Les Santeler
St. Charles
Summary
Dynamic business leader with a proven track record at RX Automotive Inc., excelling in strategic planning and operational excellence. Skilled in crisis management and vendor negotiations, I drove revenue growth and enhanced customer satisfaction through innovative solutions and effective team collaboration. Committed to fostering talent development and achieving organizational objectives.
Versatile business leader bringing 15 years of experience as accomplished owner. Strategic problem-solver, change manager, and visionary executive with success implementing plans to meet current and future needs. Key expertise in automotive industry.
Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
President/Business Owner
RX Automotive Inc.
09.2010 - 09.2025
- Developed and implemented comprehensive business strategies to drive growth and profitability.
- Fostered a culture of innovation, encouraging team collaboration and continuous improvement efforts.
- Established key performance indicators to measure success and track progress against goals.
- Managed vendor relationships, negotiating contracts to optimize supply chain performance.
- Mentored emerging leaders within the organization, enhancing talent development and succession planning.
- Hired and managed employees to maximize productivity while training staff on best practices and protocols.
- Increased customer satisfaction through continuous improvement initiatives and excellent customer service.
- Managed crisis situations effectively while minimizing disruption to daily operations.
- Enhanced company performance by implementing strategic plans and overseeing daily operations.
- Prepared annual budget forecasts and monitored performance to meet organizational objectives.
- Drove revenue growth by expanding product offerings and identifying new market opportunities.
- Cultivated strong relationships with external partners to foster collaboration and maximize resources.
- Established a culture of accountability by setting clear expectations and holding individuals responsible for results.
- Monitored financial performance and implemented measures to enforce compliance with budgetary standards.
- Launched new products successfully into the market after meticulous research, planning, and marketing campaigns.
Lead Technician
Bridgestone Firestone
01.1994 - 09.2010
- Trained and mentored junior technicians on troubleshooting procedures and equipment handling best practices.
- Streamlined workflow processes, reducing downtime through effective scheduling and resource allocation.
- Planned, scheduled, and delegated daily work to team of employees.
- Conducted quality inspections of completed work, ensuring compliance with established standards and specifications.
- Performed troubleshooting and diagnosis on malfunctioning equipment.
- Repaired, upgraded and inspected electronic, electrical and mechanical systems.
- Adhered to established policies and standards to safely complete projects.
- Increased customer satisfaction, ensuring timely resolution of service requests through effective communication and problem-solving skills.
- Mentored junior technicians, fostering a collaborative work environment that encouraged skill development and knowledge sharing.
- Improved equipment efficiency by conducting regular maintenance and implementing upgrades.
- Reduced equipment downtime, proactively identifying potential failures and implementing preventive measures.
- Diagnosed and repaired problems with electrical and mechanical systems.
- Tested systems, noting issues and completing preventive maintenance.
- Researched and implemented new technologies and equipment.
Education
High School Diploma -
Burlington Central
Burlington IL06-1994
Associate of Science - Required
Elgin Community College
Elgin, ILSkills
- Leadership team building
- Organizational leadership
- Strategic planning
- Operational excellence
- Integrity and ethics
- Crisis management
- Operations management
- Staff training
- Project management
- Sales and marketing
- Employee relations
- Business development
- Contract negotiation
- Budget management
- Negotiation
- Company representation
- Business planning
- Strategic visioning
- Process improvement
- Operations oversight
- Vendor sourcing and negotiations
- Financial management
- Revenue generation
Certification
- ASE certified
- A1 ENGINE REPAIR
- A2 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
- A3 MANUAL DRIVE TRAIN
- A4 STEERING AND SUSPENSION
- A5 BRAKES
- A6 ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS
- A7 HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING
- A8 ENGINE PERFORMANCE
- X1 EXHAUST SYSTEMS
- L1 ADVANCED ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS
- X1
- L1
Timeline
President/Business Owner
RX Automotive Inc.
09.2010 - 09.2025
Lead Technician
Bridgestone Firestone
01.1994 - 09.2010
High School Diploma -
Burlington Central
Associate of Science - Required
Elgin Community College