Montgomery Parts Manager
Before Cory Bowden even began his career with Truckworx, the Montgomery Parts Manager says he knew there was something special – and different – about the company.
“As a customer of Truckworx when I was the truck maintenance manager at another company, I had always dealt with Cullen McDavid [Branch Manager of Truckworx-Montgomery] and his people up front and they had always been great to me,” Bowden said. “Every time I came in the dealership, they put a smile on my face. They were real about having a relationship with me and building that up.”
Just over two years ago in August of 2019, Cory was looking for a new position and decided to give McDavid a call. After submitting a job application online and completing the interview process, Cory was offered the parts trainee position, which he quickly accepted.
Even before he started working at Truckworx, he noted that an experience in an unexpected place further enhanced his view of the company.
“I went to complete the standard pre-employment drug screening and the lady at the facility asked me where I was going to work,” Bowden said. “When I told her I would be at Truckworx, she said her dad had worked there for many years and she had only heard good things about it. It just seems like any time someone mentions Truckworx, good things are said.”
Since becoming a member of the Truckworx family, Cory has admittedly undergone somewhat of a mind-shift regarding business, especially after being promoted to Montgomery’s parts manager in January of 2020.
“I used to have a little bit of a negative opinion of salespeople in general,” he said. “I always thought that they were only talking to me to get my business. That is not the case at Truckworx. Here, I have learned that everyone is in the business to truly build relationships. We try to help make our customers’ lives easier by working hard to get them what they need every day. That also naturally helps us be successful. But at the end of the day, we are focusing on relationships, not chasing money.”
Those relationships have become the most important thing to Cory and his outside parts sales team in Montgomery. For Bowden, even outside the workplace, relationships are always being formed and cultivated.
“We had our family night at the ballpark the other night and one of our customers happened to be at the game,” Bowden said. “We saw him and invited him up to where we were, not because he is a customer, but because we have a personal friendship with him. It’s a great feeling to genuinely enjoy being around the people you do business with and work with. It makes work more fun.”
And it’s not about just building relationships to increase business, either. It’s about doing the right thing, both for the customer and the individual.
“We really strive to do the right thing for the right reason,” Cory said. “I know that is our motto, but we really do live it. I think about it every time I make a decision. Sometimes the result is good for me and sometimes it might not be, but at the end of the day, I go home every night with a good feeling, knowing that I did what is right for my customers.”
According to Cullen McDavid, Cory could not fit the role of Parts Manager for the Montgomery dealership any better.
“Cory is a hard-working, dedicated and very loyal guy,” McDavid said. “He is great at operations and has picked sales up well even though he has never been in a sales role before. Cory is definitely the kind of person I want on my team.”
On the weekends, Cory spends as much time as he can with his family as he coaches his kids’ travel sports teams.
“I have coached my kids since they were five years old,” he said. “My son and I try to go fishing every chance we get – when we aren’t at the ball field. I love that I get the opportunity to spend time with my kids, because I know that these are times I won’t get back.”
Relationships, both personal and professional, are of utmost importance in Cory’s life. From customers to friends to family, there is no question that he places these bonds above pure business and numbers.
And one thing is clear – Cory Bowden is someone who truly does the right things for the right reasons.