Dr. Harold Elam Jr

(910) 263-8844 ˜ drelam@wearebdc.net ˜ LinkedIn ˜ Facebook ˜ Blog

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Automotive Business Development Director

Specialist in sales and service processes, BDC & Internet implementation, social media tools and technologies, with a track record of creating and implementing successful social media campaigns & programs. Keeps up-to-date with constantly evolving technologies in online social networking, the blogosphere, search tools and Web 2.0, and work closely with dealers to create innovative, effective campaigns.

List of Tools

Experience

Cole Automotive Group, Bluefield, WV— Automotive Group serving consumers in the greater Bluefield, WV & Ashland, KY area. Nissan-Honda-Kia-Subaru

E-commerce Director (Contract), Bluefield, WV August 2009 to August 2010

Partnered with some of the most well-known technology companies on the web to design and execute effective social media strategies that meant the dealerships’ objectives. Promoted to Executive management role as process manager for 6 stores, implemented effective processes for Sales-Service-Finance. Worked directly with Executive GM and President overseeing a staff of 15 and traveled between location inspecting processes.

·Developed and managed E-commerce Department, which included BDC-Internet and Customer Retention. Hired under contract to help establish phone processes and procedures, appointments for sales and service, online marketing campaigns, effectively driving brand awareness, increasing OTB’s (Opportunities To Do Business) customer engagement and traffic to the dealer’s six websites from social media pages, search engines and email campaigns.

·Achieved a strong, visible internet and social media presence and developed concepts with viral potential. Continuously monitoring online analytics, public relations and ensure the success of the entire dealership web based programs. Increased internet based business 50%, Service lane 35% and in store appointments 65% through processes and procedures

· Assess social media marketing strategies to determine rate of return. Identified and tapped into new channels to optimize ROI and fuel revenue growth.

· Place stories on Automotive Digital Marketing, DealersElite, LinkedIn and other key automotive news outlets. Ensured placement in social content Web sites such as Digg, StumbleUpon, etc.

· Built a strong base of repeat business and served as the IT person until hiring a replacement.

Sport Durst Millennium Automotive Group, Durham, NC— Multi-Franchise Automotive Group

(Lotus- Hyundai-Mazda)

E-commerce & BDC Director, May 2008 to July 2009

Promoted to senior manager role, working with GM and dealer principal overseeing a BDC staff of 12 and managed the Internet departments. Drove a 65% increase in revenue within 12 months, reduced cost per lead, eliminating third party lead sources and increasing online search positions and dealership website leads.

· Managed online website, developed effective marketing campaigns to drive brand awareness for Lotus-Hyundai-Mazda. Increased active engagement and traffic to dealer five websites from social media pages, search engines and email campaigns.

· Merged the Business Development Center and Internet Department to create E-commerce for the dealership, centralized department for multi-touch points and more effective management of Sales Calls, Internet Leads and Service Calls

· Achieved a strong, visible internet and social media presence and developed automotive concepts with viral potential through the dealership’s current TV marketing of infomercials. Continuously monitored online analytics, public relations and ensure the success of the entire dealership web based programs.

· Assess social media marketing strategies, call volume, percentages of appointments set to shown and sold to determine rate of return. Identified and tapped into new channels to optimize ROI and fuel revenue growth.

·Place stories on Automotive Digital Marketing, DealersElite, LinkedIn and other key automotive news outlets. Ensured placement in social content Web sites such as Digg, StumbleUpon, etc.

·Built a strong base of repeat business and served as the IT person for my entire tenor.

Central Carolina Automotive Group, Sanford, NC—Leading North Carolina Automotive Group

(Nissan-Hyundai)

E-commerce & BDC Director, October 2004 to May 2008

Promoted to senior manager role, working with GM and dealer principal to develop a BDC and internet department. Created the outline and marketing strategy of the company’ websites for multiple Nissan and Hyundai locations. Hired and trained the staff of 8, which four would serve as BDC and four as Internet. Implemented processes and procedures for answering the phone through scripts, responding to leads through template emails. Increased brand awareness, in store traffic and opportunities to do business for all four locations through a created centralized process.

·Managed BDC & Internet personnel, online website, developed effective marketing campaigns to drive brand awareness for Nissan-Hyundai-Preowned. Increased floor traffic to all locations through a series of effective phone processes and procedures, active engagement and traffic to dealer four websites from social media pages, search engines and email campaigns.

·Centralized the Business Development Center and Internet Department to create one of the first automotive E-commerce departments, to better manage the incoming opportunities from Sales Calls, Internet Leads and Service Calls

· Achieved a strong, visible internet and social media presence and developed automotive concepts with viral potential through the dealership’s current TV and Print marketing campaigns. Continuously monitored online analytics, public relations and ensure the success of the entire dealership web based programs.

· Assess social media marketing strategies, call volume, percentages of appointments set to shown and sold to determine rate of return. Identified and tapped into new channels to optimize ROI and fuel revenue growth.

· Place stories on Automotive Digital Marketing, DealersElite, LinkedIn and other key automotive news outlets. Ensured placement in social content Web sites such as Digg, StumbleUpon, etc.

·Built a strong base of repeat business and served as the IT person for my entire tenor.

Education

Overbrook Senior High School, Philadelphia, PA.

Senior Studies

Class of 1985

UCI Irvine, Irvine, Ca.

School Of Business

Business Development

1986-1990

Canterbury University, Canterbury, United Kingdom 

PhD, Philosophy

Human Behavior

1991-1996

BA in Marketing, 2004

References and/or letters upon request