing and knowledge of the high-line automobile market afforded Fleetway exponential growth in the late 1980's and early 1990's, with much acclaim in the automotive industry.

The responsibilities of running day-to-day operations was both exciting and rewarding. There were many cool deals we made including the export and import of luxury vehicles overseas. For instance. when the Communist regime of the Soviet Union collapsed in 1989, we took the lead in exporting used vehicles to the newly formed republics as demand exploded. We were also awarded Best of Philadelphia Award " Best Used Luxury Cars" for a number of years. Our brand, which was our people, was strong and reputable. Overall growth of company 20% annually for the years 1985-1992.

To support the administration of 1500 fleet vehicles, I created a 10-person support team to service customers, handle logistics and recondition off-lease returns.

In the early 1990’s the automotive industry started to change and leasing was embraced by all vehicle manufacturers and significantly impacted our ability to compete competitively. Although the used luxury brand leasing concept was still viable, creative measures to increase volume unfortunately led to a focus on risker credit portfolio.

Lessons learned:

Develop relationships with your customers/clients that establishes their confidence in you to a level that they consider you to be the source for all their needs. This entails always going the extra mile and complete trustworthiness. Always keep in contact with your customers/clients but do so when you have something beneficial to offer them. Remember these relationships often transcend later in your career and will prove invaluable. As the old adage states, “ your net worth is determined by your network”.