Exploring Life & Business with Chad Staples of ELevation Dealer Services

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Staples.

Hi Chad, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Arizona, surrounded by sunshine, sports, and a sense that life was full of possibility. I played varsity sports and dreamed big, but that all changed when my dad sold his business. The company that bought it went bankrupt, and that moment seemed to shatter more than just financial stability—it created a distance between us. My dad went through a tough time, and as he withdrew, I started searching for significance elsewhere.

That search led me to music. Out of a deep insecurity and a need to belong, I started a metal band with friends called Job for a Cowboy. Against all odds, we were signed to a label when I was just seventeen. Around that same time, I was accepted into Arizona State University. My parents had adopted four girls while I was in high school, so I set off into adulthood pretty much on my own.

At ASU, I joined the fraternity Kappa Alpha and started studying architecture, but deep down, I felt like an imposter. I convinced myself I didn’t belong, that somehow I had slipped through the cracks and would eventually be found out. Instead of confronting that fear, I drowned it—with parties, distractions, and alcohol. By my senior year, I had dropped out, feeling lost, directionless, and deeply disconnected.

In 2009, I stumbled into the car business at Yates Buick GMC, thanks to a friend named Tyler Yates. It was there I met Charlie Brown, an F&I agent trained by the legendary Tom Stuker. Charlie inspired me—he showed me there was an art to relationships, communication, and helping people succeed. But my old habits hadn’t died yet. My lifestyle still revolved around partying and bad decisions.

In April 2011, my life nearly ended. I was robbed at gunpoint and pistol-whipped over the head. In that moment—on my knees with a gun pressed to my skull—I prayed for the first time in years. I asked God to save me, promising that I would change. When I opened my eyes, they were gone. Four months later, I found myself in a hospital bed after nearly dying from alcohol poisoning with a 4.0 blood alcohol level. It was then that God sent someone who would change my life—Carl Kasalek. Carl became my first true mentor. He spoke life into me, held me accountable, and brought me back to church. For the first time in a long time, I felt seen, believed in, and capable of more.

From there, things began to change. I climbed the ranks in the dealership world and met the love of my life in 2013. With her encouragement, I took a leap of faith in 2014, leaving the dealership world to join a GPS company as a Regional Sales Director. Over the next four years, I became their top producer and trained their entire sales force.

In 2018, I transitioned to the warranty space with APCO, stepping into a role that “required a degree.” I didn’t have one—but God made a way. I led multiple regions, grew my teams to be the best in the company, and learned that leadership is not about title—it’s about serving others. When I was passed up for a senior role despite my success, it hurt—but it also redirected me toward what came next.

I joined Lifted Trucks in Arizona as an executive, overseeing compliance, training, and leadership development. Three months later, they sold to private equity—an outcome that wasn’t part of the plan. I stayed a year to honor my commitment, then accepted a VP of Sales role at All Lines Dealer Services in San Diego. There, I helped scale the company and introduced them to Portfolio, which eventually led to a $40 million sale.

At the beginning of 2023, after being paid out for my part in that success, I found myself once again at a crossroads. I called a few people who had once promised me jobs—but none of them were available. It was divine intervention. My wife looked at me and said, “You can always go back to working for someone else. But if you want to start your own company, this is the time.”

And she was right.

In February 2023, Elevation Dealer Services was born. Within 45 days, we signed 50 clients. By the end of that year, we’d brought in just under $800,000 in revenue with a small but dedicated team. The next year brought growth—and growing pains. I learned hard lessons about cash flow, hiring, and leadership. We scaled to $1.3 million and nine employees. In 2025, I had to make incredibly tough decisions, including letting go of my VP and people I deeply cared about due to choices that didn’t align with our values. Two others betrayed my trust and stole over $40,000 in business. Those moments tested me—but they also refined me.

Today, Elevation Dealer Services has a team of eight incredible people, and we’re pacing just under $1.6 million in revenue—with one of the largest dealer groups in the nation coming on board, adding another $6 million in annual business. We’ve built our company on servant leadership, putting others first, and creating a culture of excellence and integrity. I now serve on the board of the Arizona Independent Dealer Association and mentor youth through Be Better Be Different’s Legacy Foundation, helping high school athletes find purpose and identity before the world tells them who to be.

My story isn’t about success—it’s about surrender. It’s about the grace of a God who met me in the darkest moments and gave me purpose. Every trial, every fall, every betrayal has been a step toward becoming the leader I was meant to be. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:

Your lowest point can become the foundation for your greatest calling—if you choose to rise, stay faithful, and lead with love.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
the struggles were doing it alone, not seeking our resources, and ultimately being too prideful in moments. I am thankful by the grace of God to work with humility and seek out mentors and others for help.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Elevation Dealer Services was built on a simple but powerful belief — that when you put people first, excellence follows. We’re a full-service F&I products and reinsurance agency that helps automotive, RV, marine, and powersports dealers across the country grow their profitability, build generational wealth, and protect their customers with integrity.

Our team specializes in reinsurance formations, training, investment strategy, and compliance — but at the core, what we really do is develop people. We come alongside dealers and their teams to help them build systems that are sustainable, compliant, and customer-focused. We believe the best process in the world is meaningless without the right culture, leadership, and heart behind it.

What sets us apart is that we don’t just sell programs — we partner with our dealers. We get into the trenches with them, understanding their goals, challenges, and long-term vision. Every solution we offer — from wealth-building reinsurance structures to high-impact F&I training — is tailored to the individual dealer’s needs. We measure success not just by revenue growth, but by the relationships we build and the impact we have on the people we serve.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud of how authentic we’ve stayed. Elevation isn’t about being the biggest — it’s about being the most trusted. Our company name came from the idea that when you elevate others — your people, your partners, your customers — everyone rises. That’s the legacy we want to leave in this industry.

To your readers, I want you to know this: we’re in the business of excellence through service. Whether it’s helping a dealer group scale from one store to twenty, guiding a first-time reinsurance owner through wealth management, or developing a young F&I manager into a future leader — our mission is to elevate everyone we touch.

At Elevation Dealer Services, success isn’t just measured in numbers — it’s measured in the growth, trust, and lives changed along the way.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t believe in luck — I believe in grace and divine timing. There have been moments in my life where, from the outside, it might have looked like luck — surviving a robbery at gunpoint, meeting the right mentor when I was at rock bottom, or launching my company and signing 50 clients in 45 days. But those weren’t coincidences; they were reminders that God’s plan is greater than mine. Every “good break” and every setback was purposeful — shaping my faith, my leadership, and ultimately the mission behind Elevation Dealer Services.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elevationdealerservices.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevationds
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Elevation-Dealer-Services-100090160543821/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-staples-cpfs-42599915/
• Twitter: https://x.com/Elevation_DS
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chadstaples5280