Darrin R. Harris
21131 E. Glen Haven Circle
Northville, Michigan 48167
Phone: 248-277-8048
eMail: darrin@darrinharris.com
linkedin.com/in/darrinharris
Highly accomplished automotive finance professional with extensive experience managing project
schedules under both Agile and Waterfall methodologies, leading cross-functional teams,
conceiving new and market-viable ways of using existing technologies, creating & gathering
requirements for systems and process enhancements, and executing & marketing product
launches. Respected manager, trainer, and mentor, comfortable interacting with colleagues
through all levels of an organization. Tech-savvy, results-oriented, highly detailed, problem solver
with a proven track record of quality deliverables and exceeding objectives and expectations.
AREAS OF STRENGTH
Cross-Functional Team Leader
Project Management
Personnel Development
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
21131 E. Glen Haven Circle
Northville, Michigan 48167
Phone: 248-277-8048
eMail: darrin@darrinharris.com
linkedin.com/in/darrinharris
Highly accomplished automotive finance professional with extensive experience managing project
schedules under both Agile and Waterfall methodologies, leading cross-functional teams,
conceiving new and market-viable ways of using existing technologies, creating & gathering
requirements for systems and process enhancements, and executing & marketing product
launches. Respected manager, trainer, and mentor, comfortable interacting with colleagues
through all levels of an organization. Tech-savvy, results-oriented, highly detailed, problem solver
with a proven track record of quality deliverables and exceeding objectives and expectations.
AREAS OF STRENGTH
Cross-Functional Team Leader
Project Management
Personnel Development
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
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Vendor Relationship Management
Metrics Creation & Analysis
Internal & Dealership Training
Metrics Creation & Analysis
Internal & Dealership Training
Project Manager – FCA Recall, 2015 – PRESENT Auburn Hills & Detroit, MI
Selected and trusted as the first on-site representative for the company’s largest single client,
responsible for establishing, maintaining, and monitoring a streamlined process for the
coordination and hand-off of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Safety Recall information to Wolverine
Solutions Group for Owner Letter mailings using standard PMI project methodology. Duties
required co-location at FCA Headquarters in order to gain an in-depth understanding of how
FCA processes fit with within federal National Highway and Traffic Safety (NHTSA) requirements,
including regular meetings with FCA personnel, NHTSA monitors, Deloitte process auditors, and
other FCA suppliers. Duties include regular collection of business requirements, process mapping
and redesign for light & heavy Recall-related projects.
Loan Origination Systems and Product Manager 2008 – 2015, Farmington Hills, MI
Product Management of the retail & lease credit application and acquisitions systems used by
the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Coordination of direct report Business Analysts and interfacing
teams to deliver ongoing system & process enhancements by gathering business requirements,
designing, and testing through to implementation. Manage and conduct training to internal
field & dealer employees on system features via Webinar, email, and in person via dealer
conferences. Research and evaluate requests from end-users and other stakeholders, and
prioritize those requests within release schedules following standardized development lifecycles.
Coordinate with IT management to effectively assign resources to meet project deadlines.
Marketing Business Analyst 2006 – 2008, Farmington Hills, MI
Managed the technology and marketing project schedule for the pilot launch and national
release of Chrysler Financial's first dealer-facing Point of Sale system. Solicited, in person, local
and national dealer feedback pre & post launch for the design and development of various
system enhancements. Developed, coordinated and conducted training for both dealership
and field personnel in the use of the system.
Strategic Alliance Manager 2005 – 2006, San Diego, CA
Negotiated underwriting policies, processes and Service Level Agreement (SLA) with our co-
marketing sub-prime partner, HSBC. Worked inside HSBC Auto Finance offices to help mentor,
coach and foster captive-like behaviors from their Retail Credit Underwriters and to enforce the
SLA. Investigated concerns reported by dealerships and Chrysler Financial employees and
facilitated training on this pass-through subprime product.
Retail Credit Manager 2003 - 2005, Irvine, CA
Oversaw Phoenix & Portland area underwriting departments responsible for the acquisition of
approximately $120 Million per month in retail and lease contracts from 188 new car dealerships
in 6 Western states. Developed and leveraged dealer partnerships in order to meet Return on
Equity goals, portfolio quality, legal compliance, and acceptable loss to liquidation ratios.
Maintained and managed the highest standards of customer service for those dealerships while
focusing on the career development of my employees.
