Fort Worth, TX • Open to Remote + Hybrid
Derrick Cleveland
Dealer-side experience. Commercial mindset. Technology fluency.
Automotive Revenue
& Customer Growth
Dealer Technology • CRM • DMS • Digital Retail • Consultative Sales • Retention • Customer Success
I combine dealership operations, B2B account development, CRM discipline, and customer lifecycle execution to turn real dealer challenges into measurable business outcomes.
Dealer fluencyCRM • DMS • Digital Retail
Commercial motionDiscovery • Pipeline • Growth
Customer lifecycleAdoption • Retention • Value
Hands-on platforms
VinSolutionsCDK GlobalElead CRMSalesforceBullhornZoomInfo
Commercial Impact
Results that connect execution to business outcomes.
Performance across revenue leadership, customer retention, CRM execution, appointment conversion, and high-volume dealership operations.
700+monthly vehicle transactions supported
25sales professionals coached on CRM and follow-up
95%+customer satisfaction in support operations
149/150CFS Level I certification score
Dealer to Technology
I understand the workflow before I talk about the platform.
My value to an automotive technology team is the combination of commercial selling skills and firsthand understanding of how dealership teams actually work.
Discover the business problem
Lead with needs analysis, stakeholder context, process gaps, customer impact, and measurable business priorities before positioning a solution.
Discovery + qualificationTranslate technology into dealer value
Connect CRM, DMS, digital retail, automation, data quality, and workflow adoption to the outcomes dealership leaders actually care about.
Business value + ROIDrive execution after the conversation
Bring disciplined follow-up, stakeholder communication, coaching, process improvement, and customer lifecycle thinking to revenue and retention.
Adoption + retention
Automotive + Technology
Dealer-side perspective.
About
Dealer fluency with a commercial growth mindset.
I build revenue by combining consultative selling, account development, customer retention, and CRM-driven execution.
My background spans automotive sales, business development, dealership leadership, CRM operations, and B2B account development. I have worked across the customer lifecycle, from prospecting and discovery through negotiation, delivery, retention, and ongoing relationship management.
That experience gives me a practical understanding of how technology lands inside a dealership: where adoption breaks down, why follow-up gets missed, how teams use CRM data, and how stronger processes can improve both customer experience and revenue performance.
Commercial role alignment
AEDiscovery, pipeline, positioning, close
AMRelationships, value, growth, retention
CSAdoption, enablement, outcomes, risk
RSMCoaching, execution, territory mindset
Experience
Built across the full customer and revenue lifecycle.
Automotive retail, digital sales leadership, B2B business development, customer support, and operational management.
2026
Sales Associate
AutoNation Ford South Fort Worth
- Owned the customer sales cycle from lead engagement and discovery through vehicle selection, negotiation, F&I handoff, delivery, and post-sale follow-up.
- Managed high-volume opportunities in CDK Global and Elead CRM with disciplined activity tracking and multi-channel follow-up.
- Applied consultative discovery and product expertise to uncover purchase criteria, navigate objections, and maintain deal momentum.
2024
2025
2025
Internet Sales Director
Covert Ford of Hutto
- Directed digital sales and CRM operations across VinSolutions, CarNow, Gubagoo, and CoVideo, supporting 2,500+ monthly leads and 700+ monthly vehicle transactions.
- Improved customer retention approximately 16%, reduced churn approximately 10%, and reduced follow-up time approximately 25%.
- Coached a 4-person BDC and 25 sales professionals on CRM discipline, lead prioritization, objection handling, and customer engagement.
- Evaluated CRM, DMS, digital retail, and customer-engagement platforms based on workflow fit, reporting, automation, adoption, data quality, and business impact.
2023
2024
2024
Inside Sales Executive
Technology Navigators
- Built B2B pipeline through ZoomInfo account research, outbound prospecting, decision-maker identification, and consultative discovery.
- Led discovery around business needs, technical requirements, timelines, stakeholders, and decision criteria before positioning recruiting and candidate-placement solutions.
- Advanced opportunities through qualification and client engagement while maintaining rigorous Bullhorn opportunity documentation.
2022
2023
2023
BDC Manager
Covert Ford of Hutto
- Led a 4-person BDC managing 2,500+ monthly internet, OEM, and dealership leads in VinSolutions.
- Increased appointment set-to-show performance approximately 18% and reduced lead response time approximately 40%.
- Built lead-management playbooks and coached sales professionals on CRM hygiene, objection handling, follow-up strategy, and customer communication.
- Earned Ford Guest Satisfaction Top Performer recognition for the highest companywide NPS and CSAT in Q1 and Q2 2023.
2021
2022
2022
General Manager
TYLER'S
- Owned store-level revenue, P&L performance, customer experience, staffing, inventory, operations, and commercial KPIs.
- Drove annual revenue growth from approximately $4M to $7.2M through stronger sales execution, team development, merchandising, inventory decisions, and operational improvement.
- Improved team productivity more than 20% through stronger workflows, training systems, performance expectations, and accountability.
Earlier experience foundation
Cotton On GroupAssistant Manager
Sales leadership, customer engagement, KPI-driven execution, and double-digit year-over-year revenue growth.
The Buckle, Inc.Assistant Manager / Sales Associate
Relationship-based selling, clienteling, cross-selling, upselling, and repeat-client development.
FavorCustomer Support Representative
95%+ CSAT, Zendesk and Salesforce case management, issue resolution, and delivery-partner enablement.
Discount TireService Coordinator
Approximately 1,200 monthly appointments, customer communication, capacity planning, and workflow coordination.
