Guest Speaker: John Runge Carterville Winlectric

On Thursday this week, we had the opportunity to meet with John Runge, owner of Carterville Winelectric. John has been with Winelectric for 25 years, starting as a delivery driver and working his way up to owner. Today, he leads a team of eight employees and continues to grow the business through hard work, knowledge, and strong customer relationships.

John shared that what sets Winelectric apart from competitors is their commitment to continuous education and being the most knowledgeable in their field. He emphasized that providing unmatched service, along with maintaining a positive attitude and confidence when approaching customers, has played a major role in gaining new business since taking over ownership.

When discussing marketing strategies, John explained that he believes in going to the customer rather than waiting for customers to come to him. He recently secured business from local schools, government buildings, and other organizations through a lighting grant provided by Ameren. After learning about the opportunity, John presented the grant information to these entities, helping them upgrade their lighting systems at little to no cost while also earning their business.

John also discussed the importance of inventory management. He continually tracks inventory to ensure they have what customers need without carrying excessive surplus that could tie up valuable resources.

As the owner, John sets yearly goals and works diligently to achieve them. Since taking over ownership, Winelectric has experienced substantial sales growth, 24% increase in one year alone. John also shared that the business operates with a profit-sharing structure, allowing employees to benefit from the company’s success based on their position and performance.

We appreciate John taking the time to speak with our class and for his financial investment in the CEO program!

#JohnsonCountyCEO #CEOProgram #Entrepreneurship #BusinessLeadership #SmallBusiness #Leadership #WorkforceDevelopment #CustomerService #GoalSetting #InventoryManagement #CommunitySupport #Winelectric #CareerDevelopment