Hawley joins DSP mgt. team

NORFOLK, Va. (Jan. 9, 2015) — Dealer Strategic Planning Inc. (DSP) has hired former OK Tire Store Inc. executive Bruce Hawley to help facilitate member meetings and recruit independent retailers to join DSP's list of 20 groups.

DSP said it now serves store owners representing nearly 375 retail outlets in the U.S. and Canada.

Mr. Hawley, formerly OK Tire's national manager, consumer products, is a 35-year-tire industry veteran. He has held positions with Bridgestone America's Canada operations including regional sales manager for Ontario; national manager of Bridgestone's Tirestarz Dealer Program; and director of its retail division in Canada, now known as GCR.

He joined OK Tire Stores in 2002 as director of dealer development, eventually increasing responsibility for sales in Western Canada. In 2007, Mr. Hawley was tasked with growing sales to OK's more than 270 retail locations and over 2,000 wholesale customers.

Norm Gaither, DSP founder and owner, said Mr. Hawley's “accomplishments throughout his career show that he's a proven contributor to any operation he joins. We have high expectations to use Bruce's expertise to keep improving our offering and value to our customers.”

In joining DSP, Mr. Hawley said he still has “lots of passion for improving operations and find this business exciting and rewarding. When Norm called me to consider joining, it didn't take me long to decide to extend my career along a different path.

“I am looking forward to meeting all of DSP's clients as they begin 2015's cycle of meetings.”

Norfolk-based DSP offers, through 20 groups, tire and automotive service dealers the opportunity to share best practices, benchmark against the industry and improve financial performance. Each group allows a maximum of 20 dealers who meet three times a year to help each other improve their business performance. DSP was formed in 2007. More information is available on its website or by calling Mr. Gaither at 757-301-9897 or via email at [email protected] or Pat Brown at 419-420-5915 or [email protected].