Dealer Credit Analyst 2001 – 2003, Phoenix, AZ
Responsible for the regular monitoring of automotive dealership receivables portfolios in excess of
$645 Million. Performed regular review of dealership financial statements for financial solidity,
recognizing and alerting management to concerning trends, conducting occasional Bank Cut-
Off audits, and supervising local and remote Inventory Auditors across four states.
Dealer Relations Manager 1999 – 2001, Salt Lake City, UT
Responsible for the acquisition and retention of wholesale and retail relationships of 37 Chrysler
dealerships and three additional other-brand dealerships (Mitsubishi, Subaru, Ferrari). Monitored
and reported on the financial strength of 21 wholesale dealerships with credit lines and loans in
excess of $165 Million.
Retail Credit Analyst / Underwriter 1998 – 1999, Phoenix, AZ
Collections & Customer Service Agent 1995 – 1998, Seattle, WA
PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC ACHIEVEMENTS
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
EDUCATION
Washington State University, Pullman, WA – BA Economics
Vice President, Economics Society Omicron Delta Epsilon
International School of Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
Selected and trusted as the first on-site representative for the company’s largest single client,
responsible for establishing, maintaining, and monitoring a streamlined process for the
coordination and hand-off of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Safety Recall information to Wolverine
Solutions Group for Owner Letter mailings using standard PMI project methodology. Duties
required co-location at FCA Headquarters in order to gain an in-depth understanding of how
FCA processes fit with within federal National Highway and Traffic Safety (NHTSA) requirements,
including regular meetings with FCA personnel, NHTSA monitors, Deloitte process auditors, and
other FCA suppliers. Duties include regular collection of business requirements, process mapping
and redesign for light & heavy Recall-related projects.
- Gathered business intelligence to establish simplified Owner Letter tracking, and a formal
communication plan that assists in ensuring FCA’s compliance with NHTSA regulation. - Assisted in the creation, research, and drove the process for a complete re-design of FCA’s
Safety Recall Owner Letter, transitioning from a 40 year old design to a more customer-
centric communication.
Loan Origination Systems and Product Manager 2008 – 2015, Farmington Hills, MI
Product Management of the retail & lease credit application and acquisitions systems used by
the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Coordination of direct report Business Analysts and interfacing
teams to deliver ongoing system & process enhancements by gathering business requirements,
designing, and testing through to implementation. Manage and conduct training to internal
field & dealer employees on system features via Webinar, email, and in person via dealer
conferences. Research and evaluate requests from end-users and other stakeholders, and
prioritize those requests within release schedules following standardized development lifecycles.
Coordinate with IT management to effectively assign resources to meet project deadlines.
- Designed a completely new, LOS application system from the ground up, with proven
capability of supporting 400 users and processing in excess of 250,000 applications per
month from 7,000 dealerships. Coordinated, through product launch, the development
and integration efforts of RouteOne, Dealertrack, TransUnion, Experian, Equifax, Zoot,
Dealertrack Digital Services, as well as several internal systems and departments required to
support the 18 Month project. - Coordinated and managed both business process and system eContract integration with
RouteOne & Dealertrack for 50 states from requirements gathering, through testing, launch,
and communication/marketing, resulting in excess of 1,000 eContracts in the first 3 Months
of launch. - Designed and coordinated development of an evolved process to administer stipulation
communications by integrating internal and dealer-facing systems, allowing stipulations to
be validated on-the-fly, thereby taking the first steps toward contract booking with no
human intervention. - Aided in the design and launch of several niche initiatives, including becoming a preferred
lender for Tesla Motors, Inc., a partnership resulting in excess of $3 Million per quarter.
Marketing Business Analyst 2006 – 2008, Farmington Hills, MI
Managed the technology and marketing project schedule for the pilot launch and national
release of Chrysler Financial's first dealer-facing Point of Sale system. Solicited, in person, local
and national dealer feedback pre & post launch for the design and development of various
system enhancements. Developed, coordinated and conducted training for both dealership
and field personnel in the use of the system.
