From the Ground Up: Why the COO of JT Evolutions Learns Your Business to Drive Sales Growth
Juan Carlos Gutierrez is the COO of JT Evolutions, an innovative company known for its reliability and trustworthiness in accounting and business consulting services. What makes JT Evolutions (JTE) stand out from other companies in the industry is their willingness to delve into the in’s and out’s of a businesses’ operations before making business decisions. It’s how they turn risks into assured opportunities for growth. Juan recently joined the team at JTE, and brought with him years of experience in sales and business management.
From selling the local newspaper in Puerto Rico at nine years old, to roofing construction in his teen years, to restaurant management and franchise ownership in his adult career, Juan embraces the humble beginnings of his career.
In 2004, Juan acquired a franchise of The County Line. Prior to his management, the restaurant had been in the negatives since 1984. What could’ve been a risky financial investment turned out to be a pivotal point in his career. He’d been working at the restaurant for many years and had filled every possible role; from bus boy to general manager. After Juan’s initial investments and support from other investors, The County Line became a profitable business that first year and until its sale in 2013.
In 2011, Juan became the Regional Sales Manager of BAUER Equipment America. What a simple resume won’t tell you is, Juan quickly realized he could not sell a product he didn’t understand. He began working twice a week to build the machines in the assembly line, and despite the objections of his superiors, decided to work full time for an entire year. While this put his sales career on hold, it was exactly what he needed to understand the machines inside out, and effectively answer any client’s questions. Buyers were not just interested in the fresh-out-of-package product, but were also concerned with the maintenance that would be required years down the line. Because of his initiative, Juan was not only able to answer these questions, but worked with the clients’ engineers directly to figure out their exact needs. This break resulted in a sales growth from $1 million to $12 million during Juan’s career in the company. He was in charge of six different sales brands, and had curated a sales team that was leading the company’s profits.
After some medical complications and a change in management at his company, Juan began to consider retirement. This was when his wife, Tracy Gutierrez, the founder and CEO of JT Evolutions, said, “We’re in two different paths. You’re ready to retire and I’m ready to make this company grow.”
Juan had always looked at his wife’s business with admiration, and her ability to build it from the ground up. So he took a risk again. He quit his job and joined Tracy’s team at JT Evolutions, which was at the time going through a rebranding process. After being the boss for over 30 years, Juan thought he knew everything this small business would need. But after a humbling first few months, Juan realized he had to adopt a similar mentality to the one he’d had at BAUER all those years ago. Rather than implement changes right away, he began working in the back end of the company’s bookkeeping services, familiarizing himself with tedious tasks that require patience and accuracy. He learned the relationships Tracy had been building with her clients for almost 15 years, understanding the importance of trust and confidentiality. It wasn’t until then that he could see where his previous experience was helpful in this new industry.
Now, Juan manages sales and collections for JT Evolutions clients, provides in-depth financial reporting and analysis, and consults with business owners on their goals. From his years owning several businesses, he puts himself in their shoes and asks himself, “What would I want if I were them?” It helps him figure out how to help, not just in the services provided, but in terms of consulting the best methodology to make it happen. His managerial experience allows him to identify issues and inefficiencies quickly, and come up with solutions that are both practical and cost effective for the business.
Every part of Juan’s career has influenced the amount of care, charisma, and consideration that he provides to JTE clients. If you find yourself wondering where to start in terms of growing your business, consider reaching out to Juan. Not only can he help you figure out what are the growth opportunities, but also how to make them happen.
