In the depths of the 12 winters Chris G. spent in Michigan, he relished his rare glimpses of the sun. So it’s certainly a thrill for him to have his eyes on a bright future—and warmer climates—in his new role as Corporate Vice President of Southeast Operations. After 27 years with Enterprise, four cross-country moves and too many New England Patriots’ games to recall, Chris’ excitement to lead a new team is heating up. We recently sat down with Chris to learn more about his new role.

What is your Enterprise career path?

I grew up in western Massachusetts and graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I then moved 3,000 miles to Seattle to start at Enterprise as a Service Agent. I worked my way up with several positions: Group Rental Manager and Regional Vice President in New York and Vice President of Rental in Dallas. Most recently I was Vice President/General Manager in Michigan for 12 years.

What excites you about your new role as Corporate Vice President of the Southeast team?

It’s exciting to see such dedicated and strong teams. I’m committed to helping every operating group achieve their goals, and I’m energized by the prospect of learning more about airport operations.

What opportunities exist for Southeast operations?

Our biggest opportunity is to continue staying ahead of the ever-changing transportation industry. We have positioned ourselves to successfully maneuver the problems of today and to be on the cutting-edge of trends for tomorrow. We should stay open-minded to new directions and continue to embrace innovative ideas.

What are your thoughts on leadership, and what advice would you give to new managers?

Effective leadership, at all levels of management, is critical to our future success. The advice I would give new managers is to set expectations high, train and develop your teams to get them there and never settle for excuses.

What’s something people might not know about you?

I’m a die-hard New England sports fan. I have been to six of the Patriots Super Bowls and have seen them win four! I met my wife, Kelly, freshmen year of high school. We’ve been together ever since, and I feel very lucky to have a spouse who is incredibly supportive of my career and equally excited about the moves we’ve made over the years.