Operations Manager, Wheeling Truck Center
By Mallory Carpenter
Chad Remp has always had trucks in his blood, a love that his parents strongly encouraged. In fact, at times it even became part of birthday celebrations. “One year I had a truck birthday party,” he remembers, “and my father brought home a large truck for everyone to take rides in around the neighborhood, including the adults.”
Growing up around the family business only strengthened his passion and fueled his curiosity for the transportation industry. He began working at the family dealership at the age of 12 and over the years has worked almost every job in the dealership. Exposure to the ins and outs of the company has given him a deep understanding of the industry and has allowed him to grow the family business, leaving his mark as the fourth generation of the family to work there. Two of his initiatives for growth have had the biggest impact—adding a sister company that focuses on leasing and using the Internet to increase business through exporting. In less than two years, Chad has sold parts in more than 55 countries around the world, meaning that Wheeling Truck Center’s impact has been felt by every continent in the world except Antarctica. Wheeling Truck Center’s exporting has seen a constant growth every month, and in celebration of this success, the business was recognized by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin in June with the Governor’s Commendation for International Market Entry.
An alumnus of Linsly School, Miami University and West Virginia University, Chad swam competitively for many years and can relate the discipline of training year-round to running a business today. “It takes consistent work, dedication and commitment that leads to the short-term achievements that enable me to reach my long-term goals,” he explains. He finds motivation in reinventing the fourth generation family business and discovering new ways to keep it successful as it goes into the future. Of how this competitive swimmer-turned certified scuba diver found success within the family business, he credits his father’s influence in his life, his tendency to be an independent self-starter and his “insatiable desire to learn more and continually better myself personally and professionally.”
Part of that effort to better himself personally and professionally is to be involved in his community and the local business community. In addition to his participation with the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce, the National Lease 20 Group, the West Virginia District Export Council and the Ohio Valley Runners and Walkers Club, he is also the co-founder of OVConnect, where he serves on the board of directors, and is the co-director with his wife, Jamie, for the annual OVConnect Fur Feathers and Fins 5k Race.
In the business world, Chad will tell you that his greatest success has been the company’s expansion from a local dealership to a national and international supplier. In reality, though, Chad’s greatest success may very well be proving that family businesses can compete in a global market and that at the end of the day everything comes down to one thing: family. “Having children changed how I look at things in life,” he says. “My decisions are now based upon what is best for my family and their well-being. It has helped me become a more well-rounded individual because I have to balance the various demands for my time.” Chad chose to return to West Virginia and build his career here because of his family and also because he says it is a wonderful place to call home. “With friendly people who live in the state and beautiful scenery, I could not imagine a better place to call home and raise a family.”
