Together, Tread founding partners David Christopher and Neal Maier have over 20 years of direct, hands-on shop management experience.
What sets us apart from other agencies is that we know the automotive industry better than anyone else. We take a unique approach to research and implement a marketing strategy specifically tailored to line up with your goals, from tires and auto repair services to fleet management.
Tread will never hold your site or marketing assets hostage. We believe in finding the right fit for both ourselves and our clients, which means your website, brand, and marketing strategy are yours rather than contractual items that will tie you down for years.
Too many marketing agencies get comfortable with clients in the wrong ways by implementing strategy without client input and neglecting to share progress. At Tread, we’re most comfortable when we’re consistently communicating with you about your marketing strategy.
David and Neal developed Tread to better serve clients in the automotive industry who other agencies had previously overlooked. Having both owned and operated their auto shops in the past, combining their knowledge with digital marketing led to a solution for automotive businesses who need more from their marketing agency than a one-size-fits-all approach.
David Christopher started his professional career working in the auto body repair industry. It was during his work at his father’s collision shop that David started to fall in love with cars. It became clear to David that at some point, he too would continue to work in the automotive industry.
In 2005, David partnered with his brother to purchase Ray’s Collision – their father’s business. For some time, David handled the finances, administrative work, and marketing for the 10-bay collision shop. By 2010, David began to grow tired of the marketing companies he was dealing with and knew there had to be more to it than just selling banks of keywords and empty promises. That same year, he went on to found a marketing firm that focused on changing the way business owners were being treated by vowing never to sell companies “marketing packages” that didn’t fit their goals, helping hundreds of companies stop wasting money on channels that had little to no ROI along the way.
Over the last 11 years, David and his team have worked with hundreds of companies to create comprehensive plans that deliver measurable results. He continues to be a silent partner of Ray’s Collision alongside his brother, which is proudly in its 37th year of operation, all while using his unique blend of experience to help successfully lead Tread Partners.
Neal started his career at Chapel Hill Tire Co. as a service advisor responsible for overseeing 17 bays and 23 employees. The fast-paced location was later rebranded to Auto Pro To Call, where Neal was selected to serve as the General Manager. With some success, Neal and partners opened another 10-bay location, growing the shop into a successful, well-respected operation.
Sometime later, Neal decided to pursue his passion for marketing by leaving his position and going to work for a large, local marketing agency. After spending 4 years working with hundreds of clients, Neal went on to become a partner here at Tread Partners. Thanks to his experience and background in the automotive field, he’s been able to successfully lead the agency’s growth, all while working with some of the largest, most well-known names in the automotive and tire industries.
Our core values give our team a framework to follow and help make important daily decisions. The following core values define what's important to us at Tread Partners.
We value collaborative and honest relationships. We communicate clearly, have excellent listening skills, and focus on positive outcomes. Great partners strive to exceed the expectations of clients and colleagues, no matter how small the challenge.
We're dependable but also willing to take risks. We build from our successes and learn from our failures.
We are students of the industry and obsess over our craft. We are confident but never arrogant, always open to criticism.
We come from a variety of backgrounds and industries. Our differences give us strength and perspective, and we share our insights to benefit our company, clients, and work.
Interested in joining our team? Submit your application today.
