Phil Garza

About Phil Garza

Results-driven Finance Director with over 20 years of experience in high-volume…

Experience

1. Finance Director Platform Director General Manager

   Cavender Auto Family

   Jan 2019 — Present

   Brands: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Ford, GMC, Chevrolet, Buick, Polaris• Lead finance operations, sales and service across three dealership locations serving multiple major automotive brands, including new and used Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Ford, GMC, Chevrolet, Buick, and Polaris vehicles.• Oversee all finance and insurance contract execution, compliance, lender relationships, and customer financing for the entire platform.• Serve as Platform Director, supervising finance department performance, processes, and compliance across all three stores.• Train and mentor finance staff on sales performance, lender structuring, compliance, and customer experience, resulting in over $13 million in financed contracts during tenure.• Build and maintain strong relationships with major lenders, including Wells Fargo, Chase, and local credit unions, to secure competitive rates and improve approval rates.• Specializes in structuring complex and prime deals, leveraging deep lender knowledge to secure funding for challenging credit situations.• Increased finance department efficiency and deal close rate through process improvements, lender engagement, and team development.• Drive platform-wide financial training, coaching Finance Managers on compliance, profitability, and lender negotiation strategies.Accomplishments:• Established and scaled finance departments for two Columbus locations from the ground up, driving consistent revenue performance across all stores.• Successfully launched and scaled finance operations for multiple rooftops under tight deadlines.• Built a reputation for exceptional lender rapport, resulting in preferred dealer status and stronger financing terms.• Elevated team performance and customer satisfaction by implementing structured F&I training programs.• Consistently exceeded platform-wide F&I revenue targets and compliance.

Education

• Houston Community College

  Associate of Arts (A.A.)

Skills

• Leadership
• P&L
• Sales Management
• Credit
• Automotive Aftermarket
• Income Statement
• Strategic Planning
• Reynolds
• Vehicle Leasing
• Accounts Receivable
• Automotive
• Sales Operations
• Customer Retention
• Customer Service
• Account Management
• Parts
• Selling
• Loans
• Pricing
• Purchasing
• Process Improvement
• Profit
• Dealers
• Dealer Management
• Negotiation
• Vehicles
• Sales
• Customer Satisfaction
• Training
• New Business Development
• Forecasting
• Vendor Management
• Inventory Management
• Advertising
• Warranty
• Management
• Team Building
• Financial Analysis
• Automobile
• Executive Management