Phoenix Business Advisor Chuck Trautman

Who The Hell is Chuck Trautman?

Chuck has owned his own businesses for over 40 years. He is a former US Marine and is sometimes referred to affectionately as "Sgt. Chuck".

Trautman's first job in the corporate world was with the Gates Rubber Company, but he soon became frustrated and purchased an auto parts store in Eugene, Oregon. The store grew from $330,000 to over $900,000 in sales in just two years ($2 Million in todays dollars). That led Chuck and his partners to purchase two other stores.

Seven years later he purchased his supplier, which was doing $12 million a year in revenue. That business would become the Carquest Auto Parts Distribution Center. Under his direction, the company grew to more than $25 million in annual sales (over $50 Million in todays dollar's) and 125 employees.

After selling that company, Chuck founded a retail golf equipment business that grew from one store to six and more than $10 million a year in sales.

When he sold that business in 2004, Trautman discovered his knack for helping other businesses and a new career as a business strategist was born.

In 2008, the chance to take over the Phoenix Chapter of GKIC became available. Chuck was hand-picked, trained, and certified by Dan Kennedy and became the GKIC Independent Business Advisor in Arizona.

Chuck currently facilitates several Mastermind Groups, including one in Phoenix.

His latest book, “Business Tips from The Trenches: How to Succeed in Business Without an MBA” was published in 2012. The book is available at Amazon.com.

Chuck is the founder and CEO of the Arizona Marketing Association (AZMA) and occasionally takes on new business advisor clients.

He specializes, through Dan Kennedy marketing principles, in helping companies find their niche, attract new customers and increase profits.