- Designed a new-to-market Retail versus Lease payment comparison tool by leveraging
technologies held on the manufacturer side and combining them with existing in-house
systems - Conducted extensive competitive benchmarking, developed a proof-of-concept, and
conducted field market-testing which ensured the payment comparison tool was built to
dealer specifications and met dealer needs
Strategic Alliance Manager 2005 – 2006, San Diego, CA
Negotiated underwriting policies, processes and Service Level Agreement (SLA) with our co-
marketing sub-prime partner, HSBC. Worked inside HSBC Auto Finance offices to help mentor,
coach and foster captive-like behaviors from their Retail Credit Underwriters and to enforce the
SLA. Investigated concerns reported by dealerships and Chrysler Financial employees and
facilitated training on this pass-through subprime product.
- Selected as a pilot representative and the first person to hold this newly created position
- Created new reports used to hold local Field offices accountable to their commitment to
the program - Conducted employee and dealer focus groups to develop “Best Practice” training
materials used nationwide - Selected to speak publicly at several dealer conferences as a sub-prime subject matter
expert
Retail Credit Manager 2003 - 2005, Irvine, CA
Oversaw Phoenix & Portland area underwriting departments responsible for the acquisition of
approximately $120 Million per month in retail and lease contracts from 188 new car dealerships
in 6 Western states. Developed and leveraged dealer partnerships in order to meet Return on
Equity goals, portfolio quality, legal compliance, and acceptable loss to liquidation ratios.
Maintained and managed the highest standards of customer service for those dealerships while
focusing on the career development of my employees.
- Created and conducted a standardized annual Retail Credit Analyst training program
that was ultimately adopted nationwide - Regularly chosen to speak at annual dealer conferences to present Chrysler Financial’s
value proposition - Designed Sales Representative territory planning & tracking spreadsheets used to facilitate
Sales-to-Credit Analyst dealer strategy communications
Dealer Credit Analyst 2001 – 2003, Phoenix, AZ
Responsible for the regular monitoring of automotive dealership receivables portfolios in excess of
$645 Million. Performed regular review of dealership financial statements for financial solidity,
recognizing and alerting management to concerning trends, conducting occasional Bank Cut-
Off audits, and supervising local and remote Inventory Auditors across four states.
- Constructed and presented eight dealerships’ applications for revolving inventory, real
estate, construction, and working capital loans totaling $198 Million to Business Center
management for review - Selected as a Pilot Team member for the design and implementation of a new dealer
approval process and system - Determined UCC priority for 68 dealerships and re-documented each dealer in
accordance with Uniform Commercial Code Article 9
Dealer Relations Manager 1999 – 2001, Salt Lake City, UT
Responsible for the acquisition and retention of wholesale and retail relationships of 37 Chrysler
dealerships and three additional other-brand dealerships (Mitsubishi, Subaru, Ferrari). Monitored
and reported on the financial strength of 21 wholesale dealerships with credit lines and loans in
excess of $165 Million.
- Acquired three new wholesale accounts totaling $13 Million in inventory credit lines, $3.5
Million in construction/real estate loans, and $650,000 in working capital and equipment
loans - Doubled Chrysler Financial’s retail market share in the state of Utah from 17% of new units
sold to 36% by introducing dealership benefits of leasing to an otherwise retail-centric
market
Retail Credit Analyst / Underwriter 1998 – 1999, Phoenix, AZ
Collections & Customer Service Agent 1995 – 1998, Seattle, WA
PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC ACHIEVEMENTS
- Regularly selected as a Subject Matter Expert to present new technology information at
dealer conferences - Acknowledged as an Innovator within the company as a result of technology creation
- Twice per Month volunteer for local Meals on Wheels (Farmington Hills), and Grace Centers
of Hope (Pontiac) - Regular volunteer for various Multiple Sclerosis run/walk events in Southeast Michigan
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
- Platinum Edge - Certified Scrum Product Owner
- Project Management Institute, Houston - Project Management Initiation & Project
Management Essentials - Deloitte & Touche - Automotive Office Management & Accounting Practices
- TD Auto Finance – Executive Presentation, Negotiating, Selling, Management & Supervisory
Skills Training
EDUCATION
Washington State University, Pullman, WA – BA Economics
Vice President, Economics Society Omicron Delta Epsilon
International School of Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
Strategic Alliance Management
Competitive Analysis
Product Marketing
Competitive Analysis
Product Marketing
DaimlerChrysler Financial Services
Chrysler Financial
| PRODUCT MANAGEMENT Project Management: Agile & Waterfall Certified Scrum Product Owner |
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TD Auto Finance
Wolverine Solutions Group