CARY, N.C. -

Bill McCready’s career in the automotive industry began at a Cadillac dealership in Pittsburgh after graduating from college. Turns out, trying to deliver luxury vehicles provided him with a better education.

“I had no idea what I was getting into; I just knew that I needed a job,” McCready said. “I can truthfully say that I learned more about business and sales my first year selling cars than I did all my years obtaining a marketing degree.”

After spending several years at that Cadillac store “and dealing with typical Pennsylvania winters,” McCready moved to South Carolina and landed his first wholesale industry position at Charleston Auto Auction. Now he’s the vice president of operations at Southeastern Auto Auction in Savannah, Ga., overseeing all facets of the operation by directing day-to-day operations to long-term strategic planning

“What I enjoy most about this business is the people and the relationships I have made over the years,” McCready said. I get to work with dealers who have a handful of cars on their lots, to franchise dealers with hundreds of cars, to institutional accounts managing thousands of cars. Everyone has different stories and different personalities. 

“I have made friends that I know I will have for the rest of my life,” he added.

That collection of friends includes several who have impacted McCready’s career.

“Although my dad has never been in the car business, I know I would not be where I am professionally if it wasn’t for him and the values he instilled in me,” McCready said. “Another person who I admire and who gave me my first shot in the auction industry is Keith Lelux.  He taught me what it takes to run a successful auction and how to grow a business. 

Wayne DeLoach, Tommy Childs and Danny Williams, who I currently work with at Southeastern Auto Auction, have recently had a big influence on me,” McCready continued. “Their leadership, dedication and devotion is exceptional.  I have been fortunate to have met and worked with many others that I have a great deal of respect for. They are all family oriented, they will not go against their ethical beliefs and they truly care about their employees and their customers.”

 

Bill McCready, 35, is vice president of operations at Southeastern Auto Auction.

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