District Parts & Service Manager at Kia Motors America
I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with two of the two pillars of Wapatoome. Noelle Stehling served as an Account Manager on several high profile projects with me during my Mazda tenure, and Sharon and I worked side by side.
After several frustrating instances of mismatches with other Project Managers, Noelle dove in and rescued not only the projects, but the account. I quickly came to recognize her innate ability to sift through the clutter and find the gems we were both seeking. She came to every discussion prepared, organized, and full of ideas.
It’s rare to find someone in marketing who is genuinely more concerned about creating an excellent solution than “managing the client”. Though her background wasn’t in wholesale automotive marketing, her thirst for knowledge helped her quickly evolve from an advocate into a trusted and essential consultant. I hope I am lucky enough to get another opportunity to work beside Noelle.
The fact that Noelle and Sharon have joined forces in Wapatoome is serendipitous, to say the least. When I first met Sharon, she headed up Mazda’s owner retention program. Her knowledge of owner communications is unparalleled in the business, as time and increased exposure has taught me.
Sharon is a consummate team player, who recognizes that success can only be measured within the confines of the group’s accomplishments. She never let the others in our group flounder – her expertise drove us to better cooperate and made us all strive to create better products and processes. Her perspective provided the acid test to ensure our projects were ready for prime time.
Sharon eventually progressed to serve as a leader in the customer relations group. I’ve never seen anyone as legitimately interested in concern resolution as Sharon. Her empathy for our customers was sincere, and her approach to problem solving was creative and timely. Her concern was also evidenced by the care with which she supported those in her purview.
Collaboration, in its best sense, is a mechanism by which a team grows, projects flourish, and success is shared. Noelle and Sharon exemplify this philosophy. I have no doubt that they will continue to bring their A gameĀ to each new venture, and that their future clients will come to count on them as the consummate professionals they are. I wish them the best of luck.
Brad Holt- District Parts & Service Manager at Kia Motors America