Evan Wood
Director of operations | Tire Discounters Inc. |Cincinnati, Ohio | Age: 24
What was your first job in the industry?
Tire tech at our first store, store No. 1.
What attracted you to the industry?
I was always going to be in the industry due to the family business, but once I turned 16 and started driving, I became a really big car guy and fell in love with the industry.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career?
My role and responsibility change often and I get snagged into things outside of my "day job" due to the nature of being in a family owned and operated business. Navigating new areas and becoming the subject matter expert quickly is always a welcomed challenge.
Who has had the biggest influence on your career?
My dad and grandpa have always been a big influence on how I approach all jobs. A lot of people worked with my grandpa before he passed and most everyone worked with my dad. I'm always hearing stories about both of them and they’re always good role models for me to reach towards in my career. If I'm compared to either of them, good or bad, my day is made.
What is your biggest accomplishment in the industry?
Back when I was a tire tech: installing a 35-inch mud tire and it zeroing out on the balance machine with no needed weight. It may not seem like a big deal to some, but the whole store stopped to crowd the balancer to see that it really didn't need any weight. Some of the responses I got that day: “Go buy a lottery ticket!" and "Couldn't do that again if you tried."
Tell us about your current job and responsibilities. How do you spend your workday?
My main focus right now has been facilities. We invest a lot of time and effort into our buildings and for good reason. Learning the intricacies of our operations from the lens of facilities has been great for me to fully understand what goes on in our stores, offices, and warehouses. Lots of very talented and experienced people in our organization are involved in operations and I'm blessed to work alongside them.
I've also been working with our director of mobile services to help spin up our mobile program. We've been focusing on starting mobile in Cincinnati since that is our home base. We've been able to assist a lot of local fleet accounts with our mobile service and we’re looking forward to launch into residential here soon. I've learned a lot trying to spin up a new business unit and luckily I'm not doing it alone.
What's been the biggest surprise of your current job?
The biggest surprise for me has been how much institutional knowledge is involved in operations. I am always learning something new and I think that’s why I really love growing into the role I'm in.
Tell us about your family.
My family is filled with different personalities and it makes spending both workdays and leisure days together a real blessing. One thing we all have in common is our sense of humor, which comes to life in our (store) signs we put up. Sunday lunches often turn from talking about what new thing my two-year-old niece did this week to what we can do different at Tire Discounters. The opportunity to go to work with your siblings, aunts, uncles, parents and grow alongside all of them is not something I take lightly. Although sometimes I would like a meal without hearing the word "tires."
If you could wake up tomorrow with one new skill, what would you choose?
Patience. We work on a lot of important tasks and want to see the fruits of our labor as soon as possible
In a single word, how would your friends describe you?
Consistent.
If you could switch careers tomorrow, what would you want to do, and why?
I wouldn't trade my career for anything. However, I did used to coach high school basketball in college and I'd love to get to the point in my career where I can work and coach simultaneously. Basketball is my passion and I loved being able to help the guys I used to play alongside elevate their game and become more confident
What's the biggest issue facing the tire industry?
Reaching a younger audience is a big struggle for most tire companies and automotive companies. Plenty of enthusiast automotive media channels have done a great job introducing the car scene to a younger audience. I think tire and service is lacking compared to the enthusiast side of automotive.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I used to want to be an engineer like my grandpa until I learned how much math and science was involved.
How do you unwind after a stressful day?
I play in a basketball league that plays twice a week year-round. This has been a great way to burn off some steam and also stay in shape.
What goal did you set for yourself this year? Are you on track to reach it?
My goal for this year was to get our facilities management program renovated. I feel very confident about our facilities program. The newly earned trust put into our facilities team has enabled us to maximize spend on crucial projects without doubt.
What do you expect to be doing 20 years from now?
In 20 years I would love to be CEO or running our amazing family business. The goal has always been laid out for me and I have plenty of mentors to help me reach that goal, I know it will take a lot of hard work to get there.
