About Ben Coy

I am a savvy, sales and marketing professional with experience in the automotive industry including internet marketing.  Like many, I have been hit by the woes of our current economic recession. Like everything in life, I took it as an opportunity to learn as much as I can about the people and world around me and look for my next big career move.  I will share my experiences and insights relating to marketing and business through this blog.  You can also follow me on LinkedIn, VisualCV and Twitter.

The Recap

I graduated from Northwood University in May 2007 with a B.B.A. in Marketing/Management.  I moved to Memphis, Tennessee and began working as a Zone Manager in what I thought would be a long marketing and sales career at Ford Motor Company.  13 months after I was hired, Ford restructured, my job was eliminated and I was back to square one.

I used my opportunity to spend some time with my incredible wife, Jackie.  We were married just a month earlier and she packed up everything to join me in Memphis.  She is the one who keeps me optimistic and on my toes.  Without her, I don’t know where I’d be.

Over the next 4 months, I did some internet marketing and business development work for a Ford Lincoln Mercury dealership I used to call on in Memphis.  There, I gained a new perspective on what I did and did not want in life.  I had some jobs offered and then yanked away by the economy.  It was a struggle.

Over that time, I learned how to brand and promote myself as a candidate and created an online portfolio, highlighting my experiences and skills.  I have learned that I love social media and internet marketing and have a much better understanding of it all because of my opportunity to step outside of a comfortable career and shoot for a meaningful one.

Sure enough, I landed a job I am really excited about!  I am now a District Manager for Mazda North American Operations in Memphis!  I was very close to taking over a similar position with Mazda in October which would have required a move.  I was bummed when it fell through, but now I see why!  Through perseverance, I got the job I was looking for and we don’t have to move for now!

My experience has been a reality check and an inspiration to use my gifts to spread ideas and optimism.  I believe without that, you can’t have success.  This blog is inspired by a few experiences.  One short conversation in particular was a conversation I had with a client in June. We were discussing the, then small, recession.  He was tired of hearing how bad things were and told me his new response to anyone who asked about business was, “It’s getting better.”  It’s with that attitude, that I look for opportunities every day.  I hope you enjoy reading my blog.