Mel Luigs is a highly accomplished executive with a solid history of developing critical business solutions and demonstrated leadership in both small and Fortune 500 companies. He has a strong combination of operational and financial expertise in both the manufacturing, retail and franchise business areas along with a solid background building strong working relationships, growing small companies or departments, building customer oriented teams and obtaining results.
In addition to his work with AML & Associates, Mel recently spent 4 years as the either the COO or the President and CEO of M.A.R.S. International, Inc., a small international franchisor of appearance reconditioning systems and services. MARS was a very small "mom and pop" U.S. franchise with 150 active franchisees generating less than $6,000,000 in annual sales, 12 employees, and a 9,000 square foot office, warehouse and training center facility.
When Mel left the company less than 5 years after he started, the company had over 400 active franchisees generating over $20,000,000 in annual sales, 30 employees and was occupying a 25,000 square foor office, warehouse and training facility.
MARS had also established its training facility as a State of Texas certified career school, purchased a glass repair franchisor in the UK and started franchising in England, had been approved to sell franchises in all 50 states along with Canada, Mexico, and the UK, and had put in place the infrastructure and personnel to grow the franchise body to 1,000 active franchisees
Under Mel's leadership, MARS International was named by Entrepreneur magazine as one of the top 200 franchises in the US in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The magazine also named MARS as the number one franchise in the automotive services category during this three year period.
In 2007 and 2008, INC magazine named MARS International one of the Top 5,000 fastest growing private companies in the US.
In addition to his employment by small and medium sized companies, Mel also spent 15 years with Peterbilt Motors Company, the multi-billion dollar global heavy and medium duty truck manufacturer, in various financial roles culminating with his promotion to North American Director of Credit and Finance. He and his team were responsible for assisting the over 250 independent truck dealership organizations in remaining profitable and successful as well as ensuring the successful startup of all new dealer organizations.
Mel also served the University of Phoenix Online for several years as a faculty instructor teaching graduate level finance courses for MBA students.
Mel is currently a member of the Gerson Lehman Group Council of Advisors and the Reuters Insight Community of Experts. Both are prestigous groups of designated business experts.
Mel's educational background includes a BS and an MBA in Accounting and Finance from MurrayStateUniversity. He is also a graduate of the PACCAR Institute of Managerial Leadership which are prestigous management improvement courses for high profile Peterbilt executives conducted by the Battelle Institute in Seattle, Washington
part time cfo vision management consulting business solutions critical process operational experts financial acumen customer orientation obtain results MARS International MARS President COO CEO international focus UK franchise Peterbilt Motors mel Luigs dallas texas
