Chris Garman, vice president of Business Development for Sun Auto & Tire Service, will be a speaker at the upcoming Ratchet+Wrench Management Conference, taking place October 8–10 in Glendale, Arizona.
Garman leads all mergers and acquisition activity for Sun Auto. He brings 20 years of experience and insight as the owner and operator of Wilhelm Automotive, acquired by Sun in 2019.
He joined his family’s business in January 2000, growing Wilhelm to nine locations, with over 100 team members and strong links in the local community.
Over the past 25 years, Garman has been active in his local community, serving as past president and board member for The West Valley Mavericks and their foundation. He’s also served on the boards of Leadership West, Southwest Valley YMCA, and various other volunteer organizations.
An Arizona native, Garman graduated with honors from Arizona State University, earning a Bachelor's degree in Global Business Marketing and a Master of Business Administration. He married his high school sweetheart, Kelly, and they currently reside in Phoenix.
In his spare time, Garman enjoys traveling, off-road racing, camping, boating, and spending time with his family.
In his session, “Common Acquisition Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them,” Garman will share practical insights from closing nearly 40 acquisitions and adding over 320 stores to Sun’s portfolio.
Drawing from his dual experience as both a former seller and seasoned buyer, he’ll break down the most common pitfalls in the M&A process and offer real-world strategies to avoid them. The session is especially ideal for operators looking to grow through acquisition without losing value, people, or momentum.
More speaker announcements are slated to come in the coming weeks. Follow Ratchet+Wrench on social media to stay tuned to see what’s in store for RWMC this year—and don’t forget to grab your spot and register.
