Ryan Sorbara State Parts Manager WA
Progression Through Accountability
Starting Without a Blueprint
I joined CJD in 2010 as a Parts Cadet. I was 19 and fresh out of school, without a clear career plan.
What I did have was a willingness to learn.
From cadet, I progressed to Parts Interpreter and spent seven years on the front counter. That role built my foundation. When you work face-to-face with customers daily, you quickly understand the consequences of accuracy, responsiveness and follow-through. If parts are delayed or incorrect, equipment stops. That reality shapes your standards.
Expanding Capability
After seven years on the counter, I moved into the Outside Parts Sales Representative role for three years. That shift required a different skill set, relationship management, territory ownership, and proactive customer engagement.
In 2020, an opportunity arose to relocate to Darwin as State Parts Manager NT. It was a significant decision, personally and professionally. Leading in the Northern Territory meant adapting to remote operations, logistical complexity and a tight-knit team environment.
I spent three years in the NT before returning to Perth in 2023 to take on a National Aftersales role. That experience broadened my view of the business beyond state operations and gave me exposure to strategy, structure and national alignment.
After 18 months, the opportunity emerged to return to retail operations as State Parts Manager, WA. I stepped back into branch leadership in late 2024, a role closely connected to the frontline and one I value deeply.
Each move has built on the last.
Responsibility and Trust
For me, responsibility and trust are not assigned, they are earned.
They are built through consistency, clear standards and fostering a safe, accountable culture. A team should feel supported, but expectations must remain high.
At CJD, we aim to create an environment that is both a good place to work and a high-performing operation. Culture and performance are not separate; they are interdependent.
And above all, safety underpins everything. Every team member should go home safely at the end of the day.
Customer Experience as a Standard
My focus in Forrestfield is straightforward: the customer experience must be deliberate.
Every interaction matters. Whether it is a simple enquiry or a complex parts requirement, the response must be professional, accurate and consistent.
Customers should leave each interaction confident that their needs were understood and resolved. When that standard is maintained, relationships strengthen and business follows.
Parts operations may appear transactional. In reality, they are central to uptime and productivity. That carries consequence.
Who Thrives at CJD
CJD is a business of opportunity, but opportunity alone is not enough.
The people who succeed are those prepared to take on new challenges, relocate if required and step forward when roles emerge.
Progression here is built on capability and initiative.
I started without a defined direction. What shaped my career was saying yes to responsibility when it appeared.