Fleet Management Weekly had the recent opportunity to speak with Holly Vollant, Equipment Direct & Buy Direct Business Development Manager at Holman.
Holly has held various account management positions through her 14-year auto auction and remarketing career. Here, she shares her thoughts on the keys to building a career in the fleet industry and personal growth.
1. What was your very first job?
After earning my business degree, my first “real job” was as the Operations Manager for a document destruction and record storage company. It was great work experience and prepared me for managing large teams and working in dual sales and operational roles.
2. How did you land in the fleet industry?
I was still working for Shred-X, managing their operations and sales teams. I was home visiting my parents, who live across the street from Corry Auto Dealers Exchange, and reconnected with a family friend who was the General Manager at the auction. He offered me an opportunity to join the auction team and learn about the automotive industry.
I started out in dealer sales and soon took on the fleet and commercial business as well. I learned very, very quickly that the organized chaos of the auction industry as a whole was a great fit for me and thankfully had independent owners that gave me the time to let me literally stand in every role. I have parked sale day cars in a snow storm, manned a heat gun for hours removing decals, and written many condition reports. Before I knew it, I was totally hooked and couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. Admittedly, it was a bit odd at first because working in the automotive sector was never on my radar while I was in school.
My passion for the industry continued to grow as I expanded the depth of my experience into the operational side of the auction. Once I had firm understanding of all of the processes, I was introduced to the fleet business on a national level, where I was able to take all of these processes and apply them towards managing the relationship and reputation of my accounts. In the first five years, we grew our fleet and commercial sales from 10% of our weekly sales to averaging over 40%!
Following my time at the auction, I accepted the position of SVP Retail Remarketing for CarLotz. During my 4 years with CarLotz I worked in operations and sales with our retail and wholesale programs. This was a unique opportunity to broaden my knowledge base in a blended wholesale and retail platform while providing the best solutions for regional and national fleets and commercial operations.
Today, I am able to combine all of my industry experience to provide the highest level of expertise and service to my customers.
3. What do you love best about your current position?
Even though I am relatively new to Holman as an employee, I’ve worked with many of my current colleagues for more than a decade. They have become friends and almost as close as family over the years while Holman was my account. I am invested in not just their professional success, but in continuing the relationship that we have built.
This close collaboration only makes me want to learn more, to be more involved, and to contribute more to the success of every person and every business I serve. For me, it is always about learning. I think that I’m a perpetual learner!
4. What do you think are the keys to the progress you’ve experienced in your career?
I have a canvas that has hung in my office for many years that says, “Set goals so high they laugh and crush them while they watch.” My secret is to keep setting aggressive goals and set them higher each time. You will be amazed what you can accomplish!
5. Do you see your glass as half empty or half full?
I am definitely a glass half-full person. My closest friends may describe me as the eternal optimist, even to a fault at times. I also see the opportunity over the challenge.
6. What life lesson has your profession taught you?
Determination and tenacity were instilled in me at a young age. I’ve learned to never be satisfied with my current state regardless of the success or challenges. This industry can be challenging at times, but those challenges continue to drive me to work harder and strive for more.
7. What are your best practices to maintain a healthy work/life balance?
My tendency is to be a workaholic and never say “no” when presented with a new project. In order to not just be a great employee, but also a great wife, mom, and friend, I have learned that I need to make a plan and stick with it.
If my daughter has a big soccer game, I block off my schedule and don’t allow anything to interfere. The most important people in your life need to see how important they are, both professionally and personally. This can be a delicate balance at times, but having a plan always increases my opportunity for success.
8. Why did you join the Women in Fleet Management group?
I believe that it is important for women in the automotive industry to have a common place to collaborate, share, and seek support. We face unique challenges each day as we navigate a predominantly male industry.
The opportunity to discuss these challenges and our successes with women who have had similar experiences is invaluable. Additionally, it is our responsibility to share our experiences with less experienced women and help position them for success.
9. What are your personal hobbies/interests?
I am the proud mom of 4, and for the last 21 years of my life, I’ve been able to enjoy my true passion for sports watching my kids play. It brings me so much joy to watch them grow and develop a passion for a sport like I have always had. I played softball and basketball as a child and adult, and I still enjoy every opportunity that I get to play catch or shoot hoops with my family.
10. Do you like to travel?
I love to travel, but my favorite place to visit is home. At times in my career, I have spent nearly as much time on the road as I have at home. I thrive on the challenge and excitement of traveling, but I have also focused a lot of energy making home a sanctuary. We live in a rural area, and spend a lot of time on the family property enjoying the outdoors. It commonly feels like a vacation in itself.
‘Staycations’ have become something I look forward to, because it means taking a break from the normal hectic schedules of our day-to-day. I enjoy traveling to new places and experiencing the culture of the area. I am always the one looking for the hole in the wall restaurant or dive bar where the locals hang out. I am passionate about food, so when I am headed to a new area, I check ‘Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives’ and see if they have featured any restaurants nearby. My bucket list trip is an extended trip to Ireland and Scotland. I want to take in the countryside and culture with the locals.
11. What do you prefer to listen to while you drive?
My windshield time is filled with an eclectic mix of podcasts and music that I can sing along to. I am a terrible singer, but I love to sing, so in my car alone is a great time to enjoy all of my favorite tunes!
This is part of the Fleet Management Weekly series of Women in Fleet Management (WIFM) profiles. To help other WIFM members or anyone involved with fleet management learn more about professional and personal development, we look forward to sharing your story, too. Just contact Ed Pierce, FMW Contributing Editor, at (484) 957-1246.