Randy Wait
Welcome to my personal website. Here you will find out a bit more about me, including both my business experience and my personal interests. Thanks for stopping by!
Business Experience
Currently a Porsche Certified Brand Ambassador loving what I do at www.porschecoloradosprings.com. My goal is to exceed customer expectations everyday. I have been a huge fan of European cars and motorcycles since I was three years old. Now working with and around with what many people consider the pinnacle brand in the automotive industry is both a dream and an honor. Porsche Colorado Springs is a top 25 Premier Porsche dealership and one of only a handful of Porsche Classic Partners. The company is filled with motorsport enthusiasts and is a great environment to be in nearly everyday.
My previous business experience spans multiple corporate functions including Sales and Client Management, Business Development, Multi-Channel & Digital Marketing, Operations, Legal, and M&A. Below is a summary of my experience by functional area:
Start-up's:
Second employee at Leapfrog Online and participated in its growth to approximately 130 full-time employees. In 2017 Leapfrog was purchased by iProspect, a subsidiary of Dentsu Inc.
Sales & Client Management:
Managed, hired, and mentored Client Services and Marketing teams. Exponentially grew the number of clients serviced as well as customer acquisition programs.
Operations:
Oversaw multiple facility locations including negotiating multi-year leases, build-outs, and sublets. Ensured Office Operations were maximized to enhance employee satisfaction while keeping costs aligned with budgeted expenses. Sourced, evaluated, and negotiated agreements with BPO suppliers.
Legal:
Managed Legal processes and the use of outside counsel.
M&A:
Managed the use of all documents in Leapfrog Online's electronic library. Assessed and identified potential acquisition targets and participated in due diligence.
Board's:
Leapfrog Online: Corporate Secretary
Chicago Association of Direct Marketing (www.cadm.org) - Board Member
Mudlark Theater (www.mudlarktheater.org) - Board Member
Have Dreams (www.havedreams.org) - Board Member
Event Management:
Founded the Evanston Motorcycle Classic. The event has been held in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Teaching:
Taught the Interactive Marketing module of the CADM Basic Course for 6 years.
Education:
Attended the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, CO for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and an MBA in Finance, with an emphasis in Strategy.
Passions:
In business - developing and executing successful strategies and programs for business growth
In life – travel and experiencing new cultures, maintaining and riding/driving classic cars and
motorcycles. I founded the Evanston MotorCycle Classic in 2017....more details on this event are further below.
Business Achievements
At the end of 2019 I decided to relocate from Illinois back to Colorado. I was offered a sales position at Porsche Colorado Springs and have since become a Porsche Certified Brand Ambassador. Exceeding customer/client expectations is a daily goal as is of course, sales.
Previously I was at Leapfrog Online. I was the 2nd employee at Leapfrog and saw it grow to approximately 130 people in nearly 17 years before being acquired by iProspect, a division within the Dentsu Aegis Network.
At Leapfrog Online I initially lead and managed the Financial Services client vertical and later the Cable Retail industry client program, including 500+ retailers nationwide. While at Leapfrog I had the opportunity to manage several functional areas including Sales & Client Management, Enterprise Operations, Office Operations, Facilities, City of Evanston Relations, and Legal & Compliance. I also participated in M&A activities and Board guidance as the Corporate Secretary.
Below are a few notable Achievements while at Leapfrog Online
Sales Performance
• Grew top-line revenues by nearly 1,200% (from $4M to over $50M) over 6 years by implementing innovative marketing programs that generated >1.5 new customers for clients.
• Exceeded new customer acquisition goals, revenue, and contribution targets by nearly 30%.
• Expanded credit card marketing portfolio from 1 card to over 6 card products
• Doubled Retail business (from $6M to $12M) in 3.5 years
Marketing
• Created seasonal ad creative and campaigns
• Developed, implemented, and tracked multi-channel, multivariate marketing campaigns, including both online and offline
• Increased conversion rates 25% by data analysis and targeted product marketing approaches
Operations / Facilities / Events
• Develop and implement Client and Board Member events and outings
• Negotiated multiple multi-year leases for facilities, both local and remote locations
• Oversaw office renovations and build-outs to accommodate employee growth
Cost Savings
• Cut general and administration expenses ~30% by improving travel expense tracking and identifying additional savings opportunities
• Saved ~$20K/year by evaluating, negotiating, and reviewing vendor costs and performance within legal and telecommunications
• Lowered legal expenses 50% by consolidating services
Client Snapshot:
Capital One; Charter; Comcast; DeVry University; Discover Card; Fifth Third Bank; Time Warner
Evanston MotorCycle Classic
In 2016 I researched having a classic motorcycle street show in Evanston, IL. I talked with several well respected people involved in the industry within the Chicagoland area. Having nothing other than positive responses, I founded the Evanston MotorCycle Classic (EMC) and the first event was held in 2017. The event was well received and was also held in 2018 and 2019. Motorcycles that are 30 years old or older are eligible to compete for an award based on the country of origin.
More details about the event can be found below as well as the postcards for each year of the event:
Personal Interests
Ever since I was a youngster I've had a deep interest in cars and motorcycles. Yep, that first picture is of me at age 3 or so...wrench and hammer in hand! I lean towards European machinery, especially those from Germany. Some of the vehicles I either own, or have owned are shown below...they all have/had their own unique personalities and driving style...especially evident when driven/ridden back to back. I also enjoy both domestic and international travel. Road trips are are near the top of my list too....whether by car or motorcycle, especially in/on the classic ones!
Contact Information
If you would like to network or are considering adding a Porsche to your life, feel free to reach out to me.
I can be reached via email at rwait@porschecos.com or via call/text at 224.770.1060.
© 2020 randywait.com