Selected Business Stories
From operational friction to measurable improvement.
Three examples of using process, CRM discipline, communication, and coaching to improve commercial outcomes.
01
Retention + Lifecycle
Strengthening customer continuity across the buying journey
Challenge
Inconsistent follow-up and fragmented lifecycle communication created opportunities for customers to disengage.
Action
Strengthened follow-up cadences, proactive engagement, and communication standards across customer touchpoints.
Result
16% retention
10% churn
02
CRM + Workflow
Creating faster, more visible follow-up execution
Challenge
Manual workflow friction and inconsistent task management slowed sales follow-up and reduced pipeline visibility.
Action
Improved CRM workflow automation, task management, routing, and pipeline standards.
Result
25% faster follow-up
Stronger opportunity visibility
03
BDC + Conversion
Improving speed-to-contact and appointment quality
Challenge
High lead volume required tighter execution standards to prevent missed opportunities and inconsistent customer contact.
Action
Implemented structured phone, text, and email cadences, stronger response-time standards, playbooks, and coaching.
Result
18% set-to-show
40% response time
Technology Stack
Tools used where the customer, pipeline, and dealership meet.
Hands-on exposure across dealer CRM/DMS, B2B sales technology, customer support, communication, and workflow automation.
Dealer Technology
VinSolutionsCDK GlobalCarNowGubagooCoVideo
Sales + CRM
Elead CRMSalesforceZoomInfoBullhornGoHighLevel
Customer + Operations
ZendeskMicrosoft 365Google WorkspaceSlackZoom
Automation + Productivity
n8nAI Productivity WorkflowsProcess Automation
Digital Automotive Merchandising
Short-form vehicle content built for a social-first customer journey.
Three different formats show product detail, performance storytelling, and premium vehicle presentation without relying on a single visual formula.
15 sec
2024 Chevrolet Corvette
Premium vehicle presentation with fast detail pacing and interior-focused storytelling.
31 sec
2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R
Performance merchandising built around model-specific badging, powertrain detail, and interior cues.
52 sec
2025 Ford Bronco Stroppe Edition
Longer-form exterior storytelling using sunset light, detail shots, and dealership context.
Swipe to explore videos
Leadership Recommendations
What leaders have said about working with me.
Written recommendations spanning dealership leadership, B2B business development, customer relationships, work ethic, and management potential.
AN
Written recommendation
“He possesses a remarkable ability to connect with customers, understand their needs, and provide them with tailored solutions.”
JS
Written recommendation
“Derrick excelled in identifying and qualifying leads, contributing to our business development efforts.”
SH
Written recommendation
“He is a quick learner and has an excellent work ethic, always completing tasks on time and with exceptional attention to detail.”
Customer Voice
Consultative selling is easiest to see in the customer experience.
Selected five-star feedback from customers across Covert Ford of Hutto and AutoNation Ford South Fort Worth. Customer names are abbreviated for privacy.
★★★★★
“I can truthfully say Derrick Cleveland was one of the most knowledgeable and respectful new car salesmen I’ve ever dealt with. If I had a dealership he’s the kind of person I’d want to represent my values.”
★★★★★
“Derrick’s knowledge, kindness, honesty, and willingness to work with us to find the best vehicle for us based on our budget and needs made the process very smooth. We never felt an ounce of pressure.”
★★★★★
“He knew beforehand that seat warmers were extremely important in my car search because I have a back injury, and when we went to look at the car he already had the seat warmers turned on. Thoughtfulness and intentionality aren’t easy to find anymore.”
★★★★★
“The whole process was smooth, professional, and stress free. Big thanks to Derrick for helping me through everything — great guy, very knowledgeable, honest, and easy to work with.”
★★★★★
“Derrick Cleveland handled most of the process… staying late the night we purchased the truck and then keeping us informed of the minor fixes Covert was doing for us.”
★★★★★
“Derrick has been helping me find the best deal on a Mustang since April! Glad we were able to find the right vehicle and complete the deal!”
Swipe to explore customer feedback
Education + Credentials
Commercial experience backed by continued development.
Formal education, automotive finance training, structured team execution, and professional credentials that support the work.
Automotive Finance
Customer Financial Services, Level I
AutoNation • June 2026 • Score: 149/150
View certificate ↗
Agile Delivery
Certified ScrumMaster®
Scrum Alliance • Earned March 2024 • Credential ID 001630459
View original certificate ↗Bachelor of Science, Public Relations
The University of Texas at Austin
Ford Guest Satisfaction Top Performer
Highest companywide NPS and CSAT, Q1 and Q2 2023
Automotive Perspective
I know the dealership side because I have operated inside it.
Sales floors, BDC workflows, lead routing, CRM hygiene, digital retail, F&I handoffs, appointment management, customer retention, vendor evaluation, and cross-functional dealership execution are not abstract concepts to me.
That dealer-side perspective is the value I bring to automotive technology conversations: understand the business problem first, then connect the process or platform to measurable value.
Dealer OperationsCRM / DMSDigital RetailF&I WorkflowCustomer LifecycleRevenue Execution
Automotive Photography
Across performance, luxury, trucks, and daily retail.
Selected vehicle photography from dealership environments, plus one personal enthusiast build.
Swipe to explore photography
Let's Connect
Open to the right automotive technology opportunity
Automotive technology needs people who understand the dealer.
I am open to conversations around Account Executive, Account Management, Customer Success, and Regional Sales opportunities within automotive and dealer technology.
Fort Worth, TXRemote + HybridAutomotive + Dealer Technology